Customer Spotlight: Tupps Brewery

Tupps Brewery: Crafting Quality and Efficiency with a Family-Driven Passion

Tupps Brewery, a family-owned business, began its journey in 2015 with a love for brewing and a passion for craft beer. Founded by Keith Lewis along with his children: Chris, Head Brewer; Katie, Marketing and Events Manager; and Chase, responsible for finance. Tupps has quickly made a name for itself in the brewing community. What began as a hobby has since grown into a thriving business with an ambitious vision, creating not just high-quality beers but a unique destination brewery experience in the Dallas-Fort Worth area. With a rich blend of passion and expertise, Tupps Brewery has secured its place as a key player in the craft beer scene.

tupps brewery family team

The Journey of Tupps Brewery

Tupps started with the simple desire to make great beer. The Lewis family’s deep connection to the craft beer community set the stage for Tupps’ future growth. After the first few years of success, they faced a pivotal moment when production space became limited. Recognizing the need for expansion, Tupps moved to a larger facility—an old grain processing site with a historic charm, now transformed into a vibrant brewery campus. The new location houses a 25,000-square-foot production facility, a fully automated 60-barrel Deutsche Brewhouse, and various attractions like an outdoor music stage, a full restaurant, and ample taproom space.

This move has enabled Tupps to achieve remarkable growth, expanding their reach both on-site and beyond. As they enter 2025, the future looks promising with plans for continued growth.

How They Created a Destination Brewery

collage of tupps brewery photos

A key aspect of Tupps’ success has been their ability to create a destination brewery that not only serves high-quality beer but also offers a complete experience for visitors. This was a driving factor when they moved to their new, larger facility.

  • Restaurant: Understanding the growing importance of offering food alongside their craft beers, Tupps expanded their operation to include a full-service restaurant. They wanted to offer elevated bar food that would complement their diverse beer selection. To achieve this, they invested in a 3,000-square-foot addition to their taproom, which houses a professional kitchen staffed with skilled chefs. While they initially had no experience in the food business, Tupps recognized the value of keeping guests engaged for longer visits and ensuring that their beer could be paired with quality meals. The restaurant has been a key part of the brewery’s success, with customers staying longer to enjoy both the food and the beer in a comfortable, modern environment.
  • Large Space with Entertainment: Tupps’ new campus spans four acres and includes more than 65,000 square feet of building space, creating a truly expansive venue. In addition to the production facility and taproom, the brewery features an outdoor music stage, which has become a significant attraction for the local community. Tupps has positioned itself as more than just a brewery; it’s a place where people come not only to taste exceptional beer but also to enjoy live music, events, and a vibrant atmosphere. With ample space for guests to relax, socialize, and experience the brewery’s culture, Tupps has successfully built a destination that attracts visitors beyond just beer enthusiasts.
  • Making a Quality Product Efficiently: Tupps Brewery has been able to balance its desire to create a fun, community-centered space with a commitment to brewing high-quality beer efficiently. At the heart of this efficiency is the investment in a state-of-the-art brewing system. The fully automated Deutsche 60-barrel Brewhouse enables Tupps to brew large volumes of beer quickly without sacrificing consistency or quality. This efficiency has allowed them to meet the growing demand for their beer while maintaining a high standard of craftsmanship. The ease of operation, coupled with the ability to train new employees quickly, ensures that Tupps can continue to deliver top-tier products at scale. By streamlining their brewing process, Tupps has been able to focus on expanding their offerings, making the taproom experience memorable, and delivering a great product to both on-site and off-site customers.

Brewing with Efficiency and Consistency

From the beginning, Tupps has always been committed to brewing high-quality beer efficiently. The heart of their new facility is the 100% automated Deutsche 60-Barrel Brewhouse, which has significantly improved their brewing efficiency.

Keith recalls that the transition from their previous system— a 30-barrel 2-vessel setup—was a game-changer. The automation features of the new system allow for precise control over the brewing process, enabling faster, more consistent production without compromising on quality. Keith also noted the significant improvements in brewing efficiency, sharing, “The efficiencies and actually being able to train someone to use it—that was a big win.”

This efficiency has not only increased production capabilities but has also made it easier for Tupps to train new staff. With an easy-to-operate system, a newer team member who started packing variety packs now brews 70-80% of Tupps’ beers. The ease of training and the consistency of the final product have been pivotal in maintaining Tupps’ high standards and customer satisfaction.

The Equipment Shopping Process and Decision to Partner with Deutsche

When Tupps was looking for new brewing equipment, they explored various options, including quotes from competitors. Keith noted that many systems from other recommended companies came at significantly higher prices.

He explained, “We were told to look at systems from other manufacturers that were two or three times the price. Most of them aren’t even based in the US. Knowing what I know now, that would have been an absolute nightmare, and financially crippling…the overall value of Deutsche was unmatched, we’ve been super happy with it”.

When Tupps discovered Deutsche, they were impressed by the personalized approach. Instead of simply being handed a catalog, the Deutsche team engaged with Tupps directly, taking the time to understand their needs, design the entire brewing setup, and guide them through the process.

Keith and Chris visited Deutsche’s headquarters and toured local breweries using Deutsche equipment. The hands-on approach, coupled with the ability to design a custom system tailored to their needs, convinced Tupps that Deutsche was the right partner. The collaborative design process, where they worked alongside the Deutsche’s engineering team to plan the layout and integrate the equipment, set the foundation for a successful partnership.

tupps brewing equipment

Working with Deutsche and Middleby: A Seamless Experience

Tupps’ experience with their previous equipment supplier made the transition to Deutsche even more impactful. While the other supplier had initially provided equipment for Tupps’ earlier systems,

Keith recalls, “They came in, installed our system, and then left early. They didn’t even brew with us. We had to figure everything out ourselves, and their customer service was practically non-existent.” He added, “They kept sending people to our facility who didn’t have answers, and we ended up solving issues ourselves. We even had to finish the installation and train ourselves—nothing like what we got from Deutsche.”

In contrast, the installation process with Deutsche was smooth and efficient.

“With Deutsche, we didn’t have to lift a finger. Their team came in, brought everything in, set it up, and started testing. It was seamless,” Keith explained. The difference in customer support was clear, with Deutsche providing hands-on guidance and ensuring everything was running smoothly before they left.

The Value of Deutsche Equipment

The value of Deutsche equipment has become clear to Tupps as they continue to scale. The automated system not only ensures efficiency and consistency but also allows them to produce high-quality beer faster. While Deutsche equipment isn’t the cheapest on the market, Keith emphasized that the value they’ve received far outweighs the initial investment.

Keith also shared that compared to other systems they’ve used, Deutsche’s equipment has been more reliable and easier to maintain, resulting in less downtime and more brewing capacity. This has directly contributed to Tupps’ ability to grow and meet the demands of their expanding customer base.

A Special 10-Year Anniversary Celebration

As Tupps Brewery approaches its 10-year anniversary in 2025, they are preparing to mark the milestone with a special commemorative beer. Chris, the creative force behind many of Tupps’ innovative brews, plans to create a unique anniversary beer that will feature 10 different hops, 10 different malts, and 10 distinct ingredients.

“It’ll be over the top,” Chris said, “a true celebration of everything we’ve accomplished over the past decade.”

This anniversary beer will not only be a symbol of their journey but also a testament to their commitment to crafting exceptional beer that pushes boundaries.

Looking to the Future

Looking ahead, Tupps is excited about continuing to innovate with their brewing process and expanding their product line. With a Deutsche 15-barrel pilot system, they plan to experiment with more small-batch brews and release new, innovative beers to their taproom customers. Additionally, Tupps is focusing on creating a memorable experience for their guests, offering a mix of craft beer, food, and live entertainment to make their brewery a true destination. The future is bright, and with their reliable equipment from Deutsche, Tupps is poised for continued success.