Friday, April 15, 2022

Ghost Eye seen as new North Texas beer brand

Image: Ghost Eye Brewing Co.

If you recently caught a glimpse of an unfamiliar North Texas beer brand, it may have been a sighting of a newly-established entity that goes by the name of Ghost Eye Brewing Co.

Russell Rodriguez and Krizia Isaac form the husband-and-wife team behind Ghost Eye, which currently operates by way of a collaboration with Trinity Forest Brewing Co. of Dallas. Essentially, the two entities share a license while brewing under an alternating proprietorship agreement with Hop & Sting Brewing Co. of Grapevine.

Ghost Eye recipes were first introduced at Big Texas Beer Fest in November 2021, and since then the company has quietly been pouring at events with Trinity Forest as it works to build a following. Draft offerings to-date have included Ghost Eye IPA, Ghost Eye Stout and Ghost Eye Pilsner. Those are just the beginning, as Rodriguez has plans for additional IPAs, sour beers and lagers going forward.

For now, though, you can expect to catch Ghost Eye at festivals and pint night events around town, including appearances at the following locales:

April 18 - Pint Night at Guitars & Growlers, McKinney.
April 21 - Pint Night at Local Tap & Table, Dallas.
April 23 - Pint Night at Mudhook Bar, Duncanville.
April 30 - Wine, Arts & Craft Brew Festival, Midlothian.

As for the future, Rodriguez says the long-term plan is to open a brick-and-mortar location in Duncanville. If all goes well, construction is slated to begin on the spot this summer.

To learn more, visit the company's website at www.ghosteyebrewing.com. You can also stay up-to-date by following Ghost Eye on Facebook and Instagram.

Wednesday, April 13, 2022

New brewer, new beers and new territories part of the plan at Pathfinder

Image: Pathfinder Brewery.

With a new brewer and plans to expand its offerings and service territory, Pathfinder Brewery is looking to blaze new trails as the firm approaches its second-year anniversary in Hudson Oaks.

On the first bit of news, Pathfinder founder Eric Addison has enlisted the brewing expertise of Austin Heisch, a long-time veteran of the North Texas scene. Heisch comes to Pathfinder after spending more than ten years at Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth, where he began as a cellarman prior to working his way up to director of brewing operations.

"Austin brings a wealth of experience and technical brewing knowledge that we plan on capitalizing on," says Addison. "He is already working on improving our lab and quality control processes."

Heisch will take on the simple title of "brewer" at Pathfinder, which is a reflection of the humble approach Addison takes as the owner of a small, local brewery.

"We are so small, titles aren't a big deal," explains Addison. "Austin does the hard brewing work, while I do the easy stuff."

Staffing in general is currently a high priority for Addison, who hopes to add two sales representatives to the Pathfinder team. Once hired, one will work to expand on accounts currently serviced in Parker and Tarrant County, while another will focus on developing new relationships in Dallas.

Regarding the types of beer they'll be selling, Addison intends to continue taking inspiration from history while remaining loyal to classic styles. That said, there have been talks of expanding the company's current range.

"Several fruit brews are in the works, and we are just now discussing sours and hybrid beers," says Addison. "There are not limits; we brew what sounds like fun and what we think people want to experience, probably for the first time."

As for the aforementioned anniversary, Pathfinder will celebrate year two in late July with a variety of special releases, one of which is expected to be a barrel-aged Russian imperial stout.

Texas Ale Project promoting 70s theme for TAP Fest 2022

Image credit: Texas Ale Project.

Be ready to don your best vintage threads, as disco dancing may be on the bill when Texas Ale Project celebrates its seventh anniversary with a 70s-themed event in Dallas on Saturday, April 23.

TAP Fest 2022 will feature live music, food from Southern Gentleman's Table, and over 25 beers on tap - some of which will be new limited-edition beers.

In addition, attendees are encouraged to wear bell-bottoms, mini-skirts and platform shoes in order to compete for a prize package (TAP t-shirt, custom TAP glass, and one free beer) to be awarded for the top 70s costume.

“We are blessed to be thriving and now growing beyond the DFW Metroplex, into the Houston, Austin, and San Antonio markets," says Kat Thompson, co-founder of Texas Ale Project. "We have so much to celebrate and be thankful for.”

Admission prices for TAP Fest 2022 range from $20-$45 per person, with a VIP option offering buyers early access, priority parking, a take-home 6-pack, and a designated private VIP area.

Click here for more information, or to purchase tickets.

Wednesday, April 6, 2022

By the Horns Brewing is back in Mansfield

All images Image © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

It's been nearly two years since difficulties with Covid-19 restrictions led to a decision to shut down the business, but the brew kettles are now back in action at By the Horns Brewing in Mansfield.

A social media post in June 2020 was the last word anyone heard before By the Horns went into hibernation. The brewery's future was further clouded once its parent company, Brain Storm Shelter, filed for bankruptcy protection to cover assets in other areas of the D-FW Metroplex.

Once the dust cleared, By the Horns had become the domain of Local Favorite Restaurants, a group whose portfolio includes El Fenix Mexican Restaurant, Snuffer's Restaurant & Bar, Village Burger Bar and more. At that point, Local Favorite's first order of business was to get the brewhouse back in order before hiring Nathan Crawford (formerly of Wild Acre Brewing Co. in Fort Worth) to head-up brewing operations going forward.

Local Favorite also attached a new food partner to the venture in the form of Del Toro BBQ. The latest entry in a crowded North Texas 'que market, Del Toro features a fairly standard range of BBQ offerings. Patrons can order prime brisket, ribs, jalapeno sausage and other smoked meats by the pound, or instead choose from a selection of salads, sandwiches or tacos.

As for the brewing side of things, five beers make up the everyday menu at By the Horns. Prior to the transition, brews were referred to by their style moniker (i.e., Hefeweizen, IPA, etc.), but a farm and ranch theme complimenting the 'que concept now enters into the naming of beers like Big Hoss IPA, Ranchhand Blonde Ale and Thresher Wheat.

There's also Te Amo Lager...you know, for the lager lovers, as well as Big Rig Stout, which is said to make an ideal pairing with Del Toro's Pork Belly Burnt Ends.

Other than that, the atmosphere remains much the same as it did when By the Horns first opened as part of The Backyard development in early 2019. Beers purchased at By the Horns can be enjoyed throughout the venue, which includes holdover Twisted Root Burger Co., as well as the newly-installed Taqueria La Ventana.

So...beer, BBQ, burgers and tacos? Sounds like quite a consumable quartet.

Tuesday, April 5, 2022

Celebrate seven years of small-batch beers at On Rotation

Images courtesy of On Rotation.

On Rotation Brewery & Kitchen of Dallas is set to celebrate seven years in business with a birthday bash on Saturday, April 9.

Originally opening as a small-batch production brewery (and wine bar) in early 2015, founders Jacob and Lindsay Sloan relocated On Rotation from Lakewood to the Braniff Centre at Dallas Love Field in mid-2021. This allowed them to expand brewing operations, while also adding a kitchen and other amenities to assume full brewpub status.

From the start, the company's reputation as a craft beer laboratory has been central to its success, something evidenced by the fact that over 340 different beer releases have occurred over the course of On Rotation's history. At first, the Sloans managed the mash paddle(s) in the brewhouse themselves, but day-to-day operations are now handled by Dan Heinzerling, an industry veteran with over 20 years of brewing experience in North Texas.

As for the coming event, it will serve as both an anniversary party and the unofficial grand opening for On Rotation’s home at the Braniff Centre, which never got a proper debut celebration due to ongoing Covid-19 restrictions.

Featured attractions will include lawn games, live screen printing, and of course, beer - with 15 house brews expected to be on tap, including two new releases, and a selection of beers created in collaboration with other local breweries like Cowtown Brewing Co. of Fort Worth, along with Celestial Beerworks and Vector Brewing of Dallas.

Festivities will run from 12 p.m. until midnight, and attendance is free. For more details, click here to view the official event post on the brewpub's website.