Well-regarded brewer Drew Huerter parted ways with Dallas craft beer maker Deep Ellum Brewing Company this week. Brewery founder John Reardon confirmed the news.

"He's in transition, but he'll be leaving," Reardon says. "We're weighing our options. We're growing so fast that we need the right people involved."

Deep Ellum Brewery's growth has been swift, moving most recently into larger scale production of bottles and cans being distributed to retail outlets such as Central Market, Whole Foods and Spec's. In mid-March, the brewery posted an ad for an assistant brewer.

"We've had to quadruple our space and our cooler and double our capacity. We're on fire," Reardon says. "The timing is kind of unexpected, but given the type of brewer he is, he wants to do smaller batch, at a slower pace. We gotta have the guy that can lead the charge."

Huerter's hire in Marc 2011 helped give Deep Ellum Brewing Co. a hit of respectability. He came to Dallas with a good reputation after having served as brewer at the now-defunct Mattingly Brewing Co. and at Schlafly in St. Louis, Missouri.

DEBC marketing manager Tait Lifto said they will postpone filling the assistant brewer position and focus on finding a head brewer first.

"It happens in craft beer just like any other business," he says. "But we understand that what we're doing at Deep Ellum is bigger than any one person. It's a new leaf in our tree of life. But it's sad to see someone leave that you've worked with and grown fond of, like losing a family member."