Visiting San Antonio?

I'm not a local, but do go down to San Antonio now and then. My favorite brewery is Freetail, and then it would be Ranger Creek (though I personally think they're very hit or miss--occasionally really good). There are tons of great restaurants--one that's great to drink at would be Esquire Tavern (don't miss the basement bar, which has a different menu--it's not really beer-focused, but there are some and it's awesome). At Blue Star, I much prefer Stella Public House to the brewery. Also, another can't miss, unique/funky food place with lots of beer options is the Cove. Hope that helps. Locals will know more.

 

Breweries.... hit Freetail brewpub(up North) and weathered Souls.

Near both those places you'll also find Big Hops( 2 locations), Flying Saucer, Hoppy Monk and 502 Bar...all great tap rooms.

If your downtown, Freetail tap room and Southerleigh are also great places to hit

 

If you don't mind a bit of a drive out of central San Antonio, like real German food, and maybe a couple of German beers you haven't seen in the states. I'd recommend a trip to Friesenhaus in New Braunfels.

 

Wife and I will also be in San Antonio next month for a few days. Keep the beer updates coming, but if anyone has an other recommendations (BBQ, cool stuff that I won't hear about anywhere else, etc), help is always welcome!

Thanks!

 

The Granary is the best BBQ in San Antonio, imo. They also have some solid house beers and guest taps.

To the OP: I don't know when you're coming, but if it's within the next 7 days you might want to avoid downtown like the plague due to Fiesta (and no, there's nothing about Fiesta that's worth the commuting hassle and overpriced BMC). If you're not coming during Fiesta, I definitely recommend checking out Stella, Southerleigh, Big Hops at The Bridge, and Freetail Taproom, all in the downtown area.

Outside of downtown, I recommend Freetail Brewpub, Big Hops Huebner (full disclosure, I manage that location), Hoppy Monk, and Ranger Creek. And if a drive outside the city limits is in the cards, check out Guadalupe Brewing in New Braunfels, about a 30 minute drive from downtown.

I'm not much into trading anymore, but I imagine you'd make some friends pretty quick down here if you bring some Veil brews with you.

 

What are some good bottle shops? I am looking for some Live Oak Pilz and anything Jester King. I'm open to all suggestions.

 

Again, locals would know better, but last year I picked up some stuff at the Central Market on Broadway. I don't know if they have Live Oak, but they did have at least a couple Jester King bottles then.

 

Best options are going to be Central Market (close to downtown), Gabriel's Superstore (North side), and Spec's De Zavala (NW side), though other Spec's locations should have the Live Oak as well.

 

While spending a night in San Antonio (during Fiesta), I checked out The Granary for dinner and Freetail Taproom & Production Facility. The Granary had some decent house beers. Tried BBA Local Coffee Stout from Freetail and thought it held up remarkably well to some of the nationally better known BBA stouts.

 

Does Weathered Souls do crowlers or growler fills?

 

I know they sell crowlers, but I don't know if they'll can them on demand.

 

Has anyone seen beer camp make it to San Antonio yet?

 

Cheers!

Will be visiting San Antonio with the fam this weekend. Respect to SA for it's emerging scene, but not exactly a beer-centric destination of choice yet it would appear. I'll get one excursion, and I'm leaning towards the Freetail taproom. Of particular interest there is the BBA Local Coffee stout and Boom!

I would like to try some other local stuff, and it would be great to grab a couple crowlers to-go from Weathered Souls. I've heard good things.

Are there any taproom/growler-fill stations with a 'locals only' focus? I've looked at BigHops' menus. Fine selection, but I've had or can get a lot of this at home in Houston.

 

San Antonio doesn't really have many local breweries that you can't get in Houston. Weathered souls would probably be the only one or high wheel. Depending on how much driving you feel like doing I recommend going to cibolo Creek for lunch and or dinner. They're probably my favorite brewery in the area, not including real ale. They don't generally brew beers that set the BA world on fire, but they make solid stuff. I haven't been particularly impressed with weathered souls, I think people love them because they try to brew NEIPAs and that's all the rage right now. They have improved ever time I go there, but I don't think they're quite ready yet. Big hops and growler exchange are your best bets for growlers and local, check the different locations for different sections.

 

Back from a visit last week. Stopped in at:
- Weathered Souls: chill big tap room, beers were fine, nothing world beater, but solid.
- Freetail: way out of the way, beers were pretty meh, lively spot during a basketball game.
- Friendly Spot: man, I LOVED this place. Something like 80 taps between the two bars, no real beer list, just figure it all out from the tap handles and asking the friendly bartenders. So chill.
- Big Hops Bridge: just east of the center, cool spot with lots of taps. seemed of a bit of a sketchy area(??), but really fun spot.

 

Guessing you didn't go to the production Freetail taproom.

 

I've always liked Friendly Spot. Some ppl have issues with it but I recommend it to everyone.

 

As a newbie it was kind of confusing about the taps and how to get the food, but that only took a second to work out. Staff were cool about helping me out. I certainly didn't care for the idea that there is no tap list, but whatever. Grab a beer, watch TV outside, chill.

 

Is there a concensus for best tacos? Or at least in the top quintile that is near either weathered souls or freetail or downtown in general?