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Where the magic happens: A look at 11 breweries participating in NTX Beer Week

There are few things more satisfying than a tasty beer in a tall, icy glass, and here in North Texas, there are many local brews from which to choose. In the past five years, more than a dozen craft breweries have popped up, adding to the handful already here. They have tasting rooms, where friends and families can gather to drink and converse. They offer brewery tours for those interested in the magic of how beer is made from four simple ingredients: grain, hops, yeast and water. And they’re located in diverse areas, which means a visit to any one of them will provide a glimpse into the neighborhood’s character. We took a look at the breweries participating in NTX Beer Week and learned their stories. Read about their popular brews here.

Lakewood Brewing Co.

A Rock Ryder Wheat Ale, one of Lakewood Brewing Company's offerings is poured on Saturday, August 30, 2014. (Rex C. Curry)

The tasting room at Lakewood Brewing Co. is cozy. Light shines through a stained-glass window with the image of a beer glass, illuminating a gray bar that matches the dark walls. But walk through the doors into the brewery, and it’s noisy and festive. This is where a food truck pulls up and a local band jams every Saturday while visitors sip beer and learn all about how the brew is made. Painted in bright red across the wall is the word Schol! (Flemish for “Cheers!”) Though brewery founder Wim Bens has lived in North Texas since he was 7, he was born in Belgium, and he’s always “looking for that taste of home” in his brews. Lakewood Lager, the best-selling beer at the brewery, is the color of copper and tastes like caramel with a bitter tang.
Tours and tastings Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. $10. Admission includes a souvenir glass, four 8-ounce samples (two samples after 2 p.m.), a tour of the brewery that starts at 1:30 and live music. There also will be a food truck where guests can purchase snacks. Lakewood Brewing Co., 2302 Executive Drive, Garland. 972-864-2337. lakewoodbrewing.com.

 

Grapevine Craft Brewery

Angela Callahan (center) speaks to Matt Swisher (right), both of Irving, Texas, while drinks beers during tasting and tours inside the Grapevine Craft Brewery in Farmers Branch, Texas Saturday September 6, 2014. (Andy Jacobsohn)

“What home brewer doesn’t think, ‘Gosh, what if I could start a brewery?’ ” asks Gary Humble, founder of Grapevine Craft Brewery. But how many actually take the initiative? Fortunately, Humble and his wife were already considering starting a small business when they began home brewing. Humble considered selling roasted coffee beans and sheepishly admits contemplating opening a cupcake shop (“Who doesn’t love sprinkles?”), but it was his love for home brewing that convinced him to open a brewery. While Grapevine Craft Brewery produces its beers in Farmers Branch, the brewery is constructing its future home smack in the middle of Grapevine. It hosts tours at the current production location. Stop by and try the popular Lakefire Rye Pale Ale or equally popular Sir William’s English Brown Ale.
Tours on the first Saturday of every month from noon to 3 p.m. $10 (includes samples). 2405 Squire Place, Suite 200, Farmers Branch. 817-823-7225. grapevineontap.com.

 

Franconia Brewing Co.

Dennis Wehrmann poses for a photograph at Franconia Brewing Company in McKinney, Texas on Sept. 4, 2014. (Rose Baca)

Dennis Wehrmann is not just any old brewmaster, he’s a brewmaster from Germany whose family started brewing in the 1800s. Wehrmann studied brewing in Munich, then moved to Dallas, where he opened Franconia Brewing Co. in 2008. “Forget about the word ‘craft,’” Wehrmann says. “I think that’s a crazy word. It’s a marketing term. We are a brewery. We’re making beer.” While Wehrmann says the brewery doesn’t have a most popular beer, his favorite is Franconia Wheat, which is brewed with Bavarian wheat yeast.
Visit the brewery at 11 a.m. Saturdays for a tour by Wehrmann. $5. The tour lasts about an hour and a half. Hang out afterward to drink beer and chat about the brewing process. 495 McKinney Parkway, McKinney. 972-542-0705. franconiabrewing.com.

 

Community Beer Co.

With his beer on a nearby stool, Justin Blacklock of Fort Worth, plays a game of pool while waiting for friends to arrive at the Community Beer Company Open House & Tour event Saturday September 13, 2014 in Dallas. (Ron Baselice)

When Kevin Carr started home brewing more than a decade ago, he was frustrated. “To get interesting beer, you had to travel out of state,” he says. Business took Carr to Denver, Portland and parts of Northern California, where the craft-beer industry thrived, but when he returned to Dallas, “there was nothing.” So Carr decided to open his own brewery. He sees beer as a communal drink — hence the name, Community Beer Co. “We were looking for a place to grow out and up,” Carr says, and he found it in Community’s location in the Dallas Design District. The tap room and adjoining brewery are in an expansive building with concrete floors and a towering ceiling. What distinguishes Community? “We manage and grow our own yeast,” Carr says, pointing to the glass flasks in which brown yeast sloshes. This yeast is responsible for some of Community’s most popular beers, including the Mosaic IPA and Vienna Lager.
Tours and tastings held Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m. $10 in advance. $15 at the door. 1530 Inspiration Drive, Suite 200, Dallas. 214-751-7921. communitybeer.com.

 

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

Friends enjoy a beer tasting event at Rahr and Sons Brewing Company in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. (Jim Tuttle)

A “Come and Drink It” flag hangs on the wall behind a bar made of scrap wood. Next to it stand rows and rows of wooden barrels and stacks of silver beer cans. While most of the breweries that populate North Texas popped up within the last five years, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. is celebrating its 10th anniversary this fall. Owner Fritz Rahr has beer in his blood: His family had a brewery in Wisconsin in the 1800s. That is, until Prohibition hit and they switched to producing malt and cereal instead. Fritz always loved home brewing, but it was his wife, Erin Rahr, who encouraged him to turn his passion for home brewing into a business. “Why don’t we open a brewery and do what you want to do?” she asked Fritz. So the couple moved from Houston to Fort Worth, where they now produce about 25,000 bottles of beer per day. What’s Fritz’s favorite beer? “The one that’s in my hand,” he says, before adding gruffly that Rahr’s Blonde is the most difficult to make and, thus, the most rewarding to drink.

Brewery tours held Wednesdays from 5 to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 to 3 p.m. $10. Includes a Rahr & Sons pint glass and beer samples. 701 Galveston Ave., Fort Worth. 817-810-9266. rahrbrewing.com.

 

Martin House Brewing Co.

Volunteer bartender James Herrington pours a beer during a tasting and tour event at Martin House Brewing Company in Fort Worth, Texas on Saturday, Sept. 13, 2014. (Jim Tuttle)

The Purple Martin is a North American swallow, which often builds its nests in communities. When Cody Martin and his two friends, David Wedemeier and Adam Myers, decided to start a brewery, they named it after this communal bird that shares Martin’s last name. The guys all asked their wives if they could quit their day jobs, then set about turning Martin House into a cool hangout where friends could come to drink some beer. “We do what we want to do,” Wedemeier says. They brew goofy beers like Day Break, which blends honey, milk and crunchy oats for a taste like a bowl of cereal, and Salsa Verde, which is spicy like hatch chile peppers and lime. The brewery stands on the banks of the Trinity River, so locals can bike right up to the back door and grab a cool one on a hot day.

Brewery tastings are held Thursdays from 6 to 8 p.m. and Saturdays from 2 to 5 p.m. There is a 20-minute tour on Saturdays that begins at 4:30. $10. Admission covers three pints and a glass. There’s food for sale and games, including corn hole, washers and ladder golf. Feel free to bring chairs and umbrellas, as seating is limited. 220 S. Sylvania Ave., Suite 209, Fort Worth. 817-222-0177. martinhousebrewing.com.

 

Deep Ellum Brewing Co.

People enjoy the cool weather at Deep Ellum Brewing Company on Thursday, Sept. 18, 2014. (Rex C. Curry)

Located in Deep Ellum, this brewery aims to celebrate the neighborhood that shares its name. The Deep Ellum Brewing Co. riffs off the tattoo-style graffiti, flashy colors and layered art that distinguish the neighborhood, which is known as a diverse center for arts and culture. The brewery is the brainchild of John Reardon, who decided to open it in 2011 after attending the University of Colorado and seeing the thriving craft-beer market there. He wanted the brewery to sync with Deep Ellum’s artistic lifestyle, so the brewery often hosts local musicians and artists who paint and design murals during tastings. The most popular brew: the Dallas Blonde, a citrusy ale that’s easy on the palate, especially for those new to craft beer. The brewery just opened its indoor tasting room this fall, adding onto an outdoor seating area where guests can sip from cold glasses of beer beneath colorful strings of lights.

Visit Thursdays from 6 to 8:30 p.m. and Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. $15 at the door. $12 online. Tickets include a tour, glass and tastings. 2823 St. Louis St., Dallas. 214-888-3322. deepellumbrewing.com.

 

Bishop Cider Co.

Guests wait at the bar to be served freshly brewed cider at the Bishop Cider Company Grand Opening Bash in Oak Cliff, TX on July 19, 2014. (Alexandra Olivia)

Laura Malone always loved cider, so when she and her husband, Joel Malone, decided to start home brewing, it was easy for them to choose hard cider over beer. They started with a basic cider recipe, then began to experiment. Now they’ve got popular brews like the Suicider, which blends cinnamon, allspice and cloves, and Cat Scratch Fever, which is infused with catnip and spicy jalapeños. In the winter, they serve hot cider. In the summer, they sell it frozen — like a margarita. Their new bar is located in the Bishop Arts District. It’s a narrow space, made cozy by gray walls, a golden-hued wood bar, soft lights and gleaming silver kegs.

Open Fridays from 6 p.m. to midnight, Saturdays from noon to midnight and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. 509 N. Bishop Ave., Suite C, Dallas. 214-364-7728. bishopcider.com.

 

Four Corners Brewing Co.

Manager Jonathan Colley explains the canning process while leading a brewery tour offered at the Four Corners Brewing Co. in Dallas Saturday September 27, 2014. (Andy Jacobsohn)

“To the world, Dallas has a lot of glitter,” George Esquivel says. Not so for Esquivel, co-founder of Four Corners Brewing Co. He grew up in Oak Cliff and sees Dallas less as a glitzy city and more as the good ol’ town where he was raised. When he and his two partners, Steve Porcari and Greg Leftwich, decided to open a brewery, they were determined it would have a neighborhood feel. They named the brewery after a street corner in Oak Cliff, and rather than topple a building and start from scratch, they chose to reuse a rundown warehouse in Trinity Groves, transforming it into an airy brewery with a classy tasting room. Four Corners has done a lot to bring craft beer to Dallas: the owners pushed the Dallas City Council to change zoning laws so breweries could open in the city (before that, they had to get a special-use permit). The brewery’s most popular beer: Local Buzz, named after the honeybees in Oak Cliff’s community gardens. The can has a giant yellow-and-black cartoon bee, typical of the pop art that adorns Four Corners. Opening a Four Corners beer can means taking off the entire top so you can “get your nose in there” for an aromatic experience wherever you are — out by the pool, floating down the river or lounging by the lake.

Tours are at noon or 1:30 p.m. on Saturdays. Free. Includes samples of beer. 423 Singleton Blvd., Dallas. 214-748-2739. fcbrewing.com.

 

Peticolas Brewing Co.

Visitors raise their glasses during a tour of Peticolas Brewing Company in Dallas on Saturday, Oct. 4, 2014. (Jim Tuttle)

Michael Peticolas was a lawyer in Dallas when a friend asked him to invest in a brewery startup. Michael and his wife, Melissa Peticolas, were home brewers themselves, and so they wanted to help out. But then Michael got to thinking he’d rather be at home working with his family than at work. When Melissa asked him why they didn’t do this themselves, the answer seemed obvious. Peticolas Brewing Co. opened in 2011, making it one of the first in the fresh wave of craft breweries opening across North Texas. They transformed what used to be a warehouse in the Dallas Design District into a quirky, light-filled space, complete with a spiral staircase, foosball and air-hockey tables, and funky furniture constructed from leftover wooden pallets. What makes Peticolas beer distinct? No packaging. That’s right: the Peticolases don’t use bottles or cans. The beer goes straight from a keg in the cooler to the tap. This prevents oxygen pickup and heat from lowering the quality of the beer, Michael says. Their most popular brew: the Velvet Hammer, a red-brown ale that’s full and floral.

Tour the brewery on the first and third Saturday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m. $10. Cash only. Includes a glass and three wooden nickels to redeem for beer. Tour starts around 2. There will be food trucks to purchase snacks and bands jiving while you drink. 2026 Farrington St., Dallas. 214-234-7600. peticolasbrewing.com.

FireWheel Brewing Co.

“Life’s too short for bad beer.” So reads the slogan on the side of Brad Perkinson’s black pickup parked in front of FireWheel Brewing Co. Leaning against the window pane is a wooden wagon wheel. Triangular yellow and blue flags flap in the breeze above it. “We’re not Uptown,” Perkinson says. When Perkinson was laid off as a financial analyst, instead of searching for another job, he thought, “Why not open a brewery?” In 2012, that’s what he did. Perkinson didn’t have grandiose expectations; he just wanted to make beer. “It’s just a dude who has a buddy that he hired, so now it’s two dudes,” Perkinson says about the brewery as he sits on one of the tap room’s two couches. He’s drinking root beer — chocolate coconut root beer — which he says is a great attraction for the wives and kids who frequent the brewery (Perkinson also points out that it’s great mixed with rum). FireWheel’s other popular brew: StrIPA, a strawberry IPA that’s dark and sweet.

Open from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Saturdays. Tours are at 12:30 and 2:30. They last around 15 minutes. $10. Cost includes a FireWheel pint glass or mason jar, and three tasting tickets. 2806 Lawing Lane, Rowlett. 972-807-3922. firewheelbrewing.com.

OTHER BREWERIES

We didn’t make it to a few of the participating breweries (some don’t have an open-to-the-public location yet), but here is some information on those.

Collective Brewing Project
Collective Brewing Project opened this year, when Mike Goldfuss decided to quit his job in New York City and brew beers in Fort Worth with his friend and business partner, Ryan Dale. While they’re turning a 1925 brick building in Fort Worth’s Near South Side neighborhood into a brewery and tap room, you can purchase their beers at several locations throughout the city.
To find out where their beers are sold, visit the “Locations” section on their website. 817-708-2914. collectivebrew.com.

Armadillo Ale Works
In the coming year, these guys will open up their new space in Denton. Meanwhile, their beers are made at Deep Ellum Brewing Co. and sold throughout North Texas. Their Brunch Money Imperial Golden Stout is especially popular. It’s an amber-colored beer brewed with coffee, cocoa and vanilla.
Find their beer with their online beer finder. 940-580-4446. armadilloaleworks.com.

Revolver Brewing
Located in the countryside near historic Granbury, this brewery cooks up beers with names like Mother’s Little Fracker and Blood and Honey. It’s one of the most popular breweries in North Texas.
Tours are Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. $10 for every person over 18. Admission includes a logo pint glass, beer tastings, live music and the tour. Arrive before 2 for four 8-ounce tastings. Arrive after 2 for two 8-ounce tastings. 5650 Matlock Road, Granbury. 817-668-6080. revolverbrewing.com.

Panther Island Brewing
This Fort Worth brewery is getting ready to open its location on the Trinity River. Until then, you can purchase its brews around North Texas. The brewery’s most popular beer is Allergeez, a light beer with a floral aroma and a touch of honey and chamomile.
To find where its beer is sold, check out the “Find it. Get it.” section on the website. 501 N. Main St., Fort Worth. 817-882-8121. pantherislandbrewing.com.

Shannon Brewing Co.
This brewery is located right on top of the bubbling spring that supplies water for its brews. Try out the popular Shannon Irish Red or Shannon Chocolate Stout, both with nicely caramelized sugars and a malty flavor.
Tap room and beer garden open Thursdays and Fridays from 4 to 8 p.m. Tours are Saturdays from noon to 3 p.m. $10. Beer available for purchase. 818 N. Main St., Keller. 817-337-9892. shannonbrewing.com.

903 Brewers
Head over to 903 Brewers for a chill evening drinking beer and hanging with friends. There’s a beer garden outside and comfy chairs inside. The most popular brew? The Chosen One Coconut Ale, made by adding toasted coconut to the brew.
Tours are Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. Beer available for purchase during tours. Trivia on Tap every Thursday from 5:30 to 9 p.m. Tap room opens at 5:30, and trivia starts at 6:30. Teams should have between four and six players. 1718 S. Elm St., Sherman. 214-243-8090. 903brewers.com.

Rabbit Hole Brewing
For authentic Kölsch beer, you’d have to go to Germany. But the next best bet may be Rabbit Hole Brewing, a wacky brewery out in Justin where Mike Modano’s 561 Kölsch-style ale is for sale. After tasting it, you might try Rapture Fusion Brown Ale, a brew that’s easily just as popular down the Rabbit Hole.
Tour the brewery and sample some beers on Saturdays from noon to 4 p.m. 608 Topeka Ave., Justin. 940-441-3528. rabbitholebrewing.com.

Cedar Creek Brewery
Cedar Creek Brewery specializes in session beers, drinkable brews that have a low alcohol content (around 4 percent or 5 percent) and balance the flavor of hops and malt. These are great for an enjoyable evening with family and friends.
Tap room is open Fridays from 4 to 9 p.m., Saturdays from noon to 9 p.m. and Sundays from noon to 6 p.m. 244 E. Cedar Creek Parkway, Seven Points. 214-502-9795. cedarcreekbrewery.com.

Elizabeth Hamilton, staff writer



View Map of North Texas Craft Breweries in a larger map

Pace yourself: Guide to getting the most out of NTX Beer Week

Got beer? (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)

Some folks travel to places like Denver or Portland for a craft beer getaway. Lucky for you, great things are happening in your own backyard. Consider North Texas Beer Week a 10-day beer lover’s stay-cation, if you will.

Many beer-centric cities in the U.S. have such a week. However, the North Texas version pretty much limped along the past few years until Matt Dixon (also a Craft beer Insider) and Jordan Moon of Dallas Brew Scene fame took it under their wings. They – with the help of others in the local beer industry – have proceeded to blow this up into the biggest celebration we’ve ever seen in these parts. There’s so much to do between October 31 and November 9. Some days feature more than 30 events.

And you can benefit from their hard work. With proper planning (and participation), you’ll really enjoy spending time out and about in your city. You’ll find a wide variety of events ranging from special tappings to beer dinners to special tours, and even the get-all-gussied-up Brewer’s Ball. Who knew brewers could be so sophisticated?

Consider these tips to get the most out of North Texas Beer Week.

1. Review the events calendar and plan your itinerary

Take some time to investigate all there is to do. A full calendar can be found here. You can do some pretty cool filtering of who, what, when and where to maximize your week. We also have several event round ups on this blog, including top 10 events near Dallas and 11 best bets for Fort Worth.

2. Bone up on your beer knowledge

Don’t know the difference between a hefeweizen and a witbier? The more you understand about beer going in, the more you’ll get out of it. There’s a wealth of resources out there on the web, including:

– A free Beer 101 course created by the Brewers Association, which takes one hour.
– Beer style finder Dashboard
– Beer style guide with references to common examples

3. Go to a few ticketed events

There are lots of events that do not require an event fee or ticket. But there are a few that do. Be sure to spend a little money and include these in your itinerary. Sometimes these are the coolest events.

4. Round up friends (and friends of friends)

The more the merrier. Get the word out. Invite friends to join. Get on Facebook and Twitter and share the love. Also, involve co-workers — company happy hour or team outing, anyone?

5. Plan your weekday work schedule

Sort it out so you can make it to some events that start at 6 p.m. during the week — and still keep your job.

6. Clear your weekend calendar

There’s a ton of stuff to do on the weekend. From the Untapped Festival to special tours, beer dinners, and more.

7. Drink lots of water

Stay hydrated! The idea is not to get hammered. The point is to responsibly enrich your beer experience. Don’t get sloppy. Plus, nobody wants to be hungover every day for a week. Yuck!

Pro-tip: Drink one glass of water for every glass of beer.

8. Eat!

Be sure to fill your gut before indulging in copious amounts of beer, seriously. In fact, many of the events involve food or are at places that serve great food. A beer and culinary experience? Yes, please!

9. Wear your brewery swag

Break out those brewery T-shirts and caps. Show your love while out in public. Don’t have any? Many breweries have taprooms open or tours going on. Stop in and get some gear.

10. Be smart and safe

If you happen to have one too many, be prepared to use mass transit, including DART trains, taxis, or UBER.

11. And most of all … have fun!

Go have a great time, mingle with fellow beer lovers, and keep it positive. We all love the same thing.

Your involvement will make the local beer scene even stronger. And this will lead to even bigger things for next year’s North Texas Beer Week. Personally, there are a few events I’m really looking forward to:

1. Untapped (November 1)
2. Rahr & Lakewood collaboration beer release events (all week)
3. Co-brewery Tour with Peticolas and Community Beer Co. (November 5)
4. Brewer’s Ball (November 7)
5. Community Goes on Tour (November 8 )

But what I am most looking forward to is the camaraderie that exists between us breweries, hanging out in the places that serve our brews, and celebrating with the people in North Texas that enjoy them.

Kevin Carr is the founder of Community Beer Company, an award-winning brewery located in Dallas, Texas.

Beer buzz: Wick for Brains Pumpkin Ale delights, but doesn’t overwhelm with seasonal flavors

Courtesy photo

By Tina Danze

The beer: Wick for Brains Pumpkin Ale

Brewery: Nebraska Brewing Co. in Papillion, Nebraska

Style: Pumpkin ale

The pitch: This fall seasonal is an amber ale made with real pumpkin and baking spices. It’s a good choice for those who don’t like heavily spiced pumpkin ales. Although the spice notes are prominent in the aroma, they take a back seat to the pumpkin flavor and amber ale character on the palate. Subtle notes of clove, nutmeg and allspice meld with the cinnamon and ginger to frame the baked pumpkin flavor. The beer is nicely balanced, with the sweet toasted malt flavor tempered by a touch of hops bitterness. It’s an easy-to-drink, medium-bodied ale with a crisp finish.

Fun fact: This is the first year that Nebraska Brewing Co. beers have been available in the Dallas area. Their packaging features the 360 Lid, which pops off to leave a topless can, more like drinking from a glass.

Serve it, pair it: This is an ideal beer for fall, not only for its light-to-medium weight and pumpkin flavor, but its Halloween-themed packaging. Serve it on its own, as well as with mild cheeses such as gouda or cheddar (not the sharp variety), roast poultry and mild sausages (like bratwurst).

Get some: The pumpkin ale season is short, so supplies are limited. Sold in six-packs of 12-ounce cans for about $9.49 at Central Market on Lovers Lane; Spec’s; select Whole Foods Market locations; North Oak Cliff Beer and Wine; AB Beer and Wine in Rockwall; Hall’s Wine and Spirits in Colleyville; Lone Star Beer and Wine in Carrollton; Total Wine and More in Lewisville; Choice Beverage in Plano; and Whip In in Flower Mound.

Tina Danze is a freelance writer. Follow her on Twitter at @TinaDanze.

11 NTX Beer Week events on the must-list for Fort Worth

North Texas Beer Week 2014 (NTX Beer Week)

As this year’s North Texas Beer Week festivities approach, running October 31 through November 9, I took some time to break down the numbers and events to help you make the most of the 10 days. Check out these stats:

– 285 official events on NTXBeerWeek.com with more being added every day
– 75 participating venues
– 18 cities represented on the event map
– 25 beer dinners
– 68 brewery owner/rep meet-and-greets
– 92 glassware giveaways

In an attempt to make the massive 250+ list of official events more digestible, I’ve chosen some of my favorite events and broken them down by region. See my top picks for events in Fort Worth.

October 31 – Special Peticolas Brewing Co. tappings at Brewed, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m.

November 1 – Brew-Drink-Brains grand opening bash at Collective Brewing Project, 5-10 p.m. Click here for more information.

November 2 – Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.-Lakewood Brewing Co. collaboration beer launch at Ginger Man — Fort Worth. Brewery founders Fritz Rahr and Wim Bens will be on-site to talk about DFW: A Collaboration of Two Breweries Belgian Dubbel. The event starts at 6 p.m.

November 3 – Real Ale Bingo Night at The Bearded Lady, 7 p.m. Brewmaster Erik Ogershok and local rep Bailie Duncan will be on-site, and the bar will offer an eight-beer flight, glassware and appetizers for ticket price of $20. Click here for more information.

The Real Ale Mysterium Verum Flight: Pick a beer any beer. (Special Contributor/Elizabeth Erickson)

November 3 – Rahr and Lakewood beer dinner hosted by founders Fritz Rahr and Wim Bens at Bird Cafe, 6:30 p.m. Tickets cost $75. Click here for the menu and more information.

November 4 – Real Ale Mysterium Verum mystery flights at Flying Saucer Fort Worth, 5 p.m. Guess which beers are in your flight for a chance to win prizes.

November 5 — Revolver Brewing’s Sangre y Miel sour beer launch at The Bearded Lady, 6 p.m. Order one and take home a free snifter.

November 6 – Saint Arnold’s Brewing Co. Bishop’s Barrel flights at Flying Saucer Forth Worth, 7 p.m. Sample the coveted series (No. 1-7) alongside chicken mole and dark chocolate fondue for $55. Founder Brock Wagner will be on-site.

November 6 – Brew-Haha Comedy Series at Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., 7 p.m. Tickets cost $20. Click here fore more information.

November 6 – Meet-and-greet with Chris “Gubna” Katechis from Oskar Blues Brewery at The Bearded Lady, 6 p.m. Includes special tapping of Bourbon Barrel Aged Old Chub, which the restaurant also turned into an ice cream.

Watch this space for my favorite event picks in Dallas and the suburbs.

Matt Dixon co-founded Dallas Brew Scene in February 2012 on a mission to help cultivate and grow the craft beer scene in North Texas through interaction and education. He is also on the Board of Directors for North Texas Beer Week.

What’s up with that copper mug anyhow?

Photo by Joanna Bellomy

In my last post about my “go to” drinks I mentioned the Moscow Mule. This is a great tasting drink, but it’s widespread popularity is likely due to that copper mug it’s served in.

Despite the beauty of some of my drinkable creations, none of them start a chain reaction among bar patrons quite like the copper mug of the Mule. It’s pretty much a guarantee that once I make and send one out into the dining room I’m going to receive multiple Moscow Mule requests in minutes.

Where did this drink come from? Why the copper mug? In researching this I found variations of the same story, with different people or names, different companies, and different bars. The consistent part of the tale goes like this:

A man who owns a ginger beer company is sitting in a bar next to the owner of a vodka company. The two men trade stories and in no time a collaborative drink recipe buzzes in the air. The bartender brings over a copper mug and some lime, and voila! Three men give birth to a Moscow Mule. Then marketing comes into play and movie stars are sipping out of copper mugs on billboards and magazines alike.

Now I can’t verify that tale is true, but I can testify that the Moscow Mule glassware — or I guess I should say copper-ware — is as important as the ingredients themselves. Most cocktails have a glass they are properly served in and reasons for that particular glass. It’s not everyday you encounter a recipe that will taste different when the only variable is the vessel. But the Mule by any other glass just isn’t the same. I admit this is possibly, at least partially, a trick my mind is playing on my mouth. Let’s be honest, the copper mugs look cool and you look cooler holding it. Now your boss like the bees knees, hip like slinky whistle bait. Even brand new ones look like they came right off the shelf of a Prohibition-era speakeasy.

Not only do the copper mugs look cool, they are cool. This part is no mind trick. The copper insulates the drink from your hand so the ice melts slower and ingredients are colder and for longer than they would be in glass. The mug takes the temperature of the ice almost immediately so the vodka and ginger beer is chilled from the outside by the copper and from the inside by the ice. The temperature definitely effects flavor — the colder the vodka, the smoother it tastes. When the metal touches your lips it has a bit of a tinny earthy flavor that compliments and adds complexity to the nose and taste of the booze, sugar, and spice … making it oh so nice. Come on out and get ya one tonight!

Joanna Bellomy is bar manager at Jack Mac’s Swill and Grill, a great lil Dallas pub specializing in house-made infusions, Texas craft beer, liquor, and wine.

10 tipsy, can’t-miss events during NTX Beer Week

Thirsty yet?

By Trevor Cadigan

A year ago, the founders of what is now North Texas Beer Week came together to create a “celebration showcasing the people, places and brews that make up the region’s booming craft beer scene,” according to its Facebook page. Since then, Beer Week has brought together local craft beer aficionados and businesses to support the growth of craft beer across North Texas through various events and festivals.

Formerly known as Dallas Beer Week, officials decided to change the name to better reflect the celebration across all of North Texas.

Previous events have highlighted the breweries and beers that make the craft beer scene in North Texas unique through brewer meet-and-greets, special tastings and rare tappings. Nearly 200 events at over 50 different venues comprised last year’s Beer Week. But as things in Texas tend to do, this year’s celebration is bigger and better than before.

North Texas Beer Week 2014 is a 10-day event, running October 31 to November 9. The Dallas Morning News is co-presenter and SportsRadio 1310 AM and 96.7 FM The Ticket is presenting sponsor.

This year’s celebration features some genuinely epic events, so pull out your calendars. Here are 10 events you don’t want to miss. For more event listings, visit ntxbeerweek.com.

1. Boo’s and Brews (October 31)

The first day of North Texas Beer Week Bryan Street Tavern is opening its doors all day for a dark beer tap takeover. The beers on tap will include Guinness, Lakewood Brewing Co. Temptress, Southern Star Brewing Co. Buried Hatchet, (512) Brewing Co. Pecan Porter, Peticolas Brewing Co. Sit Down or I’ll Sit You Down, Community Beer Co. Legion, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. Ugly Pug Black Lager, Revolver Brewing Bock, Deep Ellum Brewing Co. Hatch Chile Stout, Peticolas Velvet Hammer, Grapevine Craft Brewery Sir Williams Brown Ale, Martin House Brewing Co. Pretzel Stout, and many more.

In addition to $5 dark beer heaven, there will be live music, a costume contest with cash prizes at midnight, and a drawing where you can win a flat screen TV. If you love dark beers and miss this event, you may never forgive yourself.

2. Untapped Festival (November 1)

Elizabeth McCalley, Anthony Brookshire, Julie Gowin and Ryan Miller (from left) at Untapped on Saturday, September 7, 2013 in Dallas, Texas. (Elizabeth Erickson)

Untapped Dallas is meshing “indie beer and indie music,” according to the event listing. More than 80 breweries will serve 300-plus beer samples to the tune of music from local and national touring acts. The festival is Saturday, November 1 at Gilley’s/South Side Event Center in Dallas. Doors open to VIP ticket holders at 2:30 p.m. and to general admission patrons at 3:30 p.m.

Some of the breweries featured in this year’s festival include Ballast Point Brewing Co., Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Dogfish Head Craft Brewery, Four Corners Brewing Co., and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Check out the full list of breweries to see what all of your choices are and how you can get your drink on.

Headlining musical acts include Cake, Shovels & Rope, and Deltron 3030. Check out the full list of performers. For more information or to buy tickets, visit the Untapped Festival official website here.

And beware if you are riding the DART:

Due to ongoing rail maintenance, which continues November 1, DART will provide nonstop, express bus service to connect passengers between Victory and Union stations; and between Pearl/Arts District and Union stations. Buses will run every five to 10 minutes.

For riders coming from the north/west on the Green or Orange Line: Exit at Victory Station, board an express bus to Union Station, then take a Red or Blue Line train to Cedars Station.

For riders coming from the north/east on the Red or Blue Line: Exit at Pearl/Arts District, board an express bus to Union Station, then take a Red or Blue Line train to Cedars Station. For maps and more information, go to dart.org/rideralert.

3. Deep Ellum Charity Beer Dinner (November 1)

This event provides craft drinkers an opportunity to support a cause and get some grub. Bryan Street Tavern will be hosting a four-course dinner that pairs each dish with a Deep Ellum Brewing Co. brew. The cost of admission is $30 and $5 from each ticket sold will be donated to Susan G. Komen for the Cure. The event begins at 6 p.m. For more information, including a full menu, visit the Facebook event page.

4. Rahr & Sons-Lakewood collaboration beer launches (November 2)

Local establishments Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. and Lakewood Brewing Co. have created a highly anticipated collaboration beer known as DFW: A Collaboration of Two Breweries. It’s a Belgian Dubbel. Join the two breweries on November 2 at five of the area’s Ginger Man locations as they do a special tapping of their signature beer and walk away with a limited edition glass. The five locations participating in the event are: The Ginger Man – Uptown, The Ginger Man – Plano, The Ginger Man – Fort Worth, The Ginger Man – Lakewood, and The Ginger Man – Southlake. (See map above for various locations.)

To honor the hometowns of each brewery, Fritz Rahr, owner of Rahr & Sons, and Wim Bens, owner of Lakewood, will be at Ginger Man – Lakewood at 2 p.m., followed by an appearance at The Ginger Man – Fort Worth at 6 p.m. The Ginger Man in Uptown, Plano and Southlake will start the tapping of the collaboration at 4 p.m. and will have representatives from both breweries on-site.

5. Ommegang HopChef competition (November 3)

Brewery Ommengang (Cooperstown, N.Y.) is bringing a national food and beer pairing competition, known as HopChef, to D-FW. The six North Texas chef competitors hail from Blind Butcher, The Common Table, FM Smokehouse, The Libertine Bar, Meddlesome Moth, and Whiskey Cake. The event is intended to ”bring together Dallas’ top beer-forward chefs under one roof to pair dishes with a variety of Ommengang’s ales and to compete for the title of Dallas HopChef 2014,” according to the listing.

The event at 3015 at Trinity Groves starts at 6:30 p.m. on November 3 and lasts until 10 p.m. Cost of admission is $60 per ticket, but includes samples of each chef’s signature dish, accompanying Ommegang beers, and a commemorative glass. Buy a tickets here.

The family style platter with beef rib, brisket, pork ribs, pulled pork and sausage from the Pecan Lodge restaurant in Deep Ellum, on Wednesday, Sept. 24, 2014 in Dallas. (Ben Torres/Special Contributor)

6. Dinner with Pecan Lodge and Four Corners (November 5)

This pairing belongs on the ultimate list of North Texas Beer Week suggestions since it combines some of the area’s best barbecue and specialty beers from Dallas’ Four Corners Brewing Co. Dinner starts at 5:30 p.m. and features a menu that includes two off-menu Pecan Lodge items — smoked pig’s head tacos and venison sausage sliders — in addition to the smoke house’s irresistible brisket. Tickets for the dinner are $50 per ticket with only 100 available, but once inside, three 12-ounce pours of Four Corners beer are available as well as tastings from three food stations. So act fast and buy a ticket.

7. Lower Greenville Block Party (November 6)

The Lower Greenville Block Party highlights four of the best bars in the lowest of the Lower Greenville area. Bars include The Bottle Shop, The Libertine, Blind Butcher and Truck Yard. (Both The Bottle Shop and Blind Butcher were recently named among the top craft beer bars in D-FW.) Each participating location will offer a different beer from Revolver Brewing, the chance to talk with someone from the brewery and a special glass honoring the event, so feel free to bounce around.

Revolver’s featured brews include Mullet Cutter double IPA (2013) at Blind Butcher; Mullet Cutter double IPA (2014) at The Libertine; Fracker Barrell One stout and Sangre y Miel sour ale at The Bottle Shop; and Cinnamon Girl American amber at Truck Yard. Grant Wood, brewmaster at Revolver Brewing and one of DMN’s Craft Beer Insiders, is also scheduled to visit each location. The party starts at 7 p.m.

8. Brewer’s Ball (November 7)

North Texas Beer Week’s inaugural Brewer’s Ball is considered one of the week’s premiere and most exclusive events, with only 500 tickets being sold at $125 per ticket. The event is a black tie dinner-beer festival hybrid, featuring more than 35 brewmasters and owners from around the country. The Renaissance Hotel in Dallas hosts the event from 7-10 p.m. and include foods several local establishments. Purchase tickets here.

North Texas Beer Week attendees will be able to find multiple brews by local operation Lakewood Brewing Co. and Peticolas Brewing Co. For a full list of events visit ntxbeerweek.com. (Alexandra Olivia/ Special Contributor)

9. Beer and Bourbon/Bourbon and Beer (November 8 )

This event provides whiskey, bourbon, and beer lovers a place to mingle during North Texas Beer Week. The theme highlights the complementary characteristics of bourbon and beer, and to do that, The Common Table will host David Walker, the owner of Firestone Walker Brewing Co.; Yusef Churney, the brewmaster and distiller from Ballast Point Brewing Co.; Leonard Firestone, owner of Firestone & Robertson Distilling Co.; and Brett Vanderkamp, the co-founder of New Holland Brewing Co.

These masters of bourbon and beer will be pairing barrel-aged beer with rare bourbons and whiskeys. The event runs from 2-8 p.m. There is no cost for admission, so if you have plans cancel them.

10. 3rd Annual North Texas Beer Week Extravaganza (November 8 )

North Texas Beer Week Extravaganza, hosted by Lone Star Beverages, gives hopheads a healthy sampling of the area’s local suds. The event runs from 1-3 p.m. and showcases beers from 903 Brewers (Sherman), Armadillo Ale Works (Denton/Dallas), Cedar Creek Brewery (Seven Points), Community Beer Co. (Dallas), Deep Ellum Brewing Co. (Dallas), Four Corners Brewing Co. (Dallas), Franconia Brewing Co. (McKinney), Lakewood Brewing Co. (Garland), Martin House Brewing Co. (Fort Worth), and Revolver Brewing Co. (Granbury).

The North Texas Beer Week Extravaganza will have giveaways and special releases from your favorite local breweries, including some limited edition bottles and cans for free. If you did a double take on the price, you read correctly. This event is a must-go for craft beer lovers and only requires you to show up to have a good time.

Trevor Cadigan is a student at Southern Methodist University majoring in journalism and minoring in business and Mandarin Chinese. He wants to get his MBA in international business and hopes to implement news organizations into developing countries.

Armadillo Ale Works lands brewing facility in hometown of Denton

The Armadillo Ale Works crew outside the new brewing facility, located off I-35 in Denton. (Ben Esely)

After months of searching, the Denton-bred brewers of Armadillo Ale Works finally landed a location for their brewery in their hometown.

Armadillo Ale Works recently closed on a 40,000-square-foot warehouse space located at 1512 Interstate 35 W, less than five miles from Audacity Brew House, the town’s first operating brewery which opens this weekend.

Armadillo’s brew house, packaging line, taproom and special events area will take over 20,000 square feet of the building with the intention to expand in the future, according to co-founder Yianni Arestis.

“We spent a lot of time trying to get a location in downtown Denton, but it just wasn’t feasible for what we want to do and how we want to grow,” Arestis said Friday.

In May, we broke the news that Armadillo had secured enough investor money to move operations to its hometown, where both Arestis and co-founder Bobby Mullins attended the University of North Texas. For more than a year, Armadillo has been brewing at Deep Ellum Brewing Co.‘s facility in Dallas. But equipment for its own 30-barrel brew house is on the way, Arestis said.

Armadillo Ale Works is still on track to open in spring 2015, he added.

One of Armadillo’s flagship recipes, Quakertown Stout, recently won a gold medal at Great American Beer Festival. For more information about the operation, see our story from May.

See which beers Denton’s first microbrewery, Audacity, will be pouring this opening weekend

Audacity Brew House is the first brewery to open in Denton. (Courtesy of Audacity Brew House)

Denton residents will get their first taste of locally brewed craft beer this weekend when Audacity Brew House opens its doors.

Since we broke the news in May, owners Scott Lindsey and Doug Smith have been hard at work installing the 17-barrel brew house and building a taproom. They’ll be celebrating the grand opening with three days of live music, a costume bike ride, food trucks and, of course, cold beer.

You can see the weekend’s hours of operation and music offerings below, but first the good stuff.

Audacity will have six beers on draft throughout the weekend:

– Bulletproof, Texas pale ale (5.2% alcohol-by-volume)
– Repercussion, amber ale (5% ABV)
– Drachenfutter, Munich lager (5.3% ABV)
– Boss Raptor, dry-hopped West Coast IPA (6.5% ABV)
– The Great Escape, English brown porter (4.8% ABV)
– Cliff Diver, Berliner Weisse (3.5% ABV)

Additionally, the brewery will offer a specialty batch every day of the celebration. On Friday, it’s a chili porter; on Saturday, it’s a chai tea lager; and on Sunday, the brewery will tap both a raspberry- and blackberry-infused version of the Cliff Diver Berliner Weisse.

Beers are $4 for a pint or $5 for a taster tray, which includes four samples each 4 ounces. Entry to the event is free, and the space is kid- and dog-friendly.

Audacity opening weekend hours

Friday, October 24 from 4 to 10 p.m. Music starts at 7 p.m.
Bands: Melissa Ratley, Mink Coats and Boxcar Bandits
Food trucks: Lean Machine, Backyard Dog

Saturday, October 25 from 11 a.m. to 12 a.m. Music starts at 8 p.m. Costume bike ride from Denton’s Day of the Dead Festival departs at 9 p.m. Meet up at Charter Communications at the intersection of Mulberry Street and Industrial Street. Bike lights required. Click here for more details.
Bands: Dalton Kane and Jacob Guzman
Food trucks: Kendrick’s BBQ, Backyard Dog

Sunday, October 26 from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Music starts at 3 p.m.
Bands: Spencer Kelley (acoustic set) and Ron & the Finkelspiners
Food trucks: Backyard Dog

Audacity Brew House is located at 1012 Shady Oaks Drive, Denton. For more information, visit the brewery’s official website.

 

Why I don’t have a ‘favorite’ beer

Bartender John Benitez pours a beer from behind the bar during a brewery tour offered at the Four Corners Brewing Co. in Dallas Saturday September 27, 2014. (Andy Jacobsohn/The Dallas Morning News)

What is your favorite beer?

Coming off the Great American Beer Festival this year, I realized it is a question I always get asked. I answer it, but I never really feel good about it.

Seems simple enough, but for a brewer it’s not that simple. I have been making and tasting beer for … let’s just say a long time. I have tasted some really great beers and some really terrible beers. As a brewer I approach anything going across my tongue (beer, food, air, etc.) with a critical eye. Look, smell, taste, enjoy (or not).

OK, not every meal or drinking opportunity is like this. I have been known to wolf down a burrito without thinking too much about what I am doing or the consequences of my actions. However, I strongly recommend thinking before you eat or drink. Beer is a perfect example.

What is happening on your palate when you drink a beer? What does the beer look like? Dark and rich or pale and effervescent?

You actually start tasting before the pint gets to your lips. Sight informs the brain as to what it will be receiving in a few moments. Then as you bring the glass (please, please drink out of a glass when possible), you detect the aromas of the beer which gives you another hint of what’s to come. When you slurp the beer into your mouth, the next set of stimuli are happening on your palate.

The trigeminal nerve tells you whether the beer is carbonated or not. The taste buds in your tongue inform you about sweet, salty, bitter, sour, and savory elements of the beer. The process of swallowing registers the texture and viscosity of the beer. When the beer is swallowed, the beer releases aromas that are detected by your nose, but from the back of your throat. After you have swallowed the beer, the finish lingers — is it pleasant, harsh, burning? Is it good enough to take another sip?

I have tasted many beers and brewed quite a few. What is my favorite beer? That’s not really important. It’s more important to appreciate and enjoy the beer. Think about what went into the beer: malt, hops, water, yeast, spices, herbs, fruit. Was it aged in barrels, stored in caves, shipped 6,000 miles from a small European country? Appreciate the effort that went into bringing the tasty beer to you.

So now, I ask you: What is your favorite beer?

Grant Wood is founding brewmaster for Revolver Brewing and a Certified Cicerone. He’s also a full-time husband, part-time gourmet, some-time actor.

Has D-FW surpassed Austin as Texas’ best craft beer hub?

Way back in the day, when I dreamed of opening a brewery in Dallas, Austin was a major source of inspiration for me.

At the time, Austin was the epicenter of Texas craft beer. Sure, there were a handful of breweries in other parts of the state, but if you wanted to experience a full craft beer culture in the Lone Star State, you’d hang out in Austin. It was almost like visiting another state entirely because the beer scene there was somewhat like Denver or Portland given the prevalence of locally brewed beer you could find down there. Austin’s breweries were the ones getting the recognition via awards and press not only in Texas, but nationwide.

This was not the case in North Texas.

BTW, “way back in the day” was only three or four years ago. My how things have changed in such a short amount of time! Fast-forward to today, and there’s been a craft beer explosion in our state. Things have changed considerably, particularly in North Texas.

Today, the number of operating breweries per region is fairly even (according to the Texas Craft Brewers Guild):

Central Texas (Austin): 16
North Texas: 15
Houston area: 16
San Antonio area: 7
Other: 1

This means that — with all due respect (and homage) to our Central Texas brethren — I’m not convinced that Austin is still the craft beer epicenter of Texas.

North Texas breweries boast quantity and quality

Looking in our own backyard, North Texas has burst onto the scene. In just three short years, we’ve gone from two breweries to pushing 20.

But high growth in the brewing industry is not always a good thing. As folks rush to jump on the craft beer bandwagon, it often comes at the sacrifice of quality. It is not beneficial to consumers to have more choice if the beer is mediocre.

However, in addition to this growth, North Texas breweries have garnered a great deal of creditability and recognition by brewing high quality beers. Recent awards won in beer competitions have validated the quality of our craft beer here. The following data shows how NTX has fared in major beer competitions in 2014.

Competition medal count:

World Beer Cup (April 2014)
– North Texas: 3, including one gold
– Austin: 4, but no gold
– Others: 1, which was gold

U.S. Open Beer Championships (July 2014)
– North Texas: 12, including six gold
– Austin: 0
– Others: 3, including two gold

Great American Beer Festival (October 2014)
– North Texas: 6, including four gold
– Austin: 5, including two gold
– Others: 5, but no gold

Other “Austin-like” things popping up in North Texas

In addition to the accolades local brewers are bringing home, we’re seeing lots of “Austin-like” places cropping up in North Texas that replicate the Austin vibe. Places like Truck Yard, Katy Trail Ice House, and the Foundry in Dallas have that whimsical, super laid-back atmosphere. We’re also seeing an explosion of food trucks, a trend that arguably started in Austin.

Another way North Texas has become more “Austin-like” is that our local culture is becoming a lot more easygoing in recent years, which on some level seems to involve local craft beer. Good stuff!

So, is North Texas the new Austin regarding the craft beer scene? 

Maybe a little. But in the end, it doesn’t really matter. In reality, nothing can replace the awesomeness of Austin and its beer scene. All that really matters is that your local breweries are brewing a high quality product. And more importantly, that Texas — as a whole — has gained international credibility for brewing some of the best beers in the world.

At GABF, Texas ranked behind only heavy-hitters California, Oregon, and Colorado in total medal count. That’s pretty darn good company in the beer world.

Thanks to the likes of Live Oak Brewing Co., (512) Brewing Co., Jester King Brewery, and Real Ale Brewing Co. for leading the way back in the day!

Kevin Carr is the founder of Community Beer Company, an award-winning brewery located in Dallas, Texas.

The State Fair may be over, but you can still drink Funnel Cake Ale

Funnel Cake Ale

Saying “goodbye” to Big Tex is always a bummer. Who decided three weeks was long enough for the State Fair of Texas anyway?

Hopefully this next bit news will cure your fried food blues — you can still find Funnel Cake Ale in Dallas for a limited time.

The beer, an English-style summer ale, made history this fall as the first beverage to be nominated as a finalist for the Big Tex Choice Awards. It won “Most Creative.”

Community Beer Co. in Dallas worked with concessionaire Justin Martinez to brew it specifically for the State Fair. But, according to Community founder Kevin Carr, there are a few barrels left on reserve.

Community Beer Co. will be serving Funnel Cake Ale on draft in its taproom while supplies last. And since there are only four kegs remaining, that might not be for very long, Carr says.

Community’s taproom is open Thursday from 5-9 p.m., and Friday and Saturday from 5-10 p.m. Pints run $5-6.

Full disclosure: Kevin Carr, founder of Community Beer Co., is one of DMN’s Craft Beer Insiders.

Thursday night Brew-Haha Comedy Series combines beer, food trucks and belly laughs

The Brew-Haha comedy series runs every Thursday until November 20, 2014. Pictured: Tyson Faifer at Lakewood Brewing Co. (Kamilah Todd)

By Kamilah Todd 

Brew-Haha, an event that uniquely combines a love for breweries and comedy, made its fifth stop in a 10-week series at Lakewood Brewing Co. in Garland on October 16. The tour hits a new brewery every Thursday through November 20. (See schedule below.)

Tyson Faifer, from NBC’s American Ninja Warrior, directs the event, the first of its kind and one that definitely has people talking.

According to Faifer, finding a venue for a one-night comedy show in various cities is extremely difficult. So, Faifer, from El Paso, knew “Texans drink a lot of beer,” and that maybe he could tap into that fan base.

“I came for the beer,” said Gus Payne, second timer to the Brew-Haha comedy series. “I’m a Temptress lover.”

After purchasing tickets at the door, customers received three drink tickets, a sticker, and a glass to keep. Directly to the right stood the main bar with five on tap brews: Lakewood Lager, Rock Ryder, Hop Trapp, Punkel, and the Temptress.

“I love the diverse array of beers,” said another Brew-Haha event attendee, Ken Cole.

Dropping their first drink ticket into the bucket, patrons then journeyed to the two food trucks located outside. Just half an hour after the doors opened, lines were packed. Some socialized and waited for their dinner, while another young couple played a game of cornhole.

After eating, the Lakewood staff moved the crowd back into the warehouse where the brewing process takes place. A mixed aged group took their seats, anxious for the real show to begin. A man named William with a thick beard, much like the rest of the staff, took the stage.

An audience member asked, “Are you required to have a beard to work here?” That was just the beginning of the laughs to take place throughout the night.

William led the brewery tour, or as he said, “the journey from grain to glass,” describing the function of the massive metal tanks behind him. After his quick 20-minute verbal tour, he called upon the crowd to raise their glasses for a cheers in the Belgium tradition. The sound of glasses clinging together consumed the room, while the crowd shouted, “Schol!”

Homebrewer Aaron Purcer admired the “down to earth way the brewers explained the scientific process,” which he claimed was “a great experience, being able to relate to them in that way.”

Each event on this 10-week comedy tour showcases a different lineup of comedians. Lakewood’s lineup featured Tyson Faifer, Angi Michelle, Ryan Perrio, and Jason James. The jokes were original and the comedians were able to interact with the crowd in a way that made them feel, at times, uncomfortable, but for the most part, like it was silly banter between pals.

“Comedy doesn’t travel well so it’s best kept small,” Faifer says. “There has to be that cool VIP feel that makes you feel you’re a part of something.”

The show came to an end and the crowd gave a large applause. Just to emphasize that friendly, small town quality, Faifer asked everyone to sign the stool at the front of the stage that travels with them from show to show. Based on the show at Lakewood, Faifer is accomplishing what he set out to do — marry beer and laughter.

Check out WFAA’s piece on Good Morning Texas for more information on the Brew-Haha comedy series. Or check it out for yourself at one of the following events. Doors open at 7 p.m., the brewery tour starts at 7:30 p.m. and the show starts at 8 p.m.

– October 23 at Panther Island Brewing, Fort Worth
– October 30 at Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas
– November 6 at Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., Fort Worth
– November 13 at Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Dallas
– November 20 at FireWheel Brewing Co., Rowlett

Kamilah Todd is a senior at Southern Methodist University, majoring in journalism with minors in Spanish and women’s & gender studies. She is also a former Dallas Cowboys Cheerleader. Follow her on Twitter @kamilahbrett.

Sip ‘n spin: 5 things to know for travel on Dallas’ Buzz Bike

The Buzz Bike is available for rent as a whole or patrons can pay for a seat on the Social Buzz tour, which is a mix of people who signed up. (Rebecca Keay)

By Rebecca Keay

You might have seen them around Dallas — people sitting on stools at a bar, enjoying drinks and loud music while they glide past you on the street. But wait … this bar is moving?

The Buzz Bike isn’t like other bars. Instead of being inside a building, it’s a part of a moving vehicle that is powered by, well, you. As a participant of this traveling bar, you’re required to power it while you sip on drinks.

This bike bar trend has been around in other U.S. cities, but co-owners Gloria Flores and Maribel Navarro brought it to Dallas straight from Holland. Renters can either rent the entire bike for $160-190 per hour, or choose a lesser-known option: The Social Buzz. The Social Buzz is sold by seat ($30 for two hours) and is aimed at people who want to make new friends and have fun with the old.

When I decided to test out the Buzz Bike, it was a no brainer to do the Social Buzz instead of rent the entire bike. (What a great way to meet new people!) Here are five things to know about the Social Buzz tour of Uptown.

The bike: The bike can seat up to 16 people with 10 people pedaling. There is a height requirement of 5 feet 3 inches to be able to pedal, although there are a couple adjustable seats. And if you do happen to be shorter, don’t fret, there is a back seat bench that is perfect for you, or you can have the job of the bartender and hand people the drinks they brought along. The Buzz Bike is BYOB.

The tour: The only option for the Social Buzz is to do the Uptown tour (the options for renting the whole bike out are the Uptown, Arts District, downtown, and Victory Plaza routes). Going a max of five miles an hour on the flat surface, it is the perfect speed to give people high-fives out of their car windows, and wave to the people filming you (because so many people will).

Rebecca Keay and Kaitlyn Maffuid on the Buzz Bike.

The bars: The Social Buzz has two stops. We stopped at So & So’s first where people on the tour could enjoy some beer or shots. The next stop was Three Sheets, where the group had the chance to get more drinks, catch up on the football game that was going on, and get to know each other better.

The people: Going on the Social Buzz by yourself, or even with one other person can be intimidating. But keep in mind that the people on the tour want to make friends. Sure, the other groups on our tour were celebrating birthdays, but that didn’t stop us from mingling on the bike and in the bars. I mean, after all the work you put in to make that bike move? You’re bound to bond over that. Kyle Langley, 25, went on the tour with his friends celebrating a birthday, and came away making new friends. “It was kind of a unique experience because we got to intermingle with some other crews, which was fun,” Langley said.

The work: I saved this one for last, because it is the factor that surprised me the most. The biking is not for the weak. It is pretty tough work. Especially when you’re trying to drink at the same time. Your legs might very well be sore the next day (just saying — and yes, I did bike the whole time).

The work is all worth it, though, for a unique experience that allows you to make new friends. After our tour ended, our whole group went out to another bar to chat more over drinks. Navarro, one of the owners, said she sometimes sees customers return for another tour with friends they met the first time around. “People do become friends, and they continue that friendship,” Navarro said.

For more information, such as bike tour times and additional pricing info, see the Buzz Bike website.

Rebecca Keay is a senior journalism major, and fashion media and photography minor at Southern Methodist University. Follow her on Twitter @rebecca_keay.

Party pointers: Offer free drinks and other tips to throwing a righteous cocktail party

A close-up of the Bulleit trailer bar, in all of its glory. Photo by Mason Pelt Media.

Picture this: More than 100 local media moguls, bloggers, social media personalities, and whiskey lovers gathered together for three hours of bourbon, barbecue, shopping, and networking.

With less than a week’s notice, these movers and shakers extemporaneously cleared their schedules on a Wednesday night for this pop-up event. Why? I’ll explain.

A fellow publisher reached out and introduced me to a rep for Bulleit Bourbon who had contacted him. Pleasantries were exchanged, and soon after, due to my local audience and their interests, this rep made me an offer I could not refuse.

Bulleit wanted to bring its $150,000 luxury tailgating traveling bourbon bar from the 2012 Neiman Marcus catalog stocked full of product, and set it up for me and 20 of my closest friends.

Personified as “Woody,”  this personality-packed wooden bar on wheels was making a nationwide tour with Dallas on the schedule. Why was I so lucky to be given a private party? While not monetarily, being an arts and entertainment publisher does pay in some ways. This event paid off for Bulleit, too, as you’ll soon see.

A side view of "Woody" during setup. Photo by Neil Lemons.

While on the phone with the rep my wheels started turning. In a flash of PR clarity, it became apparent to me how I could add more value to everyone.

I proposed to the the rep that instead of 20 friends, how about 100 media types, food/drink bloggers, social media personalities, self promoters, and affluent bourbon-drinkers? We’d get local barbecue staple Lockhart Smokehouse to cater. And instead of having the party at a bar, how about we make it more private and cooler by having it at a whiskey-themed men’s clothing store?

It just so happened that the second half of the high-end men’s custom suit store where I direct digital efforts is called RYE 51. With all that said, she agreed. This event was a synergistic match made in whiskey heaven.

Woody in front of RYE 51. Photo by Mason Pelt Media.

The shindig started at 6 p.m. and officially ended around 8 p.m. To add to the scene, beats were being spun from Dallas DJ Mike Detloff.

According to Bulleit rep Christina Kavanaugh, Woody had travailed many previous stops. While in the Bay Area, Woody stopped at the Google Campus, Crissy Field, an Oakland A’s game, and a San Francisco Giants game. He also traveled to Southern California, Las Vegas, the Northeast, to a Broncos football tailgate in Denver, and to a Chiefs football tailgate in Kansas City before Dallas on October 8.

After Dallas, Woody is heading to Portland, Louisville, Kentucky, Austin, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, New Orleans, Chicago, St. Louis, and Tampa.

Needless to say, Woody gets around.

Jennifer Smart & sister Lauren Smart, who is the Arts/Culture Editor for Dallas Observer. Photo by Mason Pelt Media.

 

Kevin Gray of UrbanDaddy.com, Mark Schectman of 102.1 The Edge, Neil Lemons (myself). Photo by Mason Pelt Media.

What are some of the best ways to get local media to come to your pop-up party? Here are a couple of common sense tips, and I’ll also share some not-so-common tactics.

The 1-2-3′s of throwing a cocktail party that rocks 

1. Have some sort of newsworthy attraction piece (most would think this is enough, but it’s not).

2. Offer free drinks, and not just any drinks, make them extra special with themed names for the night, even if they are traditionally called something else.

3. Have free food, and not just “light appetizers.” Bring on the barbecue!

Here is Mike Orren, President of Dallas Morning News' Speakeasy, a content marketing firm, having fun. Vice President, Integrated Marketing at Red Capital Group, JC Elliott is making faces behind his back. Photo by Mason Pelt Media.

Here are some not-so-obvious tactics:

– Use the word “exclusive” in the title of the event, especially when it’s true. Don’t overdue this.

– Second, have people pre-RSVP that your other guests know (or know of), and they will have a good time with whether they like you or not (there is deeper “social proof” tactic I won’t reveal here, but it helps get the ball rolling).

– Third, actually become friends with media people in real life and through social networks.

– Last, give them a reason why this spontaneous event happened out of the blue, combined with a sense of urgency on why they need to RSVP. In this case, the stars aligned and all these things really did happen in that way.

Bulleit fitting in the the scene at RYE 51. Photo by Mason Pelt Media

There you have it. That’s a partial formula for throwing a cocktail party that rocks. You can find Bulleit at your local bar or liquor store, or learn more by visiting www.bulleit.com. You can learn more about RYE 51  and Q Clothier by visiting their store in West Village.

All but one photo by Mason Pelt. Photo releasing under Creative Commons with attribution non-commercial.

Neil Lemons is the co-founder/editor of ILiveInDallas.com, an award-winning online digital publication about life in Dallas and D-FW cultural events.

See 300-plus beers you can sample at Untapped Festival in Dallas

The first Untapped occurred in Trinity Groves in 2012. The 3rd annual event will be at Gilley's South Side complex . (Elizabeth Erickson)

With less than two weeks until third Untapped craft beer and indie music festival in Dallas, we thought you might be getting thirsty. Behold, the official festival beer list.

On November 1, more than 80 breweries will descend upon Gilley’s/South Side event center with 300-plus beers, ranging from pilsners and ciders to sours and barrel aged delicacies, alongside a healthy helping of India pale ales.

This year’s beer list is testament to the rise of Texas craft beer, with 27 Lone Star breweries represented and 15 from D-FW.

You’ll notice some of the beers listed below are TBA, which means fun surprises for festival attendees. For one, Jester King Brewery, out of Austin, is known for bringing some of its freshest and most exclusive batches. (Last March it was the Cerveza de Tempranillo at Untapped Fort Worth.)

Bands Cake, Deltron 3030, Rogue Wave and more will be playing during the daylong event. Tickets to Untapped are currently on sale in three tiers — concert only ($35), concert plus beer tasting ($42) and VIP ($65), which includes early entry, access to rare tappings, 20 percent off all merchandise and the privilege to go in and out of the festival. Untapped runs from 3:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. The gates open to VIP ticket holders at 2:30 p.m.

Untapped is one of the featured events of North Texas Beer Week, which runs October 31 to November 9. For more coverage of the week and its happenings, click here.

Beer list: Untapped Dallas 2014

Elizabeth McCalley, Anthony Brookshire, Julie Gowin and Ryan Miller (from left) at Untapped on Saturday, September 7, 2013 in Dallas, Texas. (Elizabeth Erickson)

512 Brewing Co. (Austin, TX)
Six (Dubbel)
Pecan Porter (porter, 6.8% ABV)

903 Brewing Co. (Sherman, TX)
Land of Milk & Honey (stout)
Crackin’ Up Pecan Porter (porter)
Sasquatch (imperial stout, 10.3%)
Chosen One (coconut ale, 6.3%)

Abita Brewing Co. (Abita Springs, LA)
Andygator (strong pale lager/imperial pils, 8%)
Abbey Ale CASK (abbey Dubbel, 8%)
Legendary Gator (Helles triple bock, 10.25%)

Ace Ciders (Sebastopol, CA)
Pineapple (cider, 5%)
Berry (cider, 5%)
Joker (cider, 6.95)
Pumpkin (cider, 5%)

Adelbert’s Brewery (Austin, TX)
Black Rhino (Belgian ale, 5.6%)
Tripel B (Tripel, 9.3%)
Flying Monks (Quadrupel ale, 9.3%)

Alaskan Brewing Co. (Juneau, AK)
2004 Smoked Porter (porter, 6.5%)
Black IPA (black IPA, 6.4%)
Hopothermia (imperial IPA, 8.5%)
Icy Bay IPA (IPA, 6.2%)
White Ale (witbier, 5.3%)
Amber (altbier, 5.3%)

Angry Orchard (Cincinnati, OH)
Crisp Apple (cider, 5%)
Apple Ginger (cider, 5%)

Armadillo Ale Works (Denton, TX)
Quakertown Stout (imperial stout, 9.22%)
Greenbelt Farmhouse Ale (saison, 5.2%)
Brunch Money (imperial golden stout, 10%)

Avery Brewing Co. (Boulder, CO)
Rumpkin (pumpkin ale, 15-18%)
Lillikoi Kepolo (fruit beer, 5.6%)
Ellie’s Brown (American brown ale, 5.5%)
White Rascal (Belgian white ale, 5.6%)

Ballast Point Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)
Even Keel (session IPA, 3.8%)
Grapfruit Sculpin IPA (IPA, 7%)
Grunion (pale ale, 5.5%)
Victory at Sea (imperial porter, 10%)
Dorado (imperial IPA, 9.6%)
Sculpin (IPA, 7%)

Belekus Marketing Tent
Bourgogne Des Flandres (sour red/brown, 5%)
Wells Banana Bread (fruit beer, 5.2%)
Blanche de Bruxelles (witbier, 4.5%)
Belhaven Black Scottish Stout (stout, 4.2%)

Big Sky Brewing Co. (Missoula, MT)
Moose Drool (brown ale, 5.1%)
Powder Hound Winter Ale (English strong ale, 6.2%)
Big Sky IPA (IPA, 6.2%)

Boulevard Brewing Co. (Kansas City, MO)
Love Child No. 4 (sour/wild ale, 9%)
Tank 7 (saison, 8.5%)
Pop-Up Session IPA (session IPA, 4.2%)

Breckenridge Brewery (Denver, CO)
Christmas Ale (American strong ale, 7.4%)
Avalanche (amber ale, 5.4%)
Vanilla Porter (porter, 4.7%)

Brooklyn Brewery (Brookyln, NY)
2012 Monster (barley wine, 10.3%)
Black Chocolate Stout (imperial stout, 10%)
Blast! (imperial IPA, 8.4%)
Brooklyn Lager (lager, 5.2%)
Post Road Pumpkin (pumpkin ale, 5%)

Community Beer Co. (Dallas, TX)
Ascension Vanilla Coffee Porter (porter, 6.90%)
Legion (Russian imperial stout, 10.00%)
Mosaic (IPA, 7.50%)
Community Witbier (witbier, 5.10%)
Public Ale (premium bitter/ESB, 5.50%)

Deep Ellum Brewing Co. (Dallas, TX)
Belgian IPA (IPA, 8%)
Hatch Chile Stout (sweet stout, 7.1%)
Oak Cliff Coffee Ale (dark crown coffee ale, 7.5%)
Dreamcrusher (imperial IPA, 9.7%)
Dallas Blonde (American blonde ale, 5.2%)
Deep Ellum Pale Ale (oatmeal pale ale, 6%)

Deschutes Brewery (Bend, OR)
Black Butte XXVI (strong porter, 10.8%)
Fresh Squeezed IPA (IPA, 6.4%)
Mirror Pond (pale ale, 5%)
Chainbreaker White IPA (white IPA, 5.6%)
Mirror Mirror (barley wine, 11.2%)

Dogfish Head Brewery (Milton, DE)
120 Minute IPA (imperial IPA, 15-20%)
Kvasir (ancient ale, 10%)
Positive Contact (fruit beer, 9%)
60 Minute IPA (IPA, 6%)
Burton Baton (imperial IPA, 10%)
Birra Etrusca Bronze (ancient ale, 8.5%)

Epic Brewing Co. (Salt Lake City, UT)
Big Bad Baptist (imperial stout, 12.1%)
Smoked and Oaked (Belgian strong ale, 9.5%)
Epic Imperial IPA (imperial IPA, 9.4%)

Firestone Walker Brewing Co. (Paso Robles, CA)
Velvet Merlin (stout, 5.5%)
Velvet Merkin (stout, 8.5%)
Double Barrel Ale (ESB, 5%)
Wookey Jack (IPA, 7.5%)
Pivo Hoppy Pils (pilsner, 5.3%)

Firewheel Brewing Co. (Rowlett, TX)
Midnight Ninja (brown ale, 8%)
Roady Root Beer (maple syrup root beer)
Texas Style Pale Ale (pale ale, 5.5%)
StrIPA (IPA, 6.5%)

Founders Brewing Co. (Grand Rapids, MI)
Kentucky Breakfast Stout (imperial stout, 11.2%)
Dirty Bastard (Scotch ale, 8.5%)
Breakfast Stout (imperial stout, 8.3%)
Centennial IPA (IPA, 7.2%)
Founders Porter (porter, 6.5%)
All Day IPA (IPA, 4.7%)

Four Corners Brewing Co. (Dallas, TX)
La Bajada (brown ale, 5%)
Block Party (porter, 5.7%)
El Chingon (IPA, 7.6%)

Franconia Brewing Co. (McKinney, TX)
Tripel Dunkel (Dunkel, 10.3)
Oak Aged Fallen Bock (Doppelbock, 7.5%)
Franconia Lager (lager, 4.8%)
Franconia Amber (amber ale)
Franconia Wheat (Hefeweizen, 4.8%)
Koelsch (Kölsch, 4.8%)

Full Sail Brewing Co. (Hood River, OR)
Wreck The Halls (IPA, 6.5%)
Session Fest  (lager, 6.2%)
Premium Lager (lager, 5.1%)

Goose Island Beer Co. (Chicago, IL)
312 Urban Wheat Ale (wheat ale, 4.2%)
312 Urban Pale Ale (pale ale, 5.4%)
Bourbon County Barley Wine (barley wine, 12.1%)
Bourbon County Stout (imperial stout, 14.2%)
Bourbon County Stout Coffee  (imperial stout, 13.4%)
The Ogden (Tripel, 9%)
The Muddy (imperial stout, 9%)
Matilda Lambicus (sour/wild ale, 7%)
Madame Rose (sour/wild ale, 6.7%)
Juliet (sour/wild ale, 8%)
Lolita (sour/wild ale, 8.7%)
Honkers Ale (bitter, 4.3%)
Rambler IPA (IPA, 6.7%)
Goose Island IPA (English IPA, 5.9%)

Grapevine Craft Brewery (Farmers Branch, TX)
Lakefire Rye Pale Ale (American pale ale, 5.5%)
Sir Williams (brown ale, 4.9%)
Nightwatch (sweet stout, 6.3%)
La Saison des Festivals (saison, 7%)
Dry-Hopped Lakefire (pale ale, 5.5%)
Wood-Aged Nightwatch (oatmeal stout)

Great Divide Brewing Co. (Denver, CO)
Hibernation Ale (old ale, 8.7%)
Oak-Aged Yeti (imperial stout, 9.5%)
Fresh Hop (pale ale, 6.1%)

Green Flash Brewing Co. (San Diego, CA)
Green Bullet (imperial IPA, 10.1%)
Double Stout (imperial stout, 8.8%)
West Coast IPA 2014 (imperial IPA, 8.1%)
Le Freak (Belgian strong ale, 9.2%)

Harpoon Brewery (Boston, MA)
UFO R.A.Z. (fruit beer, 4.8%)
Leviathan IPA (imperial IPA, 10%)
UFO White (Belgian white, 4.8%)

Independence Brewing Co. (Austin, TX)
Ten Anniversary Ale (barley wine)
Power & Light (pale ale, 5.5%)
Stash IPA (IPA, 7%)

Jester King Brewery (Austin, TX)
Aurelian Lure CASK (sour/wild ale, 5.4%)
Surprise Beer TBA
Surprise Beer TBA

Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales (Dexter, MI)
Oro de Calabaza CASK (Belgian strong ale, 8%)
Calabaza Boreal (sour/wild ale, 7%)
Luciernaga (The Firefly) (Belgian ale, 6.5%)

Karbach Brewing Co. (Houston, TX)
Bourbon Barrel Aged Hellfighter (imperial porter, 9.8%)
Mother-In-Lager (Dunkel, 5.8%)
Hopadillo IPA (IPA, 6.6%)

Lagunitas Brewing Co. (Petaluma, CA)
Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ (IPA, 7.5%)
Imperial Red Ale (American strong ale, 7.8%)
Lagunitas IPA (IPA, 6.2%)
Dogtown Pale Ale (pale ale, 6.4%)

Lakewood Brewing Co. (Garland, TX)
The Temptress (imperial stout, 9.1%)
Bourbon Barrel Temptress (imperial stout, 10.2%)
Holiday Bonus Festive Porter (porter)
Bokkenrijders (altbier, 8.5%)
Manimal Red Farmhouse Ale (farmhouse/saison)
DFW: A COllaboration of Two Breweries (Belgian-style Dubbel, 6.4%)

Lazy Magnolia Brewing Co. (Kiln, MS)
Jefferson Stout (sweet stout, 5%)
Southern Pecan (brown ale, 4.39%)
Southern Hops’pitality (IPA, 6%)

Left Hand Brewing Co. (Longmont, CO)
Milk Stout (sweet stout, 6%)
Fade To Black, Vol. 1 (imperial stout, 8.5%)
Warrior IPA (IPA, 7.3%)

Martin House Brewing Co. (Fort Worth, TX)
Noble Coyote Pretzel Stout CASK (stout, 6.5%)
Imperial Texan (imperial red, 9%)
Turtle Power (fruit beer, 7%)

New Belgium Brewing Co. (Fort Collins, CO)
Salted Chocolate Belgian Stout (stout, 9%)
La Folie (sour/wild ale, 6%)
Ranger IPA (IPA, 6.5%)
Snapshot (American wheat, 5%)

New Holland Brewing Co. (Holland, MI)
Dragon’s Milk (imperial stout, 10%)
Mad Hatter Ale (IPA, 5.25%)
Monkey King Saison (saison, 6.6%)

No-Li Brewhouse (Spokane, WA)
Wrecking Ball (imperial stout, 9.5%)
Jet Star (imperial IPA, 8.1%)
Rise & Grind Ale (sweet stout, 6.1%)

North Coast Brewing Co. (Fort Bragg, CA)
Barrel-Aged Rasputin XV (imperial stout, 11.9%)
Red Seal (amber ale, 5.4%)
PranQster (Belgian strong ale, 7.6%)
Brother Thelonious (Belgian dark strong ale, 9.3%)

Oasis Texas Brewing Co. (Austin, TX)
London Homesick (pale ale, 4.9%)
Bogue (English dark ale)
Possum Porter (porter)

Odell Brewing Co. (Fort Collins, CO)
180 Shilling (American strong ale, 9.6%)
Comes And Gose (gose, 5.5%)
Isolation Ale (English strong ale, 6.1%)
Mountain Standard (Black IPA, 9.5%)
90 Shilling Ale (Scotch ale, 5.3%)
Odell IPA (IPA, 7%)

Omission Beer Co. (Portland, OR)
Omission IPA (IPA, 6.7%)
Omission Lager (lager, 4.6%)
Omission Pale Ale (pale ale, 5.8%)

Brewery Ommegang (Cooperstown, NY)
Three Philosophers (Quadrupel ale, 9.7%)
Scythe & Sickle (Belgian ale, 5.8%)
Hop House (Belgian ale, 6%)
Gnomegang (Belgian ale, 9.5%)
Houblon Chouffe (Belgian IPA, 9%)
Liefman’s Goudenband (Flanders Oud Bruin, 8%)

Oskar Blues Brewery (Longmont, CO)
Barrel-Aged Sour Cherry Old Chub (sour/wild ale, 8%)
Mama’s Little Yella Pils (pilsner, 5.3%)
Deviant Dale’s (IPA, 8%)
Dale’s Pale Ale (pale ale, 6.5%)
Old Chub (Scotch ale, 8%)
Old Chub Nitro (Scotch ale, 8%)

Pedernales Brewing Co. (Fredericksburg, TX)
Classic Hefeweizen (Hefeweizen, 5.2%)
Honey Pilsner (pilsner, 5%)
Lobo Negro (Dunkel, 5.5%)

Peticolas Brewing Co. (Dallas, TX)
Dry-Hopped Sit Down or I’ll Sit You Down (imperial IPA, 10%)
Dry-Hopped Velvet Hammer (American strong ale, 9%)
Bourbon/Oak Alfred Brown CASK (English brown ale, 5.5%)
Black Curtains (imperial stout, 11%)
Irish Goodbye (Irish ale, 6.5%)
Beer Week Beer TBA

Rabbit Hole Brewing (Justin, TX)
Mike Modano’s 561 (Kölsch, 4.7%)
Rapture (brown ale, 5.7%)
10/6 (English IPA, 6.5%)
Off With Your Red (American strong ale, 7.9%)

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. (Fort Worth, TX)
Visionary Pumpkin (pumpkin ale, 8.7%)
Pride of Texas Pale (pale ale, 5.8%)
Midnight Cab (farmhouse/saison)

Real Ale Brewing Co. (Blanco, TX)
Scots Gone Wild (sour/wild ale, 9.7%)
The Kraken (barley wine, 11%)
Fireman’s #4 (golden ale/blonde, 5.1%)
Han’s Pils (pilsner, 5.3%)
Devil’s Backbone (Tripel, 8.1%)
Lost Gold IPA (IPA, 6.6%)

Redhook Brewery (Woodinville, WA)
Long Hammer IPA (IPA, 6.5%)
Audible Ale (pale ale, 4.7%)
ESB (ESB, 5.8%)

Revolver Brewing (Granbury, TX)
Mullet Cutter (imperial IPA, 9%)
Blood & Honey (American wheat, 7%)
Revolver Bock (bock, 6.5%)
Fracker Barrel One (stout, 7.75%)
Sidewinder (pale ale, 6%)
Sangre y Miel (sour/wild ale)

Rogness Brewing Co. (Pflugerville, TX)
Mudcat (American brown ale)
OST (porter, 5.7%)
Holiday Winter Spice Ale (American strong ale, 9.6%)

S & H Marketing
Stiegl Grapefruit Radler (fruit beer, 2.5%)
Staropramen (Czech pilsner, 5%)
Hofbrau Marzen (Märzen, 5.8%)

Saint Arnold Brewing Co. (Houston, TX)
2013 Pumpkinator (pumpkin ale, 10%)
Divine Reserve 14 (Belgian strong ale, 10%)
Endeavor (imperial IPA, 8.9%)
Boiler Room (Berliner Weisse, 3.7%)

Sam Adams/Boston Beer Co. (Boston, MA)
Kosmic Mother Funk (sour/wild ale, 8%)
Merry Maker (gingerbread stout, 9%)
Winter Lager (lager, 5.6%)
Boston Lager (lager, 4.8%)

Santa Fe Brewing Co. (Santa Fe, NM)
Happy Camper IPA (IPA, 6.6%)
Java Stout (imperial stout, 8%)
Oktoberfest  (Märzen, 5.8%)

SanTan Brewing Co. (Chandler, AZ)
2013 Sex Panther (porter, 6.9%)
Heavy D (imperial IPA, 9.2%)
Devils Ale (pale ale, 5.5%)

Shiner (Shiner, TX)
Holiday Cheer (fruit beer, 5.4%)
Bohemian Black Lager (Schwarzbier, 4.9%)
White Wing (witbier, 4.7%)

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. (Chico, CA)
Northern Hemisphere Harvest (IPA, 6.7%)
Hoptimum (imperial IPA, 10.4%)
Narwhal (imperial stout, 10.2%)
Torpedo (imperial IPA, 7.2%)
Sierra Nevada Pale Ale (pale ale, 5.6%)
Harvest Single Hop (IPA, 6.5%)

Ska Brewing Co. (Durango, CO)
Modus Hoperandi IPA (IPA, 6.8%)
Decadent (imperial IPA, 10%)
True Blonde (blonde ale, 5%)
Euphoria (pale ale, 6.2%)

Smuttynose Brewing Co. (Hampton, NH)
Finest Kind/Smuttynose IPA (IPA, 6.9%)
Robust Porter (porter, 5.7%)
Vunderbar! (pilsner, 5.1%)

Southern Tier Brewing Co. (Lakewood, NY)
XNTX Special Ale (pale ale, 5.9%)
Choklat (imperial stout, 11%)
Live (pale ale, 5.5%)

Stone Brewing Co. (Escondido, CA)
Coffee Milk Stout (sweet stout, 4.2%)
Ruination IPA (imperial IPA, 8.2%)
Stochasticity Project Quadrotrticale (Quadrupel, 9.3%)

Strangeland Brewing (Austin, TX)
Sanctum (Dubbel)
Last Gentleman (bourbon porter)
Dewi Sant (Braggot)

Summit Brewing Co. (St. Paul, MN)
Sága IPA (IPA, 6.4%)
Winter Ale (English strong ale, 5.9%)
Extra Pale Ale (pale ale, 5.1%)

Texas Ale Project (Dallas, TX)
50 Foot Jackrabbit (IPA, 7%)
Somethin’ Shady (porter, 5.5%)

The Traveler Beer Co. (Burlington, VT)
Curious Traveler (fruit beer, 4.4%)
Illusive Traveler (fruit beer, 4.4%)
Jack-O Traveler (pumpkin ale, 4.4%)

Uinta Brewing Co. (Salt Lake City, UT)
Birthday Suit (sour/wild ale – 6.30%)
Baba Black Lager (Schwarzbier, 4%)
Cockeyed Cooper (barley wine, 11.1%)

Unibroue (Chambly, Quebec)
La Fin du Monde (Tripel, 9%)
Maudite (Belgian strong ale, 8%)
Trois Pistoles (Belgian strong ale, 9%)

Upslope Brewing Co. (Boulder, CO)
Thai Style White IPA (IPA, 6.5%)
Craft Lager (lager, 4.8%)
Upslope Pumpkin Ale (pumpkin ale, 7.7%)

Victory Brewing Co. (Downington, PA)
Wild Devil Ale (sour/wild ale, 6.7%)
Hop-Devil IPA (American IPA, 6.7%)
Prima Pils (pilsner, 7%)

Widmer Brothers Brewing Co. (Portland, OR)
Kill Devil ’13 (brown ale, 9.5%)
Blacklight (black IPA, 4.2%)
Upheaval (IPA, 7%)

Woodchuck/Vermont Hard Cider Co. (Middlebury, VT)
Chocolate Raspberry (cider, 5.5%)
Hopsation (cider, 5%)
Winter Cider (cider, 5%)

The Dallas Museum of Art’s cocktail contest: Calling all mixology Michelangelos

Artist Matt Talbert

When life imitates art -- and vice versa.(Matt Talbert)

Do you fancy yourself a Cointreau Renoir? A Picasso of Prosecco? Or do Salvador’s surrealist images simply drive you to drink?

Then you’re in luck: Tonight, the Dallas Museum of Art is kicking off its first-ever Creative Cocktail Contest.

At stake is a DMA partnership – and the chance to be featured at the museum’s Late Night event in January. The museum’s Late Night series takes place on the third Friday of each month.

Here’s how the contest works: Go check out the museum. Choose a work of art from the collection that, um, touches you. Maybe it’s the drawings of Robert Rauschenberg, or the Big Apple photography of Berenice Abbott, or as is currently on exhibit, the modernist jewelry of Art Smith. (By the way, am I the only one who finds it confusing when guys named Art actually do art?) Whatever.

Then, once you’ve pinpointed your mixology muse, come up with an original cocktail recipe inspired by this artistic work. Create a name for your drink – maybe Nighthawk, or Rumbrandt, or Bourbon Landscape. Use your imagination.

Finally, submit your cocktail recipe, and the name of the artwork that inspired you, to publicprograms@DMA.org by 5 pm Monday, Dec. 1.

Then, wait a month as DMA staff – those lucky art types! – and the museum’s executive chef – ahem –  test the recipes. Because that’s what good art museum staffers do. A winner and four finalists will be named on Jan. 5.

The contest is a precursor to the next installment of the museum’s Fresh Ink series, which features authors and their newly published books. Tim Federle, author of the book Tequila Mockingbird, will be at January’s Late Night event to promote his new book, Hickory Daiquiri Dock: Cocktails With A Nursery Rhyme Twist.

“We wanted our visitors to get involved in this fun way,” said Stacey Lizotte, the DMA’s head of adult programming and multimedia services. “January is also our birthday month and we treat it as a birthday celebration. Why not toast the museum with some fun cocktails?”

In addition to receiving a DMA partnership, the contest winner will have his or her drink featured as the main drink on the Atrium’s special menu at DMA’s January Late Night event. Each finalist will also get a special menu nod and a signed copy of Tequila Mockingbird.

“We’re excited to see our visitors’ creativity,” Lizotte said. “The entire collection is open to them. Whatever work of art will inspire a great cocktail.”

What are you waiting for? You have nothing Toulouse-Lautrec.

Contestants must be at least 21 years old. Full contest details are available here.

And if your creative muse just isn’t speaking to you and you just want to see some cocktail-related art, you can always check out California artist Matt Talbert’s cool assortment of cocktail-related art, where I found the image above.

New cocktail bar to open in Denton in November

Jack and Amy MacDonald, the power couple behind bar/restaurant Jack Mac’s Swill and Grill in north Dallas, are opening a new bar in Denton. It’s expected to open in November.

Hickory & Fry, as it’s called, will be located on the corner of Hickory Street and Fry Street, across from local bar and longtime favorite Lucky Lou’s, near the University of North Texas campus. The building is about 1,200 square feet plus a dog-friendly patio.

Contrary to its predecessor, Hickory & Fry will focus more on craft cocktails and aged spirits than on beer. The menu will also be completely different from Jack Mac’s — think shared plates and tapas.

Craft Cocktail Insider Joanna Bellomy, who is the bar manager at Jack Mac’s, has written extensively about barrel aging cocktails and making liquor infusions, which might give you a glimpse into what may be available at the new bar. Read more of her articles here.

Check back here for more details as we get closer to the launch date.

Mae Rock is a craft beer enthusiast, and local brewery groupie.

‘Tis the season: 2 pumpkin cocktails to try in Dallas

Cinderella's Glass Slipper cocktail (Courtesy of The People's Last Stand)

By Alexandria Bauer

Every autumn, as the leaves begin to change and the weather prepares to cool, people seek out the seasonal flavor of pumpkin. From pastries to coffee, this trendy flavor makes everything taste like fall. But for those of you wanting to take your love of pumpkin to the next level, try mixing it in with your next happy hour. Pumpkin is an underrated cocktail ingredient, and with the help of Dallas bartenders, now is your chance to get the lowdown on this rare cocktail flavor.

Dena Sweis, bartender at The People’s Last Stand in Dallas, has created a cocktail that gives her customers the feeling of fall.

“When autumn started coming around I thought of the one thing that brings this [season’s] warm feeling,” says Sweis. “Pumpkin pie immediately came to mind and at that point, I started with the infusion.”

Pumpkin Flip from Windmill Lounge (Alexandria Bauer)

Sweis’ concoction, deemed Cinderella’s Glass Slipper, is made with Laird’s Applejack-infused pumpkin, cinnamon syrup, allspice liqueur, four drops of burlesque bitters, and an egg white. This beautifully crafted cocktail not only looks like festive, but also tastes like autumn.

Contrary to belief, there is such a thing as overdoing a pumpkin-infused cocktail. Windmill Lounge’s owner and mixologist, Louise Owens, is a devoted user of pumpkin. When crafting her cocktails, Owens believes there is a fine line between what makes them appealing, and what turns them into overkill.

“Adding more sugar or sweetness to any pumpkin cocktail can completely take away its natural flavoring,” says Owens.

Despite making her own pumpkin spice mix, Owens’ rendition of a classic Pumpkin Flip will take your taste buds for a ride. The Pumpkin Flip, which is crafted with Caña Brava Rum, spicy pumpkin mix and a raw egg, is topped off with a dollop of whipped cream and a pinch of orange zest. The combination of flavorful ingredients truly makes it a force to be reckoned with.

Alexandria Bauer is a senior journalism major at SMU who loves all things pumpkin. Follow her on Twitter @alxandria_bauer.