Second Brewpub for Southtown

SECOND BREWPUB FOR SOUTHTOWN

An already lively scene for the craft beer lovers in Southtown is about to become more so. The Filling Station, a respected pizza and sandwich shop on South St. Mary's Street, is opening a brewpub in the former gas station after relocating the restaurant to a larger space next door.

When the Filling Station Brewing Co. opens early next year, it will become San Antonio's third brewpub and just down the road from the oldest surviving brewpub in the city, Blue Star Brewing Co.

Jon Rowe said he believes the 300-square-foot brewpub, which can only sell the beer on the premises, could be the smallest in the nation.

Filling Station owner Rowe and award-winning homebrewer and California transplant Dwight Mulcahy will brew 20- to 30-gallon batches of beers such as pale ale, IPA, kolsch, and some brews on the darker side.

Mulcahy said there will be a standing bar inside, but most of the seating will be outdoor icehouse-style seating and patrons at the restaurant next door will be able to saunter over for a fresh-made beer to take back to their table.

REALTAIL FESTIVAL

If making decisions isn't your strong suit, then being faced with 27 special beers from some of the most respected brewers in Texas in one day is really going to cramp your style.

The second annual RealTail festival begins at 11:30 a.m. Saturday, August 27, at Freetail Brewing Co. with special beers tapped throughout the day by Freetail and Blanco's Real Ale Brewing Co.

The lineup will include Freetail's Broken Honeymoon (an English summer ale with South Texas honey) and sour beers Bandito, Ate, Figgy Wood'n (also barrel aged) and Self Regarde.

The hop monster Hopothesis E, the fifth in a series of experimentation in big hop flavors, will join a new hoppy addition called SA-Weeet IPA. Two porters will be on hand including a barrel-aged Cherry Porter and O'Henry's Porter, homage to a beer made at Texas' first brewpub, the late, lamented Waterloo Brewing Co. of Austin.

For2una Roja, Chile Limon Wit, Spirulina Wit, Rubio Fumando, Witicus, a rare release of 2010 La Muerta, and the stalwart regulars round out the lineup.

Real Ale is bringing Hans Pils, Oktoberfest, Lost Gold IPA, Real Ale XV Anniversary (Imperial Stout), Real Ale XIV Empire, ESB, Morgul, and a surprise offering.

Of course, there had to be a collaboration beer to signify the festive union. The beer is a double wit with nopalito, agave nectar, herbs, and spices.

NB BEER UPDATES

Having secured a building in the heart of downtown and with equipment on the way, New Braunfels Brewing Co. is doing samplings of their two signature beers to whet the appetite of future customers. Free tastings of the LuftWeiss hefeweizen and the dark ErdeWeisse will be available at the New Braunfels Farmers Market in early September. Additional tastings will be on their Facebook page.

Travis E. Poling writes about beer weekly for the Current and is author of Beer Across Texas: A Guide to Brews and Brewmasters of the Lone Star State. You can reach him at travis@beeracrosstexas.com.