SAN ANTONIO – Small businesses both across the country and across San Antonio have had obstacle after obstacle during the COVID-19 pandemic. As an effort to help shine a light on local breweries and keep them up and running – the San Antonio Beer Run came to fruition.
“It’s been tough, but we’ve been persevering and making some great beer,” Jim Hansen, owner/brewer of Second Pitch Beer Company said.
Jim Hansen started the Second Pitch Beer Company during the pandemic.
“So we just made the best that we could. And luckily, we have a great team around us that are able to make some great beer of it,” Hansen said.
And the San Antonio Beer Run was vital to his business.
“It meant a lot with COVID and to-go beer was really just a lifeline for us as the San Antonio brewing community and having an event that allows people that to go out to the different breweries and to get to go beer and to drink it at home was really, really important. Just as a revenue standpoint,” Hansen said.
As event after event was cancelled – and customer after customer stayed home – the founders of the San Antonio Beer Run stepped up and helped out.
“We came together and we’re like, ‘well, it looks like nobody’s doing any event.’ How can we connect the brewing community, our members, as well as our patrons?,” Erica Teague, brewer at cactus Land Brewing Company and cofounder of SA Beer Run said.
The event is about helping community businesses, while trying something new.
“You can find that something that you love somewhere. And we want to share that love and getting people out exploring,” Teague said.
It is so easy to get involved and help out the businesses. All you need is a San Antonio Beer Run passport.
“You grab a stamp on on our passport. And once you’re done, take the passport over to Road Map Brewery, you will grab a free glass while supplies last,” Teague said.
The second annual San Antonio Beer Run starts Saturday and goes until Sept. 11. You can find more information and register by clicking here.