On Tap at Frenzy: Trivia, Tunes and Tenacity

As Frenzy Brewing Company approaches its fourth anniversary in Downtown Edmond, Matt Conner reflects on his unexpected journey. Not only was Oklahoma’s craft beer industry in its infancy back in 2018, Matt could never have predicted that Edmond would be receptive to a taproom—but things started to fall into place.

“The Patriarch had already proved that Edmond was ready for a craft beer place. When the alcohol laws changed, allowing children in taprooms, we thought about how family-oriented Edmond is. Not only would we be the first brewery within city limits, it could work for families,“ Matt said.

The very first site Matt looked at in Downtown Edmond was the building where Frenzy opened shop. Being in a historical location was not his focus, but he quickly realized its significance. “The history is part of the atmosphere. We didn’t want to lose the 100-year history by covering up the brick walls and arched wood ceiling, so we left it exposed.”

Growing Up Brewing

Matt ConnerMatt grew up in California,
which embraced craft beer back in the 80s. Matt remembers how his dad’s interest in brewing developed into a hobby. “He took a college class at a professor’s house and then he bought the equipment,” Matt said. “I was in high school and thought it was pretty weird, because Dad stored the bottles in the crawlspace under the house, where it stayed a constant temperature.”

Fast forward into the 90s, Matt’s family moved to Oklahoma. Once Matt’s dad retired, brewing became a way for he and Matt to spend more time together. “I joined Red Earth Brewers and started winning medals at brewing competitions,” Matt said. “My wife, Beth, and I thought, ‘Who better to open a brewery than home brewers?’ As we got deeper into the business plan, we realized we needed more help.”

Jeremy Estle came on as an investor, but quickly turned into a business partner. Jeremy’s experience with homebrewing complemented Matt’s skill set. Now, all of Frenzy’s beers, a diverse collection of malt-based beverages, are made on-site at their location on Broadway.

Frenzy Friendly

Frenzy Brewing is uniquely one of the largest taprooms in Oklahoma, and is open to families and dog owners. Even non-drinkers can enjoy a variety of flavored waters and sodas. Although no food is served, people are welcome to bring their own or have food delivered from nearby restaurants.

“We try to keep the atmosphere fun by providing entertainment most nights of the week,” Matt said. “For decades, everyone in Edmond went to Oklahoma City for entertainment. We’re helping by providing that here.“

Beth is the creative force behind the events schedule. Monday night is always Sing-O, a bingo card with music and song titles, and Wednesday is always themed trivia night. Other nights feature a changing schedule of live artist performances.

According to Matt, Frenzy has been successful in Downtown Edmond, but not without its challenges, like the effects of the pandemic and current inflation. “I have to be truthful and say that it’s tough right now,” said Matt. “It’s getting more expensive to produce beer, and some of the craft breweries in Oklahoma have closed recently. If you like your local brewery, please support it.”

Despite the industry downturn, Matt remains positive about Frenzy’s place in Edmond. “Our future is bright, because of the new development downtown and the future apartments that will increase foot traffic. Meanwhile, we’re trying to strategize, stay relevant, and dive into new products,” Matt said. “I think we’re most proud of our community engagement, however, because we support Edmond art and history, we welcome new musicians, and we provide entertainment for families.”

Visit FrenzyBrewing.com to learn more.