Peticolas Brewing Co - Brewed In The Design District!

For Michael Peticolas, craft beer and the law go hand in hand. A former attorney turned award-winning brewer, he didn’t just start a brewery—he helped reshape Texas beer laws. From amending Dallas city codes to fighting in court for brewers’ rights, his legal expertise has been as vital to Peticolas Brewing Co. as hops and malt. Dubbed the “William Wallace of Craft Beer,” Peticolas built his brewery from the ground up, handling every role himself in the early days. That hands-on, self-sufficient spirit still defines the brewery, reflected in its uniquely crafted taproom and unwavering commitment to quality—no shortcuts, no substitutions, just consistently great beer. In this interview with Delivery Rank, Peticolas shares how his legal background shaped his journey, the toughest fight he’s faced for brewery rights, and what sets Peticolas Brewing apart in the world of craft beer.

Your background in law has played a significant role in your craft beer journey. How did your legal expertise help shape Peticolas Brewing Co. and influence Texas craft beer laws?

Understanding the legal landscape was invaluable when it came to navigating local city codes, state statutes and federal regulations at the outset. The City of Dallas literally required an amendment to the Dallas Property Code in order to legally open. This is when the legal background likely came in most helpful, although such education does pay dividends regularly when it comes to the general overall operation of a business. 

As for influencing Texas craft beer laws, there's a whole host of Texas brewers that helped shape the current system that regulates the beer industry in Texas. The wheels of justice move slowly, but positive change was obtained over the course of a decade through the hard work of the brewers engaged with the Texas Craft Brewers Guild.

You’ve been described as the “William Wallace of Craft Beer.” What was the most challenging legal battle you’ve faced in the fight for brewery rights, and how did you overcome it?

A constitutional equal protection claim asserted in a lawsuit filed against the State of Texas was toughest. So tough that in the end, we lost. After a successful result in the trial court, the appellate court ruled against us on appeal. Although our case presented significant property right claims, the Texas Supreme Court surprisingly declined to take up the case on appeal. A tough pill to swallow to this day. 

Peticolas Brewing Co. started with you handling everything—from brewing to sales to distribution. What lessons did you learn from those early days that still guide your business today?

The manner of handling every facet in the early days was deliberate. Learning every aspect of the business top to bottom, from cleaning bathrooms to brewing and delivering allowed me to walk in the shoes of any crew member that came after me. When they were faced with an obstacle, I had the experience in their position to help us overcome it. This hands-on approach continued as we grew and hired additional employees. As a result, our crew always looks within to solve problems as opposed to hiring outside help. We remain extremely self-sufficient to this day when it comes to running our manufacturing brewery, retail taproom and distribution company. 

Your taproom has been called a “craft beer lover’s paradise.” What makes it unique, and how does it reflect the culture and identity of Peticolas Brewing?

The space itself is quite unique in that it is a tri-level Taproom with interesting nooks, crannies, bars and staircases. We built it with parts from the brewery itself - light fixtures  fashioned out of our first used kegs, art cobbled together from excess equipment, a menu board that previously served as a metal countertop, pallet furniture and decor built from shipping materials, brewery memorabilia throughout, incorporation of our grain room into the Taproom space. We've made an effort to tell our story when you walk in without ever saying a word.

Peticolas Brewing has won gold at the Great American Beer Festival multiple times. What sets your brewing process apart and consistently delivers award-winning beer?

It all starts with the basics for us - wash, rinse, sanitize. A clean brewery is the foundation upon which you can brew great beer. Consistency is next - brewing exceptional examples of classic styles exactly the same every single time. Once a beer passes sensory and is released to the market, its recipe never changes. Substituting hops, malts and yeast is quite common in our industry, but we go to great lengths to never deviate. No substitutions. The process must be the same every time in order to result with the exact same product every time. Great beer is the start. Consistently great beer is the end. 

To read more about Peticolas Brewing Co, please visit https://www.peticolasbrewing.com/