{"id":468643,"date":"2026-10-17T08:26:27","date_gmt":"2026-10-17T08:26:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/468643\/"},"modified":"2026-10-17T08:26:27","modified_gmt":"2026-10-17T08:26:27","slug":"how-to-get-the-most-out-of-the-san-antonio-beer-festival-while-dodging-a-hangover","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-tx\/468643\/","title":{"rendered":"How to get the most out of the San Antonio Beer Festival while dodging a hangover"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"Revelers enjoy their time at the 2025 San Antonio Beer Festival. Credit: Jaime Monzon<\/p>\n

Hundreds of beverages are available to sample at the 2026 San Antonio Beer Festival, and most of us only come equipped with a single mouth.<\/p>\n

That means it\u2019s good to have a plan for tackling the city\u2019s original beer fest, which takes place Saturday, Oct. 17 at Hemisfair. It\u2019s also wise to take a few precautions to maximize enjoyment of the day and avoid pain the day after.<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s run them down.<\/p>\n

1. Stay hydrated. To paraphrase Thomas Jefferson, some truths are self-evident. The founding father drank a good bit of wine but usually added a little water to it as he grew older. Hydrating is key to enjoying a festival that includes an abundance of great beer, meads and seltzers. Drink water and alcoholic beverages on a one-to-one ratio at the minimum. And remember, you can always make non-alcoholic beers part of the hydration process while keeping the party going in your mouth.<\/p>\n

2. Plan for a safe ride home. While getting that bot- tle of water and purchasing tickets for extra samples, remember that designated-driver tickets are just $20 and a rideshare is sometimes not that much more.<\/p>\n

3. Watch out for the sun. The fest is outdoors in South Texas, so pack sunscreen and a hat even though it\u2019s October. Hot, red, painful skin sucks.<\/p>\n

4. Make a plan. It doesn\u2019t have to be elaborate, but pick something to anchor your tasting. Set a goal of sampling from five breweries you have never tried before. A lot of U.S. brewers have also improved their lager game, so don\u2019t hesitate to frolic among the Fest-style beers most popular this time of year in Germany \u2014 the sweeter M\u00e4rzen lagers we most commonly call Oktoberfest brews in America or the thirst-quenching pilsners with their many regional interpretations.<\/p>\n

5. Branch out from beer. Even if ales are the main attraction, taste some of the alternatives available, including a variety of meads. Fermented honey is at their core, but the craft has come a long way from the somewhat frightening versions evoked in Beowulf. Seltzers also remain popular as a lower-calorie alternative. You can also follow a theme like fruit beers, explore how different breweries use a particular hop or just sample brews from booths near the musical act you most want to hear.<\/p>\n

6. Keep supporting the brewers. Breweries from across San Antonio, the region, the state, the U.S. and the world are represented in the festival. They brought a piece of their tap rooms to you, so do them a favor and drop by their tap rooms at a later date if you liked what you sampled. Craft brewers depend on loyal customers, and any out-of-town trip becomes more lively with a brewery visit.<\/p>\n

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