A look at 2022 North Texas production numbers

Click image to enlarge.

Presented is an updated chart showing a breakdown of brewery sizes in North Texas based on production data reported to the Brewers Association and published in the May/June 2023 issue of The New Brewer.

Note that not all brewing companies provide their numbers, while others report numbers combining multiple locations. As a result, the number of brewing companies represented in the data is not equal to the total number of breweries open and operating at any given time.

Inside the numbers:

The large-size brewery tier in North Texas, based on production (shown alphabetically):

• Community Beer Co. of Dallas.
• Deep Ellum Brewing Co. of Dallas.
• Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth.
• Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth.
• Revolver Brewing of Granbury.
• Tupps Brewery of McKinney.

Tier movement

• Two breweries advanced from the "very small" to the "small" production tier in 2022 - False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills and Siren Rock Brewing Co. of Rockwall. One brewery dropped from the large to mid-size production tier - Four Corners Brewing Co. of Dallas.

Year-to-year production change - overall (based on those reporting numbers in 2021 and 2022).

• Overall production in North Texas was down roughly 7% in 2022.
• Comparison: Overall industry production growth was flat nationally, according to the Brewers Association.

Year-to-year production change - by tier (based on those reporting numbers in 2021 and 2022).

• Large (> 10,000 bbl): -13%.
• Mid-size (5000-10,000 bbl): 0%
• Small (1000-5000 bbl): -6%.
• Very Small (< 1000 bbl): +21%.
  
• Comparison: While individual percentages for local tiers are inflated, the general trend of larger breweries making less beer, and smaller breweries making more beer, falls in line with results shared during the Brewers Association's "2023 State of the Industry" presentation.

Largest year-to-year production gain (based on those reporting numbers in 2021 and 2022).

• Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas had the largest reported gain in raw barrels produced locally for 2022.

Boozie's closing restaurants, consolidating ops in southern Tarrant County

Image credit: Boozie's Brewery.

Despite just recently opening locations on opposite ends of the Metroplex, Boozie's Brewery will close brewpubs in Fairview and Fort Worth, with plans to consolidate operations at a new location in southern Tarrant County.

Boozie's established a presence earlier this year after taking over two brewpubs formerly owned by Wild Acre Brewing Co. of Fort Worth. Following a sale of Wild Acre's assets to Bishop Cider of Dallas in May 2021, the brewpubs transitioned to a separate ownership group led by developer Bruce Conti. At the time, the team behind Boozie's also included Chef David Hollister and award-winning brewer Bobby Mullins.

The company's future home will be at 685 John B. Sias Memorial Parkway in Edgecliff Village. Already under construction, this spot was originally intended to be a production-only location feeding the Fort Worth brewpub, but now it will house a brewery, taproom, and outdoor music venue. Mullins, incidentally, will continue to oversee production going forward.

As for closing dates, Boozie's Brewery & TX Fare will offer its final service in Fairview on Friday, May 19, with Boozie's Brewery & Gourmet Sandwiches to shutter in Fort Worth on Sunday, May 21.

Railport taps community input for new TxIPA

Image credit: Railport Brewing Co.

Railport Brewing Co. of Waxahachie recently took a crowdsourcing approach in creating a new house beer especially for Union 28, a bar & grill/live music venue in Midlothian.

For this project, Railport held a series of tasting events at Union 28. Patrons were asked to try a number of different beers, picking their favorites from among the sample groups. This helped the brewery zero in the general preferences of Union 28 customers, according to Railport's head brewer, Jacoby Womack.

"It was about establishing a consistency as far as what the patrons are drinking [at Union 28]," says Womack, " which is a drinkable light beer with flavor, but also with a mouthfeel similar to what they drink regularly."

The problem with most light beers, of course, is how the bland and generic nature leaves you wanting more. So, with that in mind, Railport worked to develop a craft ale that drinks like a macro light lager.

Introduced as the brewery's TxIPA, the beer features a mix of Citra and Galena hops. Think session IPA, but even lighter, with a hop-forward presentation and less malt character than an American-style pale ale. 

"It's light, it's clear, and it has the perfect amount of bitterness for people to drink it and say it has flavor, but drinks like a Miller Lite or Bud Light!" says Womack.

And, as the graphic says, you're invited to "Come and Drink It!", whether that be at Union 28 or the Railport taproom, where TxIPA is on tap and available now.

Fate to be tempted by new Beer Geeks brewery

Beer Geeks Brewery will take up the entire ground floor of the Fate Place building (Mitchell Garman Architects).

For the citizens of the City of Fate, it seems a brewery is meant to be, thanks to a couple of beer geeks who recently set up shop in their town.

Jason and Deidra Roe's first foray in the craft beer industry came with the opening of Beer Geeks, a craft beer bottle shop, five years ago in Rockwall. It turns out that was the initial phase of a long-range plan for the husband-and-wife team, the seeds of which were sown more than a decade ago.

Things began when Jason took up homebrewing around 2012, subsequently winning a number of awards for his recipes. From there, the couple found inspiration during beercation trips to breweries around Texas. The sense of community and tight-knit nature of the beer industry drew them in, making them want to be a part of it themselves.

As for phase two of the plan, it took place when the bottle shop was relocated to Fate earlier this year. The move allowed draft service to be offered in addition to package sales. Still, there was one other aspect to be added to the Beer Geeks equation.

So, what's phase three? Well, that would be the brewery, taproom and food hall currently under construction behind the shop's current spot in Downtown Fate. Beer Geeks Brewery will occupy 7,600 square feet and inhabit the entire ground floor of Fate Place, a three-story structure being built from the ground up.

Once up and running, package sales will remain in the mix at Beer Geeks Brewery, carrying on the freedom of choice principles central to the concept. Beers at the shop are sold as singles, allowing customers to pick-and-choose what they like. Providing such access to a variety of options will extend to the brewery and its incubator-type food component.

"We're going to have a six-station food hall," says Deidra. "Our hope to have at least four permanent residents, and then two rotating pop-ups. We want to target food truck owners who dream of opening a brick-and-mortar location someday, with specialty offerings unique to the area. In other words, no chains."

On the subject of brewing operations, Jason intends to employ a 3.5-barrel brewhouse for primary production (double batches to be fermented in seven-barrel tanks), with a 10-gallon pilot system on hand for test batches and experimentation.

"The whole idea is to brew small batches in limited quantities," explains Jason. "I can be a lot more creative that way, with freedom to try different, crazy things you wouldn't do with a 30-barrel batch. Plus, people want different beers all the time, and small batches turn over really fast, so there will be a sense of urgency for customers who want to try something new."

Beer will pour from 30 handles in the taproom, with a selection of house beers, guest brews and other beverages expected to fill out the everyday portfolio.

"Our opening goal would be to have five-to-six house beers on," says Jason. "We'll also have a couple of wines on tap and a root beer on one handle. The rest will be guest handles, but the needle will move back and forth based on the ebb and flow of sales, the seasons, and how much time I'm able to commit to production."

As for other elements of the experience, the notion of Beer Geeks being a place "where it's ok to geek out about beer" will continue to interweave into everything going on at the brewery. The science lab feel you get in the shop, with chemistry lab tables and test tubes posing as plant holders, is just the beginning.

"We really want to expand the brand and idea of Beer Geeks, and the science and chemistry behind it," says Deidra. "We have some creative ideas for a user experience, if you will, where consumers will have a chance to kind of mix flavors together like a science experiment."

Of course, the ultimate goal is to establish Beer Geeks as a local destination for food, drinks and entertainment. Helping with that vision, there are plans for neighboring attractions like an outdoor park on one side of the building, where concerts and other events will take place. It'll create a town gathering place and draw customers into the brewery. Even better, patrons will be able to enjoy their drinks anywhere throughout the development.

"It'll be family-friendly environment," says Jason. "Families can come in, split up to choose what they want to eat in the food hall, then meet back at the taproom where we'll have some non-alcoholic drinks as well. Everyone can just hang out, and it should be a good time."

Beer Geeks Brewery is expected to open sometime in the spring of 2024.