RIP Outfit
Fun-loving Dallas craft beer Outfit Brewing to close after 6 years
Outfit Brewing
In what can only be described as a major loss for Dallas' craft beer world, Outfit Brewing, a brewery in northwest Dallas, is closing after six years.
According to operating partner Zachary Flagg, they'll go out the way they came in: with a good-humored attitude, tasty BBQ, and a great lineup of beers, at a closing party on March 1 with a take-home-the-pint-glass plus DJ, BBQ from Meat Papi, and $2 beers.
Located at 7135 John W. Carpenter Fwy., Outfit Brewery opened in August 2018, founded by Jordan Young, who grew up brewing as a hobby, partnered with his stepbrother and head brewer Michael Frazer.
They offered six brews on tap and in cans, including a lager, IPA, brown ale, and milk stout. Some of the beers, such as Gene, were named after people who were related to Young or else left an impact. Flagg, who had a hospitality background, joined the team as an operating partner in 2020.
They managed to perservere through the pandemic, but Flagg says they experienced a big dropoff more recently in private events, one they could not survive.
"Since 2020, all breweries have faced similar challenges of rising cost of goods, insurance, rent, shortage of product, and taproom sales decreasing," Flagg says.
"Outfit Brewing thrived on its private events and typically had multiple large-scale events booked with deposits going into the new year," he says. "Unfortunately, we did not see the same commitment for private events going into 2025, which made our slow months difficult. This, among other life decisions, led us to make the difficult choice to end operations."
One of their key partners was Meat Papi, a Latin BBQ pop-up led by Luis Riviera Rodriguez, whose menu of chopped smoked brisket, smoked pork shoulder, Venezuelan arepas, and BBQ sandwiches became its own draw.
"Meat Papi joined us in June 2024," Flagg says. "We opened Outfit Brewing's doors to him to help launch his new BBQ venture, while also benefitting Outfit Brewing by providing food every day of the week."
Meat Papi gained enough acclaim to be featured on the popular Netflix series, Barbecue Showdown, which showcases BBQ pitmasters across the country.
"Meat Papi is not done, he has plans for a food truck and continuing pop-ups in the DFW area," Flagg says.
Meanwhile, the closure of the brewery has sent the team dispersing in many directions.
"Our head brewer Mike moved and now is living in Missouri," Flagg says. "Jordan, our owner, has new endeavors that he may pursue not related to beer. And I am moving back home to Milwaukee to continue a career in hospitality and be closer to family."
The closing party is Saturday, March 1, from 12-5 pm.
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