Voodoo brewpub in Plano to close

Image credit: Voodoo Brewing Co. - Plano.

The location of Voodoo Brewing Co. of Pennsylvania in Downtown Plano has announced it will close.

Jennifer and Jeremy Dartez launched Voodoo - Plano in March 2024. It was the second Voodoo franchise 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 a spot in Fort Worth has also closed. Two additional locales in Lewisville and Prosper debuted earlier this year and continue to operate.

From a social media post:

"It’s with heavy hearts that we share this news: Voodoo Brewing Co. – Plano will be closing our doors.

This is not the way we imagined this chapter ending, but despite pouring everything we had into this brewpub, we simply cannot continue.

To our incredible team – thank you for your hard work, passion, and heart. To our amazing customers and regulars – thank you for showing up, sharing beers, playing trivia, celebrating birthdays, and filling this space with laughter. You made this place special.

We are deeply grateful for every person who walked through our doors. Our goal was to bring great beer, good food, and unforgettable vibes to Downtown Plano – and thanks to you, we got so much more. We built friendships, memories, and a community that we’ll never forget."

Voodoo - Plano's last day of business will be today, Tuesday, September 30.

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, Fort Worth 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.

Turning Point plans covered outdoor pavilion

Image credit: Centerpoint Commercial Properties.

Earlier this year, Turning Point Beer announced they were moving out of the expanded taproom they opened in September 2021 and back into their original space at 1307 Brown Trail in Bedford. Turns out, this was just the precursor to a plan to add more seating by way of a covered outdoor pavilion to be attached to the brewery's southern elevation.

The proposal can now move forward after an ordinance was approved by a unanimous vote of the Bedford City Council on September 9. This order calls for the rezoning of the property from "Heavy Commercial" to the same designation, but with a Special Use Permit allowing for an outdoor seating establishment.

It's all part of a site redevelopment effort spearheaded by CenterPoint Commercial Properties. Details involve construction of a 7,000+ square foot pavilion, "creating a versatile, open-air space" surrounded by glass roll-up doors. The extension will then house up to four kiosk-style restaurants and an outdoor entertainment area.

As for a possible opening date, a project timeline has not yet been revealed.

Siren Rock closing brewery in Rockwall

Image credit: Siren Rock Brewing Co.

Siren Rock Brewing Co. has announced its closure in Rockwall.

Cory and Eva Cannon built Siren Rock from the ground up, opening the brewery in July 2021 with the goal of delivering beers of "irresistible character" to the North Texas market.

Along those lines, the company's portfolio manifested the idea, with each beer represented by a unique identity. Combined, Siren Rock's beer personalities formed a cast of characters which included The Prima Diva American Blonde Ale, The British Bombshell London-Style British Pub Ale and The Magnetic Muse Dark Chocolate Milk Stout.

Also of note, these and other female characters at Siren Rock were meant to call attention to the female brewery experience, an initiative that extended to the company's name and logo as well.

In mythology, a Siren - represented by a mermaid in the brewery's emblem design - was known to sing alluring songs to sailors while sitting atop a rock, which naturally ties into Rockwall and the city's own etymology. With this branding, Siren Rock sought to lure characters of all types to the taproom to enjoy their line of handcrafted beers.

From a social media post:

"We poured our hearts and souls into creating a place that we hoped was beautifully beckoning to people of all walks of life to come together and share a meal, a beer and a few laughs. We wanted to create a place of community, and we are eternally grateful to every person who has walked through our doors. 

Unfortunately, like many other local businesses, sales have slowed down so much that it is no longer viable to remain open, especially when factoring in the downturn in the economy, rising costs and interest rates doubling. Over the last year we have been forced to slowly cut back our brewing operations and reduce staff to the minimum just to keep paying the bills. But now our dream has come to an end."

Siren Rock's final day of business will be Saturday, August 30.

Voodoo opens fifth North Texas franchise in Prosper

Moody murals and Korean Chicken Tacos at Voodoo Brewing Co. - Frontier (Photos: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Voodoo Brewing Co. of Pennsylvania has made its fifth foray into the North Texas market, now that the company's newest franchise is open in Prosper.

Owned by the husband-and-wife team of Shiva and Aman Kaur-Moonsammy, with along partner Paul Han, the new spot has been dubbed Voodoo Brewing Co. - Frontier. The name adopts that of its locale on 1440 W. Frontier Parkway, which by the way aligns exactly with the border separating the cities of Prosper and Celina.

Of course, by now readers should have the Voodoo drill down pat. That is, how the parent company provides the Voodoo taproom/restaurant blueprint, leaving local owners to fill in the details with regards to decor and/or specialty food items.

At Voodoo - Frontier, the decor differs from its North Texas predecessors in that it centers on a decidedly darker color palette, with black-painted walls surrounding dark wood furniture and fixtures. It's a more striking look, and one which likely lends itself to a more intimate atmosphere come evening time.

On that note, in addition to bar, table and community seating, Voodoo - Frontier offers a cozy, cocktail seating arrangement by way of a row of low-rise tables and chairs, the latter with seatbacks fashioned in the shape of a spirit barrel. Those all set up on the inside, while an array of picnic tables inhabits a small patio out front.

As for the food and drink, dining selections unique to Voodoo - Frontier don't fall into any one set category, with Cajun and Korean influences mixing with Texas-inspired fare. Examples include the Cajun Shrimp Pasta, Korean Fried Chicken (the taco option gets high marks), Beer Braised Texas Short Ribs and more.

Then for beverages, Voodoo - Frontier has a tapwall featuring 30 draft beers. Roughly a third of those are devoted to Voodoo recipes, with the rest allotted to local and national craft offerings (i.e. neighboring breweries like Armor, Rollertown, Tupps and Union Bear). Though, if you simply must drink a macro, smaller print on the menu instructs you to ask a beertender to raid the bar's hidden stash.

Beyond the beer, there's also a full bar serving wine, cocktails and spiked "Frozens" for those indulging, with coffee, tea, sodas, lemonade and mocktails available for those who are not.

Voodoo Brewing Co. - Frontier welcomes customers seven days a week, with daily hours beginning at 11 a.m.

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For info on other Voodoo Brewing Co. franchises in North Texas (past and present), click the appropriate link: Grand Prairie (re-branded), Plano, Fort Worth (closed), Lewisville/Castle Hills.

Get fizzy with it this weekend at Tupps, during Bubbly Bash 2025

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

Tupps Brewery will celebrate all things bubbly with hard seltzers, ciders, sparking wines, cocktails and more to be served during Bubbly Bash 2025, taking place this Saturday, August 30 at 6 p.m., in Downtown McKinney.

In addition to the brewery's line of Blur and Chilton hard seltzers, this effervescent event will feature cocktail and mimosa tastings, as well as hard cider pours from City Orchard of Houston.

The lineup:

• Chilton Hard Seltzers – Original, Strawberry, Peach, Blueberry, Pickle.
• Blur Hard Seltzers – Pineapple, Strawberry, Grapefruit, Grape, Blue Raspberry, Watermelon, Cotton Candy, Fruity Cereal, Mojito, Bubble Gum, Hop Oil.
• Cocktails – Ranch Water on Draft, Hibiscus Ranch Water.
• Mimosa Bar – Mix & match with assorted juices.
• City Orchard Ciders – Hazy Gold, Lavender Royale.

In addition, guests can enjoy a Bubble Truck experience during the first hour, live music throughout the day, delicious food, and plenty of space to gather with friends and family.

"We created Bubbly Bash as a way to celebrate the lighter, sparkling side of beverages in a fun and festive atmosphere," says Nicole Wright, event planner at Tupps. "Tupps is more than just a brewery—we’re a place where people can enjoy a wide variety of drinks beyond beer. Whether you’re sipping on a mimosa, trying a new hard seltzer flavor, or just enjoying live music with friends, it’s all about raising a glass to enjoy the last bit of summer."

Bubbly Bash 2025 is family-friendly, dog-friendly (outdoors areas only) and free to attend with food and beverage items available for individual purchase.

Attendees (ages 21+ only) may also purchase a tasting package which includes a Bubbly Bash-branded stemless champagne flute, along with a taster card good for eight (6-ounce) pours of their choice. Tickets for this option are $40.85pp (including taxes and fees) and are available here: https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/-2853111880080118577.

With barley and beans, Maple Branch adds coffee to its craft mix

Image credits: Maple Branch Craft Brewery.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth has branched out, literally, beyond the beer with the addition of a new coffee shop located at 2624 Whitmore St., right next door to the taproom. The company's Branch & Bean Coffee + Roastery offers coffee drinks made from house-roasted beans sourced from around the world, with house-made syrups and gelatos available as accompaniments.

According to Igor Stepczynski, marketing coordinator and brand ambassador for both ventures, the motivation to move into coffee is about expanding the craft experience for everyone who frequents Maple Branch.

"When customers come to Maple Branch, they can depend on us for quality beer and food made with the best ingredients and utmost care," says Stepczynski. "For Branch & Bean Coffee + Roastery, we wanted to provide the same standard by buying raw coffee beans, roasting them on site, and providing another way for people to enjoy something made with passion, craft and attention."

Plus, it's a way to further appeal to Maple Branch patrons of all ages who come to the brewery, but aren't drinking beer.

"We pride ourselves for having a wide demographic of customers throughout the day - work professionals, families with children, etc.," adds Stepczynski. "Some of them love our environment but would simply prefer something non-alcoholic. Providing an elevated coffee experience is our way to make sure there is something for everyone at any time of day!"

On that note, while the taproom has lunch and dinner service, early hours at the coffee shop call for pastries and breakfast items. Along those lines, Branch & Bean offers a variety of morning-type fare like breakfast tacos, egg bites and brioches, mini waffles, protein boxes and yogurt, to go along with a selection of bagels, coffee cakes, scones, muffins and more.

Oh, and just so you don't forget about the beer...yes, some of those freshly-roasted beans mentioned beforehand will make their way into the brewhouse at Maple Branch. One such beer, a coconut coffee porter called Yule Fuel is on tap now, while a coffee blonde ale is in the works as well.

As for when to visit, Branch & Bean Coffee + Roastery is open from 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. on Tuesday-Sunday. The shop is currently operating in a soft opening phase as it works towards a grand opening set for Saturday, September 6.

Oak Highlands takes four nods at 2025 USBTC Summer Competition

Image credit: Oak Highlands Brewery.

Regional winners have been announced at the 31st Annual Summer Competition of the United States Beer Tasting Championship (USBTC).

Entries to the summer edition of the USBTC are separated geographically into one of seven regions. From there, beers are examined against style guidelines covering 18 different categories, with Regional Champions identified in each category (North Texas breweries compete in the Rockies/Southwest region). The seven Regional Champions within a style group are then tasted side-by-side in order to crown a Grand Champion.

And, as has become custom, Oak Highlands Brewery of Richardson was among the winners. Three of the company's small-batch beers secured regional honors, while the year-round offering Golden Mustache received a USBTC regional nod for the fifth time.

For more on the 2025 USBTC summer event, click here to visit the official competition website.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Richardson

• Royal Scottie - Regional Champion in the Amber/Red Ale category.
• Golden Mustache - Regional Champion in the Dortmunder/Helles category.
• The Heffer - Regional Champion in the Wheat Beer category.
• What Limes with Cucumber? - Regional Champion in the Fruited Sour Beer category.

Cheers and congratulations to Oak Highlands!

Rollertown launches tap handle to honor Dirk Nowitzki

Image courtesy of Rollertown Beerworks.

The image of a familiar fadeaway jumper will now be in plain sight at watering holes around North Texas, as Rollertown Beerworks of Celina has announced the launch of a brand new tap handle design for its popular Kölsch-style beer, The Big German.

Paying homage to the legendary Dallas Mavericks star and Rollertown investor Dirk Nowitzki, the new tap handle captures Nowitzki’s iconic one-legged fadeaway jump shot in a uniquely-crafted form.

Known for his smooth shooting and Hall of Fame career, Nowitzki has been an inspiration both on and off the court. The Big German has become a fan favorite for Rollertown, celebrated for its approachable flavor and easy-drinking style - much like Nowitzki's effortless shooting touch.

“I’ve been honored with a statue before but nothing quite like this!” says Nowitzki. “I love the tap handle...it turned out great.”

Jeff “Skin” Wade, co-founder at Rollertown Beerworks adds, “Dirk has meant so much to all of us for so long now. We had to make sure the tap handle honored his special legacy and brought a bit of his spirit to every pour of The Big German.”

The tap handles, featuring a scaled-down version of Nowitzki’s signature shot, have started rolling out to local bars and the Rollertown taproom. Fans should expect to see this tribute on display as they enjoy the beer that’s as smooth and reliable as Nowitzki’s fadeaway.

On 903's new spot in Downtown Sherman

The ins and outs of 903's new restaurant and taproom in Downtown Sherman (Photos: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

It's been nearly two months since 903 Brewers officially moved out of its original taproom in Sherman, but this week was my first opportunity to check out the finished version of the company's new downtown digs in person.

In February, owners Jeremy and Natalie Roberts first announced plans to end their 12-year run on Elm St. in Sherman and relocate operations to not one, but multiple new locations. Details on a new production space are pending, and a taproom in Denison is currently under construction, but the brewery's new taproom and restaurant at 221 W. Houston St. in Sherman has been up and running since early June.

Located in a structure dating back over 120 years, 903 Brewers now sets up in what is known as the Kreager Building. The name references a prominent local landowner, John C. Kreager (1892-1972), and his Kreager Hatchery, Seed & Feed Co. which occupied the building from roughly the late 1930s until at least the early 1980s. History buffs will notice signage calling attention to the former business in the restaurant's public areas.

As for what the now renovated structure offers modern day patrons of 903 Brewers, the 7,500 square foot interior splits into a main dining room, supplemented by two smaller seating areas, and the kitchen. The larger room has bar seating as well, the requisite array of widescreen TVs, and a beer to-go station where customers can grab a few cold ones to take home.

Then for outdoor dining, there's a spacious open-air back patio (the outside may actually be bigger than the inside), along with a more intimate covered patio out front.

Of course, no matter where you choose to sit, you'll have access to a range of consumables that includes a selection of well over 30 house beers, local wines, and non-alcoholic sodas to pair with a food menu featuring shareables, build-your-own grilled cheese options, burgers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and more.

Oh, and not for nothing, I know it's a brewery and we're supposed to talk about the beer, but 903 is an old friend to us by now, so let me just mention that they have the best onion rings I've had in a long, long time (look for the Whiskey Battered Onion Rings under "Shareables and Snacks").

903 Brewers - Sherman is open from Tuesday through Sunday, with daily hours beginning at 11 a.m.

Rios Brewing Co. taps first house beers in Grand Prairie

Patio elevation, Club Sandwich w/ House Salad, Norwegian Citrus IPA,
Wild Berries Sour, American Light Lager (Photos: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Rios Brewing Co. has fully made the transition to a local independent brewpub, now that the spot's first house beers have been tapped at 1015 Ikea Pl. in Grand Prairie.

Originally set up as a franchise taproom for Voodoo Brewing Co., the location was the first North Texas landing spot for the Pennsylvania-based beer maker. It opened in May 2023 and was managed as such for two years before owner Roland Rios decided to end the partnership and re-brand in order to establish the first-ever brewing operation in Grand Prairie.

Changes made included the creation of new signage and a new logo, along with the installation of brewing equipment which tucks into a corner off to one side of the bar. From there, small-batch beers flow from three five-barrel fermentation tanks, rotating into the brewpub's daily lineup every few weeks.

Among those first to emerge are Rios' Light American Lager, a Wild Berries Sour, and a Norwegian Citrus IPA. These and future "Rios" recipes (Mexican Lager, Honey Wheat and more) will supplement a large selection of guest brews from local, regional and national producers (including a handful of macros) on a 44-handle tapwall. And just in case you're wondering, at least for now, a few Voodoo beers are indeed still part of the mix.

As for other changes, the food menu has been revamped as well. Elevated pub fare is still the order of the day, with a range of appetizers, salads, sammies, burgers and pizzas on the offer. There are also food flights, with various options on the table for how customers choose to enjoy hot dogs or tacos.

Rios Brewing Co. serves patrons seven days a week, with daily hours beginning at 11 a.m.

Cooley Bay Winery adds brewing ops in Van Alstyne

Photos: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

It's now cool to order a craft beer at Cooley Bay Winery, as the company has begun brewing and serving its own brand of beer on-site at 545 Collin Mckinney Pkwy in Van Alstyne.

In fact, the terms brewery, cidery and meadery will all apply to the venture going forward, fulfilling the vision owners William and Jennifer Windlow had in mind when they purchased Cooley Bay in December 2024. And with specialty sips of all types available, Cooley Bay will be the only known business in North Texas producing beer, cider, mead and wine in one place on a regular basis.

On making beer, Cooley Bay's new phase is the culmination of a years-long journey towards doing the thing William knew he wanted to do. He went from his first homebrewing attempts around 2008, to starting a homebrew club in Texoma in 2010, to recruiting investors to open a brewery in 2018, to getting derailed by COVID, to forming a new group and being a signature away from buying Franconia Brewing Co. of McKinney in 2022.

When that deal fell through, Windlow shifted his focus to explore partnerships with the idea of adding beer production to an existing business model. Those efforts eventually led to a discussion with the original owners of Cooley Bay. Turns out they were ready to move on, so the timing was right for the Windlows to take over the business earlier this year.

From there, small-batch brewing operations launched in June leading up to Cooley Bay's house beer debut on Thursday. For the inaugural pours, a traditional and enjoyable style lineup with a blonde, ESB, Irish red, and stout was chosen purposefully, as Windlow wants to keep things simple while gauging the taste preferences of the local community.

Along those lines, other classics in the queue include a rye beer, a saison, an English brown, a Scottish light and a Belgian patersbier. Then, seasonals like an Oktoberfest should be expected as well.

Indeed, standards may be the norm, but Windlow assures that fun stuff will also pop up from time to time (and more often if the demand is there). That said, no matter the recipe, every beer at Cooley Bay will be brewed with all natural ingredients - no syrups, no extracts, no artificial flavorings. If something calls for a citrus element, for example, what's added to the mix will come from the actual fruit.

As for what Cooley Bay offers beyond their quartet of craft beverages, a small bites food menu has charcuterie and snack boards, flatbread pizzas, sliders, crab cakes, and a dessert of the week. One snack board, incidentally, is the new Beer Board featuring house-made beer bread and beer cheese. It was created, of course, to celebrate the release of Cooley Bay beers.

Cooley Bay Winery (& Brewery) serves patrons Thursday through Sunday, with hours beginning at 2 p.m. each day.

North Texas achieves new heights once again at the 2025 U.S. Open Beer Championship

Image credit: U.S. Open Beer Championship.

The 2025 U.S. Open Beer Championship is in the books, with North Texas breweries showing out once again with 23 medals awarded. This sets yet another new record for the region at the U.S. Open, besting last year's total of 21.

As for a competition details, the 17th annual edition of the U.S. Open drew over 8000 submissions from across America. Entries were then judged against guidelines covering more than 170 categories and subcategories. A total of 9 North Texas breweries were recognized for their beers, with the medal count breaking down as follows: 5 gold, 5 silver, 13 bronze.

Of particular note, Turning Point Beer of Bedford marked its first ever appearance on the U.S. Open winners list with four medals, while Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton/Plano set a local record for the number of individual awards won in a single year at the competition with seven.

A complete list of winning beers from North Texas is provided below. Click here for a full competition summary.

Armor Brewing Co., Allen

• Gold for Blood Orange Gose in the Fruit Gose category.
• Gold for Front Toward Enemy in the Imperial Stout Specialty category.
• Bronze for Smoke Session in the Smoke Beer category.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Bronze for Corporate Estate in the Session IPA category.
• Bronze for It's All Happening in the English Barleywine category.

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Silver for Groovy in the Field Beer category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Bronze for Levitator in the Strong Bock category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Bronze for Golden Dharma in the International-Style Pilsener category.

Odd Muse Brewing Co., Farmers Branch

• Bronze for Silver Spaceship in the Hazy/Juicy Strong Pale Ale category.

Three Wide Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Silver for Whitechapel in the English Pale Ale category.
• Bronze for Tienne in the Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale category.
• Bronze for Tropic Groove in the Coconut Beer category.

Turning Point Beer, Bedford

• Gold for City Lager in the Australian, Latin American or Tropical-Style Light Lager category.
• Silver for Blackout Brunch in the Barrel-Aged Breakfast Stout category.
• Silver for Life in the Foeder & Cask-Aged Beer category.
• Bronze for Sportz Fruit Punch in the American-Style Fruit Beer category.

Union Bear Brewing Co., Denton/Plano

• Gold for Bock in the Traditional German-Style Bock category.
• Gold for Saison with Sage & Honey in the Specialty Honey Beer category.
• Silver for Schwarzbier in the German-Style Schwarzbier category.
• Bronze for Dry Irish Stout in the Classic Irish Dry Stout category.
• Bronze for Kölsch in the German Kölsch category.
• Bronze for Amber Ale in the Near Gluten-Free/Gluten Reduced Beer category.
• Bronze for UB Light in the Near Gluten-Free/Gluten Reduced Beer category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Manhattan Project exploring expansion to Mesquite

Rendering of a proposed site layout for Manhattan Project's expansion to Mesquite (Simple Development Partners).

Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas is exploring options for an expansion east, this based on information presented to a meeting of the Planning and Zoning Commission of the City of Mesquite on June 23.

Currently, Manhattan Project operates in a 15,000 square foot facility established in West Dallas in late 2019. Production is maxed out at that locale, so the company's primary goal is to expand capacity with the proposed project.

Plans outlined by Dallas-based firm Simple Development Partners call for construction of a 90,000 square foot building on a vacant seven-acre site located just southwest of the intersection of U.S. 80 and I-635 in Mesquite. Two tenants would then occupy the structure, with Manhattan Project taking 45,000 square feet of the space and having an option to grow further in the future.

Discussions are still in the early stages, but a production ramp-up would likely be the priority, with retail and/or restaurant amenities potentially not added until later. Either way, should things move forward, the developer estimates it will take up to two years for the completion of construction and improvements.

For now, the main hurdle is a question of zoning, as the land use designation would need to be changed from "Commercial" to "Light Industrial". This matter will be taken up in a city council meeting scheduled for July 21.

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Update: On July 21, by a 5-2 vote the Mesquite City Council approved an ordinance to change the land use designation as noted, while also changing the zoning for the site to "Planned Development - Commercial" with a conditional use permit granted for a brewery.

Winners announced at the 2025 National Homebrew Competition

Image credit: American Homebrewers Association.

Winners from the final round of the 2025 National Homebrew Competition (NHC) were announced tonight at a ceremony taking place in Kansas City, Missouri.

Put on by the American Homebrewers Association, this year's event was the 47th annual edition of the NHC. A total of 1,086 homebrewers located worldwide entered the competition, submitting 2,974 beers for judging across 40 categories covering homebrewed beer, cider (and perry) and mead.

The list of honorees from North Texas includes a number of names familiar to the local homebrewing community, as most have made appearances on the roster of medalists going back a number of years.

As for this year's NHC, winning beers from North Texas are summarized below. You can also click here to be taken to a full competition summary.

Nicholas McCoy of Sachse, with Jeff Poirot.

• Go Big! - Bronze in the Specialty IPA category.
• Club Affiliation: Draft Punk.

Jarrett Long of Arlington, with Amanda Long.

• Foreign & Dark - Bronze in the Irish & British Stout category.
• Club Affiliation: Horsemen of the Hopocalypse.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Local artist nabs Platinum Crushies for Odd Muse label designs

Image credits: Craft Beverage Marketing Awards, Odd Muse Brewing Co.

Winners from the 2025 Craft Beverage Marketing Awards (CBMA), a.k.a. "The Crushies," have been announced, with a local artist's work for a North Texas brewery recognized among the winners.

Now in its sixth year, the CBMAs "serve as the ultimate platform for honoring outstanding marketing achievement in the global craft beverage industry." Prizes are awarded across 12 different categories, with entries open to companies producing craft beer, cider/mead, craft hard seltzer, non-alcoholic craft beer, ready-to-drink cocktails and THC-infused beverages.

Matthew Scott, a Dallas-based artist who goes by the Instagram handle @greetings_from_the_not_dead, was honored with Platinum Crushies for two packaging labels designed for Odd Muse Brewing Co. of Farmers Branch (details below). Scott has been creating art for Odd Muse since the brewery opened in 2019, and you can purchase prints of his work in various sizes at the taproom.

For more on the 2025 Crushies, click here to visit the official competition website.

Matthew Scott for Odd Muse Brewing Co., Farmers Branch

• Platinum Crushie for Public Domain Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout - Best Bottle Label Design: Craft Beer.
• Platinum Crushie for Primrose Path Hazy IPA - Best Can Label/Printed Design: Craft Beer.

Cheers and congrats to Matthew Scott and Odd Muse Brewing Co.!

Beer is back at Landon Winery in Greenville

Image credit: Landon Winery.

A longtime local winemaker has rejoined the roster of North Texas beer brands, as Landon Winery is once again serving house beers at its location in Greenville.

Owned by Bob Landon, the winery originally opened in Mckinney in 2005, with Greenville coming online as the primary production facility in 2010. Beer was then added to the mix in Greenville during the summer of 2017, the motivation being to provide another beverage option for tasting room visitors seeking to enjoy something other than wine.

As it turned out, Landon's first foray into beer was somewhat short-lived, with brewing operations ending by early 2019. Now that beer is back, the winery has both an American Lager and a Mexican Lager on tap in Greenville.

As for other locales, house beers are also distributed to Landon's site in Downtown Gainesville, which opened last fall and is billed as a winery/brewery/distillery.

Locals line up for a taste of Forney's first brewery

Forney Brewing Co.'s taproom, tapwall, German hefeweizen, 10-bbl brewhouse, cobb salad (All photos: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

If the steady line of locals visiting on opening day is any indication, the first brewery to do business in the City of Forney should be well on its way to realizing the goal of being a go-to entertainment destination for area residents.

Owned and operated by Eric Britton, Forney Brewing Co. is located at 203 E. Main St. in the heart of Downtown Forney. Method Architecture did the work to renovate and modernize an existing structure on the site, which has around 5,000 square feet of interior space supplemented by a 1,500 square foot covered patio outdoors.

Inside, patrons seated in the taproom are surrounded by a variety of visuals. Windows on one end of the building provide views of the production space, while a wall on the opposite end is adorned with vintage photos paying homage to the city's history. Then, of course, there's the requisite array of widescreen TVs.

A full kitchen is also among the amenities, and Britton - a confessed foodie - says an attention to detail will be applied to the food offerings as well as the beer. At a glance, the focused menu has an elevated pub fare feel, featuring starters (deviled eggs, nachos, wings), salads, sandwiches, smash burgers, and kids items, not to mention Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert.

Liquid options naturally begin with the beer, but Forney Brewing also serves wine, cocktails and sodas. Flights and full pours are filled from a 17-handle tapwall, with four house beers and five guest offerings from Manhattan Project Beer Co. now on tap. The context there is Britton worked at the Dallas-based firm before taking the leap to open a brewery of his own.

On the current beer lineup, Britton is quick to emphasize it's in the introductory stage. He says "the fun stuff will come out once production gets going," but at the outset, the idea is to get a feel for Forney's flavor preferences. So, for now, his recipes include standards like an American light lager, a German hefeweizen, a juicy IPA and a hoppy brown ale.

And therein lies another bit of insight into Britton's approach, as new beers will debut with style nomenclature only. "Our beers will have names, but they have to earn a name first," explains Britton. In other words, both he and his customers will have to be happy with a beer before it assumes any sort of identity. That said, the hoppy brown could be a nominee, at least based on favorites discussed with fellow drinkers seated at the bar.

As for other things to look forward to, Britton says the "just getting started" thing really applies to the whole operation. On top of expanding the house beer portfolio, they'll add events, kids games and more as they work to further establish Forney Brewing Co.'s family-friendly atmosphere.

For more on Forney Brewing Co., including updates on operating hours going forward, follow the brewery's social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.

Sweet Dol-ings to dole out Temptress treats at Lakewood, June 14

Image credit: Lakewood Brewing Co.

These days, it has seemingly become more common to see a brewery put baked goods into their beers as opposed to other way around. That said, The Temptress Imperial Milk Stout has proven to be a tasty addition when used in cookies, ice cream and other confections ever since Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland began producing the beer over a decade ago.

Of course, collaborating with local makers on products beyond beer is a way for breweries like Lakewood to expand their brand awareness. In this case, the brewery has lent its liquid to Sweet Dol-ings Bakery of Dallas for use in the creation of two new Temptress-infused treats that will be on the menu during a pop-up event at Lakewood this weekend.

Launched in 2024, Sweet Dol-ings is a woman-led baking business founded by Nedjina Dol. A passion for baking led Dol to begin mailing homemade dessert boxes to friends and family during the 2020 holiday season. It turned into an annual tradition that has since become something much bigger.

Now, coming up on Saturday, June 14 at 12 p.m., Sweet Dol-ings will be set up in the Lakewood Taproom offering up a Temptress Cake, made with the original Temptress, along with a Temptress Blonde Cupcake, made with the brewery's recently released imperial golden stout.

It's an opportunity to shop small and support local business, and if you want to make a day of it, you can enjoy one or both desserts after grabbing a bite of lunch first. Options include beer-infused snacks and entrees from the Lakewood kitchen like the Bavarian Pretzel (with beer Cheese spread and Temptress mustard) and the limited time Chicken Pickle Ranch Flatbread (with ranch dressing, grilled chicken, mozzarella, Lakewood Lager house-made pickles and a buffalo drizzle).

Tupps to host inaugural Sausage Fest, June 14

Image courtesy of Tupps Brewery.

This Father's Day weekend, Tupps Brewery of McKinney will be offering patrons the best of the wurst during the company's first ever Sausage Fest, taking place on Saturday, June 14 at 4 p.m.

According to a press release, "this one-of-a-kind celebration brings together the best of North Texas sausage and craft beer for an unforgettable day of delicious indulgence, live music and spirited competitions."

Tupps will welcome sausage legends from around the region, serving up a total of eight curated sausage samples expertly paired with eight signature Tupps beers.

The menu:

• The Grain Room at Tupps Brewery: Alsatian Country Sausage + Farmhouse Ale.
• Hamm's Meat + Market of McKinney: Summer Sausage + Day Pass Belgian-Style Wheat Ale.
• Corner BBQ Shack of McKinney: Polish Rings + Backyard Bock.
• Jimmy's Food Store of Dallas: Hot Italian Sausage + Tupps IPA.
• Kuby's Sausage House of Dallas: Jalapeño Sausage + Salted Lime Mexican Lager.
• Deep Cuts Dallas: Butcher's Choice + Hefeweizen.
• Local Yocal Farm to Market of McKinney: Brisket & White Cheddar + Juice Pack Hazy IPA.
• Ye Ole Butcher Shop of Plano: Hot Links + East Side Lager.

Additional attractions at Sausage Fest will include live music, a hot dog eating contest, a dad bod contest and more (contest sign-ups will be on-site the day of the event). There will also be gourmet sausage dishes and other food available for purchase, along with beer, wine, cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages. 

Tickets are not required to attend, but tasting tickets are the only way to enjoy the sausage and beer pairings - and they're expected to sell out. Pre-purchasing is highly encouraged to ensure there is enough sausage for everyone, so click on the following link to secure your spot: https://www.prekindle.com/promo/id/-2853111880211067068.

Welcome to the Herb 'N Jungle: Sheraton Dallas taps new signature beer

Herb 'N Jungle Honey Beer, Chicken 'n Waffles with Chipotle Hot Honey, the Herb 'N Jungle, El Cubano (All photos: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Something new is buzzing about the Sheraton Dallas Hotel at 400 Olive St. in downtown, as the travel and entertainment destination has launched a new signature beer brewed in collaboration with Manhattan Project Beer Co., the Dallas-based brewery doing business just four miles away.

Formally introduced at an exclusive preview event last evening, Herb 'N Jungle Honey Brew - a.k.a. Gold Flash Honey Lager (5.2% ABV), is made with honey sourced from beehives maintained on-site in the Sheraton's Herb 'N Jungle outdoor garden. Upwards of 70,0000 bees live and work in the garden, which is located on the fourth-floor terrace of the hotel.

The motivation for creating a house beer for the hotel was borne out of the Sheraton's ongoing commitment to community support and its desire to provide patrons with locally-inspired offerings. In the spirit of this, a partnership with Manhattan Project was formed roughly two years ago, shortly after the hotel first began housing bees on the property.

According to Brandon Byrd, part of the management team at Manhattan Project, when the project started the production crew got to work with research and development once the hotel delivered "buckets of Sheraton honey" to the brewery. They experimented with other beer style types before landing on the final formulation, which adds honey to a classic Munich-style helles base recipe.

The objective was to create a beer with "wow" factor, but also one that would have wider reach in terms of appeal. In the end, those goals appear to have been realized in the form of an ever so slightly-sweet summer crusher, which finishes clean with a subtle hint of honey character in the finish.

As for where to get it should you frequent the hotel, Herb 'N Jungle Honey Brew will be on tap year-round at the Sheraton's dining establishments - Draft Sports Bar & Lounge, Open Palette and The Parlor.

And for those looking to enjoy their honey beer with a bite, suggested pairings include two new offerings on the daily Draft food menu: the Chicken Bao-Bun (grilled chicken teriyaki with soy aioli, cilantro and pickled vegetables) and the El Cubano (smoked crispy pork cutlet with Swiss cheese, honey mustard, tomatoes and dill pickles). 

At the same time, diners should also keep an eye out for special menu items infused with honey from the rooftop bees like Chicken 'n Waffles with Chipotle Hot Honey and the Honey Cake with Rose Water Cream.

For more information on the food and drink options at eateries of the Dallas Sheraton Hotel, click here to visit the "Dining" section of the hotel's official website.

Oak Highlands opens new Richardson locale

Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

Following an April announcement detailing plans to move operations from their original location in Dallas, Oak Highlands Brewery (OHB) is debuting the company's new digs in Richardson during a grand opening event this weekend.

Situated at 500 Lockwood Dr. in the Lockwood neighborhood of city's Core District, Oak Highlands will occupy an 11,000 square foot structure going forward. Formerly home to Happy Hippie Brewing Co., the turnkey space is a purposeful step down from the 16,000 square feet Oak Highlands utilized in Dallas, with the new site offering a number of advantages.

For one, the interior lays out with a larger taproom (separate from the production area) compared to Dallas, with an alcove set aside for live music set-ups and a separate room that can be cordoned off for events. Plus, there's the potential for more foot traffic, given the change of scenery from an industrial park to the outskirts of a residential community where an array of retail and entertainment destinations now sit in proximity to the brewery.

Neighbors include Communion Coffee Shop and Lockwood Distilling Co., both of which do business just steps away from Oak Highlands' front door. And judging by the opening day tappings of a Nitro Coffee Porter with Communion Coffee and Locktoberfest, a barrel-aged version of the brewery's Oktoberfest finished in Lockwood whiskey barrels, there's the promise of many collaborations to come in the future.

Speaking of beer production, the company will be downsizing with respect to brewhouse operations as well. Ryan Pickering, head brewer and Certified Cicerone at Oak Highlands, is moving from the 30-barrel system in Dallas to a newer 10-barrel setup in Richardson. It's actually a bit of a blessing, according to Pickering, since smaller batches means he'll be able to brew more often and with a lot more flexibility.

Right now, the Richardson tapwall is capable of pouring 10 beers, but there are plans to expand that to the 20-handle wall currently being used in Dallas. Pickering says they'll also bring other equipment over, while making further adjustments to the pre-existing production, canning and cooling capabilities to bring things more in line with the brewery's everyday needs.

Beyond the beer, on the topic of other amenities at Oak Highlands' new spot, there are wide-screen TVs, pinball machines, and a to-go fridge, not to mention fresh merchandise in the form of a new lineup of t-shirts and hats. Oh, and let's not forget about the permanent food truck installation.

After making a name for itself out west, Brix Barbecue will be parked out front serving barbecue to Oak Highlands patrons on the regular. Brix, which has a brick-and-mortar locale in the Near Southside neighborhood of Fort Worth, was among those receiving an Honorable Mention nod in Texas Monthly's just-published list of the best barbecue joints in all of Texas.

As for operating hours, set service times in Richardson are pending, but take note that Dallas will remain open (and hosting events) during the transition, with the final day at the original OHB set for July 31.

A look at 2024 North Texas production numbers

Click to enlarge.

This is an update of the annual breakdown of brewery sizes in North Texas, with 2024 production data added as reported to the Brewers Association and published in the May/June 2025 issue of The New Brewer.

Note, not all brewing companies provide their numbers, and some report statistics combining multiple locations. Data also includes production from breweries that closed during the course of 2024, but ignores production from companies whose output was consolidated and moved out of state (Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Revolver Brewing). As a result, the number of entities represented in the chart is not equal to the total number of breweries open and operating at any given time.

Inside the numbers:

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

     Large

• Community Beer Co. of Dallas.
• Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas.
• Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth.

     Mid-Size

• Four Corners Brewing Co. of Dallas.
• Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth.
• Tupps Brewery of McKinney.
• Twin Peaks Brewing Co. of Irving.
  
  

Tier movement

• Advancing from "Very Small" to "Small" tier: Armor Brewing Co. of Allen, Panther Island Brewing of Fort Worth, Rollertown Beerworks of Celina.

Year-to-year production change

• At 55%, just over half of the breweries in North Texas reported a drop in production during 2024.
• Overall production in North Texas was down roughly 3% for those reporting in 2023 and 2024. This number does not include contributions from Deep Ellum or Revolver.
• Comparison: Craft beer volume was down 4% nationally in 2024, according to the Brewers Association.

Significant year-to-year production gains (based on those reporting in 2023 and 2024)

• For the third year in a row, Manhattan Project had the largest year-to-year gain in raw barrels produced locally for 2024. Their sales have increased 5X since 2019, and they are now the area's largest producer.
• The largest year-to-year percentage gains for brewing companies with production greater than 1000 barrels were realized by (alphabetically) Armor Brewing Co. of Allen, Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas, Panther Island Brewing of Fort Worth, Rollertown Beerworks of Celina, and Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton/Plano.

Fort Worth Flying Saucer celebrates 30 years on June 7

Image courtesy of Flying Saucer Draught Emporium.

Fort Worth’s original craft beer emporium, Flying Saucer, celebrates a 30-year milestone on Saturday, June 7, at 4 p.m. Festivities are set to include live music, food for purchase from the Saucer and sibling concepts Flying Fish and Rodeo Goat (4-8pm), special tappings, raffle prizes, merch giveaways, limited edition 30th anniversary swag for sale (Teku glasses, hats and t-shirts) and more.

And on the subject of more, in between live music acts in the evening (prior to the last band's set at 8:30 p.m.), Captain Keith will take the stage to lead a craft beer Q&A featuring a panel of experts, one of which will be Brad Farbstein, owner of Real Ale Brewing Co. in Blanco. It's an appropriate pairing, especially given the fact that Real Ale will be celebrating its own 30th anniversary in 2026.

As for what it costs to get in, the event is $10 per person at the door, or you can click here to RSVP in advance on Eventbrite for FREE admission.

Rahr & Sons recognized at 2025 Australian International Beer Awards

Image credit: Melbourne Royal.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth has been honored with two medals at the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards (AIBA).

First established in 1993, the AIBA is put on by Melbourne Royal, a not-for-profit organization whose purpose is to promote and celebrate agricultural products and producers by way of community events and competitions.

For the 2025 AIBA event, 391 breweries from 22 countries worldwide entered 2,277 beers for evaluation. Submissions were then judged across 24 categories covering beer and cider products, as well as packaging design and media. Winners from Texas included Rahr & Sons, who was recognized for a pair of its year-round beers, Dadgum IPA and Paleta de Mango.

For more on the 2025 Australian International Beer Awards, click here to visit the official competition website.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Paleta de Mango, Silver for American Style Fruit Beer.
• Dadgum IPA, Bronze for West Coast Style IPA.
  
  

Cheers and congratulations to Rahr & Sons!

Voodoo Brewing now holding court in Castle Hills

Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

The latest in a series of Voodoo-branded franchise taprooms to land in North Texas, Voodoo Brewing Co. - Castle Hills is now open at 4400 State Hwy 121 in Lewisville.

Owned by Manal and Fahad Keen, the new Voodoo placement has set up shop in a 4,346 square foot space as part of the mixed-use development, The Realm at Castle Hills. It's the fourth foray into the Metroplex for the Pennsylvania-based parent company, following previous ventures debuting in Grand Prairie, Plano and Fort Worth*.

And naturally, there are similarities and differences when comparing Voodoo Castle Hills to its area predecessors. Readers may recall that every franchise begins with a blueprint providing access to Voodoo's culinary recipes and its line of hand-crafted beers. Individual owners then infuse a bit of their own personality into the place, either by way of the decor or by adding unique items to the menu.

In the case of Voodoo Castle Hills, differences start with the interior design. Rather than having a bar & grill or downtown pub-like feel, Voodoo Castle Hills almost comes across as a small event venue, with a very open, single-room setup where the tables are spread out and surrounded by wide-screen televisions.

Then on the food service side of things, visitors are met with a Mediterranean-inspired menu. Along with selections from Voodoo's standard range of burgers, salads, sandwiches, pizzas and more are options like the Med Zeppelin Burger, the Puffy Pita Smash Salad, the Groovin' Gyro, the Meat-iterranean Pizza (with Turkish sausage) and the Gyro Hero Bowl.

As for similarities, of course there's the beer. From a 24-handle tapwall, year-round and seasonal offerings from Voodoo pour alongside a smattering of guest beers sourced from a variety of Texas breweries. The house-to-guest beer ratio is likely to vary over time, but at least for now recipes from the Lone Star State hold a slight advantage.

Wine, cocktails, mocktails and other non-alcoholic beverages (sodas, tea, lemonade, Liquid Death Mountain Water) round out the liquid lineup, which leaves just one important amenity to mention.

Off to one side, a throne scene flanked by golden crowns has been fashioned for photo-ops...you know...for those looking to declare themselves king of Castle Hills.

Voodoo Castle Hills is open seven days a week, with daily hours beginning at 11 a.m.

---

* The Fort Worth pub closed in November, while Grand Prairie is re-branding as an independent entity. Voodoo Plano continues to operate, with another project, Voodoo Brewing Co. - Frontier, currently under construction in Prosper.

On CBC 2025 and the Indianapolis beer scene

CBC at Indiana Convention Center, Taxman Brewing Co., Lucas Oil Stadium, A.J. Foyt Exhibit at IMS Museum.
(Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D, Seal: City of Indianapolis).

When the Brewers Association (BA) announced the selection of Indianapolis, Indiana, as the host city for the 2025 Craft Brewers Conference (CBC), my thoughts immediately went to "sports town." And not just because of sportsball, there's that internationally renowned racing venue as well.

In addition to the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, the city is home to the Colts (NFL), Pacers (NBA) and Fever (WNBA), not to mention Butler University (NCAA), NCAA Headquarters (including its Hall of Champions), and three teams playing minor league baseball, hockey and soccer. And just to further drive the sports point home for those choosing to drive in, Lucas Oil Stadium (Colts) appears as a dominant feature of the Downtown Indianapolis skyline.

Naturally, there's a lot more to the city and state than sports, but admittedly, my knowledge of Indiana beer didn't extend much further than the state's largest producer, 3 Floyds Brewing Co. of Munster. The company's campus (brewpub, beer production facility and distillery) has been closed to the public since COVID, so there's just a retail storefront currently, but it's also only a two-and-a-half-hour drive north of Indy should you be so inclined.

Within the city itself, I found there to be a number of interesting and unique breweries worth exploring. Plus, I made one observation that differentiates the Indy area a bit from our local North Texas scene. For more, see "Taproom Trips" below.

As for the industry as a whole, much of the chatter at CBC 2025 centered around economic conditions and how breweries might best navigate and survive the current downturn. Discussion both during individual seminars and CEO Bart Watson's annual "State of the Industry" address focused on these areas, with particular attention paid to how breweries can keep things fresh and interesting while competing in a market crowded with other types of beverage alcohol to choose from.

Details and data points on those topics are shared below as well, along with results from the culminating event of the week, the 2025 World Beer Cup competition.

Cheers!

State of the Industry

Just two years ago, the industry was seemingly in a state of transition. There were still pockets of modest growth, but for the most part things had flattened out in 2022, ending a long run of positive growth and the upward trend of the total brewery count. The market had matured, making this the "new normal."

Typically, a mature market is characterized by slow growth, stable demand and strong competition, with businesses tasked with trying to maintain customer loyalty while reigning in costs and finding new ways to differentiate themselves in the market.

In the time since, though, the industry has seen a slowdown in demand, with operating costs climbing and competition increasing even more. As a result, brewers are now faced with an even more difficult market environment, and the economic indicators bear this out.

In 2024, total production volume was down 4%, with regionals, taprooms and brewpubs all coming in around the average. Micros, however, were down even further at 7%. But the news was even worse for breweries producing less than 500 barrels. Representing 64% of all breweries in the U.S., this segment was down 9%.

So, what's dragging the industry down? Inflation and potential tariffs impacting costs are hopefully short-term hinderances, but more permanent influences on the market include demographics (craft beer drinkers are generally older and some are aging out), lifestyle changes (driving low and non-alcoholic beer sales), and competing beverage options.

Taking demographics as a jumping-off point, the younger generation just isn't all that into beer. They tend to prefer other types of beverages (especially RTDs, or ready-to-drink beverages), seeking what they perceive as a greater variety of flavors.

An interesting point here has to do with the proliferation of the IPA. Other classic styles are getting harder to find because fewer breweries are making them. And for (older) breweries that do, they find themselves trying to breathe new life into their flagships.

Yet, with IPAs being the predominant offering, some younger drinkers are saying they don't like beer because they think all beers are hoppy and/or bitter. It's almost like the beer landscape has become homogenized all over again.

Complicating matters is NIQ data showing sales declines in a majority of traditional beer styles, while increases are seen in stronger IPAs, light lagers, pilsners and blonde ales. Indeed, go to a taproom today and you're likely to find any number of IPAs and light lagers pouring alongside a plethora of pilsner variants (e.g., Italian, African, New Zealand pilsners). 

Why, then, should brewers go back to classic styles if IPAs and light lagers are what pays the bills?

It's about appealing to the younger generation in hopes of expanding the customer base, and flavor again comes to the forefront. The opportunity for flavor innovation in popular styles was a talking point (see pilsners above), but many classics have inherent flavor complexities that are perhaps lost on the new generation. This goes to stepping up efforts to educate, since there's likely some truth in the idea that the kids may not know about quads.

That said, rolling out an entire line of brown and red ales probably isn't the answer. Product mix matters (doesn't it always?), so finding the right balance and being willing to adjust is important in order to satisfy the ever-changing tastes of your customer base. Honestly, maybe the definition for the word "pivot" should be changed in the dictionary to read "what craft brewers are constantly doing to try and stay alive."

As for the overall message, it remains one of focus. Breweries should stay true to their core values and lean into the things they do best while not overreacting to trends. And, of course, quality and execution are key. Racking up small wins may be the way to weather the current storm, and beer has weathered many storms in the past, so there's no reason it can't ride this one out as well.

World Beer Cup

On the competition topic, the 2025 edition of the World Beer Cup (WBC) attracted 8,375 entries from 1,761 breweries and cideries located in 49 countries worldwide. Those beers were judged against guidelines covering 117 categories (112 for beer, 5 for cider), with the average number of submissions per category coming in at 73.

The top three entered categories were Juicy/Hazy IPA, West-Coast IPA and American-Style IPA in that order, a result which mirrored the style rankings at the most recent Great American Beer Festival competition last October.

Image: 3 Nations Brewing Co.

Emerging from the pool of entries as the sole North Texas honoree for 2025, 3 Nations Brewing Co. of Carrollton/Anna brought home its second WBC medal all-time for their Bavarian wheat beer, Shed 'n Silo. The brewery won its first WBC award in 2022.

• 3 Nations Brewing Co., Carrollton/Anna - Silver for Shed 'n Silo - South German-Style Hefeweizen.

For more on the 2025 WBC, 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 competition statistics.
• Download a complete list of 2025 WBC winners in PDF format.
• View a historical chronicle of awards won by North Texas breweries at GABF and the WBC.

Taproom Trips

Not having been to Indianapolis previously, I focused on visiting brewing companies close to my hotel in the immediate downtown area. That narrowed the of list options to about 10, with two of those being among the top five producers in the entire state - Sun King Brewery and Upland Brewing Co.

Sun King proved to be a very popular destination during the two days I was in town (even limiting entry due to large crowds), so I didn't get a chance to check it out, but I did go to Upland's Fountain Square locale for a quick, just-got-into-town pint of their year-round Bad Elmer's Porter.

What's interesting about Sun King and Upland, and the Indy beer scene in general, is how many firms are operating multiple locations - something we don't see much of here in North Texas. Besides Sun King with seven spots (including one in Florida) and Upland with eleven, my stops included Taxman Brewing Co. - four locations, and Chilly Water Brewing Co. - two.

Taxman, Dark Side of the Munich Dunkel at Chilly Water, Metazoa, Bad Elmer's Porter at Upland (© Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Taxman ended up being my favorite destination, thanks to their range of traditional and barrel-aged Belgian offerings. With Deduction, Exemption and Qualified being their dubbel, tripel and quad, respectively, the brewery's tagline is "Belgian Inspired, American Crafted" for a reason. Though, one thing I'll add is the downtown location is steps away from Gainbridge Fieldhouse, home of the Pacers and Fever. The message here being don't get caught in an Uber when a game lets out (playoffs especially!) and they start shutting down streets to allow for arena-escaping foot traffic.

Surveying others, three breweries make up what I'd refer to as the College Ave. crawl. Along an easily walkable three-quarter mile stretch, Sun King sits roughly halfway between Metazoa Brewing Co. and St. Joseph's Brewery & Public House. And if you're looking for a pre-crawl bite to eat, high marks go to The Rathskeller, a German restaurant that sits a couple of blocks west of St. Joseph's in a historic 19th century building.

Metazoa is a pet-friendly brewery that has donated 5% of profits to animal and wildlife organizations since its inception. Their motto being "Drink Beer. Help Animals." And while Trivia Night and a Pacers playoff game on the big screen were likely contributing factors, this place had the best overall vibe.

St. Joseph's Brewery (© Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Then there's St. Joseph's, which is quite literally the church of beer in Indy. This is because the brewery occupies a church building whose cornerstone was laid in 1879. Due to private events on-site, I was only able to stop by on my way out of town, so a crowler of their seasonal PopeMeal Oat Stout was obtained to enjoy back home.

As for a few I missed. Other than Sun King, Guggman House Brewing Co. (two locations) and Kismetic Beer Co. both came highly recommended, I just didn't have enough time to seek them out.