Monday, September 23, 2024

Lakewood to pour and pair Cotton Candy Bacon Blonde Ale at 2024 State Fair of Texas

Wim Bens and Isaac Rousso partake in a monster pairing (Lakewood Brewing Co.).

Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland will become the latest North Texas brewery to serve a unique beer recipe at the State Fair of Texas, once its Cotton Candy Bacon Blonde Ale makes its debut during the 2024 event.

According to a press release, Cotton Candy Bacon Blonde Ale is "a cotton candy and bacon flavored blonde ale that is light, slightly sweet, and easy drinking." The beer will pair alongside Rousso's Cotton Candy Bacon on a Stick, a creation from longtime concessionaire Isaac Rousso which won the "Best Taste - Sweet" category at this year's Big Tex Choice Awards.

“To be fair, this was a challenge even for our creative crew,” says Wim Bens, founder and president of Lakewood. “We’ve put bacon in beer before, and we’ve done fun sweet flavors as well, but to put both in a beer and make it super drinkable took a group effort. But the finished brew turned out fantastic. It’s easy to drink, has a slight cotton candy sweet taste and some smoky bacon in the nose.  We’re beyond excited to partner with Rousso’s and can’t wait to have a few while strolling the Midway!” 

As for the beer's pairing partner, Rousso's Cotton Candy on a Stick is honey-smoked bacon on a stick cooked with a special seasoning and secret cotton candy syrup glaze. It's then wrapped in fluffy cotton candy and lightly caramelized to "created the most unique piece of bacon in all of Texas, or anywhere for that matter."

Cotton Candy Bacon Blonde Ale will be available in the Magnolia Beer Garden at The State Fair of Texas from September 27 to October 20. It will also be on tap in the Lakewood Taproom.

Happy Hippie closes brewery in Richardson

Image credit: Happy Hippie Brewing Co.

Happy Hippie Brewing Co. has closed its brewery and taproom in Richardson.

The business originally got its start in early 2020, bringing its products to market by way of an alternating proprietorship agreement with Hop & Sting Brewing Co. of Grapevine. Two years later, ownership announced plans to open a destination taproom and brewery in the Lockwood District of Richardson. That vision became a reality when the new site opened in October 2023.

Of course, the name Happy Hippie was a reference to the hippie movement of the late 1960s and early 1970s. Appropriately enough, the brewery's patron saint was Jerry Garcia of the Grateful Dead - a.k.a. Captain Trips, and the beer Captain Tripels (a Belgian tripel) was named in his honor. Other beer names recalled popular classic rock songs of the era as well.

News of the closure was conveyed in an email to founding supporters, though no specific reason was given for the decision. The ownership group at Happy Hippie included Michael and Kellie Frederick, Scott and Happy Schweiterman, and Dave and Jess Steckel.

Thursday, September 19, 2024

Rollertown partners with National Breast Cancer Foundation for Hope Squad

Images courtesy of Rollertown Beerworks.

Rollertown Beerworks of Celina has partnered with National Breast Cancer Foundation, Inc. (NBCF) for the release of a new beer and exclusive merchandise in support of the NBCF's mission of "Helping Women Now."

Hope Squad, a hibiscus vanilla IPA (7% ABV), will be on draft and in cans at Rollertown's taproom starting on Saturday, September 21. And, to celebrate, the brewery will host “Hope Squad Launch: A Rollertown X NCBF Collaboration” event featuring live music, pizza from Cane Rosso, a bubble truck for kids, local vendors and more, culminating in an evening of live stand-up comedy.

“We are honored to team up with National Breast Cancer Foundation to help contribute to their mission in our own way,” says Jeff “Skin” Wade, co-owner of Rollertown. “Cancer has touched everyone in one way or another and we are proud to partner with our soon-to-be-neighbors in Frisco to make a positive impact on women during their respective cancer walks.”

In addition to Hope Squad, Rollertown will release a limited-edition line of merchandise to commemorate the collaboration, including t-shirts and hats. All items will be available only at Rollertown, with $1 from every draft, $1 from each six-pack, $2 from each t-shirt, and $5 from each hat sold going directly to NBCF, contributing to their shared dedication to ensuring no one faces breast cancer alone. 

“We are honored that Rollertown Beerworks has joined us in our mission of Helping Women Now,” says Kevin Hail, president and COO at NBCF. “We are grateful for their commitment to make a positive impact for women who are affected by breast cancer and we look forward to working hand in hand with them to help make a difference in the community.” 

The launch party on Saturday is family-friendly and admission is free. Rollertown and NBCF invite everyone to join them for this event and to become part of the Hope Squad.

Wednesday, September 11, 2024

Beer Geeks brewery not to be in Fate

Image credit: Beer Geeks.

Sixteen months after first going public with plans for the construction of a brewery, taproom and food hall in Downtown Fate, Beer Geeks owners Jason and Deidra Roe have announced they've ceased development.

A site was secured at the corner of Old Town Rd. and Brown Ave. near Fate Station Park, and planning for the project had begun in mid-2021 with the goal of opening in the fall of 2023. In the end, though, construction delays, astronomical labor costs, and financing hurdles derailed the couple's dream.

From a social media post:

"We tried really hard to make this happen for the community and invested much of our own money that is not refundable, but it was not meant to be. We literally had one shot. Nothing has turned out as we hoped. All we can say at this point is we hope you will continue to support our bottle shop/taproom while we remain open here in Downtown Fate."

Saucer OktoberFeast on the agenda for October 19

Images courtesy of Flying Saucer Draught Emporium.

It appears the BeerFeast we've come to know over the past 17 years has undergone a rebranding ahead of its 18th annual edition. The name change does makes sense, though, considering BeerFeast has traditionally occurred in October at Flying Saucer Fort Worth.

So, with that in mind, let this be your annual OktoberFeast alert, as the Saucer's seasonal beer festival is set to return on Saturday, October 19 at 2 p.m.

According to a press release, Oktoberfest 2024 attendees will be able to choose from over 80 Beerknurd-approved, rare and unusual brews from across the globe during the event. Selections will include limited releases and hard to find beers from the likes of Odell, Manhattan Project, Sierra Nevada, Real Ale, Firestone Walker and Lakewood. And then, on top of that, a patch of seasonal pumpkin beers is also expected to be available.

As for other attractions, there will be prizes for best costume (think Lederhosen and dirndls), along with live music on the 8.0 stage performed by Texas' own Mike Randall (1 p.m.) and Paul Val (4 p.m.).

Tickets for OktoberFeast can be purchased now on Eventbrite. General Admission is $35, which includes a souvenir tasting glass, tasting card and 12 (2-ounce) beer tastings. VIP privileges, set at $65, allow for 1 p.m. entry and exclusive access to the patio lounge, exclusive beer tastings, a $15 food credit, snacks and bottled water in addition to the tasting card and a special VIP glass.

OktoberFeast is a 21-up event, and all guests must purchase a ticket to participate. Regarding tastings, additional cards can be purchased for $10.