Local Brewery News
Intrinsic finds craft beer-and-BBQ home on historic suburban square
A craft beer-and-barbecue combination sounds like a winner, and it's coming to Garland: Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery, a craft brewery and brewpub serving house-made beer, soda and barbecue, will open in October on the city's historic square, at 509 W. State St.
Intrinsic was founded by Garland natives Cary and Molly Hodson, who wanted to bring something to their hometown. They'll be joined by "Pitmaster Tex," known for his smoked meats and Junior's Lone Star Sauce.
Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery will have an equal focus on BBQ and beer; it also will be a spot to fill growlers. Garland is currently home to one brewery — Lakewood Brewing on the border of Dallas — but Intrinsic will occupy a unique niche in the downtown area, says Cary, a longtime home-brewer.
"We're excited we found this old historical building in the downtown square," he says. "It was built in the 1920s, but remodeled in the 1970s, so we're trying to bring it back to its former glory."
The Hodsons will be doing that work themselves, Cary says. "I'm a furniture maker by trade; I've been doing that for many years. So we're building it with our own hands."
The Intrinsic team got funding in a similar grass-roots manner, including a campaign on Crowdbrewed.com. With the help of several tasting events and guidance from the Garland Chamber of Commerce in partnership with the Small Business Development Council, they were successful in reaching their $30,000 goal in seed money.
The beer lineup will include basics but also some unique flavors, Cary says.
"Every place needs to have an IPA; a blond, a brown or a red; and a stout or a porter," he says. "But we're known for our experimental beers. We do something unique which is sessionable beers with a lot of flavor and a moderate ABV at about 5 percent."
Intrinsic has already won awards at the "Labor of Love" competition hosted by Deep Ellum Brewing, including a best-in-show for Basil Buzz, a Hefeweizen brewed with honey and basil, that will be brewed by Deep Ellum Brewing and distributed around Dallas in July 2015 as a teaser.
The Hodsons are part of a growing dynamic in Garland. "Things are changing in downtown Garland," Cary says. "There's a nice coffee shop and a couple restaurants, and the DART train is there. We'll be the first brewpub."
