Craft Beer News

Gastropub gives Dallas homebrewers a crack at craft beer stardom

You too could brew this beer.

Photo courtesy of Barley & Board/Facebook

Denton gastropub Barley & Board is giving closet homebrewers a chance to to take their hobby to the next level with a new project called the Home Brewers League.

Founded by B&B chef Chad Kelley, the league is a monthly event in which a homebrewer makes a beer, then releases it at a celebration at the pub.

Kelley, who also oversees brew lab operations, says they launched the league to showcase homebrewers via a collaboration, and to enhance the appreciation of the skill and craftsmanship involved in brewing.

"There are so many homebrewers out there who don't advertise their hobby," he says. "We wanted to give them a chance, let them play out their dreams a little bit. They're in their garage thinking, 'It would be great to start a brewery one day.' We give them a chance to act on that by coming to brew on a professional level and showcasing their beer at a restaurant."

The lead-up to the monthly event takes four weeks, from the day they create the batch to tap day, when the restaurant releases the beer to the public.

Recipes are created independently of the restaurant menu, but can vary based on season; for example, for October, they'll consider Oktoberfest beers for inspiration.

"Where we're brewing, we call it 'the lab' because we want to be experimental," Kelley says. "We don't want to do a bunch of safe beers or follow the fruity trend that's common right now. If they're gonna come and brew, let's do something different, and let's have fun."

June was their first event. The selected homebrewer was Cole Haley, who created a black IPA with all German hops — a departure from the typical West Coast IPA that's dominating the craft beer scene these days.

Barley & Board opened in 2015 as the first brewpub in Denton, but with a greater emphasis on food. A second location was just announced for Grandscape, the mixed-use development in The Colony anchored by Nebraska Furniture Mart.

Haley says he felt lucky to get to work with Barley & Board's equipment. "The brewery they have is really a show piece back here," says. "Beer really is a communal thing because most of the time, you're not drinking alone. You shouldn't be. There should be a rule against that."

The July league event will take place July 27, and homebrewers have already been chosen through September. The selection process is "passion-based;" it's the homebrewer's story that Kelley cares about the most. Candidates should email brewers@barelyandboard.com with their story and what they love about brewing.

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Coffee News

New cafe in Richardson spotlights fine Ethiopian coffee and pastries

Fanah

Fanah Cafe

A coffee shop has opened in Richardson with serious coffee roots: Called Fanah Cafe and Pastry, it's in a center at 139 N. Plano Rd. and Belt Line Road, where it's serving authentic Ethiopian coffee, lattes, and pastry baked in-house.

Owner Esayas Zeweldi was born in Ethiopia and moved to Dallas in 2008. In his early years in the U.S., he worked as a barista at UT Southwestern, then at Jasmine Market and Café. He went on to build a career in medical transportation and tech manufacturing — but his love for coffee never faded, and he decided to open his own shop.

"Since I came to the United States, that was my dream," Zeweldi says. "Nobody showed me the way, but I had it in me."

They serve traditional beverages including espresso, cappuccinos, and brewed coffee, and will be adding a collection of specialty lattes as well. They've partnered with Dilla Coffee Roasters in Deep Ellum, which specializes in Ethiopian beans. Ethiopia boasts some of the highest quality coffee beans grown in the world. The country is known for its diverse array of bean varietals, some of which have been cultivated for centuries.

Fanah will also soon offer an Ethiopian Coffee Ceremony, with boiled coffee served to participants on small cups that sit on a tray, meant to be shared.

“In my country coffee is all about conversation, we have a coffee ceremony, you call your neighbors, enjoy some time with them. With drive-thru concepts and quick coffee pick up, we lost the connection, I want people to have a good time," Zeweldi says.

The café also serves an assortment of pastries from international cuisines, as well as some Ethiopian dishes. The menu includes cream puffs, muffins, scones, croissants, tiramisu, and cakes in varieties such as Oreo, vanilla and millefeuille. Everything is baked in-house.

For breakfast, they serve traditional Ethiopian/Sudani fuul, a dish made with fava beans, tomatoes, onions, and chechebsa, fried pastry typically eaten with yogurt. They also serve pancakes and scrambled eggs.

Hours are 7 am-7 pm daily, and they're adding lunch which will feature a mix of Ethiopian and Italian items, based on recipes developed by Zewldi's wife, Yodit.

The food and beverages are important, but that's not all they're about.

"The café’s mission is simple: to bring joy through food and connection. using only the finest ingredients and creating an inviting space for everyone to feel at home," Zeweldi says.

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