Another Alamo City brewery has scaled back operations amid continued market struggles for San Antonio’s craft beer scene. Freetail Brewing Co. has quietly closed its nine-year-old Southtown taproom at 2000 S. Presa St., whittling down its local footprint to one brewpub.
Freetail did not make a formal announcement about the closure on social media. But the 28,628-square-foot space is now up for sale, and a recorded message on the brewery’s phone line confirms the shutter.
The closure continues a tumultuous time for the brewery. In 2024, the company stopped distribution to bars, restaurants, and stores, saying that it wanted to focus operations on its two gastropubs. Its flagship at 4035 N. Loop 1604 W. remains open.
The business climate was very different when founders Scott Metzger and Jason Davis first opened Freetail in 2008. One of the pioneers of San Antonio’s craft beer movement, the brewery’s opening kicked off a growth spurt for the San Antonio scene, followed by Ranger Creek, Busted Sandal, and Alamo Beer Company.
Now craft beer is a flagging category, damaged by market saturation, changing drinking habits, and the rise of beverage alternatives like seltzers, canned cocktails, and THC- and CBD-infused drinks. According to industry news site, American Craft Beer, the industry has also been damaged by “Big Beer” companies gobbling up smaller breweries, leading to a perceived lack of authenticity.
The stormy climate has been felt acutely in the San Antonio area over the past two years. Man Overboard Brewing Co., Vista Brewing, and New Braunfels’ Faust Brewing all closed in 2025. Most recently, Künstler Brewing shuttered its Hemisfair Tap Haus, citing downtown construction woes.
A request for further information on Freetail’s Southtown closing was not returned in time for this article’s publication.