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| 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.
