The Insider: Careers outside the box
After graduating from Tulane Law School in 2004 and practicing patent law at a Dallas law firm for a few years, Kevin Afghani decided to veer off the typical law-career path. Together with his wife, Catherine Kinslow, who is also an attorney, he opened Craft and Growler, a craft beer bar that puts an emphasis on “portable” beer.
Kevin Afghani, a 2004 Tulane law graduate, is the owner of Craft and Growler, a craft beer bar in Dallas. (Photo from Kevin Afghani)
Afghani explains, “a growler is a container used in olden days to purchase and take beer home from a bar.”
This was before the days of bottling.
Today, there is a culture of tap-loving enthusiasts who flock to Craft and Growler prepared to purchase a reusable growler from their adjoined retail space or pull up to the bar for a refill from one of 30 taps.
Their most popular beer is Peticolas Brewing Co.'s Velvet Hammer.
Although he moved to Dallas with his family when he was 5, his ties to Louisiana have had a great impact on his life. Afghani was born in Lafayette, La., and frequents New Orleans for vacation.
“It was actually during a trip to New Orleans that I was inspired to do something outside of the box,” says Afghani. “My wife and I were there in January of 2012 and we talked about going in a different direction with our lives.”
Out of that discussion came the decision to start a business that involved something they both enjoyed beer. Craft and Growler opened its doors in November of that same year.
“My favorite New Orleans bars and coffee shops provided much of the inspiration for this move,” says Afghani. “There's Rue de la Course, The Saint, Half Moon, and Snake and Jakes. Hands down, New Orleans has the best bars and coffee shops in the entire world.”
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