Denton Brewery Bonds With Local Art Scene – North Texas Daily

Toasty Bros. founder and co-owner Toast Tiensvold said his two favorite things in life are beer and art. To pursue his lifelong dream of becoming a small business owner, Tiensvold said founding a business to bridge the two sides of his life felt right to him.

“What I live for is just doing what you love to do,” Tiensvold said. “I’ve wanted this since I was little. So that’s all part of what makes me happy with my best life.

Local brewing company Toasty Bros. was founded as an LLC in 2018. Tiensvold saw an opportunity to create his own brand shortly after the closure of Whistle Post Brewing Company, where he worked as a brewer. Tiensvold launched Toasty Bros. to further his seven-year passion for home brewing with his two co-owners, wife Leah Jordan and friend Eric Hilliard.

Over the years, Tiensvold sold his own art to help fund the business. He said his work, which he creates under the name The Toasty Poet, can be categorized as “wholesome and scary”. Tiensvold said becoming more involved in the Denton community since 2018 has encouraged him to pursue his artistic career.

“When I joined the Artists’ Enclave, I started getting into the art scene and being inspired by all the really great artists who lived and worked here,” Tiensvold said. “Now I do art exhibitions as often as possible.”

To expand the connection of Toasty Bros. to art, Tiensvold has recently released several NFTs, including “Toasty boys” and beer labels. Owners of these digital artworks can enjoy discounts on merchandise and exclusive access to events as a thank you for their support of Tiensvold art and business.

Hilliard said creating a brewing business with a unique connection to art is a great concept and it’s amazing to see Tiensvold showcasing his own work through the brand.

“Brewing is my art,” Hilliard said. “Toast is an artist who designs the recipes, and when he and I brainstorm ideas together, it creates a masterpiece.”

Tiensvold said he felt the the arts community and the beer and brewing community in Denton are mutually supportive. Through his experience working in the two local communities, Tiensvold said he found so much encouragement in the area. He said this level of support inspired him more to continue his work as an artist and local business owner, as well as to continue supporting others himself.

“We all kind of have this idea that a rising tide lifts all boats,” Tiensvold said. “As long as we support each other, we will all succeed together.”

Over the past eight months, Toasty Bros. attempted to secure a building to house a combined bar, tasting room and art showroom. The company plans to officially open the space next summer. Hilliard said this expansion was nerve-wracking, exciting, and a bit scary. Nonetheless, he is thrilled to open their doors to the community around them.

“We can build on the dream Toast had years ago,” Hilliard said. “Expanding our sales territory, massively increasing our production, becoming our own bosses – that’s the dream, isn’t it?”

The building will house Tiensvold’s physical art and highlight Toasty Bros. NFTs. on spotlights. Tiensvold said he also wanted to showcase the work of other creatives.

He said his goal was to give exposure to local artists like other Denton businesses, including The Bearded Monk and Denton County Brewing Company, have done for him.

“I just want to be able to help other people grow, just like other people have helped me grow,” Tiensvold said.

Along with influencing the local arts and brewing scene, Jordan said she hopes to foster a place of gentle understanding. Taking inspiration from the recently closed Armadillo Ale Works brewery in Denton, Jordan said she wanted Toasty Bros. promotes itself as a business that supports LBGTQ residents of Denton – even in the face of opposing and unfair protests.

“As an ally, my goal is to continue Armadillo’s work of carrying the torch for this community,” Jordan said. “[I want] to create a space where everyone is supported and welcomed.

While Toasty Bros. expands into his own brick-and-mortar bar, Tiensvold said he plans to keep the business as a small local business. He said following the brand’s original idea of ​​being a Denton family brewery will maintain their ties to the region.

Tiensvold hopes to showcase the best qualities of local beer and art as Toasty Bros. continues to be a member of the Denton community.

“Denton is already an art town, so I just want to do what I can to help that,” Tiensvold said. “There’s definitely that connection between brewing and art here already – it has a cultural impact on the community, and it’s cool to help people see that.”