Union Bear debuts new lair in Denton

Images: A sampler of the brewpub's Hazelnut Coffee Stout enjoyed alongside a plate
of Adult Chicken Tenders at Union Bear - Denton. © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Union Bear Brewing Co. of Plano has added to its pack this week with the introduction of a new location at 221 S. Bell Ave. in Downtown Denton.

It's the next step in the evolution of a brand that's been part of the local language for more than a decade. Union Bear first appeared on the marquee of a spot in the West Village of Uptown Dallas in 2012. Those behind the original concept passed the baton to 33 Restaurant Group in mid-2014, who then sent the Bear off to hibernation for a bit before re-introducing it in Plano as part of The Boardwalk at Granite Park in January 2018.

Of course, many will remember the Denton address as the former home of Armadillo Ale Works. The folks at 33 Restaurant Group purchased the site in late 2022, with work on the 17,000 square foot facility getting underway around the middle of 2023. Renovation plans called for the installation of a full kitchen and a complete taproom overhaul, steps needed in order to bring the full brand experience to bear, if you will, in the new space.

Along those lines, fans of Union Bear Plano should feel right at home in Denton. Similar furnishings and color choices fill the interior, with one adder being a lounge area off to one side having a pool table and video games as entertainment options.

Further diversions like dart boards and cornhole setups are part of the patio outside, where a fresh coat of paint, murals and new signage adorn a building that stands out from the neighbors in its urban setting. Indeed, the exterior presents as the primary visual difference compared to Plano's suburban retail digs.

From there, similarities are also found in the food and drink. While the dining menu is maybe slightly scaled back, many familiar dishes carry over, though one change is the flatbreads at Plano swap out with hand-stretched pizza pies in Denton. That said, many flatbread-turned-pizza items share the same name and toppings.

On the topic of beer, hardware was already in place, so production actually began late last year in Denton, according to Coty Bell, director of brewing operations. Since then, a 30-barrel system has been churning out standards served at both sites like the brewpub's blonde and amber ales. Other recipes crafted by head brewers Nick Stolz (Denton) and Eric Todd (Plano) will supplement the mainstays, though Denton may see more active rotation since it has access to a smaller, five-barrel system.

In terms of availability, Bell says upwards of 20 beers will be poured daily in Denton, this number including a few taps dedicated to guest beers from neighboring breweries. Cans of select Union Bear beers are also in the works as of this week, both for distribution and to-go sales.

As for one other notable feature in Denton, efforts have been made to keep the memory of the former tenant alive. To that end, Union Bear pays homage to Armadillo Ale Works with Easter eggs hidden in the decor inside and out (these discoveries are left to the reader). This provides a sense of continuity for the Denton community and industry friends as well...and isn't community and camaraderie what this whole craft beer thing is all about?

Union Bear - Denton is open daily, with operating hours beginning at 11 a.m.

Catching up with Krootz Brewing Co. in Gainesville

On the flight board, beer styles at Krootz include a märzen, maibock, pale ale and
imperial milk stout (logo: Krootz Brewing Co., image: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Five years ago, when Krootz Brewing Co. first opened in Gainesville, it did so with a relatively straightforward approach. Its facility housed the brewery and taproom, and while a kitchen providing pizza and small bites was in the plans, there was the convenience of a farmers market and food truck lot right out the back door.

On the liquid side, a standard set of approachable beer recipes was to be served, with an occasional bit of experimentation rotating in. And, for those not into barley and hop-based libations, selections from local wineries would be available as well.

Nowadays, those aspects are all still part of the experience at Krootz, but owner Chad Sykora has expanded the offerings greatly since the company's early beginnings.

Starting with the food, patrons are now greeted with a 12-page lunch and dinner menu featuring a variety of appetizers, soups, sandwiches, burgers, pizzas, pub dogs, tacos, salads and wings. There's also a page of plated entrees, a kids menu and desserts. Oh, and to top it all off, a four-page weekend brunch menu was introduced just a few weeks ago.

Of course, some looking over the above list may see Krootz primarily as a purveyor of pub grub, but the culinary options include elements of local diner fare, a pizzeria, bakery (desserts include 100% homemade beer-infused cakes and pies, a.k.a. "brew pies") and more.

As for the imbibables, another menu summarizes the boozy beverage selections. In addition to the wine and upwards of a dozen beers on tap, Krootz serves Krootz-A-Ritas - beer cocktails, along with a drink they call Softshine - this being like a session moonshine with an ABV of 15%.

Indeed, options abound for a wide range of tastes at a spot seemingly well-established as a community gathering place for the City of Gainesville. This, based on the number of locals witnessed filing in and out for breakfast, lunch, or even just a beer on an early Saturday afternoon.

At the same time, for travelers, the brewery and scratch kitchen at Krootz sets up as a beer and food destination located in an area of North Texas currently short on such attractions. Even better, it makes for a worthy pit stop possibility for would-be gamblers on their way to Winstar World Casino over the border in Oklahoma.

Krootz Brewing Co. is open seven days a week, with hours beginning at 11 a.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. on weekends.

Armor honored with three medals at 2024 Indiana Brewers' Cup

Image credits: Armor Brewing Co., Indiana State Fair.

Armor Brewing Co. of Allen added to a growing list of competition wins this past weekend, as the 10-month old brewery brought home three medals from the 2024 Indiana Brewers' Cup. Counting wins from the 2023 and 2024 installments of the Texas Craft Brewers Cup and U.S. Open Beer Championships, Armor has now been awarded eight medals for its beers before even reaching its first anniversary.

An annual event held in association with the Indiana State Fair, the Indiana Brewers' Cup is in its 26th year after first being established in 1999. For the 2024 gathering, over 500 entries were received for evaluation across 40 categories covering a range of beer, cider and mead styles.

The winning recipes from Armor are listed below. Click here for a full competition summary.

Armor Brewing Co., Allen

• First Place for Wheat Wine in the Strong American Ale category.
• Third Place for Easy Co. in the Pale European Beer category.
• Third Place for Smoke Session in the Smoke-Flavored Beer category.
  

Cheers and congratulations to Armor Brewing Co.!

North Texas has best ever showing at 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship

Image credit: U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Winners were announced today at the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Based in Oxford, Ohio, the U.S. Open is now in its sixteenth year. The event, billed as the second largest annual beer judging competition in America, has been a popular testing ground for local brewers for more than a decade. 

Looking back, the first win for a North Texas brewer occurred in 2012, but the region has celebrated wins for multiple breweries in each of the last 12 years - 2024 included. And now with this year's results, 29 area breweries have been awarded 175 medals combined at the U.S. Open since its inception.

For 2024, over 9000 beers were submitted for judging across 152 categories. From the pool, 11 breweries from North Texas were awarded 21 medals total (4 gold, 11 silver, 6 bronze).

This represents the best showing ever for the region, besting the 19 medals won by North Texas breweries in 2022. First time U.S. Open honorees for 2024 include Flix Brewhouse - Mansfield and Three Wide Brewing Co. of Fort Worth (though, the brewer in question here does have a bit of U.S. Open hardware from the Rabbit Hole days).

A complete list of winning beers from North Texas is provided below. Click here for a full competition summary.

Armor Brewing Co., Allen

• Gold for Enigma in the Historical Beer category.
• Silver for Blood Orange Gose in the Fruit Gose category.

Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett

• Silver for Sherpa's Secret in the American-Style Lager category.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Gold for Kashmir (a collaboration with Mox Nix Brewery) in the Mixed-Culture Brett Beer category.
• Silver for Satellite in the American Light Lager category.
• Bronze for It's All Happening in the English Barley Wine category

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Silver for Eight One Seven in the Munchner Dunkel category.
• Bronze for To Live & Die in L.A. in the New Zealand-Style IPA category.
• Bronze for Overgrown Frenzy in the Field Beer category.

Flix Brewhouse, Mansfield

• Bronze for Tmave Pivo 13 in the European Dark Lager category.

Lakewood Brewing Co., Garland

• Silver for Lion's Share XI in the American Barley Wine category.
• Silver for Hydro in the Non-Alcoholic Hop Water category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Silver for Sun, Moon & Stars in the Belgian Quadrupel category.
• Bronze for Battle of Britain in the English Barley Wine category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Silver for Barrel-Aged Vanilla Porter with Tart Cherries in the Wood/Barrel-Aged Fruit Beer category.
• Silver for Tejano Pecano in the Nut Beer category.
• Bronze for Festbier in the German-Style Oktoberfest category.

Odd Muse Brewing Co., Farmers Branch

• Gold for Shoot the Moon in the New Zealand-Style IPA category.

Three Wide Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Gold for Harlequin Dancer in the English Pale Ale category.
• Silver for Berry Optimistic in the Fruit Wheat Beer - Mixed category.

Union Bear Brewing Co., Denton/Plano

• Silver for Union Bear Stout in the American Stout category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!