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.

Krootz Brewing Co. holds grand opening in Gainesville

BT Justice, a vanilla porter, is one of seven beers
on tap at Krootz (Photo: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Cooke County's first brewery has been up and running for a few weeks, but Krootz Brewing Co. made its official debut with a grand opening event this past Saturday in Gainesville.

Founded by Chad Sykora, Krootz is set up with easy access to I-35 at 315 W. Elm St in Gainesville's downtown district. The company's facility comprises around 3600 square feet, split between production area, a taproom, and an additional public space with a second bar and stage.

The larger common area opens up to the city's recently-revamped Farmers Market, a community gathering spot that has among its amenities a food truck lot accessible through the brewery's back door. There, snack seekers are afforded the added convenience of being free to roam the market and an outdoor gaming area with beer in hand.

And speaking of beer, the initial approach at Krootz involves getting back to the basics of making the barley and hop-based beverage. When I first contacted Sykora last year, he spoke about the brewing industry's focus on the chase for the next big thing. In his mind the seemingly endless experimentation has created a gap in the market, with consumers left with a lack of options in the realm of go-to beers.

Along those lines, the starting lineup at Krootz features a number of traditional styles. Standards like a blonde, a pale and an IPA are supplemented with a shandy, a vanilla porter and an imperial milk stout. A juicy hazy pale ale also makes the list, but that's the only beer on the current menu that hits on one of the highly sought-after styles of today.

Of course, Krootz is just getting started, and the beertender was quick to point out that more brews are in the works. For now, though, the brewery is sporting a straightforward and sessionable range of beers with only one reaching an ABV of over 6.6%.

As for how to grab a taste, those interested will have to get up to Gainesville, as Krootz is presently only selling its beers in house. Distribution is also said to be in the plans, but once that happens deliveries may be limited to local businesses.

North Texas Craft Beer Conspectus - May 29, 2019 edition

Image credits: Krootz Brewing Co., HopFusion Ale Works,
Craft and Growler, Siren Rock Brewing Co., Trinity Forest Brewing Co.

In addition to the regular rundown of development activities, this edition of the Conspectus includes a license change for a Fort Worth brewery, the opening of a new brewery to the north, and the planned start of brewing operations at the area's original growler shop.

Cheers!

HopFusion changes license type, to begin selling beer to go June 4

HopFusion Ale Works of Fort Worth is the latest local firm to switch from a manufacturer's permit to a retail/brewpub license, a move which enables the brewery to sell beer to go under current law. Look for HopFusion to begin selling six-packs, crowlers, growlers and kegs for off-premise consumption on June 4.


Krootz Brewing Co. now open in Gainesville

Established as the first business of its kind in Cooke County, Krootz Brewing Co. opened its doors to the public on April 26. The company is currently serving a menu of small bites with its beers while preparations are made for an official grand opening event slated for June 15.


Craft and Growler adding brewing operations

According to a Facebook post on May 20, Craft and Growler has purchased equipment with the intention of brewing house beers at its location in Dallas. Craft and Growler was the first growler shop to open in North Texas, but it will the second such entity to add brewing operations after Bluffview Growler did so earlier this year.

An article posted by the Dallas Observer indicates Craft and Growler hopes to begin brewing by late summer.


Future Fermentations

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) has approved a manufacturing permit for Siren Rock Brewing Co. of Rockwall. At last report, the start of construction was pending on the project, which is set to be located at 310 S. Goliad St.

Trinity Forest Brewing Co. of Dallas obtained its TTB (federal) approval this month. With a TABC permit already in hand, the group plans to brew its first production batch at Hop & Sting Brewing Co. on June 7.

North Texas Craft Beer Conspectus - July 2, 2018 edition

Image credits: Siren Rock Brewing Co., False Idol Brewing, Pathfinder Brewery.

This edition of the Conspectus features updates on a number of new names to the North Texas scene, including two that readers may be hearing about for the first time.

Cheers!

Outfit obtains TABC approval, targeting late summer opening

In late May, a brewpub license was issued for Outfit Brewing by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC). Set to be located at 7135 John Carpenter Freeway in Dallas, owner Jordan Young is targeting mid-August for the brewery's debut. Upwards of eight beers will be on tap for the event, with a Belgian-style blonde ale, a saison, a citra-forward IPA and a red IPA expected to be part of the lineup. Also being considered for opening day are recipes for an additional IPA (or two), a lager and a kölsch.


Krootz Brewing under construction in Gainesville

Residents in Cooke County should take note that an entity to be known as Krootz Brewing Co. has filed an application for a brewpub license with the TABC. Currently under construction at 315 W. Elm St. in Gainesville, CEO Chad Sykora hopes to open the doors of the brewpub-to-be in a few months. Due diligence and the build-out are the primary focus of the company right now (social media and a website are pending), according to Sykora, who says Krootz will serve food from a limited menu alongside a portfolio of small-batch brews.


False Idol scouting locations, plans to contract brew

A name just recently appearing on the scene, False Idol Brewing is a new project in development for North Texas. The group is still looking to nail down a location, preferably in a city that doesn't already have a brewery, which means the opening of a brick and mortar location is probably a year away. That said, founder Dominique Van Ausdall intends to pursue a contract agreement with a local brewery in order to get False Idol products on the market by the end of the year.


Pathfinder breaks ground in Hudson Oaks

It's been over a year since Pathfinder Brewery first announced its intention to build a facility from the ground up in the Parker County community of Hudson Oaks. Progress has been slow, but it appears things are moving along now that ground has been broken on the project's site off Cinema Dr., just north of City Lights Theatre. For a look at how things are shaping up so far, cllick here to see a short video showing the current state of construction.

Siren Rock moving forward in Rockwall

Earlier this month, the Rockwall City Council voted to amend its municipal code to allow a brewery to exist in the city's downtown district. That means Siren Rock Brewing Co. can advance to the next step in the development process, which involves getting a special use permit approved. Along those lines, founders Cory and Eva Cannon are working with the city on a site plan specific to their location off S. Goliad St. near Rockwall's Historic Downtown Square.