I asked my local bottle shop owner which DFW-based brewery he wished got more attention, and he pointed me towards a few six-packs from Manhattan Project Beer Company. After visiting their taproom & cafe, I have to agree: Manhattan Project makes great beer & has a unique location to boot. Today, we dig into one of Manhattan Project Beer Co.’s staples: the Black Matter coffee stout.
Who is Manhattan Project Beer Co.?
Co-founded by a husband-and-wife team (Misty & Karl Sanford) along with one of their friends (Jeremy Brodt),the team collectively holds degrees from the University of Denver, Texas A&M, Purdue, and UTD. They first got their start while developing a beer to celebrate Misty & Karl’s wedding. A few years later, the Manhattan Project brand was born (named after the American-led R&D program that brought about the Atomic Age).
Manhattan Project has made a name for itself by taking a scientific approach to brewing and only distributing their beer in matte white & black cans. The minimalist can designs feature subdued colors & understated illustrations, but the unique packaging translates into instant brand recognition on the shelf.
Where is Manhattan Project Beer Co.?
Manhattan Project got its start by leveraging contract brewing years before settling into a physical location of their own & opening up the doors to the public at the end of 2019. The modern brewery & scratch kitchen is located in an industrial Dallas neighborhood just across the train tracks from the Trinity Groves area. DFW & DAL are the closest airports to this location.
The team here opted for modern cafe vibes instead of leaning into the industrial warehouse theme, so the interior is decked out in bold white & black colors. The bar is long and prominently features a stainless steel espresso machine & cafe-grade coffee grinder to cater to those who need a pick-me-up or just a non-alcoholic option.
The outdoor patio allows for patrons to enjoy socially distanced beers while still being able to catch a glimpse of the brewing operation behind floor-to-ceiling windows. If you really feel the need to get closer to the action, Manhattan Project has set up seating on the production floor for true beer nerds.
What’s so special about Manhattan Project’s Black Matter coffee stout?
First released in February 2017 (along with a launch party at Henry’s Majestic), the Black Matter coffee stout is a perfect example of Manhattan Project’s evolution. Visitors to their new brewery & taproom will find that good coffee is nearly as important to the Manhattan Project team as the award-winning beers they produce on site
Manhattan Project is unique because it opens up early & stays open late: I don’t know of many breweries that welcome visitors at 7:30am and won’t kick them out until 10pm (or as late as midnight on Fridays & Saturdays). With on-site baristas & over a dozen beer taps at any given time, I can’t think of a better beer to spotlight than their coffee-inspired stout.
The people at Manhattan Project say that this beer was developed with morning meetings in mind. I can’t think of a bad time to drink a beer, so who am I to judge?
What does Black Matter taste like?
Manhattan Project’s Black Matter (8.6% ABV, 25 IBU) pours a deep black, so there is no mistaking this for anything other than a coffee stout. The aroma is rich & chocolatey with hints of cinnamon raisin.
The chocolate shines through on the palette, and the coffee notes are evident without being overpowering. The stout is full-bodied with medium carbonation, and the finish is rich & smooth.
Some coffee stouts end up being too roasty & rather harsh, but Manhattan Project did a great job keeping this stout balanced.
Final Thoughts
Manhattan Project may have made a name for themselves with a brown ale (Inception) and some very tasty IPAs (Hoppenheimer & Half-Life), but this year-round coffee stout is seriously good. Find it in the taproom and you may be treated to an even silkier nitro version of the Black Matter (or even one of the limited-edition barrel-aged versions).
With taproom hours spanning more than 12 hours per day and a scratch kitchen on-site, this is a brewery I recommend to anyone visiting the DFW metroplex. Have you visited Manhattan Project’s sweet location in west Dallas? Let us know in the comments below or on Instagram by tagging us in a pic!
