2025 Year in review: Craft beer's continued mantra - adapt, adjust...survive

All logos and graphics the property of their respective owners. Image: Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

Another challenging year for the North Texas craft beer industry has come to a close. Yes, there are still headwinds. Yes, breweries are still struggling. Yes, growth is still stagnant (for the fourth year running), but a flat growth curve is better than one in a downward spiral, and North Texas is still holding firm (give or take) in terms of overall brewery numbers.

And yes, a lot of these same things were said last year, and the year before that. It's just that the market environment hasn't changed much. If anything, headwinds are stronger (according to the Brewers Association), so many of the same messages from past years continue to apply - adapt, adjust...survive.

As it applies to brewing operations, adjustments could mean changing up a product line, or even a business model. We've seen instances of both over the past few years, as owners have been putting other beverage types on their menus (whether they be made in-house, or brought in from outside), adding food service, getting creative with event offerings, expanding outdoor public areas, building playgrounds and more.

Plus, some local breweries have expanded, while others have contracted. In other words, brewery owners are doing whatever it takes to find the right fit for their place and their approach in the North Texas beer scene as a whole.

With that in mind, one point to make here is this...with somewhere in the neighborhood of 100 venues in town, there really ought to be something out there for everybody. One brewery satisfying the needs of one type of consumer does not a beer scene make.

Having breweries with varying portfolios borne out of different brewing philosophies is a good thing. Then on the question of target consumers, there's nothing wrong with a brewery making time and space so families with kids, canines or both can have a place to go to get a bite to eat and to responsibly enjoy an adult beverage.

So, step away from the keyboard, get up out of your armchair and explore the local scene. Find the places that have the right fit for you and how you like to enjoy your time at a brewery. Then, support those places like there's no tomorrow.

Now, on to the 2025 year in beer...

The Business of Beer - Local Dealings

In the economics section that follows, nearly every indicator is down, and while there's no new growth to speak of, the level of activity in the industry was maybe as high as it has ever been.

Beginning with some of the business moves local brewers made during 2025, new locations were involved in the expansions of 903 Brewers of Sherman, Bosque River Taphouse of Stephenville, Parker County Brewing Co. of Willow Park, Rollertown Beerworks of Frisco, and Toasty Bros. of Denton.

Among those opting to step-down in size, Oak Highlands Brewery did so with their new digs in Richardson, while Turning Point Beer of Bedford moved back into their smaller original taproom in Bedford. Then, of course, Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. ended operations at their Galveston Ave. facility in Fort Worth after more than 20 years, choosing in the short-term to go the alternating proprietorship (AP) route at neighboring Wild Acre Brewing Co.

Now, if we take APs, add in contract brewing, collaborations and/or ghost brewing projects, this leads to a discussion of ways to be a brewer without having a brewery of your own. For the business owner, each is a way to get into the market and build a brand without the burden of a large initial capital investment.

In its "Year in Beer 2025" summary, the Brewers Association identifies such practices along with mergers and acquisitions as a trend under the umbrella of "consolidation," and examples of many have come to pass recently in North Texas.

On the contract brewing front, Believer Brew House and Brew Aleworks (who closed their Granbury taproom in late 2023) both signed on with Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland in 2025. Believer Brew House has been on the market since August, while Brew Aleworks was hoping to get on the production schedule by the end of the year.

Another contract brewer is Landon Winery of Greenville, who returned to the North Texas industry roster after a six-year absence. Their beers are brewed at an unspecified location and distributed to the company's various tasting room locations.

Then, among ghost brewers, there was the emergence of Priory Beer Dinners & Collab Brews, not to mention the sudden reappearance of Noble Rey. Another, Ghost Eye Brewing Co., popped up again as well, but they are no longer collaborating under the now-expired Trinity Forest Brewing Co. license.

And in reality, ghost brewing is how Smittox Brewing Co. has stayed active while building a permanent home in Dallas, and how Murphy's Law Brewery & Pizzeria will work to grow their following while developing a spot in Burleson.

Moving on to mergers and acquisitions, word circulated in the fall regarding the apparent takeover of Four Corners Brewing Co. by Manhattan Project Brewing Co., both of Dallas. Manhattan Project has actually been brewing at Four Corners under an AP agreement since 2023.

An upward growth trajectory over multiple years has led to Manhattan Project becoming the largest producer in North Texas, driving the company to seek out additional capacity. For a time, they had contract relationships out of state, but just this summer they began exploring construction of a dedicated production facility in Mesquite. The latter is said to still be in play, but at least for now, they've covered their immediate needs at Four Corners.

This brings us to the latest developments with Revolver Brewing of Granbury. After Tilray Brands acquired the brewery last year, they began 2025 by ending large-scale operations in Granbury, moving these to other Tilray-owned breweries. The taproom remained open, but Revolver's satellite in Arlington quietly went away. Then, just last month, it was announced Granbury would be shuttered completely, with the brand looking to move to a new location elsewhere in North Texas.

Other business-related items of interest for 2025:

• Three Wide Brewing Co. of Fort Worth added a 300-gallon still with eyes on expanding into distilling.
  
• Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery of Garland launched their draft cocktails in cans.
  
• Turning Point Beer of Bedford began offering core beers in 12-ounce cans.
• Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth added an on-site coffee house.
• On the retail side, The Bearded Monk of Denton switched licenses, adding liquor sales.
• Malai Kitchen of Dallas opened a new side concept, Brya Zan Thai Noodle + Brew, in Plano.
• Three Empires Brewing of Frisco continued to persevere through downtown road construction, which has now gone on for more than 500 days.
• Voodoo Brewing Co. of Pennsylvania had its presence in Texas dwindle to one remaining location in Prosper after the re-branding of Voodoo Grand Prairie to Rios Brewing Co., and the closure of Voodoo taprooms in Plano and Lewisville.
  
  

The Business of Beer - Statewide Statistics 

Economic updates provided by the Brewers Association for 2024 show Texas produced roughly 1.37 million barrels of beer last year (down from 1.52 million), the state's ranking dropping a spot to fourth in production nationally. The total brewery count fell to 440 (from 445), with 2.0 breweries per capita (down from 2.1) - ranking 48th nationally (steady).

As for how things may change based on preliminary 2025 tracking, 31 new brewery openings have been noted across the Lone Star State, offset by 31 closures.

Dips were also noted in total economic impact for 2024. Texas ranked third nationally (steady), contributing about $4.70 billon to the economy (down from 5.26 billion). The number of employees in the state's brewing industry shrunk to 25,623 full-time equivalent workers (from 28,543), with the average wage being $49,827 (steady compared to $49,312 in 2023).

Image/data: Brewers Association.

Comings and Goings

For 2025 in North Texas, new brewery openings edged permanent closures/consolidations by a 9-8 margin. That said, this year's numbers come with an asterisk, due to uncertainty surrounding some entities.

Dormant brewers - Bendt Distilling of Lewisville (brewing operations inactive, confirmed via email) and Trinity Forest Brewing Co. (non-renewal of license) - are counted as closings in the below graphics, while temporary closures - Edgewise Eight Brewing Co. of Weatherford, Revolver Brewing of Granbury, and Soul Fire Brewing Co. of Roanoke - are not.

On the topic of Soul Fire, their former site in Roanoke has been taken over by The 206 Brewery, which adopts the name of the food hall surrounding the business. Soul Fire's brewing equipment remains on-site, but at last report The 206 had not yet begun producing its own recipes. For now, The 206 is counted as an opening.

Taking this into account, there are currently 87 active brewing companies in North Texas once you subtract temporary closures. After adding side projects and ghost brewers, then subtracting licenses for entities with multiple production locations, over 90 different brands were available in the market during 2024.

On the horizon: Acre Distilling of Fort Worth (adding brewing operations), Blue Flag Distillery of Fort Worth (formerly Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.), East Dallas Brewing Co. of Dallas, La Hermana Cerveceria at Far-Out Dallas (formerly Wriggly Tin), Keller House Collective of Keller, Murphy's Law Brewery & Pizzeria of Burleson, Novak Brewing of Dallas, Palo Pinto Brewing Co. of Strawn, Smittox Brewing Co. of Dallas, Village Creek Brewing Co. of Rendon...and others.

Openings:

• Balanced Rock Brewing, The Colony.
• Bearded Ax Brewery, Midlothian.
• Believer Brew House, Garland (contract brewery).
• Cooley Bay Winery & Brewery, Van Alstyne (added brewing operations to existing business).
• Forney Brewing Co., Forney.
• Glen Rose Brewing Co., Glen Rose.
• Landon Winery, Greenville (contract brewery, added brewing operations to existing business).
• Rios Brewing Co., Grand Prairie (added brewing operations to existing business).
• The 206 Brewery, Roanoke (former Soul Fire Brewing Co. location).

New Locations (not counted as a new opening):

• 903 Brewers, Sherman.
• Bosque River Taphouse, Stephenville.
• Oak Highlands Brewery, Richardson.
• Parker County Brewing Co., Willow Park.
• Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., Fort Worth (alternating proprietorship at Wild Acre Restaurant & Beer Garden).
• Rollertown Beerworks, Frisco.
• Toasty Bros., Denton (formerly an alternating proprietorship at Hop & Sting Brewing Co. of Grapevine).

New Restaurants/Taprooms (non-brewing sites, not counted as a brewery opening):

• Brya Zan Thai Noodle + Brew, Plano (Malai Kitchen side concept).
• Union Bear Brewing Co., McKinney.
• Voodoo Brewing Co. - Castle Hills, Lewisville.
• Voodoo Brewing Co. - Frontier, Prosper.

Temporary Closures:

• Edgewise Eight Brewing, Weatherford - moving to new location (ongoing since September 2024).
• Revolver Brewing, Granbury - moving to new location.
• Soul Fire Brewing Co., Roanoke - moving to new location.

Permanent Closures:

• Barley & Board, Denton.
• Cedar Creek Brewery, Seven Points.
• Outfit Brewing, Dallas.
• Revolver Brewing, Arlington.
• Siren Rock Brewing Co., Rockwall.
• Trinity Forest Brewing Co., Dallas (assumed closure, license expired in April 2025).
  

Ceased Brewing Operations:

• Bendt Distillery, Lewisville (distillery open for business, brewing license expires January 2026).

Consolidations:

• Bankhead Brewing Co., Fort Worth.

Taproom Closures (not counted as a brewery closure).

• Voodoo Brewing Co., Plano.
• Voodoo Brewing Co. - Castle Hills, The Colony.

Source: Individual research.

The Year in Beer 

• A timeline of heady local headlines
  
  January - Celestial Beerworks of Dallas and Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth get the attention of national media with the release of Fred Thirst, an American IPA whose name recalls that of the Limp Bizkit frontman, Fred Durst. Outlets covering the story included: Consequence of Sound, Louder/Metal Hammer, Maxim, Vice and more.
  
  January - Pabst Brewing Co., owners of Texas legacy brands Pearl and Lone Star, announces contract brewing agreement with Anheuser-Busch InBev - this after a pact with Molson Coors expired at the end of 2024. As part of the new deal, Lone Star was the first brand to change venues, moving production from Molson Coors in Fort Worth to Anheuser Busch's facility in Houston.
  
  January - Twin Hospitality Group, operators of Twin Peaks Restaurants and Twin Peaks Brewing Co. in Irving, goes public with an IPO and begins trading on NASDAQ.
  
  February - Celestial Beerworks of Dallas releases Sell the Team, a double hazy IPA "made out of despair and confusion" in response to the shocking NBA trade of Dallas Mavericks star, Luka Dončić.
  
  February - False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills is named Brewery of the Year in the Over 620 bbl group at the 2025 Texas Craft Brewers Cup. It's the third year in a row a Brewery of the Year prize has been awarded to a North Texas brewery.
  
  February - Bishop Cider Co. of Dallas, parent company of Cidercade and Wild Acre Restaurant & Beer Garden, begins serving Wild Acre beers at all North Texas locations of Cidercade.
  
  March - Tired Hands Brewing Co. of Pennsylvania begins distribution to Texas.
  
  April - Surly Brewing Co. of Minnesota begins distribution to Texas.
  
  May - FC Dallas teams with Shiner Beer to unveil exclusive, customized version of the brewery's Mexican-style cerveza, Shiner ¡Órale!. The special release is referred to as a "Futbol Cerveza" on the co-branded packaging.
  
  June - Celestial Beerworks of Dallas releases HopTone, a triple hazy IPA brewed in collaboration with Guitars & Growers to honor the memory of the shop's co-founder, Rob Baker. The beer's name was derived from Baker's guitar-building project, HiTone Guitars.
  
  June - Tupps Brewery of McKinney named state's top brewery by 2025 Texas Travel Awards.
  
  June - Craft beer bills fail to advance during the 89th Texas Legislative Session. Efforts championed by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild: Beers for Steers (tax credit for donating spent grain to farmers), Interfacility Transfer (to allow breweries with multiple locations to transfer their own product between facilities), Beer To You (to allow direct-to-consumer shipping).
  
  June - Local artist receives Platinum Crushies from Craft Beer Marketing Awards for Odd Muse label designs.
  
  June - Peticolas Brewing Co. of Dallas profiled in Pellicle Magazine.
  
  July - Local breweries help with Central Texas flood relief. Participating breweries: 3 Nations Brewing Co. of Carrollton/Anna, Celestial Beerworks of Dallas, Hopfusion Ale Works of Fort Worth, Panther Island Brewing of Fort Worth, Second Rodeo Brewing of Fort Worth, Southern Roots Brewing Co. of Waxahachie, White Rock Brewing Co. of Dallas.
  
  August - Eight One Seven, a dark lager from False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills, appears as part of the "Endless Lager" feature in the Fall 2025 Edition of Craft Beer & Brewing magazine.
  
  August - Rollertown Beerworks of Celina (now Frisco) launches signature tap handle to honor NBA Hall of Famer and Dallas Mavericks legend, Dirk Nowitzki.
  
  September - Windmills Brewery of The Colony hires Marcus Baskerville as its new brewmaster and sales director. Baskerville co-founded Weathered Souls Brewing Co. of San Antonio and was the force behind the Black is Beautiful initiative.
  
  October - North Texas breweries win nine medals at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival (GABF), setting a new record for the number of medals won in a single year by area brewers at the competition.
  
  October - Oak Highlands Brewery of Richardson partners with Hurtado Barbecue to operate an on-site food truck. The restaurant, which has been named among the top barbecue destinations in Texas, has four brick-and-mortar locations in North Texas.
  
  November - Moon Prism Power, a Brett saison with Montmorency cherries from False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills, is reviewed in the Best in Beer 2025 Edition of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine.
  
  December - Live Oak Brewing Co. of Austin begins distribution to North Texas.
  
  

• Pub movement
  
  Another round of closures in the retail space took place in 2025, this after at least ten craft beer-centric venues ceased operations during 2024. The most significant of these was the loss of the Meddlesome Moth, with the gastropub's iconic run coming to an end after 15 years in Dallas.
  
  Others closing this year include Hoppin' Fort Worth, On Tap in Arlington and Pouring Glory of Fort Worth.
  
  On a positive note, three closed locations became home to new residents in 2025.
  
  Beer Me, Fate - formerly Beer Geeks.
  Our Taphouse, Fort Worth - formerly Pouring Glory.
  Prost Taphouse, Frisco - formerly Cork & Growler.
  
  Then, regarding Cork & Growler, the plan was to add a kitchen and move to Prosper. Construction began in the spring at the corner of Preston Rd. and W. Frontier Parkway, but apparently work has since stalled. The last social media update in August suggested an October opening.
  
  Also on the radar is the Canadian-based Craft Restaurant & Beer Market, of which Dallas Stars owner Tom Gaglardi is a partner. What will be the company's first U.S. location is being built in the Preston Center commercial district at W. Northwest Highway and Preston Rd. in Dallas.
  
  

• Ten- and Thirty-year toasts
  
  Milestone moments in 2025 included the 30th anniversary of the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium. The pub got its start in Fort Worth, eventually opening other spots in later years throughout Texas and in Arkansas, North Carolina and Tennessee. These days, there are North Texas locales in Coppell, Fort Worth, Garland and Grapevine (at DFW Airport).
  
  As for other big anniversaries, no fewer than 10 North Texas breweries celebrated their 10th anniversary in 2025, with another, Barley & Board of Denton, closing just six months shy of the 10-year mark.
  
  3 Nations Brewing Co. of Carrollton
  Bitter Sisters Brewing Co. of Addison
  Division Brewing of Arlington
  Four Bullets Brewery of Richardson
  Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery of Garland
  Ivanhoe Ale Works of Denison
  Oak Highlands Brewery of Richardson
  On Rotation Brewery & Kitchen of Dallas
  Texas Ale Project of Dallas
  Tupps Brewery of McKinney
  
  A couple of pubs added their name to the 10-year list as well, those being Brass Tap - Allen and The Bearded Monk of Denton.
  
  Celebrating 10 years in 2026: Bankhead Brewing Co. - Rowlett, HopFusion Ale Works of Fort Worth, Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas, Wild Acre Restaurant & Beer Garden of Fort Worth.
  
  
• North Texas award winners: Click here for listings of award-winning beers from 2025, with competition results from the Great American Beer Festival, World Beer Cup, Texas Craft Brewers Cup, United States Beer Tasting Championship, U.S. Open Beer Championship, Australian International Beer Awards, National Homebrew Competition and Craft Beer Marketing Awards.
  
  

• Cool new quaffs of 2025 (unique and interesting beers encountered that were either new-to-market, or newly-discovered, with a couple of tasty classic styles tossed in for good measure):
  
  3 Nations Woodsmen Oaked IPA
  Armor El Fumador (smoked hefeweizen with Spanish cedar)
  Beard Science Wild Huckleberry Sour
  Black Hawk Winter Ale (blonde barleywine brewed with wheat and honey malt)
  Celestial Opalite (barrel-aged Dubai chocolate-inspired imperial stout)
  False Idol/Southern Roots Old World Oath (Czech dark lager fermented on white oak)
  Forney Hoppy Brown Ale
  Lakewood Lion's Share XIII (Belgian imperial stout with proprietary Trappist yeast)
  Martin House Hearts on Fire Russian Imperial Stout
  Oak Highlands Quad Bless Texas (barrel-aged Belgian quadrupel)
  Odd Muse Old Jolly (barrel-aged barleywine/imperial stout blend)
  On Rotation Loyal Wingman ESB (brewed with Burtonized water)
  Rollertown Cabra Bock
  Vector/Murphy's Law Saath (West Coast IPA with curry spices)

Cheers and Happy New Year!

Bankhead closing brewpub in Fort Worth

Image credit: Bankhead Brewing Co.

Bankhead Brewing Co. has announced the pending closure of its location in Fort Worth.

The company's Fort Worth space opened in August 2021, being the second of three brewpubs under the Bankhead banner. It followed the original in Rowlett, which debuted in 2016, while a third spot opened in Farmers Branch in 2023.

As for the fate of the Fort Worth site, the property was purchased and will be redeveloped by another entity.

From a social media post:

"It's time for a new chapter for Bankhead! Earlier this year, we received an exceptional offer for our Fort Worth property, one that made perfect sense for our long-term plans. We accepted it, and something even bigger is coming into that space soon.

But this isn’t a goodbye story - it’s a growth story. We’re already exploring new locations and are excited for what’s ahead in 2026 and beyond. To our incredible guests and employees: thank you for the love, the memories, and the loyalty. If you’ve shared a beer or a meal with us, you’ll always be part of the Bankhead family."

The final day of service in Fort Worth will be Tuesday, December 30. Note that the Rowlett and Farmers Branch locales will continue to operate business as usual.

Santa's Last Stop is at Beard Science this holiday season

Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

It's not just beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Beard Science Sour House, they've got a whole deck the halls thing going on right now at the brewery and beer hall attached to Truck Yard in The Colony.

For the holiday season, Beard Science has been transformed into "Santa's Last Stop at Truck Yard," a limited-time pop-up bar featuring holiday-themed cocktails, rare whiskey pours, seasonal beers and more, with the surrounding scene decked out to its core with more decor than you can shake a peppermint stick at. Indeed, photo ops abound, whether you choose to strike a pose next to the Christmas tree, under the mistletoe, or in the naughty phone booth off in the corner.

Plus, reminders of classic holiday movies (both traditional and non-traditional) like Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Die Hard  and The Gremlins  are everywhere, with some call-outs found in drink options on the "Santa's Last Stop" special menu.

Along those lines, among the boozy beverages are Bad Santa Sangria, Clark's Irish Java, and Gizmo's Hot Spiked Apple Cider, along with "Naughty Shots" called Resting Grinch Face and Elf Fart. Then, for a non-alcoholic option, there's the Elf-inspired Buddy's Hot Chocolate.

Oh, and just so you don't forget you're at Beard Science, a handful of the brewery's daily Berliner Weisse offerings are on tap, supplemented by seasonal pours of Pumpkin Spiced Ale, Wild Huckleberry Sour and Candy Cane Seltzer.

As for how long the holiday pop-up will last at Truck Yard in The Colony, the displays and drink specials will run through Sunday, January 11 - that includes operating hours on both Christmas and New Year's Day.

After that, the standard array of Beard Science sour beers will return. Though, Brew Boss Dennis Wehrmann says to keep an eye out, as there are more foeder-aged beers and open-fermentation projects in the plans, and he may even serve some beers directly from the foeder in the future.

New brewery looks to leave its footprint in Glen Rose

Texas Honey Blonde one of 10 beers on tap at Glen Rose Brewing Co. (Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

If you find yourself making tracks in the far southwestern region of North Texas, there's a new craft beer destination for your consideration, now that Glen Rose Brewing Co. is open and operating in the city known as the "Dinosaur Capital of Texas." It's the first brewery for Glen Rose and the surrounding county of Somervell.

David Dulcie founded the company, which debuted in early July at 302 Lake View St. on a site that sits just over a mile northeast of Glen Rose's historic downtown district. There, the brewery shares an outdoor public area with a neighboring restaurant called 3B Beers, Brats & Burgers. It's a convenient co-existence, since hungry patrons can order one of the shop's build-your-own burger, bratwurst or grilled chicken baskets at the bar inside the taproom.

On that note, Glen Rose operates within a smaller structure, with the taproom and production space each taking up about half of the available square footage. A two-barrel brewing system sets up in the back, with small-batch fermenters lining the walkway along one side of the building.

From those tanks, finished recipes pour from 10 taps, with most product names calling attention to city's topography and dinosaur heritage. Among those are Brazos Brown Ale and Paluxy Pecan Porter (the Paluxy River is a tributary of the Brazos River), along with Raptor Weizen, TriceraHops Hazy IPA and Fossil Fuel Oatmeal Stout.

Of those sampled, the pecan porter (brewed with 20 pounds of locally roasted nuts) was the favorite, though the brewery's Texas Honey Blonde seemed a popular choice as well. With an ABV of 7.1%, the blonde boasts more strength than is typical for the style, the result of a happy mistake when more honey than intended was added during development, according to the beertender.

Other styles on the board included a helles lager, light lager and a bock. And for the non-beer drinkers, Glen Rose offers Big Rocks Hard Seltzer, which can be enjoyed as-is or customized with one of various flavored syrup options.

As for other amenities, the inside has barstool and community seating, along with a handful of widescreen televisions. Then outside, there are cornhole setups, Adirondack chairs and picnic tables for those wishing for a bit more elbow room. There's also a merch stand with swag featuring the brewery's hop logo centered by a three-toed dinosaur footprint, and if you bring your own growler, they'll fill it with your choice of beer to take home.

Glen Rose Brewing Co. opens for business five days a week, with hours beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, and at noon from Thursday-Sunday.

A visit to the new Bosque River Taphouse in Stephenville

A flight of beers paired with the Hothead Buffalo Ranch Chicken Sando
at Bosque River Taphouse (Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

This weekend, time was spent catching up on new facilities setting up somewhat outside the orbit of the immediate Dallas-Fort Worth area. One of these, Bosque River Taphouse of Stephenville, originally opened in a temporary space in late 2023. The company has since upgraded to an expansive new spot at 320 S. Harbin Dr., just south of the campus of Tarleton State University.

Sean and Amanda Mosher form the duo behind the family-owned business, which completed the move to its new locale in May. The couple now operates the brewery and taproom in a 15,000 square foot building fronted by roughly 7,000 square feet of outdoor space and a sizable dedicated parking lot. 

On the inside, available area is divvied up between larger and smaller dining sections, the kitchen and the brewhouse, with the main dining room surrounded by more than a dozen wide-screen televisions. Then outside, more seating options occupy both covered and open-air patios, the latter finished with artificial turf and outfitted with ping-pong tables and a fire pit.

So, what about the consumables? Well, Bosque River's food menu features a full range of starters, sandwiches, burgers, flatbread pizzas and "Fried Faves" - like chicken fried chicken, chicken fried steak, and fried catfish. They also have "STX Style" southwestern specialties (tacos, nachos, quesadillas), "Heart Healthy" salads and a kids menu.

For beverages, in addition to wine, cocktails and a full bar, 16 taps pour house beers and a handful of guest offerings. Bosque River recipes include Top Goat Texas Bock (maybe their best beer), Don't Feed This to Your Cows Wheat Ale, Sunfisher IPA (the brewery's Citra-infused flagship) and States Up Texas Lager - the official lager of Tarleton State Athletics. Also rotating in are sour ales, blondes, a hefeweizen, Kölsch, light lager, seltzers and more.

As for the vibe, Bosque River Taphouse was built to be a family-friendly destination for all, with the goal of bringing people together while being an active part of the community, as opposed to just another place to eat. Of course, given the proximity to Tarleton State, university students are bound to become part of the brewery fam as well. Either way, Bosque River would seem to be an ideal hangout for Stephenville locals, whether they're looking to grab a beer and a bite while catching the game, or simply catching a break from their studies.

Bosque River Taphouse serves patrons six days a week, with hours beginning at 11 a.m. from Tuesday-Saturday, and 10 a.m. on Sunday.

Lakewood now serving up brews and bites all day long

Bacon Me Crazy, the Flatbread of the Month at the Lakewood Kitchen (Image: Cassie Henderson).

Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland looks to become a regular lunch destination for its patrons, as the company has expanded its hours to allow more time to enjoy the Lakewood Kitchen's lineup of "not your typical pub fare," which includes shareables, salads, sandwiches, flatbread pizzas and desserts.

The brewery first opened its on-site kitchen in the fall of 2022, but lunch service was originally only offered later in the week and on weekends. Now, taproom visitors can order a midday meal seven days a week, with hours beginning at 11 a.m.

“Our kitchen team has been knocking it out of the park, and we wanted more people to experience that,” says Wim Bens, founder and president of Lakewood. “Lunch gives us another opportunity to surprise guests with what brewery food can be.”

As for the menu, one highlight is the brewery's rotating "Flatbread of the Month." This month's selection, created by line cook Juan Fleming, is appropriately named Bacon Me Crazy. It features a crispy crust and an alfredo-sauced base layered with mozzarella, bacon, spinach, marinated cherry tomatoes and a Temptress balsamic drizzle.

On that note, several other dishes also incorporate flavors from the brewery's range of beers - Lakewood Lager enriches the jalapeño queso, the Bavarian Pretzel is served with Temptress-infused mustard, and the Prosciutto Flatbread is finished with a Temptress reduction.

For more details on the everyday food offerings at Lakewood, check out the full menu posted on the brewery's website at https://lakewoodbrewing.com/taproom-food-menu/.

Lake Saucer hosting Burlington beer dinner on New Year's Eve

Image credits: Flying Saucer Draught Emporium, Burlington Beer Co.

Ring in the New Year at the Flying Saucer Draught Emporium located on the banks of Lake Ray Hubbard in Garland with an exclusive pairdiné featuring  Burlington Beer Company on Wednesday, December 31 at 7:30pm.

Established in 2014, the Vermont-based brewery is known for creating recipes that bring together a variety of local and international ingredients to infuse unique flavors into classic beer styles. Come New Year's Eve, examples of their work will be expertly paired with a five-course menu during this special dinner experience.

Tickets for the event are $85 per person, not including tax and gratuity. Reservations are required and space is limited. For more information or to secure your spot, call 972-226-0725. 

Amuse Bouche
Hamachi Crudo
(sushi-grade yellowtail, cucumber pico, cilantro)
w/
Mango Whale Cake Fruit Beer (5.5% ABV)

Appetizer
Boudin-Stuffed Peppers
(bacon, bell pepper, Monterey Jack)
w/
Intangible Tides Triple IPA (10% ABV)

Soup
French Onion
(beef broth, baguettes, gruyere)
w/
Barista Single Origin Coffee Porter (7.3% ABV)

Entree
Lamp Lollipop
(sunchoke puree, mint chimichurri)
w/
Oaken Hive Barleywine (11.4% ABV)

Dessert
Apple Crumble with Ice Cream
w/
Seances & Sacrifices Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Maple Stout (11.5% ABV)

Lochland's to host holiday beer dinner, December 11

Image courtesy of Lochland's Irish Pub.

Lochland's Irish Pub of Dallas is set to celebrate the holidays with a winter beer dinner on Thursday, December 11 at 7 p.m. The four-course holiday-inspired dinner will be paired with five hand-selected beers showcasing seasonal flavors.

Tickets are $60 per person for the full experience or $45 per person for dinner only without beer pairings - click here to make reservations. For more information on Lochland's, including the pub's address, operating hours and everyday menus, visit www.lochlandsdallas.com.

Beer Selections
Kronenbourg 1663 Blanc Witbier (5% ABV)
Samuel Smith Yorkshire Stingo (8% ABV)
Ayinger Celebrator Doppelbock (6.7% ABV)
Guinness Stout (4.2% ABV)
Lindemans Framboise (2.5% ABV)

First Course
Petite Cheese Board
(aged gouda, spiced nuts, dried fruits, crackers)

Second Course
Winter Salad
(Cashel blue cheese, green apple, crispy black pudding)

Third Course
Beef & Guinness Pie
(slow braised beef, root vegetables, homemade butter shortcrust)

Fourth Course
Chocolate Pot de Creme
(rich dark chocolate custard, fresh cream, cocoa nibs)

Tilray closing Revolver taproom in Granbury, planning new location

Image credit: Tilray Brands.

In February of this year, Tilray Brands announced operational changes affecting Revolver Brewing of Granbury. This news came six months after the company acquired Revolver from Molson Coors in September 2024.

At the time, the plan was to move large-scale brewing operations to other Tilray facilities (non-resident brewer's licenses exist for company-owned breweries in Colorado, Georgia, Oregon and Wisconsin), with the Granbury taproom carrying on while focused on small-batch, "innovative brews." A license covering Revolver's satellite location at Texas Live in Arlington was surrendered in February as well, with that locale now operating as a Blue Moon-branded taproom.

Today, a subsequent announcement on Revolver's social media channels has indicated the Granbury taproom will close on Saturday, December 6, ahead of an intended move to a new location. This was perhaps foreshadowed by the pending sale of Revolver's equipment through New Mill Capital and the approaching expiration of the Granbury license on December 12.

As for where Revolver's taproom may end up, details on a potential destination were not revealed.

Murphy's Law building brewery and pizzeria in Burleson

Image credit: Murphy's Law Brewery & Pizzeria.

A name long familiar to the industry is set to take the next big step on its journey, as Murphy's Law Brewery & Pizzeria has signed a lease on a 4,000 square foot location in The Standard at Chisenhall development at 309 W. Hidden Creek Parkway in Burleson.

Michael and Sandra Murphy are the husband-and-wife team behind Murphy's Law, which began as a homebrewing project carrying the family name roughly a decade ago. Along the way, the Murphys created recipes and participated in events like The Riverside Shootout (2017, 2018) at Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth, and Luckapalooza (2018, 2019) at the craft beer-centric restaurant, LUCK in Dallas, prior to its closure in early 2020.

Beyond their homebrewing endeavors, Michael was a crewmember at the brewers' supply shop, Texas Brewing Inc./Pro Brew Supply, while Sandra went on to join Panther Island Brewing of Fort Worth in 2019, working her way up to the position of head brewer, a pioneering promotion for a North Texas female, in June 2021.

Now, after spending the early part of 2025 doing research and formulating a business plan, the couple is set to embark on a new adventure as they develop Murphy's Law Brewery & Pizzeria with partners Shawn Howell, owner of Southside Cellar in Fort Worth, and Ben Walter, creative and culinary director at Southside Cellar and part of the Priory Brewing Collective.

Of course, after all this time, one might wonder what inspired the Murphys to finally establish a brewery of their own.

"We both were tired of living other's dreams and decided to follow our own," says Michael. "Everything came together perfect, where we are in our lives, the location, and Shawn and Ben helping on the ends we don't know."

Once up and running, Murphy's Law will be the first 100% grain-to-glass brewing operation in Burleson. It'll be a female-led business, with Sandra presiding over brewing operations and Michael handling front-of-house duties as general manager.

In the production space, house beers will be brewed on a 3.5-barrel system, with those recipes and products from other beverage-makers filling out the daily menu.

"We plan on having twenty taps, ten that will be Murphy's Law beers," says Michael. "Another five will be guest taps - styles we won't brew with local stuff from our friends in Dallas-Fort Worth. Then, the last five will be non-beer options - seltzer, mead, etc."

On the subject of what they will  brew, the Murphy's Law portfolio will feature a mix of styles, with anything from everyday lagers to original recipes like the company's Cinnamon Toast Crunch Cream Ale appearing on the tapwall.

"I've been a student of craft beer for a decade, and I believe our offerings will reflect that," says Sandra. "I love a Czech lager as much as I love the cereal beer our Luckapalooza fans know us for. Of course we will have a hazy IPA, but I'm most excited about a rotating IPA series we have planned to honor our friend Charlie Pelletier."

Pelletier, who passed away in March 2024, was a devoted local craft beer advocate and the admin of Fort Worth Craft Beer, a Facebook group focused on brewery news in the Panther City. He was also known for taking a sip of a newly-poured pint and saying, "God, I love this beer!" Taking that to heart, the IPA series will be named after this phrase or something similar.

As for the food offerings, Walter will serve as culinary director at Murphy's Law. After being involved with Black Kat Pizza in Fort Worth, Walter is now working to advance the pizza program at Southside Cellar. Plus, he's been collaborating with the team at Vector Brewing of Dallas to perfect the dough they'll be using at Murphy's Law.

So, when is all of this expected to happen? Construction is set to begin on Murphy's Law Brewery & Pizzeria after the first of the year, with the goal to be open by next summer (ideally in time for the World Cup). Readers can stay up-to-date on the progress of the build-out by following the company's social media channels on Facebook and Instagram.

An intro to Priory, a craft beer, culinary and community-driven concept

Image credit: Priory.

For some, the idea of a ghost or gypsy brewer is one aspect of the brewing industry that might be unfamiliar. Practically, the two terms are the same in that they describe a brewer who does not have a physical facility.

That said, ghost brewing is not to be confused with an alternating proprietorship arrangement, where two (or more) licensed entities share a physical space. Ghost brewers are not licensed, with the gypsy descriptor being fitting if the brewer travels to and collaborates with a variety of different breweries.

Locally, BlackMan Brewing is perhaps the most well-known ghost brewer to operate in North Texas, while Smittox Brewing has been taking this approach more recently as the company works to open a brick-and-mortar location in Dallas.

Smittox, incidentally, highlights a typical goal of the ghost brewer, that being to build brand recognition before committing to a larger investment in the pursuit of opening their own brewery. And with regard to their overall approach, creativity and experimentation are the hallmarks of these nomadic wort wranglers.

This brings us to the newest entry into the category for North Texas, a group that goes by the name of Priory (@priorybeer on IG). A partnership between Collin Zreet (Advanced Cicerone, former co-owner of Funky Picnic Brewery & Cafe of Fort Worth), Ben Walter (creative and culinary director at Southside Cellar of Fort Worth) and John McCurdy, Priory identifies as part ghost brewery, part dinner series.

A priory, of course, brings to mind a monastery, and indeed the principles behind Priory are rooted in the characteristic behaviors of monks and their well-known devotion to community.

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"The guiding ethos - to know the unknown guest - shapes every aspect of hospitality. The table is central: a place where strangers become friends, where slowness and presence are valued, and where the wild, unseen work of yeast and time become metaphors for renewal.

Priory’s identity draws from ancient monastic rhythms, punk aesthetics and culinary innovation. The tone is contemplative yet gritty, reverent yet grounded. Each beer and dinner tells a story - of patience, transformation and belonging."

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Established in 2024, Priory debuted its first collaboration beer earlier this year at Turning Point Beer of Bedford. Punk Monk was a farmhouse ale/hazy IPA hybrid brewed with flaked oats and fermented with a strain of Brettanomyces yeast. The formulation was also emblematic of the types of beers consumers can expect to see from Priory going forward. 

"All of our creations will blur the lines between beer styles, including non-traditional ingredients with a focus on culinary compatibility," says Zreet.

Punk Monk was released before beer dinners were added to the concept, but look for the pairing portion of the program to be introduced with the next Priory creation. That recipe, a Japanese-inspired saison is being aged in a foeder at Vector Brewing of Dallas, with the associated beer dinner set to occur on December 15.

As for whether or not Priory has further aspirations beyond its current incarnation?

"Right now, it's just something fun," says Zreet. "We'll see if it turns into anything."

On the mead-maker behind the white door in Wylie

 Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

If you've got a need for mead in North Texas, options for enjoying a honey-based fermented beverage are unfortunately somewhat slim. There are only a handful of active producers in the area, and even then, not all of them have a taproom.

For those wishing to sit and sip for a spell, one possibility is Texas Longhouse Meadery, located behind an unassuming white door at 2311 E. Stone Rd. in Wylie. Owned by Carlos and Kayla Herrera, both military veterans, the business is nearing its one-year anniversary, having debuted in December 2024.

On the menu at Texas Longhouse, you'll encounter a mix of traditional and session meads. Everyday pours consist of lightly-carbonated, lower-strength taps (6% ABV) like Odin's Gift (traditional), Raided Gold (lemon with lemon drop hops), Baldur (mango) and Lothbrok (peach), along with stronger stills (12-13% ABV) in the form of Skål (traditional, barrel-aged), Tyr's Vindrue (oak-aged with Chilean Malbec grapes) and Asgard's Orchard (cranberry and apple).

There are also limited and seasonal selections favoring the sturdier side of the strength spectrum, with barrel-aged meads and bochets (caramelized honey meads) being featured offerings.

Of the regulars sampled, Baldur was the favorite, though the rotator Idunn's Reserve (apple mead aged in Amburana barrels - 13% ABV) was also a satisfying sipper. Among others, a sneak peak of Surtur (smoked pineapple and chipotle - 13% ABV) was particularly intriguing, while Law Giver (inspired by the Old Fashioned cocktail - 13% ABV) came highly recommended by fellow patrons.

As for the setting, the meadery is part of a backroads destination with Wylie Urban Farm & Market. The taproom is small, but cozy and welcoming with low lighting and a dark color motif giving the space a sort of hideaway feel. But then it's an appropriate ambiance, given that Texas Longhouse is a bit off the beaten path.

It's an urban escape, to be sure, and one that's designed to bring together the community of like-minded mead drinkers - the latter fitting the vision of what a longhouse was used for historically. And taken together, it all makes for a nice little Nordic nook, tucked away on the far eastern edge of North Texas.

Texas Longhouse Meadery is open five days a week, with hours beginning at 2 p.m. Wednesday-Friday, and at noon on Saturday and Sunday.

Rollertown ready to debut new HQ in Frisco

Exterior views of the new Rollertown HQ in Frisco (Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

By now, you've surely heard that Rollertown Beerworks is moving operations from its original home in Celina. Founded in 2020 by brothers Jonathan and Ben Rogers, along with Jeff "Skin" Wade (the latter two of "The Ben & Skin Show" on 97.1 The Eagle), the company is preparing to open a colossal new brewing complex located at 6450 Main St. in Downtown Frisco.

So, why Downtown Frisco? For one thing, the choice of destination shortens the drive for many of Rollertown's fans. At the same time, those involved wanted bring the factory back to urban America, and where better than Frisco, arguably one of the more vibrant cities in North Texas and homebase for companies like the Dallas Cowboys, the Dallas Stars, FC Dallas, the PGA of America and more.

"Manufacturing in America is not happening on Main St. anymore, so for us this brings in a beautiful connectivity," says Jonathan Rogers, CEO of Rollertown. "We want people to develop a connection to the product and a connection to the place."

Connecting to residents and visitors to the city is a virtual given, since Rollertown exists as a sort of anchor point directly between Toyota Stadium (home to FC Dallas) and Downtown Frisco. Coupled with the proximity to Main St., that means there will always be activity and energy in and around the campus.

Plus, the inner workings of the brewery will be visible to even the casual observer, thanks to sightlines into the brewhouse reaching Main St. pedestrians. And if anyone wants a closer look, they can simply step into a fishbowl-like spot that's been fashioned along the west side of the 15,000 square foot production building.

Speaking of making beer, when not brewing Rollertown's flagship Kölsch, The Big German, head brewer Tommy Miller and the production team will be operating from a position of maximum flexibility with 30-bbl, 7-bbl and 1-bbl brewing systems on-site.

"The good thing about having the three sizes is we'll be able to do lots of small batch stuff, so our taproom will always have a good mix," says Miller. "We'll have something for everybody, with hazies all the way down to Shiner Bock-type beers."

Then, on the topic of what food will be available to pair with Rollertown's beers, dining options will take one of two forms. Parking spots are reserved for a pair of food trucks, while the taproom will house a full-service kitchen (coming soon). From there, the plan is to have a mix of pizza, burgers, tacos or barbecue available at all times.

The beauty of the place, though, may be in the different ways you can choose to spend your time at Rollertown.

"We're shooting for a bunch of different experiences," says Rogers. "If you come back multiple times per week, the experience can be different every time depending on where you sit."

Indeed, patrons can sit inside or out, upstairs or down, out front or in the back, this while enjoying views of various buildings in the downtown district, the city's historic silos or the soccer stadium.

For indoor ambiance, Rollertown's taproom layouts offer two distinctly different vibes totaling over 6,000 square feet. The downstairs is more pub-like, with lowered ceilings giving the space a more intimate feel. Upstairs, though, it's a sports bar atmosphere, with high ceilings, a large bar top centering the space, and three 110" televisions (and flanking smaller screens) providing visual entertainment.

If you prefer the great outdoors, there's the "Front Yard," a 4300 square foot beer garden with Toyota Stadium sighted in the distance, or the "Back Yard," a 25,000 square foot artificial turf lawn which fronts the silos and a stage installation featuring a 17x11-foot audio/video screen mounted on its back wall. You can also escape the sun, if you so desire, under covered porch areas extending from the taproom both upstairs and down. 

What about other amenities? Well, there's a merch zone, coolers for to-go beer, and with Rollertown's house-blended spirits program, the brewery will be the only place in the city where you can buy a bottle of vodka or whiskey - since liquor stores aren't allowed in Frisco.

There are also multiple private rooms for rent, including one called the "Pico Room" inside the brewhouse. Once completed, it will have its own bar, televisions and house beers on tap, making it an ideal space for corporate events, bachelor parties, fantasy football drafts or homebrew gatherings. Moreover, there's the option of making your own 1-bbl batch of beer with the brew crew.

Add to all of that some of the brewery's signature events - Ben & Skin remotes, Branoofunck nights, Cowboys/Mavs/Stars watch parties, and live lucha libre and sumo tournaments - and it stands to reason that there will always be a lot going on at Rollertown. But then, that fits right into the idea of siting the brewery centerstage within the hustle and bustle of the city.

Of course, this is just a taste of what Rollertown's new HQ has to offer. If you want to learn more, you'll just have come to Frisco and find out for yourself.

With that, grand opening festivities are on tap for this week, with an Official Ribbon Cutting and live music on Friday, Lucha on the Lawn on Saturday, and a Cowboys Watch Party on Sunday. Some events have ticketing options for reserved seating, so click through the links for more information.

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.