Bottom Line: This is a next-level BLT that delivers on the heat and pairs well with the excellent brews from Dos Sirenos
San Antonio has no shortage of good breweries and brewpubs, and I have managed to do a tour of quite a number of these establishments during my time in this city. One that I recently discovered is Dos Sirenos Brewing which is just south of downtown near the Blue Star Arts Complex (and also near another favorite destination, Blue Star Brewery). I paid a visit there recently and they had a special that night that would certainly be of interest to lovers of spicy food: a Jalapeno Popper BLT sandwich.
As described to me by our very helpful and enthusiastic waitress, the chef cooks jalapeno poppers in-house then chops those up and mixes them into a cheese spread. That is then slathered onto toasted bread (sourdough I believe) to which is added beer-braised bacon, lettuce, and tomato. Hungry yet?
I previously had the Dos Sirenos Spicy Burger when I visited the brewery and that was really darn good (though it certainly could have had more heat), but that didn’t prepare me for this masterpiece of a BLT sandwich. There was plenty of that delicious cheese spread, so much so that it was hard to take a bite without getting it all over my face. Thankfully our waitress supplied me with plenty of napkins. The cheese spread was lite and creamy (think of a lighter, decadent pimento cheese on steroids) and it delivered a kick. The bacon brought a nice smokiness with it and just the right amount of saltiness to pair perfectly with that delicious cheese. The lettuce and tomato were quite fresh (and I’m going to guess organic), and instead of getting lost in the mix they added a fresh pop to the sandwich.
Now while the burger I had on the previous trip did not quite meet my heat expectations (though it was still quite excellent), this BLT certainly delivered on the spice. I’m not certain if all the heat came from the cheese or if they kicked up that bacon as well, but the sandwich was beyond Medium heat level and that burn lingered for a while (despite washing it down with a couple of brews).
To start off the meal, I tried the appetizer on their specials board which was the Elote Fritters. Elote is grilled Mexican street corn, and these were fried balls of lite batter with fresh corn inside which were topped with a spicy aioli (there might have been some jalapenos in those fritters as well). They were not super spicy, but they delivered a kick and I may never be able to fully enjoy regular cornbread or hushpuppies again because these kicked-up fritters put both of those to shame.
And since I was at a brewery, I did what the locals do and I ordered some brews (and not just out of necessity to dowse the heat from the food). I started with the Trident Tripel which delivered the richness you expect from a Belgian ale yet also proved quite refreshing. Next up was the Hera DDH IPA which is a double IPA that is strong on the hops and had just the right amount of bitterness. They have quite a few more beers to choose from and I recall on my prior trip really enjoying the Zeus Juice New England Hazy IPA (a very refreshing beer that is somewhere between an IPA and a Hefeweizen).
And before wrapping up this review, I have to say a word about the wonderful waitstaff at Dos Sirenos. Each time I have been there, the waitresses have been friendly, enthusiastic, and well-informed on the food and beer. They certainly seem to enjoy working there and they make the experience all the better. It is always nice to be around people who enjoy their jobs and I am guessing the owners have figured out how to take care of their staff. (And I always make sure to tip generously.)
The place is a bit pricey for a brewpub but not much more than most casual restaurants you will find in the area (and really not much more than chains these days). You will walk away full and satisfied, and the beers they brew there are some of the best in the San Antonio area. You definitely can’t go wrong at Dos Sirenos, and the price you pay will be justified. Sadly, the Jalapeno Popper BLT and the Elote Fritters were the specials for the night and I can’t guarantee they will be there if you stop by. (Hey guys, add these to the permanent menu!) But there is plenty more to choose from on the menu (I’m looking at that chorizo burger for my next trip), and plenty of beers on tap, so you should not be disappointed no matter what you get.
Dos Sirenos Brewing
231 East Cevallos Street
San Antonio, Texas
Website: dossirenosbrewing.com