28 Songs Brewhouse + Kitchen started its regular business hours this spring at its new locale inside the Main & Market development! Veteran-owned and operated, this small business entity has set big sights on becoming a craft beer destination, not only pairing its delicious casual food menu with a full 28-tap draft selection but also cooking with it! Now open five days a week, with special events on Thursdays and live local music in their taproom on Saturdays, this new Boerne brewhouse shows no signs of slowing down!
In a recent interview, owner Don Kretz noted that launching this enterprise was the result of a “reckoning.” He had long dreamt of starting a business and owning a bar. And, more recently, a brewery. Kretz has several years’ experience as a home brewer. And, after sharing his thoughts with family and friends at what seemed to him like a natural turning point in his life, their overwhelming encouragement was all he needed to hear. “You need to do this. Let us know how we can support you,” they said. And from that moment, he began the planning stages for 28 Songs.
Their location, at 110 Market Ave., according to Kretz, is the ideal site following a six-month search. Boerne is not only this entrepreneur’s home base, filled with a support net of friends and family; he also notes it’s synonymous with like-minded, independently owned businesses. (And the craft beer scene is second-to-none!) After speaking with nearly 400 locals, he realized that this space, which is north of the popular Hill Country Mile and further out of the downtown core, has its own appeal in less traffic, more parking, and the ability for people to “make it their own—a local place to come to.”
From the Brewhouse
On the craft beer side, 28 Songs intends to start brewing in the next couple of weeks. The brewing team includes Brewer Rob Velez (formerly of BJ’s Restaurant and Brewhouse, Tusculum Brewing Company, and Dodging Duck Brewhaus and Restaurant), and they are united in their goals: to brew popular styles from the lightest of lights to the darkest of darks, as well as experiment with unique combinations of malts and hops. “We want to have fun, experiment, and showcase some of the more interesting flavor profiles produced by simple recipes. Sometimes, simple is actually better!” Kretz thinks. With 28 taps to be filled, the team will be kept busy maintaining their stock of “flagship” beers while constantly coming up with unique and interesting alternatives.
From the Kitchen
28 Songs Brewhouse + Kitchen aims at serving its own brand of grilled sandwiches, melts, and popular apps designed to purposely play second fiddle to the craft brews they are paired with. A shining example is the enormously popular “Totchos!” Inspired by a menu item from a northern Virginia brewhouse which Kretz visited on business trips, this unique tater-tot-based snack goes so well with beer, it’s a no-brainer! Given a bit of Texas flare with three local flavors (Hill Country with smoked brisket, Cubanos with pulled pork, and Kickin’ Chicken), happy customers from all over have been eating them up—literally! And, he believes that serving his customers from a modestly thoughtful menu such as this, designed to feature their high-quality beer, is the recipe for success.
Not to be outdone by the drink selection, some mains and desserts also incorporate the inspiring beverages that are drawing consistent crowds to this venue. A beer chili, as an example, paired with a draft set off a social media buzz just recently. And a shining example of the 28 Songs ideology that they’re on an adventure, including fun experiments with versatile ingredients that breweries don’t often use, also comes through in their “beer float.” Learning through their own taste tests that vanilla goes quite well with reds and hazy IPAs, and that chocolate blends nicely with coffee-forward porters and some stouts, a beer float is just as it sounds: a tasty dessert-style mix of beer and ice cream.
And they don’t intend to stop there! Kretz identified this unique new addition to the Boerne beer scene is currently in the process of sourcing various flavors of craft sodas and gelato, expanding their wine and cider options, and so much more. The plan to become a craft beer taproom with provocative food and dessert features made with high-quality ingredients designed to shine the light directly on the beverage that inspired this concept is well in hand! 28 Songs Brewhouse + Kitchen welcomes Boerne residents and beyond to enjoy their upcoming proprietary brews, their guest taps, their customer-focused atmosphere, and great local background music that blends it all nicely together. Open Tuesday through Sunday, their hours of operation will be regularly posted on their website, or you can follow their social media for weekly updates!
Written by: Spring Sault, Uncommonlygrand.com