Lagers, liquor and local records: Notes from the 2025 GABF

Photo courtesy of Brewers Association.

A long time ago, in a galaxy seemingly far, far away...you would have counted yourself lucky to get a taste of certain beers at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Lines would form at breweries like 3 Floyds, Russian River and Lawson's Finest Liquids for a precious ounce or two of Dark Lord, Pliny the Elder or Sips of Sunshine.

These days, though, beers patrons once chased tend to linger throughout the session (at least on a Thursday night). Even the Holy Grail for some, Samuel Adams Utopias, was still pouring after the usual mass of humanity gathered, got their prize and moved on from the Boston beer-maker's booth.

But then, it's just an example of how the industry and event have evolved in general. With beer, a renewed lean towards lagers is afoot, and there's also the fact that beer no longer holds court as the exclusive attraction at GABF (or your local brewery). Trends in consumption have led to the addition of other beverage options like ciders, seltzers, kombucha, hard sodas and teas, canned cocktails, and now this year...straight-up hard liquor (albeit in quarter-ounce shot samples).

Even so, we'll stick to talking about beer.

So, what beers caused a stir this time around? One popular destination was Weldwerks Brewing Co. of Colorado, for the hazies of course, but also for a beer brewed with one of the more recent viral sensations in foodstuffs, the brewery's Single Barrel Dubai Chocolate Bar Medianoche Imperial Stout.

Crowds also formed, as they always do, at the landing spot of Dogfish Head Craft Brewery of Delaware while reps were running 120 Minute IPA through a Randall filled with fresh hops.

Then, there was the steady stream of curious quaffers who stopped by the Bero booth, where a familiar face in brewmaster Grant Wood (formerly of Revolver Brewing in Granbury) was pouring samples and talking up the non-alcoholic (NA) beer venture co-founded by actor Tom Holland. Up to now, I've yet to find a NA beer I would drink on regular basis, but that may change after sips of Bero's Noon Wheat and Double Tasty West Coast IPA.

As for style availability on the festival floor, single IPAs and lagers (American-style, hoppy, light, pilsners, Vienna and more) were again predominant, and there was a plethora of seasonal Oktoberfest beers. Conversely, there weren't many sour beers (only three Berliners), dessert/pastry stouts, or even double/imperial IPAs. Those absences more surprising than the lack of Belgian beers and German specialty offerings that has come to be the norm.

Me? I stuck to what I could find in barleywines, stouts, Scottish ales and smoke beers. And for whatever reason, gravitated towards coffee infusions. Favorites among those were:

• Barrel-Aged Speedway Stout Rye Vietnamese Coffee Edition from AleSmith Brewing Co. of California.
• Kill or be Kilt from Quarter Celtic Brewpub of New Mexico.
• Neighbors with Attitude Barrel-Aged Black Barleywine from Boneyard Beer of Oregon.
• Single Origin Coffee Stout from Pizza Port Brewing Co. of California.
• Smoked Cherry Bourbon Porter from Tapped 33 Craft Brewhouse of Georgia.
• Vietnamese Coffee Stout from Dzo Brewing Co. of California.

On the topic of local representation, the recently-opened Glen Rose Brewing Co. poured at GABF for the first time, joining a roster of returnees consisting of 903 Brewers of Sherman, Bankhead Brewing Co. of Rowlett, False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills, Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth, Odd Muse Brewing Co. of Farmers Branch and Peticolas Brewing Co. of Dallas.

Drawing from visits to those above, the best story from this year's GABF comes from a conversation I had with one of the owners. His is a spot that's gotten various types of recognition in the past, especially in relation to its barrel program (one of the area's best), but he made the comment "we haven't really won anything yet," referring to getting a win at one of the two big competitions - GABF or the World Beer Cup.

Well, two days later, False Idol was the first North Texas name called, and the brewery got on the board with not one, but two medals. Plus, neither was for a barrel-aged beer.

Congrats to them and all North Texas winners. The competition summary follows, along with my usual roundup of taproom visits outside the festival.

Cheers! 

Competition results

It was a banner year for local brewers at this year's competition, as a new record was set for GABF medals won in a single year by North Texas breweries. The nine medals won in 2025 tops the previous best of six medals, a mark achieved in 2014, 2015 and 2022.

Competition Statistics:

• 8,315 beers judged based on entries sent in from 1,555 breweries and cideries residing in all 50 U.S. states, plus Washington D.C.
• 347 total medals awarded across 116 style categories covering craft beer and cider.
• Most-entered categories in ranked order: Juicy or Hazy IPA, West Coast IPA, Dortmunder or German-Style Oktoberfest, German-Style Pilsener, Hoppy Lager.

First-time honorees include False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills, Flix Brewhouse of Mansfield, and Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton. Surveying others, Bankhead Brewing Co. of Rowlett acquired its fifth medal all-time, Peticolas Brewing Co. of Dallas its fourth, 903 Brewers of Sherman its third, and Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth its second and third.

Also of note, Bankhead extended its current run of consecutive years with a GABF medal to three.

Gold

• Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton: Mexican Lager - International Light Lager.

Silver

• 903 Brewers of Sherman: Kilt Switch - Scotch Ale.
• Bankhead Brewing Co. of Rowlett: Awesome But Verify - Old/Strong Ale or Barleywine.
• False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills: Fluff Said - Dessert or Pastry Stout.
• Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth: British Bulldog - English-Style Brown Ale.
• Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth: Romanov's Revenge - Imperial Stout.

Bronze

• False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills: Groovy - Field Beer.
• Flix Brewhouse of Mansfield: The Last Bockbuster - Bock.
• Peticolas Brewing Co. of Dallas: Room for More - Belgian Dubbel.

False Idol Brewing, Union Bear Brewing Co.,
Flix Brewhouse - Mansfield, Peticolas Brewing Co.,
903 Brewers, Bankhead Brewing Co. (Photos © Brewers Association).

Source: Individual research.

Taproom trips

• In this edition of taproom trips, the focus is on spots outside of the immediate Denver area, since I've visited most Denver-based breweries in years past.
  
  
• Poncha Springs/Salida: Located about three hours southwest of Denver, the adjacent towns of Poncha Springs and Salida are home to five breweries. Of those, Elevation Beer Co. in Poncha Springs once distributed to North Texas. Then in Salida, there's Soulcraft Brewing, on the outskirts of town, with Moonlight Pizza & Brewpub, Tres Litros Beer Co. and Salida Brewing Co. all within a six-block stretch downtown.
  
  As for a recommendation, the mountain views at Elevation can't be beat, but if you prefer proximity to water,  Salida Brewing (which I didn't have time to visit) is right on the Arkansas River.
  
  

• Estes Park: The gateway to Rocky Mountain National Park now has four breweries within its borders. Estes Park Brewery is the oldest, having been around since 1993. New ownership and a recent renovation have transformed the brewpub's upstairs space into The Hive, which now has a more upscale restaurant vibe. A tasting room/retail area is on the lower level.
  
  Other breweries include Rock Cut Brewing Co., just across the street from Estes Park Brewery, Avante Garde Aleworks, and Lumpy Ridge Brewing Co. (two locations). I opted to hit up Rock Cut after checking in at Estes Park Brewery, the main attraction being their range of barrel-aged beers under the Wooden Mayhem moniker.
  
  
  
• Fort Collins: Most recognize Fort Collins as the home of New Belgium Brewing Co., Odell Brewing Co. and Funkwerks, but there are another 20 or so breweries doing business there. Four are steps away from each other in the heart of Old Town Fort Collins, one of the more vibrant downtown districts you'll find. Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing has been around since 1989 and is the elder statesman. It now shares downtown with Equinox Brewing, Gilded Goat Brewing Co. and Salt Road Brewing.
  
  My advice? Start a brewery crawl with dinner and a pint of cask-conditioned ale at Coop's, then make your way around the neighborhood.

Images from Salt Road Brewing, Rock Cut Brewing Co, Tres Litros Brewing Co.,
Coopersmith's Pub & Brewing, Elevation Beer Co., and Gilded Goat Brewing Co. (© Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

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For more on the 2025 GABF and the historical performance of breweries from North Texas, click the links below:

• Official press release from the Brewers Association, with a summary of 2025 festival statistics.
• Download a complete list of 2025 winners in PDF format.
• View a historical chronicle of awards won by North Texas breweries at GABF and the World Beer Cup.

Voodoo brewpubs in Plano and Lewisville have closed

Image credits: Voodoo Brewing Co. - Plano, Voodoo Brewing Co. - Castle Hills.

Two area franchises of the Pennsylvania-based Voodoo Brewing Co. have announced their closure, with Voodoo - Plano and Voodoo - Castle Hills in Lewisville shuttering just two days apart.

Plano was the second of five Voodoo-branded brewpubs to open in North Texas, following the lead of a venture in Grand Prairie. Since then, the Grand Prairie outlet has rebranded as an independent entity, while spots in Fort Worth, Plano and Castle Hills - Lewisville have all now closed.

Also, it should be noted that Voodoo - Castle Hills indicated their closure was temporary, but it wasn't made clear whether that means a rebrand is in the works or something else.

As for Voodoo's overall presence in Texas, a locale in College Station closed on Monday, leaving a recently-opened brewpub in Prosper as the only active franchise in the state.

Cedar Creek closing brewery in Seven Points

Photo © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

One of the area's oldest breweries has announced it will cease operations in Seven Points.

Founded by Jim Elliot, Cedar Creek Brewery launched its products in August 2012. From there, the company quickly gained notoriety by becoming one of the first local breweries in the new craft era (post-2011) to win a medal at the Great American Beer Festival, taking gold for Wobbly, a Belgian-style dubbel in 2013.

Of course, Cedar Creek was probably best known for Dankosaurus, a West Coast-inspired IPA brewed "with enough hops...to bury a Brontosaurus." Over the years, this beer spawned many variants, the popularity of which led to an annual celebration of its lineage called Dank Daze.

Later in its history, Cedar Creek explored business opportunities outside of Seven Points, eventually expanding to a second location in 2021. However, Cedar Creek Brewhouse & Eatery in Farmers Branch closed after just one year due to operational difficulties caused by the Covid-19 pandemic.

From a social media post:

"After 13 wonderful years together, the time has come for a new chapter. Cedar Creek Brewery will officially close its doors on Saturday, October 4th.

We are beyond grateful for your loyalty, support, and the community you’ve built with us. You’ve made Cedar Creek Brewery more than just a place to grab a pint, you’ve made it a family.

From the bottom of our hearts, thank you for 13 amazing years of beer, friendship, and memories."

According to the note, the site was sold to Fig's Restaurant Group, an entity planning open a new concept in the space.

North Texas Craft Beer Conspectus - September 23, 2025 edition

Image credits: Brew Beverages, Acre Distilling, Malai Kitchen, Landon Winery, Believer Brew House.

It's been more than a minute (years actually) since the last Conspectus was compiled, but brief news bites have been piling up, so why not bring it back? With that, here's an update of items involving a local distillery, contract brands, and a new place to enjoy one of the area's longer-running brands of beer.

Cheers!

Beer still coming soon at Acre Distilling

Acre Distilling of Fort Worth first revealed its intention to add brewing operations in late 2024. According to owner Tony Formby, those plans are still in place, but beer production won't begin until after the new year at the earliest, as the company is currently prioritizing other activities.


New beer brand seeks to bridge cultures

Launching in August, Believer Brew House is a contract operation whose beers are being made at Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland. Products are inspired by the flavors of India and the cultural heritage of the company's partners.

As they work to introduce the brand, Believer has been doing tastings at area liquor stores on nearly a weekly basis, so follow the company's social media channels for info on future gatherings. You can also click here for a list of bars, restaurants and retailers who carry Believer's two beers: Nimbu Bot Lager with Lime and X-Roads Blonde Ale with Coriander.

Brew Aleworks eyes return to market

Also vying for time on the production calendar at Lakewood is Brew Aleworks of Granbury, a company aiming to re-enter the market as a contract brewery after closing its brick-and-mortar location in late 2023. Owner Christian Piatt hopes to have kegs of Dizzy Blonde and Lucky Light Lager on the market sometime after Thanksgiving.


Landon looking to expand house beer distribution

Based on licensing applications recently filed with the TABC, Landon Winery has plans to expand distribution of its house beers. Landon first started making its own beer in 2017, serving those recipes at its Greenville location until early 2019. The company brought beer back earlier this year, with its offerings now available at the winery's tasting rooms in Gainesville and Greenville. Once the respective licenses are approved, Grapevine and Wylie will presumably be added to the list.

Malai beers being served at new spin-off in Plano

Malai Kitchen, brewing its own brand of Asian-inspired beers since 2014, debuted a new restaurant concept this past week. Located in a former Chick-Fil-A space at 1909 Preston Rd. in Plano, the company's Brya Zan Thai Noodle + Brew offers four Malai beers on its everyday menu.

Incidentally, recipes pouring at all of the restaurant's locales (Dallas - Uptown and Preston Center, Fort Worth, Southlake and Plano - Brya Zan) are now brewed at Malai Brewing, a dedicated production facility attached to Malai's spot in Southlake.