1 of 5
Stephen Montoya
2 of 5
Stephen Montoya
3 of 5
Stephen Montoya
4 of 5
Stephen Montoya
5 of 5
Stephen Montoya
Not one but two new brewpub concepts are currently in the process of refining plans to serve North Texans fresh in-house cuisine coupled with fresh brews and a full-service bar. The first of these two locations called Boozie’s Brewery and Gourmet Sandwiches is already open for business in West Fort Worth. This location at 6473 Camp Bowie Blvd. has taken over what was once the old Wild Acre. The second location, called Boozie's Brewery & TX Fare is in Fairview Town Center in Collin County. The Fairview location, which was also a Wild Acre, is still under construction with an estimated opening date set before the year’s end.
Executive chef David Hollister explains that although the Fort Worth location is technically open, he and the pub’s staff are still in the prep stages of organizing all the items this spot will serve.
“I hope that we are two weeks out,” Hollister says while surveying the main dining area while shaking his head. “We had a snafu with our licensing but that has already been taken care of, so we should have the greenlight any day now.”
Part of the ‘snafu’ Hollister is referring to is obtaining a full liquor license for Boozie’s Fort Worth location. In fact, Hollister, and his team, which include founder Bruce Conti, Chip Stroup, and brewer Bobby Mullins, want to emphasize the level of cocktail service this brewpub will provide.
“We aren’t going to serve just strawberry daiquiris and stuff like that, we have a lot of premium cocktails coming in like mezcals, tequila, and bourbons,” he says. It’s for this very reason, Hollister says he handpicked seasoned mixologist Matt Marvin to join his staff. “We will have cocktails for everyone, but we will have an emphasis on premium cocktails, plus we have our own beer.”
To top that off, Hollister says Boozie’s will also offer homemade sodas to go along with the mixed drinks or to be enjoyed on their own.
But enough about the drinks, what about the cuisine?
The main item on the menu that Hollister was most excited about is Boozie’s take on a classic Rueben. It even says chef’s favorite on the menu. This iconic sandwich includes in-house brined Akaushi Wagyu pastrami, 10-day cured sauerkraut, Sambol 1,000 island dressing, and Gruyere Swiss Cheese all served up on a butter-toasted marble rye bread.
“I’ve always been a Rueben fan and have been working on this Rueben recipe for over ten years now and I think it’s finally at the point where it is perfected,” Hollister says. “In my mind, I want to sour the sauerkraut a little more, but everyone keeps telling me to stop (laughs).”
What Hollister is referring to is an in-house process that takes a once-a-day hands-on approach.
“It’s a Bavarian-style kraut, which consists of three ingredients, cabbage, caraway seed, and sea salt,” he explains. “We use toasted caraway seed and then we rub the sea salt on the cabbage, which removes as much water as possible. Then we strain the cabbage lightly, dry it, and pack it inside a container that is meant for fermentation.”
According to Hollister, this process is repeated until a container is filled and then placed in a back temperature-controlled room. “It’s about 73 degrees back there and it sits for ten days,” he says. “But every day the pressure builds in the container which means we have to burb it and reseal it, let sit another day and repeat.”
By day ten if it’s not sour enough, Hollister says he will run the batch a bit longer. “It’s this kind of process we will be putting into everything we offer here.”
But sauerkraut, bread, and homemade soda are just a few examples of what Boozie’s is preparing. Next door to this brewpub is what could be considered its third location, called the Lazy Daisy Coffee Bar.
“That will actually be coffee and wine over there,” Hollister says while pointing at the dividing wall that separates the two establishments. “We want to make the coffee shop more of a lounge, that will offer the breakfast stuff out of our kitchen here at Boozie’s.”
Both the Lazy Daisy Coffee Bar and Boozie’s Fairview locations have not yet officially opened.
For more information about Boozie’s Brewery and Gourmet Sandwiches click here.
