Freetail’s Southtown tap room has poured its last pint. Credit: Instagram / freetailbrewing
A beloved name in San Antonio’s craft beer scene is once again scaling back.
Freetail Brewing Co. has shuttered its Southtown taproom without public announcement, and the building has since been listed for sale. A recorded phone message for the location at 2000 S. Presa St. confirmed the closure.
The move leaves Freetail’s original brewpub at 4035 N. Loop 1604 West as its sole location.
Freetail has been in a state of contraction amid a nationwide downturn in the craft-beer industry, largely driven by shifting consumer tastes. In early 2024, the brewery’s owners listed it for sale, and late that same year, the business abandoned retail distribution to focus on food and beer service at its two taprooms.
Founded in 2008 by Scott Metzger — who parted ways with the venture in 2018 — Freetail was among the early pioneers of San Antonio’s craft-beer movement and helped set the stage for a wave of small-batch breweries.
The company’s branding, community-focused events and creative brews made it a fixture among local beer fans. The business also won space on grocery shelves around the state — not always an easy feat for small brewers.
Freetail debuted its Southtown taproom in 2014 as the brand’s profile increased and the craft-beer scene continued to chart sales growth.
The Current reached out to Freetail for comment on the closure but got no response by press time. It’s unclear whether the decision is part of a larger shift in operations.
The brand remains active at its original Loop 1604 location, which is open and operating seven days a week.
The closure follows the owners of Kunstler Brewing this month telling the Current they’re shuttering the business’ Hemisfair location due to long-delayed city road construction around the site.
Subscribe to SA Current newsletters.
Follow us: Apple News | Google News | NewsBreak | Reddit | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Or sign up for our RSS Feed
Related Stories
The business’ two brewpubs will continue to serve its beer along with wood-fired pizzas and other food.
Freetail, a 15-year-old purveyor of craft brews, was listed on a site for people looking to sell businesses.
The same ownership group has controlled the venture since 2016.