USA, TX: Two new breweries getting ready to open in San Antonio area

Despite the closure of Boerne Brewery in 2022, the craft brewing community in the Boerne/Comfort area continues to expand and further showcase the Texas Hill Country as a destination for fans of locally produced beer — as well as wine and spirits. Local homebrewer Donald Kretz plans to bring his recipes to the masses this spring with the planned launch of 28 Songs Brewhouse and Kitchen, the CultureMap San Antonio reported on January 24.

A veteran who fostered a successful career in the defense/intelligence industry, Kretz is now focused on turning his love for craft brewing into his own full-fledged brewpub. In early January, Kretz and his team began renovating the former Main and Market building at 110 Market Avenue, north of downtown Boerne, where four breweries — Cibolo Creek, Tusculum, Free Roam, and Dodging Duck — all sit within walking distance of each other.

Kretz is using a newly created Facebook page to keep people updated on the brewery's construction progress. In one post, he explained that the name 28 Songs refers to how cardinals can sing 28 different songs, adding that many people in this region feel a spiritual connection to the bird.

According to Kretz, the new nano-brewery will include indoor and outdoor seating for more than 150 people, a five-barrel brew house, and 28 taps to handle a lineup of original core beers and a rotation of small-batch brews.

Meanwhile, San Antonio’s next brewery is humming along. Owners of Breakaway Brewing Co. said in mid-January that beer production has begun at their fledgling East Side facility. The husband and wife team of Chris and Jean Pal-Freeman are developing the cycling-themed brewery in the Government Hill neighborhood next to Joint Base San Antonio-Fort Sam Houston.

According to Breakaway Brewing, interviews for food positions are underway, and the first batch of company merchandise has arrived. The owners have been eyeing an opening timeframe in late January or early February.

January 28 will be a big day at Weathered Souls Brewing Co.: That’s when their inaugural Weathered Souls and Friends event takes place, offering visitors a chance to try a few beers produced by more than 20 breweries located around Texas and nationwide.

The idea here, according to Weathered Souls, is to bring bits of different types of small, independent breweries to local craft beer fans who do not get to travel much.

Participating breweries include Baa Baa Brewhouse and Ingenious Brewing — both from Texas — Good Word Brewing & Public House from Georgia, and Claimstake Brewing from California. The fun at Weathered Souls begins at 11 am on January 28.

E-malt.com, the global information source for the brewing and malting industry professionals. The bi-weekly E-malt.com Newsletters feature latest industry news, statistics in graphs and tables, world barley and malt prices, and other relevant information. Click here to get full access to E-malt.com. If you are a Castle Malting client, you can get free access to E-malt.com website and publications. Contact us for more information at marketing@castlemalting.com .