Plans are underway to bring a new brewery, Glen Echo Brewing, to Downtown Wylie in the summer of 2023. “Glen Echo came about when my husband’s great-grandfather had a dairy farm in Quincy, Illinois back in the early 1900s. It was called Glen Echo Dairy, so we have all these bottle caps and memorabilia. We were like, ‘wouldn’t it be cool to take his Glen Echo and make it our Glen Echo?’” explained owner and taproom manager Debbie Schoenekase.
Debbie and her husband, Steve Schoenekase, plan to brew typical German-style beers, seltzers, root beer, and other creations at Glen Echo Brewing. They are currently working with the city to purchase a property in Downtown Wylie.
The shared space will house both the taproom and the brew space. “There won’t be a wall or anything, so you can see production and be part of the process.” Debbie told What Now Dallas that she and her husband viewed taprooms across Texas, the U.S., England, Germany, and other areas and decided to create a shared space. “We really want everyone to feel part of the process, part of the craft.”
Glen Echo Brewing will offer some food items such as chips and salsa and other light snacks. Some gluten-free items and gluten-reduced beer will also be available.
“Because we’re a taproom, people can bring stuff in, so we’re hoping that the Downtown Wylie merchants will maybe get some to-go things, and we’ll work with them so that people can pick something up and bring it to the taproom,” Debbie said. Glen Echo Brewing may also bring in a food truck for big events. Both indoor seating and a patio will be available for guests to enjoy a brew.
The Schoenekases have lived in the Wylie area for almost 30 years. Debbie taught school in Wylie, and Steve has done work with the city as a civil engineer. “So, we’re happy that we can be in a place where we know the community, and we really feel like people want a place to hang out together with their friends especially in this post-COVID world,” Debbie said.
Steve has been brewing beer for nine years, and the couple recently completed the Dallas College Journeyman Brewer program. “That’s been very interesting. We interned at a brewery, Oak Highlands Brewery, in Dallas.” The Schoenekases have also been members of the Texas Craft Brewers Guild since 2019 and have taken safety courses and learned a lot from others in the industry. “The industry is really good about sharing, so we’re appreciative of that,” Debbie said.
Debbie said they are excited about bringing this concept to Downtown Wylie. “We thought it would be a perfect spot to just come hang with your friends and drink a good beer and get back into socializing.”
