Deep Ellum Brewing Company

As of November 2012, Deep Ellum Brewing Company has overwhelmingly succeeded as the flagship brewery of Dallas proper. Run by four dudes with big personalities and an even bigger yen for serious craft beer, DEBC is just like its neighborhood: Situated outside the establishment and unafraid to stand up to the Man. It’s artsy and a little rock-n-roll, with creative branding that looks more like indie band posters than traditional beer labels. Unlike many of its local competitors, it is not expressly family-operated, and, perhaps for that reason, its tours seem to attract a predominantly younger crowd, who are lining up for a taste of its flagship IPA or citrusy Dallas Blonde session ale, which goes down all too smoothly in the DEBC beer garden, constructed of massive wooden spools. During the winter months, you can really impress your Valentine by eschewing the Russel Stovers for DEBC’s underrated Cherry Chocolate Double Brown Stout, which returns triumphantly in February. From staff reports