North Texas Daily

H. Drew Blackburn

Senior Staff Writer

@hdrewblackburn

On a chilly Friday evening, about 300 Dentonites packed Oak St. Drafthouse to celebrate the commercial availability of Armadillo Ale Works – a locally based craft brewery owned by UNT alum Bobby Mullins and Yanni Arestis.

Halfway into the night, Denton city councilman Kevin Roden gave a speech in honor of the release of the first Denton-based beer to be sold commercially.

“Denton, this Quakertown Stout is for you,” Roden said as he was met with cheers and applause.

Quakertown Stout, whose name is a nod to a historic African American settlement in Denton, is a malt dark beer with roasted barley, oats and maple syrup.

“Overall, it’s a very full-bodied robust stout, a lot of chocolate and coffee flavors,” Mullins said.

Quakertown Stout can be purchased at Oak Street Drafthouse, Lucky Lou’s and as a keg at Midway Mart. A comprehensive list can of places the beer can be purchased can be found on their website, www.armadilloaleworks.com.

Currently the duo has a temporary licensing partnership with Deep Ellum Brewing Company, who brews and distributes the beer, Arestis said.

He said that until they finish raising money and find their own facility, Armadillo Ale Works will continue their partnership.

“Craft beer bars and craft breweries, it’s kind of a natural friendship,” Mullins said.

Mullins and Arestis were scoping out warehouses in Denton around the square, their ideal location.

“It’s our favorite part of town,” Mullins said.

Mullins and Arestis said they decided to have their launch party at Oak Street Drafthouse because of a long friendship with owner John Williams and their love for the bar.

“I know we’re kind of known for our beer around here,” Williams said. “Let’s do it big, let’s do glasses, let’s do t-shirts.”

Each person who purchased a beer received a collectible glass, and local screen printers Pan Ector Industries, which is owned by recent UNT graduates, were on site live printing commemorative t-shirts and sweatshirts for the event.

Armadillo Ale Works will release Greenbelt Farmhouse Ale next, a seasonal beer for the spring and summertime. Their craft sodas, Bee’s Knees Lemonade and Clawfoot Ginger Cream Ale, which were sold across Denton, are on an indefinite hiatus.

“We couldn’t keep doing it and successfully launch beer across the metroplex,” Arestis said. “We have every intention of bringing it back. It’s something that a lot of people like.”

Armadillo Ale Works co-owners Yianni Arestis and Bobby Mullins celebrate their Quakertown Stout launch party at Oak St. Drafthouse on Friday March 1. The event included live screen printing by Pan Ector and an on-site Armadillo Ale photographer. Photo by Adriana Rodriguez/Intern