Tap of the Town
 
There is something special about craft beer and how it inspires people to come together. I think many find it odd when I talk about craft beer drinkers as a community. It can almost sound like and excuse for why I enjoy working at the Green Growler the way I do. I do enjoy drinking craft beer but I would not be a raving fan without the community. Here in our small town of Denison Texas there is no acceptation. 
 
My early opinion of beer was not good. That is probably because of the American light lagers that I had subjected myself too. Over time, I began to see that not all beer was bad. Coming from the east coast I recall trying a Shiner Bock for the first time and before that a Sam Adams Cherry Wheat was what first caught my attention. But even then, I was not sold that beer was more than something I would drink on occasion. 
 
Craft Beer has changed my perception of beer all together. It’s no longer just the drink for grill outs, parties, and camping trips. With over 100 active breweries in Texas, two of which are within 15 minutes of us (Say When Brewery, Denison Texas and 903, Sherman Texas) along with the beer wall inside our local Specs. Craft beer is available virtually everywhere. Deciding which brewery to try for the craft brew enthusiast can be a little daunting when we are 60 miles north of most of them in the DFW area. Which is why we rotate our taps as soon as a keg is empty to bring Texoma a wide variety of Local Texas Craft Brews to try.  34 of them in fact.
 
The word COMMUNITY- is what it’s all about.
For me, the community of craft beer enthusiasts are just as important to the craft beer world as the beer itself. Which is essentially what brought the Green Growler into existence. It’s an amazing community of people who drink and make craft beer. A perk of my job is that I also get to visit local breweries in the DFW area to try their latest beer. I get to interact and listen to the owners and Beer masters. As well as a few locals and sometimes their pet’s during my visits. I get to listen to their life stories. I get to listen to their passion and creativity that has led to the brews I serve my community on tap. 
I am able to connect with others and that is truly why I enjoy Craft Beer so much. Truthfully I spend more time talking about beer than I actually do drinking it; so for me the community is what it is all about. 
 
Something more than beer happens at the Railyard. Beer and good food alone doesn’t make 75-80 people show up on a Wednesday night for trivia, but community does. The Green Growler in a lot of ways has become a hub of the local neighborhood and it is our craft beer community that is attracting more and more people.
The craft beer industry would not be growing without the community coming together to get to know each other, finding common ground, making our neighborhoods better and enjoying quality brews. 
 
-EB

But what made the difference for us was William Meyers with the Denison Development Alliance.
Not only did he show us various location but he gave us different funding options and ideas. We met other small business owners and explore the various funding options from the city with William. We felt like the people and the city of Denison both wanted Green Growler to be a part of the community. Unlike in Dallas where I felt that they could care less about a new small business opening up.      In the end William hooked us up with Josh Massey and the Rail Yard on Main Street in Denison. Josh was creating a space for new small restaurant owner to create successful and he let Green Growler be the first to sign a lease with the Rail Yard on the new space. If not for the City of Denison, Denison Chamber of Commerce, and Josh Massey Green Growler would not have made it through the Pandemic and for that we are forever grateful to be a part of this community. So Why Denison, because I was asked to open in Denison and be a part of the community. Then once opened the Denison Chamber of Comers held a ribbon cutting ate Green Growler to welcome us to the city. Also the permit was only $900 in Grayson County and that helped.

​By:
- Dennis McCabe