Voodoo Brewing now holding court in Castle Hills

Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

The latest in a series of Voodoo-branded franchise taprooms to land in North Texas, Voodoo Brewing Co. - Castle Hills is now open at 4400 State Hwy 121 in Lewisville.

Owned by Manal and Fahad Keen, the new Voodoo placement has set up shop in a 4,346 square foot space as part of the mixed-use development, The Realm at Castle Hills. It's the fourth foray into the Metroplex for the Pennsylvania-based parent company, following previous ventures debuting in Grand Prairie, Plano and Fort Worth*.

And naturally, there are similarities and differences when comparing Voodoo Castle Hills to its area predecessors. Readers may recall that every franchise begins with a blueprint providing access to Voodoo's culinary recipes and its line of hand-crafted beers. Individual owners then infuse a bit of their own personality into the place, either by way of the decor or by adding unique items to the menu.

In the case of Voodoo Castle Hills, differences start with the interior design. Rather than having a bar & grill or downtown pub-like feel, Voodoo Castle Hills almost comes across as a small event venue, with a very open, single-room setup where the tables are spread out and surrounded by wide-screen televisions.

Then on the food service side of things, visitors are met with a Mediterranean-inspired menu. Along with selections from Voodoo's standard range of burgers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and more are options like the Med Zeppelin Burger, the Puffy Pita Smash Salad, the Groovin' Gyro, the Meat-iterranean Pizza (with Turkish sausage) and the Gyro Hero Bowl.

As for similarities, of course there's the beer. From a 24-handle tapwall, year-round and seasonal offerings from Voodoo pour alongside a smattering of guest beers sourced from a variety of Texas breweries. The house-to-guest beer ratio is likely to vary over time, but at least for now recipes from the Lone Star State hold a slight advantage.

Wine, cocktails, mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages (sodas, tea, lemonade, Liquid Death Mountain Water) round out the liquid lineup, which leaves just one important amenity to mention.

Off to one side, a throne scene flanked by golden crowns has been fashioned for photo-ops...you know...for those looking to declare themselves king of Castle Hills.

Voodoo Castle Hills is open seven days a week, with daily hours beginning at 11 a.m.

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* The Fort Worth pub closed in November, while Grand Prairie is re-branding as an independent entity. Voodoo Plano continues to operate, with another project, Voodoo Brewing Co. - Frontier, currently under construction in Prosper.

Old Town Brewhouse closing in Lewisville

Image credit: Old Town Brewhouse.

Old Town Brewhouse of Lewisville is closing its doors, with the final day of operations set for Saturday, November 2.

Originally debuting as Cobra Brewing Co. in December 2013, one of the brewery's first beers was the aptly-named Anti-Venom Amber Ale. Over time, brews with a bit more bite were Cobra's signature, with higher ABV options like Dawn of the Dank Double IPA, Klurichaun (barleywine) and The Kitchen Sink (imperial stout) being some of the brewery's most sought-after offerings.

That changed after a re-branding of the business in late 2017. From then on known as Old Town Brewhouse (a reference to its home in Old Town Lewisville), the company took on a classic rock theme. The slogan "craft beer that rocks" adorned a new logo, while more sessionable styles began to emerge from the brewhouse, each bearing the name of a 1970s-era classic rock song.

The brewery celebrate its "Last Call" this weekend, with taproom hours scheduled for Friday from 4-10 p.m., and Saturday from 12 p.m. until midnight.

TKO Libations to host grand opening, January 13

Image credit: TKO Libations.

Now that production is fully underway, TKO Libations of Lewisville is ready to celebrate its official grand opening with an event set for Saturday, January 13.

TKO first opened its doors on a soft basis in October. Since then, founders Ty Sefton, Kamel Maude and Cory Kucinsky have been working to build up the brewery's initial portfolio. Along those lines, patrons can expect at least 10 TKO beers to be on tap for opening day, with the debut lineup to include the following:

• Gingerbread Monster - gingerbread porter brewed with toasted ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg and cloves.
• Breakfast Stout at Tiffany's - breakfast stout brewed with oatmeal, locally-roasted coffee, cocoa and strawberries.
• You Like the Juice - a hazy, New England IPA that looks, tastes and smells like a glass of fresh-squeezed juice.
• Additional selections: Tart Blonde, Special Beast (special bitter), Abbey Delight (Belgian dark strong ale), Bayern Weizen (Bavarian wheat), Southern English Brown Ale, Dry Stout and Oatmeal Stout.

Located in the Castle Hills Village Shops development, TKO occupies a 2800 square foot space comprising an indoor bar, seating areas with games and televisions, an outdoor patio and a separate brewery space with windows to view the operation.

“TKO caters to the neighborhood and family segment of consumers by offering a unique location that stands out among the typical industrial brewery model,” says Sefton. “The location has so much to offer: a great view of Lake Avalon; an outdoor splash pad and interactive fountain for kids; easy access to various restaurants, shops and eateries; and the opportunity for an intimate tour of the brewing space.”

As for the event itself, a morning Zumba session in the Village Shops’ outdoor Plaza will kick off the day's festivities, with TKO set to open its doors at 11 a.m. for “Donuts and Beer." Then, throughout the day, the event will feature a variety of family-friendly activities like face-painting and balloon animals, as well as live music from from Storm Front and Ross Redmond of High Definition.

Food options will be provided by the Walt Garrison BBQ Food Truck, though customers may also bring in items from neighboring restaurants, either by way of takeout or delivery. One Village Shops vendor, The Salty Cow Cheese & Provisions, will offer a special cheese plate to attendees in honor of the occasion.

Details and a complete schedule of events will be posted as the event draws near, so be sure to keep up with TKO's social media channels for the most up-to-date information.


TKO Libations  (Web, Facebook, Twitter, Instagram)
2520 King Arthur Blvd #109
Lewisville

TKO Libations set to enter the ring in Lewisville

Image credit: TKO Libations.

The address might say Lewisville, but based on where the soon-to-be brewery is located, it's clear that TKO Libations is looking to carve out its own corner of the Metroplex.

One reason for that is because TKO is set up in the community of Castle Hills, a development more in proximity to the town of Hebron than what words on a mailbox might have you believe. Almost like its own little world, the neighborhood is a place with enough workspace and amenities that one imagines some residents never have to leave.

Given that, it's an ideal setting for a brewery looking to separate itself from the crowd, which founders Cory Kuchinsky, Kam Maude and Ty Sefton hope to do by way of an experimental approach to making beer.

"Our goal is to cater to those consumers who tend to jump from beer to beer," says Sefton. "We'll be doing all kinds of small varieties, and we plan to change things up a lot. Since we'll only be brewing with a seven-barrel system, we can shoot recipes off into separate holding tanks to create different flavor combinations."

That doesn't mean TKO won't have staples, but indications are that consumers should expect to try something new virtually every time they visit. In fact, insight into how the brewery will go about using the 20 taps it has available can be found in the beers being considered for opening day.

"Our initial lineup will include a blonde, a porter, a wheat beer and an IPA," reveals Sefton. "We may split each of those to make flavor variants as well, like a blueberry blonde and a seasonal porter (either a gingerbread or pumpkin coconut version). We also hope to brew a few British styles soon, like an ESB, a brown ale or a regular bitter, so we can use the beer engine we've acquired to provide hand-pulled cask ales!"

On top of everyday beers created in its seven-barrel brewhouse, TKO plans to experiment with sour beer production and

barrel-aging. For the latter, the founders intend to source various types of port, wine and whiskey barrels (TKO Libations).

At least to start, no matter what beers are being poured, you'll only be able to get TKO's libations at the brewery.

"We're not going to be distributing when we open," says Sefton. "We'll sell in-house at first, and then change things up based on support. If we grow to a certain point, they we'll probably start canning."

Patrons will have the option of getting beer to go, since the company will operate with a brewpub license. Growler fills will be available, and a crowler machine is already on site. Plus, Sefton has hinted that a few barrel-aged offerings may eventually make their way into bottles.

As for what TKO will serve besides beer, the brewery will make and sell its own craft soda, with coffee, tea and wine being on the menu as well. Food won't be made in-house, but consumers can grab a bite from roughly a half-dozen restaurants situated in the same retail center.

So, when will TKO hold its first main event? Final inspections are underway as we speak, meaning the inaugural brew day is imminent. Once that happens, Sefton says it's a matter of working through their brew schedule to prepare for the debut. At this point, a grand opening is still a few weeks away, but expect an official announcement on that topic to occur in mid-to-late October.

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Track brewery developments by following TKO Libations on its social media channels:  Facebook, Twitter, Instagram.

Taps & Caps teams with Cobra for coconut collab

Image credits: Cobra Brewing Co., Lone Star Taps & Caps.

Amongst the myriad of new beers coming out for North Texas Beer Week is one you might miss without a trip to the northern side of the Metroplex. On tap now at Lone Star Taps & Caps (T &C), All Eyez on Me is a collaborative effort between the shop and the neighboring Cobra Brewing Co. of Lewisville. It's a Russian imperial stout brewed with toasted coconut, which T&C co-founder Rick Ali says is inspired by the work of a hip-hop legend.

Tupac Shakur released the album All Eyez on Me in 1996, at a time when, Ali proclaims, the artist "was the best at what he did and a game-changer in his profession." The beer, he explains, "is an ode to that and how we (at T&C) are proud to be a part of the Texas craft beer scene after having been at the forefront of the movement for the last 10 years." And, like Tupac, Ali continues, "we are always trying to push beyond the norm." To get a sense of what he means, simply swap the themes of thug life and crime in the album's title track to craft beer and dedication to the industry.

Ali has wanted to collaborate with a brewery for some time. The partnership with Cobra was a no brainer, in his mind, because he believes they tend to brew the types of beers he and many of his customers like to drink. "Dawn of the Dank, Kitchen Sink, Spring Cleaning and Barrel Aged Klurichan are beers that have all that I want," says Ali. "Each is well-balanced with great aroma and a high ABV that is hidden well."

All Eyez on Me (© Brian Brown/Beer In Big D).

Brewing a Russian imperial stout was another easy decision, since it's one of Ali's favorite styles and one he drinks year-round. As for the added ingredient, coconut is a favorite food of his as well, so to him it was a must-have addition. Ali even arose at an early hour to help out on brew day, something that was naturally set to the soundtrack of Tupac's inspirational song.

In terms of tasting notes, my impressions are that the coconut is more of a subtle player in All Eyez on Me, though it does lend a little bit of lingering sweetness to the aftertaste. Otherwise the beer is rich and roasty, with a bitter finish reminiscent of a high-cacao chocolate bar. It's an all-too-easy drinker considering its strength, with a medium body and virtually no hint of the 9.92% ABV.

All Eyez on Me is a good beer, and one that furthers my belief that founders Neil MacCuish and Bill Shaw have found their groove at the brewery in Lewisville. In addition to the heftier beers Ali mentions above, lighter offerings like the hazelnut-infused Donut Dunker have proven to be solid efforts as well. Given that, if it's been a while since you've visited Cobra, it might be worth your time to give them a second look.

As for this batch of All Eyez on Me, enough was made to fill only five half-barrel kegs, so it will only be available for a limited time. Should the beer prove to be popular, Ali hopes he and MacCuish can continue to develop the recipe, perhaps offering different variants with other ingredients in the future.

Cobra preps for first anniversary, signs with Favorite Brands

All images the property of Cobra Brewing Company.

Less than two weeks ahead of their first anniversary, the Cobra Brewing Company of Lewisville has signed with Favorite Brands DFW for distribution of their products throughout North Texas.

Brewery co-founder Neil MacCuish said the decision to enter into the agreement simply stems from a desire to gain more exposure outside of Cobra's home city and "to take the business to the next level." As for Favorite Brands take on the partnership, Social Media/Event Coordinator Samantha LaMantia forwarded the following statement: "We are thrilled to welcome Cobra Brewing Company into the Favorite Brands family! Their evolving beer list is an exciting addition to our portfolio. As this is our first brewery within the DFW Metroplex, we regard the addition as a significant progression for our company. We cannot wait to share a glass of Cobra beer with DFW...and the rest of Texas."

Cobra is replacing their rustic, wooden tap handles with a more distinctive design.

Favorite Brands' initial deliveries will be to draft accounts, with kegs of Hoppy Dazed IPA, Best Mistake Stout and Dawn of the Dank expected to roll out before the end of the year. Part of the plan includes the introduction of a new tap handle intended to replace the rustic, wooden design currently being used by the brewery. Shown in the image above, the new handle will stand nearly a foot tall. This, along with its distinctive look, should allow it to stand out and make it easier to identify Cobra brews on tap in an increasingly crowded marketplace.

Dawn of the Dank, incidentally, will be released with a slightly new formulation designed to increase the ABV of the Imperial IPA from 8.5 to 10.5%. That beer, along with Best Mistake Stout and the seasonal Angry Leprechaun, will also find its way into 22-ounce bombers targeted to arrive at retail in the February to March time frame. Other beers will follow based on demand and production needs.

Preliminary bottle label designs for Cobra bombers.

Leading up to all of this, Cobra will upgrade their brew kettle and add more fermenters to boost supply. The upgrades will double the brewery's current capacity and enable them to brew 10-barrel batches. This, MacCuish notes, was a necessary move if for no other reason than the fact that they've already sold the beer currently in production.

Cobra will hold an anniversary celebration at the brewery on Saturday, December 20 at 1 p.m. At least eleven beers will be on tap, including a Hazelnut Coffee Porter and rum barrel-aged editions of Hoppy Dazed IPA and Nitemare Before Xmas (these last two beers will be VIP only). MacCuish is also working to install a new nitro tap in time for the festivities, something that'll be used to dispense either Best Mistake Stout or Cobra's Old Town Pale Ale. The main attraction, though, will likely be an anniversary brew called The Kitchen Sink. This Imperial stout boasts an ABV of between 13-14%, and is brewed with vanilla beans and cocoa nibs soaked in bourbon from the neighboring Witherspoon Distillery.

Tickets for the event can be purchased in advance via Eventbrite. A VIP option gets you early entry, exclusive access to barrel-aged beers and special glassware. There will be vendors on site, including Union Growler and Junior's Lone Star Sauce, along with live music from The Whiskey Prophets and The Rhythm & Beards. Check the brewery's Facebook page for updates and additional details.

Cobra Brewing opens first brewery in Lewisville, December 21

Image credit: Cobra Brewing Company

Just five months after securing their lease in downtown Lewisville, the Cobra Brewing Company will open its
doors to the public for the first time on Saturday, December 21.

Located at 146 Whatley Avenue, the brewery is less than a five minute walk from Main Street and the Old Town district, an area targeted by the city for long-term economic development. Like similar endeavors in other cities, many of the projects being considered are built around the idea of creating a community destination for the citizens of Lewisville. Talking to Neil MacCuish and his father-in-law Bill Shaw, partners in the brewery with their wives Danielle and Sharon, you get the feeling they have similar goals in mind for their family partnership.

MacCuish hopes to create an atmosphere at the brewery where there's more to do than stand around and drink beer. To that end, he and his partners have set up pool tables inside (they'll also have darts and cornhole come tour time), and are contemplating how best use an expansive outdoor space that may be larger than the brewery itself. It's fenced in, with ample room for table setups and food truck parking, along with a spot wired for bands to lay out and plug in their gear. For cold days, Shaw mentioned that a heated outdoor canopy is something they are planning to have on hand as well.

For the launch, Cobra will have a total of six beers on tap. MacCuish indicated that's also the number they'll have in their portfolio at any given time on into the future. They'll be split between two year-round offerings, two seasonals and two brewery exclusives. On opening day the lineup will read as follows, but expect a Strawberry Ale to get rotated in around Valentine's Day:

Year-round: Anti-Venom Amber Ale, Hoppy Dazed IPA
Seasonal: Jack Froth Winter Ale, Drunkin Pumkin - Pumpkin Ale, Nitemare Before Xmas - Pumpkin Stout
Brewery Exclusives: Blonde Bomber Hop Series I and 2 (homegrown single hop ales brewed with Cascade and Tettnanger hops, respectively).

As the above implies, we can expect a good bit of style variety in the brewery's offerings. Samples I tried included Hoppy Dazed and the Blonde Bomber with Cascade. Both brews were hop-forward, but balanced and quite easy to drink. Right now, only the year-round brews have label approval, meaning they'll be the first to roll out to accounts around the Metroplex.

Moving forward, MacCuish says he hopes to upgrade from his 5 bbl system built around re-purposed equipment to at least a 20 bbl setup before considering packaging. When the time comes, he's leaning towards canning as his preferred option. Another thing else he's considered is the fact that current laws don't allow you to purchase beer at the brewery for off-site consumption, something he sees as an important incentive for visitors. To get around this, Cobra is working with the Square One Cafe in Old Town to make growlers available (pending the restaurant's license approval) of every beer on tap at the brewery.

Tickets for the grand opening are on sale now at Eventbrite. Your admission price of $10 gets you a Cobra pint glass and three samples. Food will be available from the aforementioned Square One Cafe, with live music provided by The Enablers.

*Originally published on Examiner.com

Cobra Brewing signs lease in Lewisville

Image credit:  Cobra Brewing Company

The Cobra Brewing Company is the latest entry into the North Texas craft beer scene after securing a lease on a property in Lewisville.  The brewery is a family partnership between Neil MacCuish, his wife Danielle and father-in-law Bill Shaw, and will be located at 146 Whatley Avenue in Old Town Lewisville, an area the city has tapped for urban renewal.

MacCuish is targeting a fall opening, a timeline that will depend mostly on how quickly they are able to navigate the licensing process.  A start-up brewing system has already been assembled, leaving site preparation as the only other key hurdle. Along those lines, MacCuish says that other than needing to install drainage lines, it's really just a matter of tidying up the 4200 square foot space.

With the other two partners handling sales and marketing, brewing duties will fall to MacCuish on a setup designed to brew 5 bbl batches using modified dairy tanks.  Both year-round and seasonal selections will be produced, with Hoppy Dazed IPA and AntiVenom Amber Ale being part of the launch plan.  Offerings will be draft-only to start, but they'll be looking to package in bottles and/or cans sometime down the road.

Once open, the current taproom model calls for visitors to get a glass and three samples at a cost of $10. Additional pours will be available for $5, a price that will extend to those who bring in previously purchased Cobra glassware.  Flights will also be on the menu, allowing you to taste a range of brewery fresh beer for around $8.

When asked about naming the business, MacCuish mentioned that Shaw once owned a karate school which used a cobra as its logo.  They wanted to use a similar theme for the brewery, but he chose to go with a snake with a little more "tooth" in its appearance. The end result seems to have also inspired the slogan "beer with a bite", something they hope you'll be enjoying soon at accounts throughout the Metroplex. 

Follow the brewery's progress on Facebook and Twitter, or check out their website at www.cobrabrewingco.com.