Beer Tasting at Dos Sirenos Brewing

San Antonio has its fair share of breweries, and it can be a daunting task to try and get around to all of them. And while I am giving that task my best shot, there are some breweries that have become favorites in my quest through town. Dos Sirenos is one of those, and I try to stop by when the opportunity presents itself. Located south of downtown on East Cevallos Street near the Blue Star Arts complex, this one is between Blue Star Brewery and Kunstler Brewery and would work well as a stop in a potential walking beer crawl involving all three. (Though not in the current scorching summer heat!)

I have visited Dos Sirenos multiple times and have enjoyed their many beer selections and their extensive menu that has a few notable spicy offerings. I happened by just recently and ordered up a sampler of brews along with something to eat. You can read about my tasty meal over at SpicyFoodReviews.com, and below is a rundown of the beers they lined up for me.

Hercules Belgian Golden Strong Ale: This is a good Belgian ale that has the rich taste you expect from this type of brew. It has some bitterness and hops in there along with some sweetness as well. They call it a “Strong” ale and that is definitely correct, with it coming in at 8.3% ABV. And be careful with this one because it goes down easy and it catches up to you quick!

Priapus IPA: They call this one a West Coast IPA and it does deliver the boldness you expect from that type of beer. It has good bitterness and plenty of hops, and it is also very fruity with a notable amount of grapefruit coming through. Those who don’t care for a fruity beer may steer clear of this one, but it is a decent IPA selection.

Atlas Strong Ale: This is a good English ale that is very complex but still quite drinkable. I noted similarities to a Doppelbock or maybe a barrel-aged beer, but its British origins are definitely notable. It has a lot of bitterness, but then some sweetness and maltiness to balance that out. This is another one that is up there on the ABV (7.3%), but it doesn’t overwhelm. I got a four-pack of this one in cans to go on my most recent visit.

Morpheus Stout: I am not big on stouts, but I have had this one before and I really enjoy it. It does not overpower like some brews in this variety do, and even though it has a strong coffee taste, that is balanced out by the maltiness and some slight hints of fruit (probably cherry). They suggest that it has some chocolate flavor in there, but I don’t detect that, and this is definitely not one of those desert stouts. Basically, this is a good, solid brew that I would order again.

Trident Tripel: This is another Belgian ale and it is my favorite among the regulars offered at Dos Sirenos. It delivers the richness you expect from this type of beer while also proving quite refreshing. It has some bitterness, but that is well balanced by the sweetness and hops. And this one pairs surprisingly well with several of their spicy menu options. I get a glass of this each time I go and often bring some cans home as well.

A couple of other beers I have tried in the past and recommend are the Zeus Juice IPA and the Hera DDH IPA. The former is a good, hazy IPA that is refreshing and pairs well with the food, especially their spicy items. The latter is a rich, double IPA that should satisfy lovers of pale ales. The tap house and kitchen opens every day at 11 AM except Tuesdays (hey, give them at least one day off!), and it can get rather rowdy on Wednesday nights when they do trivia. Monday is also a good time to check the place out when they have several appetizers and select beers for only five bucks. I make it a point to stop by Dos Sirenos on a regular basis, and if you are in the area and looking for some good beer and food be sure to give it a try.

Dos Sirenos Brewing is located at 231 East Cevallos Street and you can check out their page on our site for the hours they are open and more information.