Civil Pour raises a Ruckus in Richardson

Images © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

Six years after introducing the concept off Walnut Hill Ln. in Dallas, owners Chad and Nellie Montgomery (also of Big Texas Beer Fest) have brought their "Coffee & Beer Ruckus" to the City of Richardson.

The newly-minted second location of Civil Pour Coffee + Beer is now open at 800 N. Coit Rd. in the city's Promenade North retail development. Set up in a 3,000 square foot space, the new spot very much has the look and feel of the original, with light-letting windows upfront, similar stylings filling the room, and a captivating art mural anchoring one wall.

On that last note, the "Peace Goddess" mural was created by Nellie (her first!), and the work is aptly named given the calm and welcoming air about it, as the goddess seems to be inviting guests to settle in with a cup of restorative liquid.

Of course, the liquids in this case could be coffee, or tea, or beer. Menu options in Richardson basically mirror those of the Dallas locale, in terms of both eats and drinks. There are lattes, espresso shots, pour over coffees, and 25 taps of beer for the discerning sipper, with the shop's familiar selection of pastries and paninis on hand for the hungry.

As for the vibe, if an early-week noontime visit is any indication, the goddess will hold court over an atmosphere promising to be - what else? - civil. Other than some quiet conversation, which at times might include elements of academic discourse thanks to UTD students from just down the way, there's nothing to distract from the enjoyment of a leisurely lunch, a quiet cup of joe, or a thought-provoking pint of locally-crafted beer.

Really then, what Civil Pour Richardson represents is a simple extension of the brand, and one which brings the Ruckus more within reach to residents living north of the I-635 "wall."

And, like it's Dallas brethren, Civil Pour Richardson has the makings of a morning, noon and nighttime destination based on its array of in-house offerings. So, along those lines, the shop operates seven days a week, with hours starting at 7:30 a.m. Monday-Saturday, and 8 a.m. on Sunday.

House beers now pouring at Craft and Growler

Craft & Growler's debut house beer, One and a Half Years Later,
is available on tap and in crowlers (© Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

The name of the beer says it all. Craft and Growler's initial offering, One and a Half Years Later, is an IPA that recalls the length of time it took for the Dallas growler shop to get its in-house brewing project underway.

Equipment for the initiative has been onsite since May 2019, but the first production brew day didn't occur until late last month. Craft and Growler's brewer, Brendan Smith, fired up the kettle on May 23, with the startup recipe chosen to be a SMaSH IPA. Brewed with two-row pale malt and Cascade hops, the resulting beer is nicely balanced, with a flowery aroma, citrus flavors and a mildly bitter bite.

One and a Half Years Later is also crystal clear, its clarity appearing as a stark contrast to the current wave of hazy IPAs. And while hazy beers are surely a hot commodity, choosing to do a SMaSH IPA was more about differentiating from another type of beer commonly produced when breweries are starting out.

"I didn't want to do just a blonde as a test batch as many seem to do," says Smith. "So, I figured why not spend a bit more on hops and make it a SMaSH?"

As for future style selections, Smith is working on a hefeweizen, with a hazy pale ale, gose and fruited Berliner weisse in the plans as well. In addition, Craft and Growler's SMaSH IPA is set to return, with subsequent hop varieties chosen by way of customer feedback. The overall goal, of course, is to build up a stable of originals to supplement the shop's everyday product mix.

"Eventually, as we get the system dialed in and perfect our process, we'd like to have four-to-six house beers on at any one time," says Smith.

Another notable aspect of Craft and Growler's journey to this point is how it was able to lean on industry relationships built since opening in 2012. Smith singled out no fewer than nine local brewers who provided advice and encouragement during the process of getting the shop's brewhouse ready for use.

Along those lines, it's no surprise to learn that collaborations with area brewers are also on the agenda at Craft and Growler.

"We are in talks to do collabs with Celestial Beerworks and 903 Brewers," adds Smith, "but others have expressed interest in working with us and we'll be happy to work with anyone."

With that, Craft and Growler takes its place as an active North Texas brewing operation. It may have taken one and a half years to get here, but those pitching in to help proved once again the community of craft beer is alive and well.

On your mark, get set, beer to go!

Image credit: Texas Craft Brewers Guild, CraftPAC.

It's really happening! After over a decade of legal wrangling, production breweries in Texas are finally able to sell beer to go as of Sunday, September 1. And, judging by the number of events on tap that day, it looks to be a time of celebration all around North Texas. In fact, many breweries usually closed on Sunday will have special hours in honor of the occasion.

Details on where and when you can go, what you can get and more are provided below, with links to additional information included where available. Of course, there are also some relevant rules to be aware of, per the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC), so those are listed here as well.

Things to know:

• Purchases are limited to 288 ounces of beer per person/per day, regardless of format (any combination of bottles, cans, crowlers, growlers).
• Current restrictions do not allow for to-go beer sales at Four Corners Brewing Co. of Dallas and Revolver Brewing of Granbury.
• Companies operating under an alternating proprietorship arrangement are not able to sell beer to-go at the host facility. This applies to Manhattan Project Beer Co., Toasty Bros., and Trinity Forest Brewing Co.

Cheers!

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10 a.m.

3 Nations Brewing Co., Farmers Branch - Straight Outta Farmers Branch: Beer to Go.

• Six-pack cans, growler fills (customers must bring own growlers).

Community Beer Co., Dallas - Beer-To-Go Day.

• Debut of Super Mosaic Triple IPA (taproom exclusive).
• Six-pack cans, crowlers.

Lakewood Brewing Co., Garland - Beer-To-Go Celebration.

• Debut of B-Funk (barrel-aged Brett saison).
• Specialty bottles, bombers, six-pack cans, crowlers, growler fills.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas - Break the Chains Beer-To-Go Party.

• Special taproom-only releases (click here for details).
• Six-pack cans, crowlers, growler fills.

Tupps Brewery, McKinney - Beer-To-Go Day.

• Debut of Full Grown Beast (Full Grown Man aged on coffee and chocolate).
• Re-release of DDH IPA Series 2 and Northbound 75 Poblano Pale Ale.
• Four/six-pack cans, crowlers, growler fills.

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11 a.m.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., Fort Worth - Beer-To-Go Launch.

• Special tappings: Baril de Blue (chardonnay barrel-aged kölsch with blueberries), Barrel-Aged Regulator Doppelbock and Iron Joe.
• The brewery will also institute permanent taproom hours occurring Wednesday through Sunday starting on September 4, with additional featured beers during launch week.
• Six-pack cans, crowlers.

Wild Acre Brewing Co., Fort Worth - Beer-To-Go Taproom Release Party.

• Debut of Hazy Sour IPA (taproom exclusive).
• Six-pack cans, crowlers, growler fills.

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12 p.m.

Armadillo Ale Works, Denton - Beer 2 Go Day.

• Wizard Staff Packs (mixed 12-pack cans).
• Four/six-pack cans, growler fills.

Bitter Sisters Brewery, Addison - Beer To Go Party.

• Debut of Awkward Phaze Hazy IPA.
• Four/six-pack cans, crowlers, growler fills.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Dallas.

• Labor of Love 8 Homebrew Competition & Festival at 5 p.m. ($10pp, click here to purchase tickets).
• Six-pack cans, crowlers.

Deep Ellum Funkytown Fermatorium, Fort Worth.

• Crowlers.

Four Bullets Brewery, Richardson - Beer-To-Go Celebration.

• Specials on merchandise.
• Six-pack cans, growler fills.

Hemisphere Brewing Co., Rockwall - Beer-To-Go Day.

• Big Ass Cans (32-ounce), growler fills.

Hop & Sting Brewing Co., Grapevine - Beer To Go Begins.

• Launch of Dixon's Hazy Pale Ale in cans benefiting Dallas Pets Alive (taproom exclusive).
• Six-pack cans, growler fills.

Legal Draft Beer Co., Arlington - Beer-To-Go Day.

• Six-pack cans, growler fills.

Martin House Brewing Co., Fort Worth - Riverside Lounge Birthday/Beer-To-Go Party.

• Special tappings: Tequila Barrel-Aged Acheron, Who Wants Cream and Lemon Icebox Pie.
• Two/four/six-pack cans.

Nine Band Brewing Co., Allen - Finally Free: Beer-To-Go.

• Debut of Red Ale Redemption (Texas red ale) and Nautty Pumkn' (pumpkin/pecan ale).
• The brewery will also begin a series of monthly limited releases, with two new beers expected each month.
• Six-pack cans, growler fills.

Oak Cliff Brewing Co., Dallas.

• Growler fills.

Old Town Brewhouse, Lewisville

• Raffle for first ever six-pack to go on the house.
• Six-pack cans, growler fills.

Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas - Can and Take it.

• Four-pack cans, crowlers.

Texas Ale Project, Dallas - Beer-To-Go Day.

• TAP Paks (mixed six-pack cans), growler fills.

Thirsty Bro Brewing Co., Royse City - Beer To Go, Bro.

• Six-pack cans, growler fills.

Woodcreek Brewing Co., Rockwall - Beer-To-Go Day.

• Six-pack cans, crowlers, growler fills.

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1 p.m.

Franconia Brewing Co., McKinney - Oktoberfest Kick-Off.

• Oktoberfest tapping, re-release of Franconia Wheat (brewery exclusive).
• Six-pack bottles just $5.99.

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1:30 p.m.

Four Corners Brewing Co., Dallas - Tour de Beer2Go with Bikes & Growlers.

• Tour stops: Oak Cliff Brewing Co., Pegasus City Brewery and Peticolas Brewing Co.
• Four Corners will only be selling beer for on-premise consumption.

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2 p.m.

Pegasus City Brewery, Dallas - Beer-To-Go Day.

• Bottles, six-pack cans (including variety packs), crowlers, growler fills.

Railport Brewing Co., Waxahachie - Growlers Leaving the Station Celebration.

• VIP entry at 12 p.m., commemorative glassware ($50pp, click here to purchase tickets).
• Growler fills.

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The ruckus is ready: Civil Pour set to start service in Dallas

Coffee and beer come together at Civil Pour (Photo: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

A ruckus is about to be raised, as the specialty coffee shop/craft beer bar known as Civil Pour prepares to open this week in North Dallas at 8061 Walnut Hill Ln.

Conceived by Chad and Nellie Montgomery, Civil Pour is the latest venture for a couple most well-known for its work with Big Texas Beer Fest. Billed as "a coffee and beer ruckus," the idea behind the new place is rooted in a play off of the Civil War, where North and South combatants are replaced by coffee and beer. At issue, it seems, is an argument over what makes for a better beverage.

To that end, options for coffee lovers at Civil Pour include the signature drip (served by way of the Commuter Cup), shots of espresso and cold-brewed coffee, while beer fanatics can pick from 30 taps containing only the finest in draft-only selections produced by local and national breweries.

With multiple windows and two see-through garage doors, Civil Pour's front elevation serves
as a virtual picture window to the outside world (Photos: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

So, which is your beverage of choice? Take sides if you must, but who's to say you can't alter your allegiance over the course of a day. Why not grab some coffee on the way to work, and then a beer on the way home? Or vice versa, I suppose, if you're the type that enjoys beer for breakfast.

Regardless of whether you stop in to kick-start the day, or unwind after a long one, Civil Pour's carefully-curated selections will be delivered to you within the confines of a bright and welcoming atmosphere. You can even add a pastry pairing to round out a morning snack, or a panini sandwich to make it a meal.

Either way, Civil Pour seeks to satisfy all coffee and beer cravings by offering the best of both under one roof. Think of it as a way to ease potential hostilities. Order what you like at Civil Pour...and raise a drink to detente.

Bluffview Growler adding small-batch brewhouse

Image credit: Bluffview Growler.

Just over a year after it began filling growlers near the Park Cities neighborhood of Dallas, Bluffview Growler is looking to add to its business by offering patrons the option of house-brewed beer.

Dale Czech, who co-owns both Bluffview Growler and Lakewood Growler with wife Stacie, was a homebrewer before he opened the Lakewood shop in early 2014. He'll utilize those skills, while teaming with Ross Frederick and Mason MacPhail from the Dallas Homebrew Collective, to craft small-batch recipes covering flavor profiles not well represented in the local market.

"We ordered a one-barrel system, which we'll use to fill two or three taps to complement our existing lineup," says Czech. "This will be a fun project for us, and we view it as a way to evolve our craft offerings by producing experimental beers with fresh ingredients and hops that are more difficult to brew on a larger scale."

On the subject of styles, Czech let it be known that hazy, juicy IPAs are something that's definitely on the team's radar. Beyond that, though, indications are that style choices will generally fall in line with the season.

As for when this will all take place, federal and state license applications are currently pending. Once those go through, test batches will be run initially, which means it'll likely be closer to the summer before production gets underway. When that happens, expect to see Bluffview beers on tap in house, as well as at the Lakewood location.

The Thirsty Growler coming to The Colony

Image courtesy of The Thirsty Growler.

Given the uptick in growth currently going on in The Colony, it was probably only a matter of time before a few craft beer-related businesses looked to establish a presence in the Denton County community. At least two such entities, in Drunken Donkey and Rock & Brews, are already up and running, with a third on the way in the form of The Thirsty Growler.

Mike and Andrea Gillum are the husband-and-wife team behind The Thirsty Growler, which looks to become the first business to offer craft beer to go in the city. The taproom and growler station is being built as part of a retail center at 5733 State Highway 121, which puts it opposite Nebraska Furniture Mart and the ongoing Grandscape development. It's a spot with easy access that should provide ample visibility based on the high volume of traffic expected in the vicinity.

Choosing The Colony for the couple's new venture came down to a couple of key factors. One was the fact they have friends and family in the area, while another was the aforementioned climate of growth.

"My wife and I were drawn to The Colony due to the recent influx of new businesses that are moving into the area," Gillum said. "We see an unbelievable opportunity to serve not only craft beer drinkers from The Colony, Frisco, Plano and the surrounding areas, but to also provide an experience for others to learn what good beer is all about. I've had a passion for craft beer that has grown tremendously over the years, and my wife is no different. Our goal is to help others discover that passion as well."

The Thirsty Growler will occupy a little over 2200 square feet in a space Gillum describes as "cozy, but not cramped." Plans call for table, bar and booth seating, with added conveniences like USB plug-ins and Wi-Fi access. Gillum also intends to install a television or two for those wanting to watch a ball game, but he's quick to point out that he doesn't want The Thirsty Growler be seen as a sports bar. "Think of it as a mix between a coffee shop and taproom kind of place. We wanted to make sure there was enough room for people to stay and try out different beers in a cool and comfortable environment before deciding which beers they want to take to go. We'll even be dog-friendly, as long as your dog is friendly too."

As for how the taplist will be structured, craft beer, cider, kombucha and non-alcoholic root beer will be stocked to start, with other beverages added as demand dictates. Among the planned 50 taps, Gillum says the hope is to try and strike a balance across the board. "We want to serve the best of what there is locally, while also bringing in the national brands that everyone knows and enjoys. In regards to styles, we look forward to serving every style that we can get into the cooler."

Gillum suggests, though, that the ultimate approach will come down to how they connect with customers.

"We look forward to building relationships with the people that frequent our store. We've studied the reviews of places that paved the way for us, and we hope to adopt things that have proved successful, while improving on things that haven't according to the wishes of the craft beer community."

Based on the current state of construction, Gillum foresees The Thirsty Growler opening sometime in mid-to-late April. Once that happens, events like pint nights and tap takeovers will be a regular occurrence, as will the hosting of food trucks, either as a meal option for patrons or as part of on-site food pairings.


The Thirsty Growler
5733 State Highway 121 - Suite 230
The Colony

Lone Star Taps & Caps unveils new Denton address

Image credit: Lone Star Taps & Caps.

Around this time last year, founders Sam and Rick Ali announced plans to expand their Lone Star Beverages empire with the opening of a new growler station in Lewisville. The concept which has come to be known as Lone Star Taps & Caps opened its doors in December 2014, and now just 10 months later the father and son duo is ready to reveal its next move.

This fall, Lone Star Taps & Caps will open a second location in the City of Denton. Located at 526 W. Hickory Street, the new spot is positioned halfway between the campuses of Texas Woman's University and the University of North Texas. On top of that, it's just steps away from the city's downtown Square and mere minutes from Audacity Brew House and the recently reported landing spot of Armadillo Ale Works. Given the easy access to these entities and the emergence of Denton as a North Texas craft beer destination, the pair says "it was the right time to bring the Taps & Caps concept to the city."

As described in a press release, the new shop will fuse the growler bar elements of the Lewisville location with the convenience of the retail bottles to-go setup that makes up the Carrolton store. In addition, the Denton site will include a one-of-a-kind walk-up service window that is accessible from the street.

For the two founders, "Lone Star Taps & Caps continued growth is a result of their constant dedication to provide the ultimate craft beer experience to patrons." Combine this with a desire to continue providing the service and selection that has made them a staple in the craft beer community, and you have the makings of a mission statement that has remained strong and unchanged since they first entered the industry nearly a decade ago. And, indications are that this approach will endure well into the future, as Sam and Rick have every intention of opening more locations in surrounding cities in the near future.

Pouring Glory to fill more than growlers in Fort Worth

Image credit: Pouring Glory.

With dedicated growler fill stations popping up here and there on the eastern side of the Metroplex, it was just a matter of time before one got started out west. Though, in this case, Fort Worth's new Pouring Glory will bring something else to the table besides just beer. We're talking food for hungry patrons prepared by chefs in an onsite kitchen, making the concept the first to add elements of a quick-service restaurant to a growler shop offering beer-to-go.

Pouring Glory's ownership group consists of Kevin and Julia von Ehrenfried, along with Scott and JoAnn Glover. The two men each bring well over 25 years of food industry experience to the project, and they are both chefs in their own right. Von Ehrenfried began his career in 1986 and has spent the last nine years as Director of Operations for Humperdinks, while Glover got his start roughly a decade sooner, eventually going on to oversee the West Coast expansion of the Dallas-based Chili's restaurant chain during the mid-1980s.

As for their new venture, Pouring Glory will be located at 1001 Bryan Avenue in the Near Southside neighborhood of Fort Worth. The spot is a mere four blocks away from Rahr & Sons and less than a mile from the Collective Brewing Project and soon-to-be HopFusion Ale Works. Commenting on the site selection, von Ehrenfried indicated that the choice had as much to do with being close to local breweries as it did "being able to be a big part of the revitalization of the area."

The structure that exists on the site was originally built in 1943, though it was most recently home to a nightclub. Once renovations are complete, the building "will have an industrial motif consisting of exposed brick, gears, gauges and pipes," or the look of "Steam Punk," according to von Ehrenfried. The 2100 square foot space will house a bar serving fresh craft beer and wine, for on or off-premise consumption, as well as a display kitchen cooking up house-smoked barbecue, gastro pub-style fare and daily chef specials.

Naturally, given the culinary aspect of the business, they'll hold the occasional beer and food pairing, but as far as onsite gatherings go, von Ehrenfried says they'll strive to become an integral part of the Fort Worth community by hosting events for charity as well. In addition, they hope to get out and meet neighbors, if you will, by offering catering services for offsite functions nearby.

Regarding beer selection, upwards of 50 beers will be on tap at any given time, and while Pouring Glory will highlight local breweries whenever possible, their focus will be on trying to stock the best beers available, whether they be from North Texas or other parts of the country. "Southside Fort Worth is quickly becoming a hub for craft beer," notes von Ehrenfried, and the excitement it generates is something he and his partners want to be a part of.

Overall, those behind Pouring Glory hope that they've developed something that will be well-received by craft beer consumers. They recognize that growlers are a growing trend, but they believe the addition of food service will help to set them apart from the rest. In the end, it's all about creating "the perfect concept to deliver great craft beer and food to the community in a fun and casual atmosphere."

Currently, construction is still ongoing, so there's still a bit of work to do before they can open. Until they do, stay up-to-date on Pouring Glory's progress by way of updates to their Facebook page as they target a late August or early September debut.


Pouring Glory
1001 Bryan Avenue
Fort Worth