Skytown Beer Company, the newest venture for Beer Barrio owners Hayley Jensen and Stephen Durley, is expected to open in the coming week. The brewery and smokehouse will combine Jensen’s passion for craft beer with Durley’s expertise in the kitchen.
 
As with Beer Barrio, the food and beer are designed to be enjoyed together, only now, by brewing their own beers, they will have even more control over the pairings, Jensen said.
 
“All of the beers we make will be brewed with our cuisine in mind,” she said. “I see myself as a food professional as well as a beer expert and my focus has always been on beer and food being served together.”
 
While the brewing system is still awaiting final inspections before brewing can begin, the kitchen is fully outfitted and ready to go according to Jensen. The staff is currently in training and pending all final inspections; Skytown could be open to the public by the middle of next week.
 
The open floor plan includes a 20-seat bar, as well as high top seating in the bar area, and about 180 seats in the dining room, all with a full view of the brewing system. There will be an additional 50 seats on the patio, where acoustic live music will be featured.
 
The menu at Skytown will include smokehouse favorites such as brisket, ribs and pulled pork, served as platters with a variety of sides, as well as chef-driven composed sandwiches served on Texas toast and brioche buns.
 
In addition to meats, Skytown will serve smoked jackfruit as a vegetarian option. Jackfruit, which is grown in tropical regions around the world, is widely recognized as a high-fiber, whole-food meat alternative, which mimics the texture of pulled pork.
 
While Skytown will begin with one menu that will be served all day, there will be lunch features every day of the week highlighting specialty meats served in slightly smaller portions and at a lower price point, aimed to suit the lunchtime crowd.
 
Another highlight of the menu will be the Tot-chos, which are tater tots topped with cheddar cheese, jalapenos and hop salt. Toppings also include Texas-style chopped brisket, Alabama-style grilled chicken and Carolina-style with pulled pork, all with accompanying sauces.
 
Jensen and Durley, who have been home brewing for nine years, spent the past two years honing their favorite recipes and tailoring them to complement Skytown’s smokehouse menu. The beer program will feature 12 beers on tap and will be focused on lagers, wheats, Belgians, IPA’s and rotating seasonal brews.
 
“We have come a long way and are excited to be in the home stretch,” Jensen said. “All of this is the hard part, when we actually get to serve our customers is the fun part.”
 
Skytown Beer Company is located at 4712 New Centre Drive and will be open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.

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