A Visit to Freetail on South Presa

The Freetail taproom on South Presa has added a full restaurant with the same menu as the north location as well as plenty of beers to choose from.

Freetail Brewing Co. has had its taproom on South Presa–just south of downtown–for some time, but recently they have expanded it to offer full restaurant service along with their many draft beer selections. I have made a couple of visits to the location since it opened, and fans of the brewery and restaurant on the northside should be plenty happy with the location on South Presa as well. It has essentially the same food menu which offers a nice selection of appetizers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas, and more. And the service is just as friendly, with each visit proving to be an enjoyable experience.

As a starter, I highly recommend their Pretzel Platter which includes two large pretzels along with their signature queso and house-made IPA mustard. The pretzels are cooked perfectly golden brown with just the right amount chew to the crust and a pillowy soft interior. They have a bit of sweetness which is counterbalanced by the flecks of salt on the crust. The queso is nice and creamy and pairs well with the pretzel, but don’t skip out on that mustard which has a nice tang and a bit of a bite. As another appetizer option, their Roasted Red Pepper Hummus, which comes with warmed (sometime hot!) pita bread, is one the best versions of that dip I have tried.

But no meal at Freetail is complete without a slice of their first-rate pizza. They make a thin crust, but not too thin so that it holds the toppings well while delivering a good chew and a hint of sweetness. They are quite generous with the toppings, unlike many of the big chains out there, so that you won’t get a bite that is lacking in flavor. The meat lover’s pizza–titled The Meathead–comes with Italian sausage, pepperoni, Canadian bacon, salami, and bacon along with mozzarella cheese and a nice tangy sauce and it is a carnivore’s delight. And their Greek Pizza, which includes basil pesto, gyro meat, feta cheese blend, kalamata olives, and banana peppers, is a Mediterranean feast. At some point I will get around to trying their tempting sandwiches–the meatball sub looks particularly good–but I have a hard time getting past those pizzas.

Across my visits to the South Presa location, following are the beers I tried out:

Imagine 14 Years Imperial Pilsner: I had never tried an imperial pilsner before and didn’t even know they existed, but this was really quite good. It had a rich, full-bodied taste which is not what you typically expect from a pilsner. It actually had some similarities to an IPA, but not too heavy on either the hops or bitterness. Sadly, they have run out of this one, but I got a four-pack of cans before it was gone.

Velocihopter American IPA: This is one that IPA drinkers should like, though it does not go overly complex like you sometimes find with this style. It has the hops and bitterness you expect along with some fruitiness and a note of grapefruit. It is also quite rich. But it has a smoothness to it as well which makes it an enjoyable beer to drink.

San Antonio Pale Ale: This is a milder pale ale that might be a good starter for those wanting to learn how to enjoy an IPA. It is not too hoppy nor too fruity, and while it is full-bodied, it goes down easy with a nice finish. This one pairs particularly well with their pizza.

Citrus Trip Witbier: This is a nice citrusy beer (thus the name) that has the distinct taste of the tangerines used in the brewing but that does not go overboard on the fruitiness. It is a mild and refreshing beer and the perfect choice to finish off a night of beer tasting.

The selection of beers on tap at South Presa varies from what they are offering at their 1604 location, so check the website to see what is available. But no matter what they have on tap, you should be able to find some good brews to choose from.

The South Presa location is nicely laid out so that you don’t feel too cramped even if you are there at a busy time. And with a good selection of beers along with an excellent food menu, you can’t go wrong at either location. So take comfort in the fact that your options for enjoying a visit to Freetail have expanded to both south and north of town.

Address:
2000 S. Presa St.
San Antonio, TX 78210
On Tap | Menu