In early 2022, I was sitting in the back of Cibolo Creek Brewing with my two best friends, Shelly and Olga. I picked up my cell phone to show them what I had created on Facebook the night before: a page called “Craft Beer Girls of Boerne” (CBGB). I had talked a lot about doing this for over a year, and — after Olga blasted it out on social media — the group took off.
Initially, I thought CBGB would only appeal to a handful of regulars, but, oh, how I was wrong. Our gatherings quickly grew, and it was eye-opening that there were so many women who had just moved to Boerne and were looking for ways to get out in the community and connect with others. CBGB now has over 400 members and every meetup results in new friendships.
There’s also a page called “Where’s Laura?” where you can check out all of the local places I go. But now, come along as we tour Boerne’s amazing craft beer scene!
Free Roam Brewing Co. | freeroambrewing.com
Free Roam is on Main Street in the old Green Bull Jewelry building. After reading their story before they opened in 2022, I knew we were about to get some good beer in town. The “Low Fence Lager” is the top-selling beer, but I have had some great IPAs, DIPAs, stouts, pale ales, and even a cream ale. Out back are food trucks and Lupe’s Mex Tex is usually open. Free Roam also hosts live music and events like the 5K Run Club on Mondays and trivia on Tuesdays.
Cibolo Creek Brewing Co. | cibolocreekbrewing.com
Cibolo Creek Brewing just celebrated its seventh anniversary. The atmosphere is very friendly, and they usually have several house beers on tap. My favorite is their “Creekside IPA.” They almost always have small-batch brews on rotation too. The food is also great: The BEST Burger on Potato Roll is highly recommended and it comes with the best fries in Boerne. You can sit out front for a view of Main Street, or head back to the beer garden with a stage for live music.
Hamby’s of Boerne
Hamby’s is back as the newest brewery in town. Once a restaurant in the 1970s and ‘80s, it was reborn this summer. They specialize in smash burgers, ice cream, and milkshakes, but the most exciting thing to me is the beer. They have around 11 brews on tap that do not disappoint. My favorite so far is the “Hazy Weekend Pale Ale” and the “Nitro 48ers Porter.” You can even grab a beer to go or pick up a few cans to enjoy at home.
The Dodging Duck Brewhaus & Restaurant | dodgingduck.com
Opened in 2002, the Dodging Duck is Boerne’s very first brewery. My favorite thing — other than the beer — is their vegetarian/vegan options for food. They have a vegan burger and bratwurst, but my go-to is the chopped plate with a portobello mushroom and a side of sauerkraut. If you like a good salad, the Dodging Duck makes the “Heart of Boerne Salad,” which is the best in Boerne. There are usually six craft beers on tap, and you can enjoy anything from IPAs, Belgian-style ales, doppelbocks, red ales, and stouts.
Tusculum Brewing Co. | tusculum.beer
Tusculum Brewing is in the historic H.O. Adler Building where Bergmann Lumber operated for many years. Most weekends there is live music inside when it’s hot and in the huge beer garden when it cools off. There’s great food featuring sandwiches, sharables, and salads. My most recent favorite beer has been the “Lucky 13 Stout,” but watch out — the ABV is 13%. Also give the “College Try,” an American dry-hopped lager, a go. I heard it was a beer they messed up, but it ended up tasting great!
28 Songs Brewhouse + Kitchen | 28songs.beer
28 Songs Brewhouse + Kitchen is on the far north end of Main Street and opened this past April. Along with a great guest tap selection, they have a few of their own beers on tap and it has been a lot of fun trying them. My favorite beer so far has been the “Juice Sesh” which is a session IPA. I also really enjoyed the “Phainopepla Porter.” The food is delicious, and there are a lot of TVs, so it is a great place to watch sporting events.
Dog & Pony Grill | dogandponygrill.com
Dog & Pony Grill is on the far south end of Main Street. They aren’t a brewery, but the owners are very passionate about the craft beer scene. They serve brews from all over the world, including rare beer selections that you can’t find anywhere else around. I was just at their Anchor Brewery event where they were serving the last Anchor keg in the state of Texas. They have a full menu, and the outdoor area is awesome with its shaded deck, picnic tables, and playground. Dog & Pony also hosts a lot of live music.
Who’s Laura?
Meet the Author
I’m Laura White and love being a part of the Boerne beer community. I grew up in Boerne and graduated from Boerne High School in 1998. After finishing college, my family moved around with the Air Force and we ended up back in Boerne in 2014. A few years later, Boerne’s beer scene started emerging and with my love for craft beer, I knew I was living in the right place. You can find me on my Facebook pages: “Craft Beer Girls of Boerne” and “Where’s Laura?” If you want to connect, find us on Facebook and/or Instagram. We would love to meet and share a beer with you soon!
