Craft Beer News

Dallas Cowboys' Troy Aikman brews up a crafty light lager beer company

The beer is pitched as being healthy with organic grains.

Courtesy of Eight

There's a new beer on the market developed by former Dallas Cowboys quarterback and Renaissance man Troy Aikman. Called Eight, it's a light lager being pitched as a healthy lo-cal offering, and it'll be on the market in February.

A release describes the beer as having organic grains, "antioxidant-rich" Hallertau Taurus hops, and "no adjuncts, cheap fillers, or sugars." As a "light" lager, it has 90 calories and 2.6g carbohydrates.

In a statement, Aikman says that Eight is for health-minded drinkers who watch what they consume.

"These folks, myself included, are conscious of what we put in our bodies, and options for a light, refreshing beer that’s brewed with organic ingredients are virtually non-existent," he says. "When it comes to grabbing a beer, I found that my options were limited."

The beer took two years of research and trial, including a partnership with Oregon State University's Food Science and Technology Department. Eight will be based in Austin with a team that includes brewmaster Phil Leinhart (Anheuser-Busch, Harpoon Brewery, Brewery Ommegang), Doug Campbell (former president of Brewery Ommegang), operations manager Ruchi Desai, and brand strategist Jake Duneier.

The beer will be on draft in bars and restaurants in Texas, and then in retail locations in March, in 6-packs, 12-packs and 19.2-oz single serve cans.

For non-sports fans, the name seems like it has to be a clever reference to the British expression, "one over the eight," which means "one drink too many," referencing the myth that a man can drink eight pints of beer without getting too drunk. (For the rest of the world, Aikman's jersey was apparently No. 8, or so I've been told.)

This is not Aikman's first foray into the food & beverage industry. In 2012, he pursued a plan to open up to 50 locations of Dunkin' in Dallas, which sadly never came to fruition. More recently, in 2018, he was part of a team of celebrities opening restaurants at Texas Live, the entertainment district in Arlington. His place is called Troy's, and is a well-regarded destination for burgers, salads, beer, and live music.

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Deep Ellum News

Mexican 'vibe' restaurant from California to open in Deep Ellum Dallas

Mama Por Dios

A buzzy concept from California is coming to Dallas: Mama Por Dios, a Mexican restaurant chain known for its vibe, will open its first location in Texas in Deep Ellum in the Epic development at 2525 Elm St., taking over the former La Neta space, which shuttered in May.

According to a spokesperson, the restaurant will open in early to mid-January.

Mama Por Dios was founded in Southern California in 2020 by chef Misael Guerrero, who famously got his start selling Mexican sushi out of his garage.

Since those early days, he's gone on to form a restaurant empire called Emme Group, with concepts that include Los Amores de Julia, El Rincon de Los Dolidos, and Culichi Town, a lower-priced chain known for Sinaloa-style Mexican sushi & seafood, which has a local presence: It opened a location in Mesquite in 2022.

Mama Por Dios — which translates to "Mother of God" — describes itself as modern Mexican, offering a unique blend of steakhouse, sushi bar, and seafood. The menu includes favorites like tacos and enchiladas, alongside luxe dishes like lobster with spaghetti, lobster enchiladas, and a surf & turf featuring a lobster tail balanced atop a skirt steak. Prices range from $18 for birria tacos to $48 for a bacon-wrapped filet mignon with mashed potatoes and asparagus.

But they also have a showy side that includes flamboyant presentations such as the bacon-wrapped shrimp which come strung on clothespins; or the trompito al pastor, served on a personal spit, as well as servers who walk around with shots while dancing with patrons.

There's a Gold Burger for $65 featuring Prime beef on a brioche bun garnished with 24k gold leaf, and a similarly gilded tomahawk steak for $400 that brings to mind the good old days of Salt Bae. Decor is swanky with low lighting, and there'll be a serious brunch offering on weekends.

Cocktails such as the Al Agua Pato — served in a mini bathtub with a rubber ducky — are made for Instagram. They offer margarita and mezcalita flights with flavors such as mango, tamarindo, and strawberry, and intriguing sips like Carajillo, a Spanish cocktail with Licor 43, espresso, and 43 different fruit, citrus, aromatic, and herbal ingredients.

There’s also a $20 per-person minimum spend, and the menu comes with a warning that everything is cooked to order — meaning some dishes may take 30 to 40 minutes. For many diners, waiting will surely be part of the experience.

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