Otto’s is located in San Antonio’s Pearl district, named for the Historic Pearl Brewery (est. 1883) that once thrived here. For years, the popular brewery boasted the best-selling beer in the state of Texas—its eponymous XXX Pearl, a recipe secured by its industrious leader, Otto Koehler.

In many respects, OTTO KOEHLER is remembered as a shrewd businessman, proud San Antonian, and beacon of a beer boomtown, expanding and presiding over the prosperous Pearl Brewery UNTIL HIS UNTIMELY DEATH in 1914—after which point his wife, Emma Koehler, took the helm. However, she is not the only Emma in this story.

There are but THREE EMMAS WITH WHOM OTTO WAS ROMANTICALLY ENTANGLED: Emma Koehler (his wife). Emma Dumpke (his wife’s nurse). And Emma Burgermeister (Emma D’s roommate). Come to think of it, we’re not sure who was running the brewery.

RUMOR HAS IT that after Emma D (mistress #1) became affianced to a less questionable character, Otto then sought to secure Emma B (mistress #2) with a proposal, which she rejected. Passionately. In fact, she refused his efforts with a fatal gunshot, THUS OFFING OTTO FOREVERMORE.

With Otto henceforth humbled, THE ORIGINAL EMMA (EMMA KOEHLER) STEPPED INTO POWER, resourcefully leading the brewery through Prohibition and into a new era of prosperity. Beloved by the community, hers is the handsome brewery-turned-hotel—Hotel Emma—that you see across the river while you sit at this picnic table.

And here we have Otto’s, named as such because—while we would clearly never cast judgment upon the deceased—it’s a cheerful reminder to think about the story you want to leave behind. Welcome to Otto’s Ice House, with justice and drinks for all.