The idea of two different businesses partnering to bring in their own unique customers is something Head Brewmaster Mark Laack at Phantom Brewing Company thinks is good for business——for both of them.
The bar, which has a good crowds when open, is a great place to grab a homebrew or most any other beer beverage. And this year, they added actual beer barrels brewing inside the bar area. The place has a nice outdoor patio in addition to picnic tables inside and offers music, with some live bands on the weekends.
“The perfect environment to have a brew and a bite to eat,” Laack said. “But, we just don’t have room for a kitchen.”
Laack said the former owners used to have various food trucks that would come for events, but for the most part, there wasn’t anything close enough for bar customers to have that burger or taco with a brew.
The brewery is at 400 Cheyenne Drive and the owner, John Valentine, purchased the establishment in 2022 under his company Operation Phantom Support.
Laack sees to the daily operations and takes care of the schedule which he says is a bit challenging. As it stands right now, there are events scheduled through the end of the year. One of the things Laack says helps business is to have a food truck outside within steps of the building.
“We’ve always had a couple of local trucks scheduled to come for the big nights on Friday and Saturday,” Laack said. “But, sometimes a vendor will agree to come and then cancel at the last minute or—worst case scenario—not show up at all.”
Laack says when it works, it is the best partnership available. His customers have delicious food available and don’t have to leave his bar to pick up something. Or, order a meal delivered to them at the bar.
The truck which partnered with Phantom Warrior Brewing Sunday was a relativly famous franchise—Cousin’s Maine Lobster. One of the two food truck cooks, Tommy Hess, says the business partners with other businesses like this all the time.
Hess brought the truck from Austin and planned to be on-site from about noon to 6 p.m.
“It’s a good fit for us and the food vendor,” Laack said.
He also works with many local business owners so that his customers will have a variety of choices, depending on which day, or night, they choose to come by.
Phantom Brewing offers poker on Wednesdays, Trivia or Karaoke most nights and there is usually live music on the weekends. The hours are 4-8 p.m. Tuesday, 4-10 p.m. Wednesday’s, 2-10 p.m. Thursday, 2-11 p.m. Friday, noon to 11 p.m. Saturday and noon to 6 p.m. Sunday. Laack says to come out for a homebrew and sample a new food menu.
Phantom Warrior Brewing will host a Chili Cook-off on Nov. 16 with an entry fee of $20. Customers may sample each recipe and vote for their favorite for $5.
