Get fizzy with it this weekend at Tupps, during Bubbly Bash 2025

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

Tupps Brewery will celebrate all things bubbly with hard seltzers, ciders, sparking wines, cocktails and more to be served during Bubbly Bash 2025, taking place this Saturday, August 30 at 6 p.m., in Downtown McKinney.

In addition to the brewery's line of Blur and Chilton hard seltzers, this effervescent event will feature cocktail and mimosa tastings, as well as hard cider pours from City Orchard of Houston.

The lineup:

• Chilton Hard Seltzers – Original, Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry, Pickle.
• Blur Hard Seltzers – Pineapple, Strawberry, Grapefruit, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Cotton Candy, Fruity Cereal, Mojito, Bubble Gum, Hop Oil.
• Cocktails – Ranch Water on Draft, Hibiscus Ranch Water.
• Mimosa Bar – Mix & match with assorted juices.
• City Orchard Ciders – Hazy Gold, Lavender Royale.

In addition, guests can enjoy a Bubble Truck experience during the first hour, live music throughout the day, delicious food, and plenty of space to gather with friends and family.

"We created Bubbly Bash as a way to celebrate the lighter, sparkling side of beverages in a fun and festive atmosphere," says Nicole Wright, event planner at Tupps. "Tupps is more than just a brewery—we’re a place where people can enjoy a wide variety of drinks beyond beer. Whether you’re sipping on a mimosa, trying a new hard seltzer flavor, or just enjoying live music with friends, it’s all about raising a glass to enjoy the last bit of summer."

Bubbly Bash 2025 is family-friendly, dog-friendly (outdoors areas only) and free to attend with food and beverage items available for individual purchase.

Attendees (ages 21+ only) may also purchase a tasting package which includes a Bubbly Bash-branded stemless champagne flute, along with a taster card good for eight (6-ounce) pours of their choice. Tickets for this option are $40.85pp (including taxes and fees) and are available here: https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/-2853111880080118577.

Tupps to host inaugural Sausage Fest, June 14

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

This Father's Day weekend, Tupps Brewery of McKinney will be offering patrons the best of the wurst during the company's first ever Sausage Fest, taking place on Saturday, June 14 at 4 p.m.

According to a press release, "this one-of-a-kind celebration brings together the best of North Texas sausage and craft beer for an unforgettable day of delicious indulgence, live music and spirited competitions."

Tupps will welcome sausage legends from around the region, serving up a total of eight curated sausage samples expertly paired with eight signature Tupps beers.

The menu:

• The Grain Room at Tupps Brewery: Alsatian Country Sausage + Farmhouse Ale.
• Hamm's Meat + Market of McKinney: Summer Sausage + Day Pass Belgian-Style Wheat Ale.
• Corner BBQ Shack of McKinney: Polish Rings + Backyard Bock.
• Jimmy's Food Store of Dallas: Hot Italian Sausage + Tupps IPA.
• Kuby's Sausage House of Dallas: Jalapeño Sausage + Salted Lime Mexican Lager.
• Deep Cuts Dallas: Butcher's Choice + Hefeweizen.
• Local Yocal Farm to Market of McKinney: Brisket & White Cheddar + Juice Pack Hazy IPA.
• Ye Ole Butcher Shop of Plano: Hot Links + East Side Lager.

Additional attractions at Sausage Fest will include live music, a hot dog eating contest, a dad bod contest and more (contest sign-ups will be on-site the day of the event). There will also be gourmet sausage dishes and other food available for purchase, along with beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. 

Tickets are not required to attend, but tasting tickets are the only way to enjoy the sausage and beer pairings - and they're expected to sell out. Pre-purchasing is highly encouraged to ensure there is enough sausage for everyone, so click on the following link to secure your spot: https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/-2853111880211067068.

A first look at Tupps' new location in McKinney

A view from the balcony outside the rentable office space in the production building at Tupps (all images © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

After over four years in development, Tupps Brewery is finally ready to pull back the curtain on its massive new facility near Downtown McKinney.

Conversations surrounding a move and expansion for Tupps began in 2019, with an official press release announcing the brewery's plans coming in July 2020. The setting for the new showplace to be a 4.3-acre site at 402 E. Louisiana St., with the project involving the repurposing of a 1900s-era grain processing site in the city's Historic Mill District.

A few finishing touches are still being applied, but Tupps welcomed visitors for a sneak peek during a preview event earlier this week. And to say the multi-faceted, multi-structure campus is impressive would be an understatement to say the least.

Tupps at twilight - taproom (left), production building (right).

The famous saying "everything is bigger in Texas" immediately comes to mind when walking the grounds. Comparing the brewery's new home to its previous digs inspires the obvious modifier, because now everything is bigger at Tupps.

Taproom? Bigger. Beer Garden? Bigger. Brewhouse? Bigger. You get the idea.

Beginning with the taproom, it now occupies the original grain milling building. Inside, features include multi-level seating areas, a full kitchen, and a bar backed by a two 20-handle tapwalls fashioned in the shape of giant barrels.

Just behind it is another building designed to function as an outdoor beer hall. Here, the old taproom will essentially be re-installed, providing a connection for those nostalgic for days spent at the brewery's first location.

Then, there's yet another building devoted to production - details on that to follow.

Tupps' brewhouse and equipment (left/right), and barrel-shaped tapwall (center).

Intermingled are countless other amenities. There's a dedicated kid's area, bocce ball court, swings, permanent vendor space (for the BYOB - Bring Your Own Business - program), and a stage for live music performances fronted by amphitheater-like lawn seating.

And, if you want to take your concert viewing experience to the next level, you can rent out an office space in the production building. This comes complete with its own kitchen, private bathrooms, and outdoor balcony seating which overlooks the stage below. You might say it's a little like having a suite at the AAC.

It all leads to the conclusion that Tupps may be a craft brewery first and foremost, but what the company has created with this new space is nothing less than a full-on, family-friendly entertainment destination.

Plus, the place has character. The historical setting is one thing, but Tupps has also added vintage touches here and there sourced from not only the grain mill, but the family's own treasure trove as well. Some would call them conversation pieces, but 'talking points at Tupps' seems a better turn of phrase.

More on individual aspects below.

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The Beer

Brewing operations have been underway for a number of weeks inside Tupps' four-story, 25,000 square foot production center. Chris Lewis, head brewer at Tupps, is working with a 4-vessel, 60-barrel brewhouse manufactured by Deutsche Beverage & Process. Additional equipment includes a 15-barrel pilot system, along with the requisite array of fermentation tanks.

"The beauty of this facility is we don't have to brew 24 hours a day," says Lewis. "We've got bigger equipment and we can do a lot more volume, but we've got the same crew from before doing the work."

Ask what the real game changer is, though, and the answer will likely be the loading dock, which facilitates distro pickup.

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The Food

Leading the kitchen at Tupps is Sean Frye, whose resume includes stints at Jasper's, Abacus and other restaurants founded by Chef Kent Rathbun.

Frye's everyday menu will be straightforward, but executed at a very high level, according to Chase Lewis, vice president of finance and strategy at Tupps.

"Kind of what to expect is brewpub-like food," says Lewis. "The menu is loaded with appetizers and bar snacks, but then you've got six awesome sandwiches, two or three salads, and two or three entrees. You're coming here to eat a burger, or a sandwich, or a taco, or maybe something like beer-battered salmon fish & chips."

A large smoker will also be employed on site, allowing for the creation of go-to barbecue items. And beer-inspired dishes? Those will pop up from time to time too.

"I want to take craft beeriness and inject that life into the kitchen to do weird, fun, innovative things," says Lewis. "Hopefully some of those ideas will turn into really cool specials."

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The Economics and Future Outlook

So, what drove this all-encompassing expansion?

For Tupps, it wasn't an issue of needing more capacity to fulfill orders for a flagship beer driving the brand, but rather sales data suggesting an increase production was in play for all of its year-round products.

"As we've grown up, core beers like Juice Pack, Evil Dankster and Tupps IPA have had steady growth for years and years," explains Lewis.

Given that, rather than chasing trends and being dependent on the success of hype beers that come and go like the breeze, foundational products will be the focus at Tupps going forward.

"I think stability will be the thing in the next ten years of craft beer," says Lewis. "It's about the stability of your base, and being a trusted brand that makes a good portfolio of different beers you can trust."

Along those lines, Lewis says balance and drinkability will be key for the future. That, and leveraging the brewery's size, scale and efficiencies to provide value to its customers.

In other words, Tupps hopes to provide patrons with the ability to enjoy beers they want to come back to, without breaking the bank.

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The Introductory Events

The public's first chance to take in Tupps' new surroundings will be during Festival of Darkness 2024, happening tomorrow - Saturday, February 24 (click here to purchase tickets).

Grand Opening Weekend takes place March 9-10, with live music on the bill, the soft opening of Tupps Kitchen, and the debut of the BYOB Vendor Space (click here for more information).

My 2023 Big Texas tasting card

Image credits: Tupps Brewery, Ghost Eye Brewing Co., Funky Picnic Brewery & Café, Windmills,
Equal Parts Brewing, Peticolas Brewing Co., Vector Brewing, Manhattan Project Beer Co., Brewvolution.

According to my records, my last visit to the area's longest running beer festival was in 2019. Surely the plague was partially to blame, though I'm sure life probably has been getting in the way as well. In any case, it was fun to be back at it once again with other beer denizens at this weekend's Big Texas Beer Fest (BTBF).

Taking place in the familiar confines of the Fair Park Automobile Building in Dallas, the 2023 event featured 97 beverage makers serving up a variety of more than 400 craft beers, ciders and seltzers. Over 50 of the breweries in attendance hailed from North Texas, representing roughly half of the brands that serve our local industry.

Among those set up and sampling, Jester King Brewery of Austin attracted some of the largest crowds around its booth, but Delirium Brewery of Belgium established quite a presence as well. The latter brought along a large inflatable version of the pink elephant that adorns its logo, and at some point, brewery reps doled out a plethora of pink elephant hats to attendees.

Also drawing interest was a gun mount exhibit from the Battleship Texas, an attraction brought in by Altstadt Brewery of Fredericksburg and the Battleship Texas Foundation Group. The vessel itself, which fought in both World War I and World War II, is currently dry docked in Galveston while it undergoes restoration.

Getting back to festival beverages, while there were a fair number of lagers, stouts and sour beers, IPAs naturally ruled the day. By my count, there were easily more than 100 IPAs available on the festival floor. I tried exactly one, IPA Series 1 from Ghost Eye Brewing Co. of Dickinson. The beer led with a mix of citrus and tropical fruit flavors, finishing with a welcome pithy bitterness.

And while we're on the subject, if you've ever had doubts about IPA's dominance as craft beer's most popular style, let me tell you about the BTBF booth occupied by Shiner.  The little brewery known for its lagers had a trio of IPAs in the offing when I surveyed their selection, and nothing else. All ales and not a drop of that ubiquitous dark lager? Talk about stepping outside the "bocks."

As for other festival favorites, I direct you to the summaries below. It should be noted that I mostly stuck to beers of lower strength, though I did enjoy a dose of Enriched Plutonium - a rum barrel-aged version of Plutonium 239 from Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas. 

Oh, and as always...selections are new to the market, or at least new to me.

Cheers!

Rice is nice

I kicked things off with a pour of Kaizen, a Japanese rice lager from Equal Parts Brewing of Houston. Let's just say this was a light, refreshing and easily crushable quaff.


Keeping your wits about you

I recommend keeping six wits about you, to be exact...as in keeping on hand a sixer of Day Pass from Tupps Brewery of McKinney. The company's newest offering is a stylistic Belgian witbier, and just the kind of beer I could drink all day.


Amber waves

Once upon a time, nearly every brewery made an amber beer of some sort. Right now, there are two ambers of note in North Texas. One is Sonidero, a smooth and malty amber lager from Windmills of The Colony. That beer won a gold medal at the 2022 Great American Beer Festival. Another is Amberversary, a nicely-balanced amber ale with a hint of hop happiness from Vector Brewing of Dallas. Wait, what year is it again?

Woodruff is the way

Got Berliner weisse? Get German woodruff (it's a plant). That is, if you like beer descriptors like sweet and sour, floral and funky. Berliners weren't on my radar going into BTBF, but Eclectus from Peticolas Brewing Co. of Dallas, with a shot of woodruff syrup, ended up being one of the more enjoyable pours of the day.

More smoked beers please, 'twould appease

Smoked beers are one of my favorite styles. Couple that with a beer name referencing the guttural growl of one's favorite musician, along with a recipe using malt smoked on the grounds of the historic Kreische brewery site in La Grange, and well, you've got my attention. Coming from Funky Picnic Brewery & Café of Fort Worth, A Haw-Haw-Haw-Haw in Billy Gibbons' Voice is a smoked helles with pecans. And yeah, it's fine, if you've got the time...

Tupps to launch 'Build Your Own Business' program in December

Artist rendering of the B.Y.O.B Courtyard at Tupps Brewery (Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery).

Last July, Tupps Brewery of McKinney announced the intent to relocate its business to a historic McKinney grain site east of Downtown McKinney. Now, the company is sharing details on a key feature of the new location.

The B.Y.O.B. Courtyard at Tupps Brewery will be home to a unique 'Build Your Own Business' program. Set up with multiple grain bins, each bin will allow a local business to get started or stimulate growth by offering a place to work and sell their products to customers. 

“We started Tupps by brewing beer in my garage on the weekends," says Keith Lewis, founder and president of Tupps. "Our weekend hobby turned into a real idea for a business. We built the company from the ground up and we want others to have the opportunity and encouragement to do the same.”

Each B.Y.O.B business will be open on the weekends. Tupps will have multiple resources to offer each of the businesses that range from sales and marketing to coaching and advice. 

“We will also offer business seminars to the owners of these businesses to help stimulate and advance their product or service," adds Lewis. "Our taproom, brewery and events drive significant traffic which provides a built-in customer base for these B.Y.O.B participants.”

Construction is currently underway at Tupps' new location, where crews are remodeling the site's 120-year-old grain mill and building a new state of the art production brewery. The total project will encompass over 45,000 square feet of buildings on a four-acre spread. 

As of now, Tupps intends to open the space, including the B.Y.O.B. Courtyard, in December of 2022. In the meantime, Tupps is accepting applications for the B.Y.O.B program from now until June 30, 2022. This is an equal opportunity for all - anyone and everyone may apply.

Interested parties can click here to fill out the online application.

903, Tupps awarded medals at 2021 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship

Image credit: U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship.

Results are in from the 2021 U.S. Open Hard Seltzer Championship, with 903 Brewers of Sherman and Tupps Brewery of McKinney appearing among the winners.

More than 60 hard seltzer-makers from across the U.S. and Canada submitted just short of 250 hard seltzers for evaluation at this year's competition, which is a collaborative effort with the Niagara College Teaching Winery, Brewery, Cidery and Distillery. Judges from Canada, England and the United States ranked seltzers in 18 different categories covering various fruit and herb infusions.

A list of winning seltzers from North Texas is provided below. You can also click here for a full competition summary.

903 Brewers, Sherman

• Bronze for Pina Colada Hard Seltzer Slushy in the Pina Colada category.
• Bronze for Bahama Mama Hard Seltzer Slushy in the Anything Goes category.

Tupps Brewery, McKinney

• Bronze for Blur Strawberry Daiquiri in the Strawberry category.

Cheers and congratulations to 903 Brewers and Tupps Brewery!

Tupps unveils Blur's first seasonal hard seltzer

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

Tupps Brewery of McKinney is closing out 2020 with the release of a new Blur hard seltzer designed to pair well with New Year's Eve activities.

“We thought it would be fun to craft a Champagne-flavored seltzer specifically to celebrate the New Year," says Chris Lewis, head brewer at Tupps/Blur. "This seltzer is full of bubbles, fruit-forward aroma and it finishes with a touch of Champagne flavor. It’s easy-drinking, low in sugar and low in calories. I’m pretty sure we are all ready for a fresh start in 2021 and here’s the perfect drink to bring to your New Year’s celebrations."

Tupps debuted the Blur brand with a variety pack of fruit infusions in September 2020. Champagne Bubbles is a seasonal seltzer, being the first one to hit the market.

“In 2021, we plan to launch seasonal hard seltzers all throughout the year," says Chase Lewis, sales and finance vice president of Tupps/Blur. "You will see some creative and delicious flavors from us that align with the season and even some holidays.”

Blur Champagne Bubbles is available now in six-packs of 12-ounce cans at retailers in Dallas-Fort Worth. Click here to find a location near you.

Tupps ringing in the new year with R.I.P. 2020

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

With its latest release, Tupps Brewery of McKinney wants to give everyone a reason to celebrate the start of a new year, so the company is telling 2020 to R.I.P and never come back!

That sentiment is front and center on the label of R.I.P. 2020, a double dry-hopped IPA, along with a variety other graphics representing things we've all endured during 2020 - the pandemic, murder hornets, natural disasters, toilet paper shortages and more.

“This year has been a roller coaster," says Keith Lewis, founder and president of Tupps. "We have had to shift our business plan multiple times, close the taproom, amp up our beer-to-go process and the list goes on. This year has been a tough one for everyone. We wanted to create a beer that everyone can relate to and a beer that tastes top notch so we can end this year on a good note and celebrate.”

As for the beer itself, the recipe for R.I.P 2020 features a wide range of Tupps' favorite hop varieties, including Citra, Galaxy, Nelson, Sultana, Ella, Vic Secret, El Dorado, Azacca, Cryo Citra, Cryo Mosaic, Sabro, and Idaho-7. 

“We have great relationships with our hop suppliers, and have solid hop contacts with them," says Chris Lewis, head brewer at Tupps. "We packed this beer with our favorite hops making this IPA super hazy, juicy and drinkable.”

R.I.P. 2020 will be available on tap and in six-packs of 12-ounce cans beginning this week. Consumers in Dallas-Fort Worth can purchase R.I.P. 2020 to-go at Tupps taproom in McKinney, or pick it up at Kroger, Market Street, Total Wine, Spec's, Goody Goody, Whole Foods, Central Market and other local craft beer and wine stores. The beer will also be sold at major retailers in Austin, San Antonio and Oklahoma.

Tupps hitting the hard seltzer market with Blur

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

Craft brewing is no longer just about beer, as more and more local and national brewers are turning to hard seltzer as a way to diversify their product lines. The latest North Texas entity to take the leap is Tupps Brewery of McKinney, as the company is set to introduce its Blur Hard Seltzer line later this week.

“We’ve always been interested in exploring new products, says Keith Lewis, founder and president of Tupps. "The seltzer growth has been incredible, so once we found time in our production schedule, we knew it was go-time. With Blur we wanted to take the craft spirit we’ve cultivated at Tupps and put our stamp on the seltzer category. It has been a fun process working with my daughter and two sons to refine these flavor combinations."

Blur will be available in a variety 12-pack box to start, with six-packs of individual flavors to follow. The four "flavor combinations you never knew you needed" include: Mango Dragon Fruit, Lemon Blueberry, Passionfruit Watermelon and Hibiscus Apple. Each has only 105 calories, 2 grams of carbs and less than 1 gram of sugar.

“We taste tested so, so many different flavors, says Chris Lewis, head brewer at Tupps. "I’m actually surprised at how quickly we all agreed on these four flavor combinations. We all came to love the taste and really look forward to everyone enjoying these seltzers."

An official launch party for Blur will take place at Tupps on Saturday, October 3, from 12-9 p.m. Customers will be able to enjoy free seltzer samples, along with live music and a Blur-inspired menu served by the Barley Gastrovan food truck.

“We hope to host many launch parties and pop-up tasting events all over DFW in the coming weeks, says Katie Baker, marketing and events director at Tupps. "We know with Covid-19, things have been a bit off and weird, but we want to keep this a fun and exciting launch for everyone.”

Look for Blur Hard Seltzer at Kroger, Market Street, Central Market, Spec's Total Wine and other DFW wine/liquor stores.

Tupps Brewery moving to historic McKinney grain site

All images courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

Tupps Brewery will soon trade one historical setting for another, as the company is set to make a move closer to Downtown McKinney.

Since debuting in 2015, Tupps has occupied a 17,000-square-foot space at The McKinney Cotton Mill. However, the brewery has outgrown that location and will now expand to a spot with over 40,000 square feet on a 4.3-acre campus in the city's  Historic Mill District.

Helping to spur the project, the McKinney Community Development Corporation approved a grant in the amount of $11,333,262 for construction, and the McKinney Economic Development Corporation has provided a loan for use in purchasing additional equipment Tupps will use to meet growing market demand.

“The McKinney grain site is a perfect location to build our forever home as it fits the Tupps vibe and allows us to meet increased demand for our products while providing more space for additional customers visiting the brewery,” says Keith Lewis, founder and president of Tupps.

This new location will be an extension of Downtown McKinney in a grain processing factory that has been in operation for over 120 years. The layout will comprise a 12,000-square-foot taproom in the original grain-milling building, a state-of-the-art production facility and a retail shopping area housed in reused shipping containers.

Current view and future rendering of Tupps' new location.

“The city of McKinney is committed to revitalizing the eastside of our historic downtown area and I could not think of a better partner than Tupps to start this process. Tupps will bring much needed energy to this area which will attract other businesses and expand our historic downtown footprint,” says McKinney Mayor George Fuller.

On the production side, Tupps will operate in a 28,000 square foot facility. The building will incorporate a barrel-aging area housing over 200 barrels that will age unique beers to be available for sampling on selected tours and for sale in the brewery's beer-to-go store.

As for other amenities, Tupps is a family business to its core and will continue to welcome families both young and old. The brewery will have a unique playground for all ages and plenty of space to relax inside and out. To that end, in addition to a large outdoor stage hosting live music and theater performances, the site plan will include shops featuring local artists, craftsman, and food vendors.

Tupps has also pledged to continue its strong commitment to the community with charitable work. Tupps got started by brewing beer in Keith’s garage, so it wants to give other dreamers the ability to start their own business in a supportive environment.

Tupps hopes to raise $25,000 for Red Cross

Image credit: Tupps Brewery.

In early April, Tupps Brewery of McKinney created a variety 12 pack box to sell at retail, with the profits to be donated to the American Red Cross. The aim of the initiative, called Help Now, was to raise awareness for more blood donations, money for those who have lost their jobs, and food donations to replenish food banks.

“Help Now has been a huge success! We have had a couple of months under our belt and we want to give a super shoutout to all the people that helped us get to where we are on this, especially corporations who matched some of our donations.” says Keith Lewis, founder and president of Tupps.

The first run of Help Now 12-packs helped the brewery donate almost $10,000 to the Red Cross, and now Tupps wants to keep it going with round two.

A new goal to raise $25,000 has been set, and the hope is the second round can be even more impactful than the first. More and more people continue to file for unemployment, while missing rent and mortgage payments, and to compound things further, the Red Cross is running critically low on blood. Natural disasters do not slow down during a pandemic and the need for blood is at an all-time high.

“If you weren’t able to participate in round one, definitely come out and get the product for round two," adds Lewis. "Inside this box are 12 total beers with a selection of National Standard, our light American ale, and our Juice Pack, hazy pale ale."

More information regarding the Help Now project, as well as a list of retailers carrying the 12-pack, can be found on the brewery's website at https://tuppsbrewery.com/help/.

Assessing the early impact of beer to go

Image credits: Peticolas Brewing Co., Tupps Brewery.

At 10 a.m. on Sunday, September 1, a new era began in Texas as manufacturing breweries began selling beer to go for the first time. The right to do so was granted by a new law passed during the 2019 legislative session, this occurring after over a decade of lobbying efforts by industry representatives.

More than 25 breweries in North Texas were affected by the change, which promises to provide an additional revenue stream for these small businesses. The creation of new jobs was also anticipated, something evidenced by the expansion of taproom hours at some North Texas breweries.

As for the initial impact of beer to go, anticipation was high at places like Peticolas Brewing Co. in Dallas, where founder Michael Peticolas and crew packaged local favorite Velvet Hammer for the first time.

"Our can launch absolutely exceeded expectations," says Peticolas. "We blew away our sales projections and ran out of cans prior to our second canning run. And, taproom traffic has increased with beer to go. Those swinging in to purchase beer to go oftentimes grab a pint, and those grabbing a pint oftentimes purchase beer to go. It's been a big win for our taproom."

Early returns were also "EPIC!" at Tupps Brewery in McKinney, according to marketing and events coordinator, Katie Baker. There, the brewery celebrated the advent of beer to go by bringing back its immensely popular DDH IPA Series 2.

"September was an incredible month for us out of the taproom because of the support we received from beer to go," says Baker. "It was great seeing people walking out of the taproom with a six-pack in their hands."

A few weeks later, both breweries report it’s business as usual, with no real changes to production or distribution due to beer to go. The distribution question is a common one for Peticolas, but for those wondering, canned beers will remain a brewery exclusive for the foreseeable future.

"Cans in retail locations will happen, but not any time soon," says Peticolas. "We'll pull that trigger to spur growth as needed. Remember, we choose to grow properly, not quickly."

Regardless of what formats are available inside or outside the taproom, being mindful of the relationship retail plays in the overall success of the industry has been and will continue to be an important part of the process for all breweries from here on out.

"Our retail and distribution partners are our life blood," says Baker. "We price our beer in the taproom at what we feel is the market average, because the relationship we have with our retailers and distributors is crucial. It’s immensely important to us to keep those partnerships as positive and productive as possible."

As for whether the beer to go boost is sustainable long-term, that's a story still left to be told.

"We are curious to see how it holds up now that the initial excitement has worn off," adds Baker. "That said, there is still a steady flow of traffic coming to the brewery for the sole purpose of buying beer not found in the market, so we’ll continue working on taproom-only releases to keep things as exciting as possible."

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Originally published as part of a special section on NTX Beer Week in the October 31, 2019 edition of the Dallas Observer. An online copy of the complete newspaper is available by clicking here.

Tupps partners with National Breast Cancer Foundation for Rising Hope

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

October is National Breast Cancer Awareness Month, and Tupps Brewery of McKinney is doing its part to raise awareness by partnering on a beer with one of the leading breast cancer organizations in the world.

Rising Hope is the culmination of a collaboration started in August 2018, when Tupps founder and president, Keith Lewis, met the National Breast Cancer Foundation (NBCF) team to discuss a special beer created specifically to raise money and awareness for breast cancer.

“I have many friends and family members that have been affected by cancer," says Lewis. "My dad passed away from brain cancer, my very close and dear friend passed away from pancreatic cancer, and I have another good friend of mine that is on her third round of fighting breast cancer. It has impacted me, and I know it impacts everyone.”

Tupps has made a point of recognizing cancer's impact since its inception, a daily reminder of which can be found by way of a memorial installed on the brewery's grounds.

“One of the first projects we completed at Tupps was building a tree of old rusted pipes," explains Lewis. "We had people come in and paint a bottle with a story or picture to honor someone they know that has or had cancer. The tree is completely full of bottles and is displayed in our Beer Garden outside of the brewery.”

As for the beer, Rising Hope is an American-style ale brewed with fresh, organic pink guava puree. Packaged in 12-ounce cans, each six-pack features a different can design to represent all the people affected by cancer - whether that be a friend, a mom, a daughter, a grandma, a husband or a sister.

“What’s wonderful about this campaign is that it’s about bringing people together and about honoring people that we love,” says Kevin Hail, president and COO of NBCF. “Rising Hope is about giving us hope that we can get through any dark time together.”

Look for Rising Hope beginning in early October at bars, restaurants and retail locations in North Texas, Austin, Oklahoma and San Antonio. Six-packs will be available in retail stores like Kroger, Market Street, Central Market, Total Wine, Specs, and more.

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Learn more about Tupps' partnership with NBCF through videos on the brewery's YouTube page.

Tupps to tap Cotton Candy Shandy at State Fair of Texas

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

Tupps Brewery of McKinney is getting in on the fun of the 2019 State Fair of Texas with the release of a beer it describes as a "new, delicious attraction [that's] here to please the masses."

Set to be tapped at the State Fair on Friday, September 27, Cotton Candy Shandy is a beer that certainly fits with the event given it's brewed with a classic carnival confection. Not only that, it's a unique offering representative of the theme of this year's State Fair: "Celebrating Texas Creativity."

“It’s fun to brew a special beer specifically for the State Fair," says Chris Lewis, head brewer at Tupps. "We wanted to create a light, refreshing and slightly sweet beer that will appeal to lots of people. I added cotton candy into the brew to get a sweet touch at the end of each taste. The beer is not overly sweet, but it will pair nicely with all the fried foods you plan on eating."

Look for Cotton Candy Shandy at the following locations inside the State Fair: Bluebonnet Roadhouse, Chili Parlor in the Tower Building, State Fair Wine Garden, Automobile Building, Taco Hut at Grand Place, Texas Burgers in Cotton Bowl Plaza, and Yardbirds near Gate 9.

The beer will also be available in the brewery's taproom.

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Consumers are invited to share pictures of themselves enjoying Cotton Candy Shandy. Remember to tag @TUPPSBrewery with the hashtag #cottoncandyshandy.

North Texas Craft Beer Conspectus - January 12, 2018 edition

Things are back to being busy in the local scene just two weeks into the new year, as this edition of the Conspectus reports on new releases, new company names and a new brewing operation to the north.

Cheers!


Cellarman's serving house beer in Sherman

After declaring its intention to institute brewing operations in late 2016, Cellarman's American Pub of Sherman has begun serving house brews. The business, which now goes by the name of Cellarman's Pub & Brewery, offered up free samples of its inaugural beer, Cosmic Goat Cream Ale, on New Year's Day. A small pilot system was used to create the first batch, but a full production run was slated to occur late last week.


Cobra re-brands as Old Town Brewhouse

Cobra Brewing Co. of Lewisville has re-branded as Old Town Brewhouse, with the company taking on a classic rock theme. A new head brewer is in place, and indications are that Old Town plans to overhaul its entire portfolio to focus on more sessionable styles.  Examples of beer names to come include Can't Get Enough Amber Ale (Bad Company), All Night Long Pale Ale (Rainbow) and Evil Ways Mexican Lager (Santana).


Tupps reveals 2018 release calendar

Tupps Brewery of McKinney has shared its production plans for the coming year, with one addition to the lineup being a Double Dry-Hopped IPA series. Among other items of interest, Tupps will add to its line of Full Grown Man varieties in February with Full Grown Scallywag (coconut, vanilla), while cans of Raspberry Wheat will debut in May. Click the image to the right to see a full-size version of the 2018 calendar.


Deep Ellum rolls out Barrel House brew number two

Bottles of the second beer to emerge from Deep Ellum's Barrel House are now on shelves around North Texas. Brett Pale Ale (6.8% ABV) is a beer that's said to feature notes of sun-dried fruit, barnyard and flavorful hops. Look for it in 500 mL bottles.


Candemonium

Cans, cans and more cans are coming to a retailer near you, with the following newly-canned beers either already on the market or coming soon.

• 3 Nations Blood Orange Wit: coming soon, pending TABC approval.
• 903 Brewers Birthday Sasquatch (imperial milk stout with fudge and toasted marshmallows): on sale at the brewery Friday, January 12.
• Martin House Old Mose (wine barrel-aged quad with figs and plums): available in two-pack boxes of 12-ounce cans.
• Martin House Reverie Pomegranate Sour: available in six-packs of 12-ounce cans.
• Unlawful Assembly Idol Time (passion fruit pineapple wheat): packaged January 3, pending TABC approval.

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Image credits (top to bottom): Cellarman's Pub & Brewery, Old Town Brewhouse, Deep Ellum Brewing Co., 3 Nations Brewing Co., 903 Brewers, Martin House Brewing Co., Unlawful Assembly Brewing Co.

North Texas Craft Beer Conspectus - December 6, 2017 edition

In the past, the arrival of the holiday season has meant a slowdown on the craft beer newsfront, but that's apparently not the case this year. As seen below, a lot has happened in the three weeks since the last Conspectus, with a big distribution announcement heading up a new list of items that includes the usual roundup of recently released beers, along with updates on the status on four North Texas breweries in development.

Cheers!


Collective joins up with Shelton Brothers

Shelton Brothers, Inc., a Massachusetts-based import/export firm, has added The Collective Brewing Project to its portfolio. According to a blog post on Collective's website, the Fort Worth brewery will work with Shelton Brothers to deliver its beer to festivals and events it plans to attend in the coming year.


Snap up the latest release from Wild Acre

Now in stores, Snap'd is the latest beer to emerge from Wild Acre Brewing Co. of Fort Worth. Billed as a gingerbread strong ale, the seasonal offering packs a fair amount of punch, with an ABV of nearly 8%. Look for it in six-packs of 12-ounce cans.


Nick the newest Full Grown variety on tap at Tupps

Tupps Brewery of McKinney has unveiled its newest Full Grown Man variety in the form of Full Grown Nick (12.1% ABV). Brewed with holiday spices, Full Grown Nick is the third seasonal treatment of Full Grown Man Imperial Stout, following brethren brews Full Grown Hombre and Full Grown Jack. Find it in four-packs of 12-ounce cans.


Deep Ellum flies its Freak Flag

Freak Flag (7.8% ABV, 14 IBU), the initial offering in Deep Ellum Brewing Co.'s Barrelhouse line, has been released in 500mL bottles. The beer is a sour red ale that's spent 18 months in red wine barrels, and it's the first fully barrel-fermented brew to produced by the company. Freak Flag's release also kicks off the brewery's Solera program, an initiative that involves the fractional blending of different vintages over time to create a beer that gets older every time you drink it.

Also from Deep Ellum, a new IPA variety pack is available at retail, containing Deep Ellum IPA, Dreamcrusher, Easy Peasy IPA and the brewery's new White IPA.


Future brewery blurbs

The TABC has approved the licenses for New Main Brewing Co. of Pantego and Parker County Brewing Co. of Willow Park. Both entities are currently under construction with early 2018 target dates.

After many years in development, there's finally a light at the end of the tunnel for Steam Theory Brewing Co. of Dallas. Construction on the future brewpub's site in Trinity Groves began in November, with the latest update projecting an opening to occur as early as April of next year.

The Corsicana City Council has cleared the way for work to begin on Navarro County Brewing Co., after a variance was approved for a proposed site on December 1. Set to be the city's first brewery, Navarro County Brewing will be located at 321 W. 6th Ave. in Corsicana.

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Image credits (top to bottom): Collective Brewing Project, Wild Acre Brewing Co., Tupps Brewery, Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Parker County Brewing Co., New Main Brewing Co., Steam Theory Brewing Co., Navarro County Brewing Co.

Tupps signs distribution deal with Ben E. Keith

Image credit: Tupps Brewery.

Tupps Brewery of McKinney has entered into an agreement with Ben E. Keith Beverages for the distribution of its products in and around North Texas.

"To be successful in the beer business you have to, first and foremost, make great beer," says Chase Lewis, vice president of sales at Tupps. "Second, you have to present yourself well to the market. Last, but very far from least, you have to manage the distribution of your product very well. It's an incredibly difficult and important part of this industry, and Ben E. Keith has been distributing beer in North Texas with excellence for decades. We couldn't be happier to be partnering with such a strong and supportive company."

The brewery had self-distributed its beers since opening in May 2015, but growth on the order of 400% in total volume over the first year signaled a need to explore other options. Lewis believes the partnership will help propel Tupps to the next level in the Dallas-Fort Worth area, as it will allow the company focus on beer, branding and building stronger relationships in the market. 

"Tupps has done an extraordinary job brewing a portfolio of great beers, while establishing their brands and brewery in Texas, and we are excited and honored to be chosen as their distributor," says Steve Olkewicz, business development manager at Ben E. Keith. "The Tupps approach to business, marketing, innovation and high quality beer provides us with a great foundation for a successful partnership. We look forward to the opportunity to have the Tupps brands in our portfolio, and are eager to continue the expansion of their brands in our markets."

According to a press release, Ben E. Keith will begin delivering Tupps products to accounts on December 1. Counties covered by the agreement include Archer, Baylor, Bell, Bosque, Bowie, Camp, Cass, Clay, Collin, Cooke, Coryell, Dallas, Denton, Ellis, Erath, Falls, Fannin, Franklin, Grayson, Hill, Hood, Hopkins, Hunt, Jack, Johnson, Kaufman, Lamar, McLennan, Milam, Montague, Morris, Palo Pinto, Parker, Rains, Red River, Rockwall, Somervell, Tarrant, Titus, Van Zandt, Wichita, Wilbarger, Wise, Wood and Young.

Harvest becomes first brewpub in McKinney

Image courtesy of Harvest Seasonal Kitchen.

Just over two years after first opening its doors, Harvest Seasonal Kitchen has begun brewing beer in house at its location on the square in Historic Downtown McKinney.

Harvest, owned by Don Day and Rick Wells of Rick's Chophouse at the city's Grand Hotel, debuted in September 2014. Billed as a farm-to-table restaurant with a Texas flair, Harvest's primary mission has since been to promote community agriculture and sustainability. That approach will guide the newly-instituted brewing operations as well, which will be overseen by general manager and resident brewmaster Toby Thomason.

"Our goal is to make farmhouse-style ales, brewed in the Belgian tradition, utilizing local ingredients and sustainable practices," says Thomason. "When it came to beer and how we run our beverage program, it just makes sense. We have plenty of farmers to provide us with different grains for brewing, and plenty of farmers who will take our spent grains."

One of the project's ambitions is a prime example of how the restaurant intends to apply its local focus to making beer, as Harvest hopes to one day produce a naturally-fermented cask-aged ale made with all Texas ingredients.

"Right now we are sourcing malt from Blacklands Malt in Leander, and the barrels we are using are from local wineries and distilleries. The hops are being grown at our farm, Water Boy Farms in Lucas, which yields very little, but eventually the crop will give us enough to make an all-Texas farmhouse ale."

Locally-sourced oak barrels will be used by Harvest to age beers like Old Leathercoat, a whiskey barrel porter,
as well as a variety of naturally-fermented cask ales (Image credit: Harvest Seasonal Kitchen). 

Sourcing local will also involve fermenting with naturally-occurring yeast strains, which along with the use of varying seasonal ingredients suggests patrons can expect to experience something different each time they step through the restaurant's door.

"We are brewing on a small-batch system, with a maximum output of 50 gallons," says Thomason. "Doing small batches will allow us to experiment with blends and aggressive yeast strains that we otherwise would not be able to use. Over time, we will develop standard recipes, but for the most part we are going to let the native yeast strains take over. On top of that, we plan to use whatever ingredients are in season, both on our organic farm and from other farmers in the area, to create something we feel is unique."

Along those lines, a few of the beers currently in development at Harvest include a honey and juniper ale (brewed with honey from the farm), and a sour IPA that will rest in tequila barrels prior to being reactivated with prickly pear.

Up first, though, will be a beer named for James Webb Throckmorton, a former Texas governor and U.S. Congressman. Old Leathercoat, which recalls a nickname given to Throckmorton by Indians he negotiated with on the frontier, is a barrel-aged porter set to be refermented with orange peel and Luxardo cherries.

As for when Old Leathercoat will available, it's all a matter of maturation, so keep an eye on the restaurant's Facebook page for updates as to when the first batch will be released. In addition, stay tuned for details on collaborations Harvest has in the works with its McKinney counterparts, Franconia Brewing Co. and Tupps Brewery.

Tupps bringing back For Ella, releasing re-formulated Full Grown Man

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

Two familiar names to fans of Tupps Brewery are returning to the McKinney brewery's lineup, with the pending release of its double IPA, For Ella, and imperial stout, Full Grown Man.

For Ella (8.9% ABV, 85 IBU) first appeared on the scene this past spring, quickly becoming the fastest-selling beer Tupps has produced to date. Consistent access to hops kept For Ella on the sidelines for a while, but with a new hop contract in the works, the brewery hopes to keep the beer in the mix more regularly.

"Our double IPA is one of those special beers that we are really proud of," says Chase Lewis, director of sales at Tupps. "We found a hop profile we all loved and ran with it. So much so, we questioned whether we had dry-hopped the beer too much. There is so much juicy stone fruit flavor and aroma in For Ella, but it drinks remarkably smooth considering how big it is."

As for Full Grown Man (11.2% ABV), an edition appearing over the summer was brewed with molasses and English ale yeast prior to being aged on cocoa nibs. The focus at the time was to create a medium-bodied brew featuring an array of fruity esters and a dry, chocolate finish. According to head brewer Chris Lewis, though, the new version is an attempt to mix things up and go bigger, with the result promising to be ever darker and more complex than the original.

Naturally, Full Grown Man is also the antithesis of Ella, as Chase points out when comparing the two beers.

"Ella is all about the hops and Full Grown Man is all about the grain," he says. "Full Grown Man is a beefy, full-flavored stout that will really excite those big stout drinkers. It throws off notes of dark cherry, rich caramel and hints of toasted bread. It's also a beer that will age well, as the dark roasted malt flavors will really develop over time."

Both beers will debut at the brewery's taproom on December 9 (click here for details). After that, look for them to be available on tap at select locations around Dallas-Fort Worth beginning the week of December 12. Further out, cans of Full Grown Man will begin arriving at retail the week of December 19, with plans for a packaged version of For Ella to follow later in 2017.

Tupps to launch its beer in cans, March 18

Cotton Mill Gold was packaged during Tupps' first
canning run on Monday (© Brian Brown/Beer In Big D).

Since opening in May of 2015, Tupps Brewery has been working to develop a presence in the market by way of local draft accounts. This month, though, the company looks to extend its reach by offering its beer in cans for the first time.

An inaugural canning run took place on Monday at the brewery's facility in McKinney, with equipment provided by Armadillo Mobile Canning. According to Tupps' sales manager Chase Lewis, mobile canning provided the best option for getting packaged beer into the market short term, though Tupps does intend to purchase in-house equipment sometime in the future. "We're still working through the process of obtaining quotes on various canning lines, so for now we're just going to take advantage of the convenience of going mobile."

As for distribution, Tupps' marketing and events coordinator Katie Baker indicated that the brewery will continue to self-distribute, with current plans calling for deliveries of canned products to occur all across the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. Initial shipments will begin arriving at retail on Friday, March 18, with cans expected to be available at area locations of Fossil Creek Liquor, Market Street, Spec's, Total Wine and Whole Foods, as well as at other local craft beer retailers (a full list will be posted on the brewery's website).

Once on retail shelves, consumers will be able to purchase all five of the brewery's year-round beers, a lineup which includes: Black Ale, Cotton Mill Gold, Northbound 75, Texas Shade and Tupps IPA. Additional offerings will follow, such as McKinney Red Rye Ale, a new beer scheduled for release in April.

A full slate of pre-release parties is planned for the week leading up to the official launch event, which will happen on Friday, March 18 at The Rustic in Dallas. See the list below for where and when you'll be able to try Tupps beer in cans for the first time, and be sure to follow the brewery on social media for the most up-to-date details.

Launch and pre-release party schedule:

Monday, March 14: The Celt, McKinney - featuring a pre-release of Tupps IPA.

Tuesday, March 15: The Bearded Monk, Denton - featuring a pre-release of Northbound 75.
Wednesday, March 16: World of Beer, Plano - featuring a pre-release of Black Ale.
Thursday, March 17: San Francisco Rose, Dallas - featuring a pre-release of Cotton Mill Gold.
Friday, March 18: The Rustic, Dallas - Official Can Launch Party featuring the complete Tupps lineup in cans.
Sunday, March 20: Barcadia, Dallas - featuring a pre-release of Texas Shade.