Our pick: Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling, 4834 Whirlwind Drive, (210) 775-2099, drinkrangercreek.com
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling was started by three beer-loving and business-minded dudes back in 2010. The company, which places admirable emphasis on sourcing local ingredients and championing local food that pairs well with its products, has steadily won us over with each new beer and (to a lesser extent, because this pick is about the brewery side of things) whisky. Among our favorites are the toasty and nutty Oatmeal Pale Ale, the heavy yet sharp Red Headed Stranger IPA, and the Mesquite Smoked Porter, which is as gnarly and full of flavor as every Texan’s favorite barbecuing wood. Ranger Creek, the only “brewstillery” in Texas, hosts tours on Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. and tasting hours Fridays and Saturdays from 5-9 p.m. In a move that, to be honest, really puts Ranger Creek over the top for us, the place is now also hosting a monthly brunch, the next installment of which will be on Sunday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling was started by three beer-loving and business-minded dudes back in 2010. The company, which places admirable emphasis on sourcing local ingredients and championing local food that pairs well with its products, has steadily won us over with each new beer and (to a lesser extent, because this pick is about the brewery side of things) whisky. Among our favorites are the toasty and nutty Oatmeal Pale Ale, the heavy yet sharp Red Headed Stranger IPA, and the Mesquite Smoked Porter, which is as gnarly and full of flavor as every Texan’s favorite barbecuing wood. Ranger Creek, the only “brewstillery” in Texas, hosts tours on Saturdays from 2-4 p.m. and tasting hours Fridays and Saturdays from 5-9 p.m. In a move that, to be honest, really puts Ranger Creek over the top for us, the place is now also hosting a monthly brunch, the next installment of which will be on Sunday, April 30 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
WINNER: David Davis at Heat, 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 227-2600, heatsa.com
2. Bobby Sanchez at Smoke, 1170 E Commerce St., (210) 253-9919, smoketherestaurant.com
3. Esteban Medina at Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
2. Bobby Sanchez at Smoke, 1170 E Commerce St., (210) 253-9919, smoketherestaurant.com
3. Esteban Medina at Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
WINNER: Paramour, 102 9th St., (210) 340-9880, paramourbar.com
2. Blue Box, 312 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 2107, (210) 227-2583, blueboxbar.com
3. Bar 1919, 1420 S. Alamo St., (210) 227-1420, bar1919.com
WINNER: Heat, 1500 N. Main Ave., (210) 227-2600, heatsa.com
2. Pegasus, 1402 N. Main Ave., (210) 299-4222, pegasussanantonio.com
3. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
2. Pegasus, 1402 N. Main Ave., (210) 299-4222, pegasussanantonio.com
3. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
WINNER: Chisme, 2403 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 530-4236, eatchisme.com
2. Casa Azul de Andrea, 1036 S. Alamo St., (210) 451-9393,
facebook.com/casaazuldeandrea
3. Bang Bang Bar, 119 El Mio Drive, (210) 320-1187, facebook.com/thebangbangbar210
2. Casa Azul de Andrea, 1036 S. Alamo St., (210) 451-9393,
facebook.com/casaazuldeandrea
3. Bang Bang Bar, 119 El Mio Drive, (210) 320-1187, facebook.com/thebangbangbar210
WINNER: Paper Tiger, 2410 N. St. Mary’s St., (800) 513-7540, papertigersa.com
2. Jazz TX, 312 Pearl Pkwy., Suite 6001, (210) 332-9386, jazztx.com
3. The Aztec Theatre, 104 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 812-4355, theaztectheatre.com
WINNER: Alamo Ice House, 802 N. Alamo St., (210) 758-5151, alamoicehouse.com
2. Texas Ice House, Blanco Road, (210) 771-2765, facebook.com/texas-icehouse
3. Sanchez Ice House, multiple locations, facebook.com/sanchezicehouse
2. Texas Ice House, Blanco Road, (210) 771-2765, facebook.com/texas-icehouse
3. Sanchez Ice House, multiple locations, facebook.com/sanchezicehouse
WINNER: Perfect 10, 111 NW Loop 410, (210) 344-6601, perfect10sa.com
2. The Palace Men’s Club, 2482 NE Loop 410, (210) 599-6011,
thepalacemensclubsa.com
2. The Palace Men’s Club, 2482 NE Loop 410, (210) 599-6011,
thepalacemensclubsa.com
WINNER: Dorcol Distilling Co., 1902 S. Flores St., (210) 229-0607, dorcolspirits.com
2. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
3. The Squeezebox, 2806 N. St. Mary’s St., facebook.com/thesqueezebox
2. Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
3. The Squeezebox, 2806 N. St. Mary’s St., facebook.com/thesqueezebox
WINNER: Babio’s, 527 W. Hildebrand Ave., (210) 409-7245, facebook.com/babiosedd
2. Brass Monkey, 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/brassmonkeytx
3. Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, bonhamexchange.com
2. Brass Monkey, 2702 N. St. Mary’s St., (210) 480-4722, facebook.com/brassmonkeytx
3. Bonham Exchange, 411 Bonham St., (210) 224-9219, bonhamexchange.com
WINNER: Slacker’s, multiple locations, slackerssa.com
2. Sancho’s, 628 Jackson St., (210) 320-1840, sanchosmx.com
3. Artisan on Alamo, 315 8th St., (210) 896-5070, artisanonalamo.com
2. Sancho’s, 628 Jackson St., (210) 320-1840, sanchosmx.com
3. Artisan on Alamo, 315 8th St., (210) 896-5070, artisanonalamo.com
