Mead, music and monks: On the 2026 Texas Mead & Music Festival

Scenes from the Texas Mead & Music Festival, with booths from Vinland Meads of Murchison and Fox & Raven Mead of Carrollton (click to enlarge).

This weekend, more than 2000 patrons gathered on the grounds of Scarborough Faire in Waxahachie for the Texas Mead & Music Festival, presented by the Texas Mead Association. It was the thirteenth mead festival put on by the organization, but this was the first year the group partnered with those behind Scarborough Faire, the venue and the vibe seemingly a natural fit (to say the least) for an event of this type.

Of course, the locale drew the expected ren faire crowd, with a horde of lords and ladies, armor-clad knights, and fully-robed monks dressed to the nines and at the ready with their sample glasses, this despite the thermometer reading a pair of nines (or 99) at points during the day. Yes, it was hot...and there was a little bit of line waiting, but that didn't deter the medieval-adorned denizens in their quest for a drink.

On the afternoon's entertainment, more than fifteen Texas-based music acts provided continuous entertainment, while thirteen meaderies from around the Lone Star State pitched their tents, all of them joining resident artisans in Scarborough Hollow, a small section of the festival grounds which opens for fall activities.

Regarding the roster of mead-makers, all four from North Texas were in attendance at the event - Bee & Brew of Fort Worth, Breaking Brew Meadery of Dallas, Fox & Raven Mead of Carrollton, and Texas Longhouse Meadery of Wylie, with others coming from as far away as New Braunfels.

They brought with them a full array of mead styles for attendees to sample, from session to traditional meads, including melomels (blueberry, blackberry, cherry, cranberry, orange blossom, etc.), cysers (apple), spiced meads, barrel-aged offerings and more. Personal favorites were Rio Star (13.5% ABV), a grapefruit and cherry mead from Rohan Meadery of La Grange, and Pale Veil (6% ABV), a Citra dry-hopped session mead from Dancing Bee Winery of Rogers.

Most, if not all, of the meads being poured were available to purchase and take home in bottles (making beer festival goers everywhere jealous). Many meaderies also ship their wares across the state, with online stores to be found at their respective websites (something else on a beer lover's wishlist).

As for other North Texas notes, Rockwall Honeybee Co. was on-hand selling honey products, while its owner presented an educational seminar entitled "From Hive to Honey: The Journey Behind Every Glass of Mead." Another learning session, "The History of Mead: From Ancient Civilizations to Modern Craft Culture" was headed by the folks from Breaking Brew Meadery of Dallas.

Oh, and if your preferences leaned more towards beer, barley and hop-based pours were supplied exclusively by none other than Odd Muse Brewing Co. of Farmers Branch.

Balanced Rock closes brewery in The Colony

Photo © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D

Balanced Rock Brewing has announced the closure of its brewery in The Colony, effective immediately.

Founded by Jim Dooley and James Wirz, Balanced Rock opened its doors to the public in February 2025 after taking over a space previously occupied by a food court destination. And while the venture only sustained for a little over a year, there is some hope of a re-opening at another location in the future.

From a social media post:

"When we opened a little over 1 year ago - the culmination of some 15 years of research and scouting for a location and drawing up plans - we were beyond excited to share our passion for craft beer with you.

It has been an honor to engage with our loyal patrons and guests, and we thank you from the very bottom of our hearts for all your support. We love the environs. We love our brewers and chefs. We love the awesome brews that [our production staff] brewed. However, the economic realities have made it difficult to carry on at this location and we have now closed the doors in The Colony.

We have been scouting a new location - one more suitable for a craft brewery. We will give some further updates in the days, weeks, and months ahead and hope that while this is the closing of one chapter, it leads to some fun pursuits in the very near future."

Texas Ale Project closing brewery in Dallas

Photo © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

Another of the area's longest running breweries has announced it will close, as Texas Ale Project is set to shut down in Dallas.

Texas Ale Project entered the market in late 2014, after being founded by Brent and Kat Thompson, along with Kat's father, David Stevens. The company's facility was built from the ground up, being the first such new construction in the City of Dallas since before Prohibition.

Popular beers in the brewery's portfolio included 50 Ft. Jackrabbit IPA, 100 Million Angels Singing Double IPA and The Caucasian White Russian Imperial Stout. They even partnered with the local and legendary metal band, Pantera, to produce a line of beers back in 2020. The mainstay, though, over the course of the brewery's nearly 12-year run was Fire Ant Funeral Amber Ale.

From a social media post:

"After more than a decade of brewing beer, building community, and creating memories, we have decided to close Texas Ale Project.

Since opening our doors in 2014, our mission has always been about more than beer. It has been about bringing people together and building enjoyment. What started as a dream became a gathering place where friendships were formed, milestones were celebrated, ideas were shared, and countless pints were raised among family, neighbors, and strangers who quickly became friends.

We are incredibly grateful to everyone who has been part of this journey of sharing our beers across Texas and nationally. To our customers, distributors, retail partners, vendors, musicians, food trucks, and the many dedicated team members who have poured their passion into Texas Ale Project over the years, thank you. Your support, loyalty, and belief in us made everything possible over the last 12 years.

We are especially thankful for the friendships and connections we've made along the way. While this chapter is coming to an end, we’re embarking on new ones, and the memories we've created together will last far beyond our final pour. We look back in awe of the support we had and with sincere appreciation for everyone who helped make Texas Ale Project what it became.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for supporting us since 2014. Thank you for every visit, every conversation, every celebration, and every beer shared."

The taproom at Texas Ale Project will remain open until the final day of business on Saturday August 8.

Ivanhoe Ale Works closing brewing in Denison

Image credit: Ivanhoe Ale Works.

Ivanhoe Ale Works has announced the pending closure of its brewery in Denison.

Founded in 2015 by Gabe and Barbara Parker, Ivanhoe Ale Works got its name from the location of the couple's 100-year-old family farm in Ivanhoe, Texas. There in 1989, the Parker's debuted their original venture, Homestead Winery, with a tasting room in Denison opening in 1998. The brewery was then built adjacent to Homestead in Denison's downtown district, effectively creating the first brew-winery in the State of Texas.

From a social media post:

"Hey y'all ~ we have some sad news…we are officially preparing to close our doors at Ivanhoe Ale Works. Our final closing date is still TBD, but we are preparing to wind down operations.

Gabe started Ivanhoe Ale Works with a dream and a burning passion to be the first Brew-Winery in Texas, and we remain proud of all his gumption and work, but it's time to refocus our vision. Thank you for supporting local beer, and for the memories you have created for our family."

The winery's location in Denison will close as well, with operations being moved back home to Ivanhoe. As for Ivanhoe's head brewer, Bryan Thomas (who arrived in late 2023), he is working to open his own space to be called Thomboys Brewing Co. in Van Alstyne - news previously shared here in June.