With more than 25 years in the beverage industry, Künstler Brewing co-owner Vera Deckard has experienced it all — from California’s wine country to the heart of Southtown San Antonio. Her journey from sommelier to brewer began as a personal gesture and ultimately led her to launch one of the city’s most beloved neighborhood breweries.
Name: Vera Deckard
Years in the food & beverage industry: 25
Claim to fame: Deckard started Künstler Brewing in 2017 with her husband, Brent, an Air Force veteran.
Money quote: “Our customer base has evolved over the past eight years. When we opened, it was the height of the craft beer boom — now, people come for the community aspect. Breweries have become gathering spaces, and that’s where we really thrive.”
Go-to drinks: Puro Southtown — Künstler’s Mexican lager — or her own handmade spritz with bubbles, elderflower and lime.
Favorite local spot: “I love Outlaw Kitchen — it’s such honest food. If I ever opened a restaurant, that’s the kind of menu that would appeal to me. Other favorites are Longtab, Roadmap and Mixtli’s bar.”
Book reading right now: Iron Flame by Rebecca Yarros.
Must-watch TV show: Master Chef
How did you first get into the beverage world?
It’s always been a learn-as-I-go experience. I worked in the wine and restaurant industry in California. That’s where I learned the fine art of tasting. That’s also where I met my husband Brent, who was a home brewer. My focus was always wine, but this was right when the craft beer boom was starting.
Fast forward to 2011. He was deployed to Afghanistan, and I wanted to come up with the perfect homecoming gift. I realized creating my own brew for him would be just that. When he came back, I wanted to brew every weekend. He’d walk through our King William neighborhood and laugh, saying, “This is like Breaking Bad!”
When did Künstler officially come to life?
We closed on our original Künstler space in 2015. Some landlords at the time didn’t even know what a brewery was. The building was pretty decrepit, and Brent and I did most of the renovation work ourselves.
We’ve known the Mixtli crew since 2012, back when they were still in the boxcar. Since I was homebrewing then, I thought it would be fun to bring them beer. Eventually, they asked if they could incorporate one of my beers into their menu, and we’ve stayed connected ever since.
Diego helped us organize our kitchen. For Hispanic Heritage Month, we decided to collaborate again — he said, “Tell me what ingredients you want,” and we landed on a milk stout we dubbed La Cabrona with cajeta, cinnamon, vanilla, sea salt and pecans. It’s a limited release that feels really special.
What’s next for Künstler?
Right now, we’re taking a moment to catch our breath. The biggest lesson we learned from opening our second location is what it really takes to grow sustainably. Brent and I are focused on making the original location even better.
We’re constantly adapting to what customers want, but we also have to make sure we don’t lose sight of who we are. Our branding guy always asks, “Is this who you are?” Staying within our framework and mission, that’s vital.
What’s something people might not know about you?
My husband was an Air Force pilot. He flew C-5s.
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