Audacity Brew House celebrates Denton debut

Image credit: Audacity Brew House

Laying claim to the title of being the first brewing operation to exist inside the Denton city limits, the Audacity Brew House held its three-day grand opening celebration this past weekend. On tap were no fewer than seven brews per day, one of which was designated as a specialty beer based off one of the brewery's standard half-dozen recipes.

Located on 1012 Shady Oaks Drive, the brewery sits in a warehouse just two turns and a traffic circle off of where U. S. 77 splits from I-35E. The bright green structure is hard to miss, with ample parking existing in a full 180-degree arc around the building. Brewing equipment takes up a little more than two-thirds of the 5000 square foot space, it being a 17-barrel system put together by co-owner and former brewmaster at the Fort Collins Brewery, Doug Smith.

A taproom occupies the remaining indoor space, built virtually from scratch by co-owner Scott Lindsey. It offers the obligatory bar seating along with a handful of tables, with service originating from a wall whose current capacity is twelve taps. On opening day, brews ranged from Cliff Diver, a lightly tart Berliner weisse with a kind of diluted lemon drop flavor, to Boss Raptor, a dry-hopped west-coast style IPA with 72 IBU that should attract more than a few hopheads.

In between those was Drachenfutter, a lager which may have needed a little more time, along with Repurcussion, an agreeable amber ale, and what I considered the best beer on the board, a mild English-style porter offering up hints of chocolate and roasted malt called The Great Escape. The crew also allowed me sample three of the weekend's limited release beers, which included the eminently herbal Chai Lager, a well-tempered Chili Porter and the slightly more tart than the original (that being Cliff Diver) Raspberry Berliner Weisse. All were noticeably lighter-bodied and approachable, a character quite fitting for drinking beer on a warm afternoon.

For those wondering about atmosphere, the brewery has a 1500 square foot patio/beer garden existing on the building's east side. The placement being a wise choice, considering how patrons in the outdoor area enjoyed ample shading with the building blocking out the low-lying, late-afternoon sun. It features a small stage for live music, something which will be a regular occurrence during taproom hours on the weekends. Food trucks will also be available during those times, supplying bites to enjoy alongside the area's newest brand of beer.

Overall, the space is comfortable, though I will admit to wishing there was a window offering views of the brewhouse while sitting at the bar. Staff was more than welcoming and willing to answer questions, and it's hard to argue with $5 flights (consisting of four 4-ounce pours) for those wishing to sample a subset of the brewery's full range of beer.

Going forward, Audacity plans to be open six days a week with daily tours being on the bill as well. They'll focus primarily on local accounts to start, with plans to expand service as production grows.