Denton Gets Its First Craft Brewery, With a Craft Cocktail Bar to Follow

[Photo: Audacity Brew House/Facebook]

Thirsty people of Denton, rejoice — the small town's universe of bars is about to get a shot in the arm over the next few weeks with the grand openings of Audacity Brew House, the town's first microbrewery; and Hickory & Fry, a craft cocktail and small plates spot from Jack and Amy McDonald, who you may know better as the minds behind Jack Mac's Swill & Grill in North Dallas. (The latter has made headlines for phasing out all macrobrews and boycotting NFL football in the wake of the league's domestic violence problem.)

Audacity opened its doors for the first time last Friday, with a weekend-long grand opening celebration that featured live music and food trucks. Although Armadillo Ale Works is the first craft brewing operation based in Denton, that company currently produces and distributes its beer from Deep Ellum Brewing Co. and won't open a brewery in Denton until next spring — meaning that Audacity has seized the title of the first craft brewery within the city limits. Located south of downtown Denton, the brewery features a 1,500-square-foot taproom and 1,500-square-foot outdoor patio — and since it's Denton, dogs and kids are welcome too.

[Photo: Hickory & Fry/Facebook]

Meanwhile, Hickory & Fry is expected to open sometime next month. If the name didn't tip you off, the bar is under construction in the ground floor business space below the U Centre apartment complex on the corner of, uh, Hickory and Fry Street. Taking the space previously occupied by the ill-fated upscale mac and cheese joint All About Mac and transforming it into a dog-friendly patio bar, the upcoming venture looks to be doing its best to outclass the college dives of Fry Street with craft cocktails and tapas-style small bites. Students used to the 50 cent well drinks available three bars down may not know what they're in for, but the rest of Denton is eager to see what Amy and Jack have up their sleeves.