Lakewood releases new and renewed seasonals for summer

Image credit: Lakewood Brewing Co.

Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland has released two beers, one being new, while the other is a returning favorite.

The new beer is Fruition Pineapple Ginger Blonde (4.2% ABV), which is described as "light and ridiculously refreshing with just the right pop of juicy pineapple up front and a little ginger spice on the finish to keep things interesting. Golden, bright, and built for easy drinking, it’s smooth, and seriously crushable."

As for the legacy beer Lakewood is bringing back into the summer seasonal fold, Raspberry Temptress (9.1% ABV) launched the brewery's limited Seduction Series in 2014. Infused with fresh raspberries, this Temptress variant is "raspberry forward with a hint of coffee."

“If you don’t walk through our doors a beer lover, we hope you’ll find your perfect match by the time you leave,” says Wim Bens, founder and president of Lakewood. “We keep two dozen options rotating on tap that range from IPAs and lagers to popular seasonal releases and new varieties like Fruition Pineapple Ginger Blonde and Raspberry Temptress, one of the many riffs on our flagship Temptress.”

Fruition Pineapple Ginger Blonde and Raspberry Temptress are now available on tap at the Lakewood Taproom, as well as on craft beer shelves throughout Texas. To find a location near you, click the link to access the Lakewood Beer Finder.

East Dallas Brewing Co. no longer in development

Image credit: East Dallas Brewing Co.

The principals behind the highly-anticipated East Dallas Brewing Co. have decided to cease development on the venture which had targeted the city's popular Lower Greenville neighborhood.

First announced in early 2024 by a founding group consisting of John Mitchell, Michael Stone and Andrew Huerter, the company had begun to introduce itself by way of collaborations with Lakewood Brewing Co. and Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery, both of Garland. From there, East Dallas last poured preview beers at the 2025 Big Texas Beer Fest.

As for the future, Huerter currently has eyes on a new beer project, the details of which will be revealed once due diligence has been completed. Prior to more recent stints with Oak Highlands Brewery of Dallas and Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth, Huerter was the head brewer at BrainDead Brewing of Dallas, which closed in November 2021.

Oak & Stone opens first Texas franchise in McKinney

Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

A new craft kitchen with "loaded taps" is encouraging patrons to make pour decisions, now that it's open in a recently-built retail center at 8575 W. University Dr. (U.S. 380) in McKinney.

First founded in 2015, Oak & Stone is a Florida-based concept under the Artistry Restaurants banner featuring a self-pour tapwall experience. As of now, the company has eight locations in Florida, with McKinney being the first one established in Texas. It won't be the last, though, since another locale is set to open later this year in Addison.

A sign declaring that "Beer Tastes Better in McKinney" is the first thing you'll notice when entering the new North Texas spot, which consists of around 6,000 square feet. Seating options are split between the indoor public space, and a covered patio section outdoors.

On the consumables, the food menu at Oak & Stone has an elevated pub grub feel (apps, wings, pizzas, burgers/handhelds, salads), but the centerpiece of the place is certainly the self-pour tapwall. And it's not all about barley and hops, as upwards of 50 rotating handles pour beer, wine, cocktails and spirits (tequila, whiskey), as well as non-alcoholic options including root beer, soda, lemonade and more.

Roughly half of the taps are devoted to craft beer, with products primarily sourced from local breweries. Current selections hail from 3 Nations, Armor, Community, Lakewood, Manhattan Project, Martin House, Peticolas, Rollertown, Texas Ale Project, Three Wide and Tupps.

The closest thing to a macro on tap was a beer from Golden Road, with others beers like Lone Star and Shiner available in cans behind the bar.

As for pricing, most draft pours run $0.50 - $0.60 per ounce, with dark beers (porter, stout) and a fruited sour being higher-priced outliers. Beers may be poured into a provided pint glass, snifter, or a collection of sample glasses, with flight boards available to transport the latter.

Oak & Stone - McKinney serves patrons daily, with hours beginning at 11 a.m. from Monday-Friday, and at 10 a.m. on Saturday and Sunday.

Beer, BBQ & burros: A look at Village Creek Brewing Co. in Rendon

Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

If you're looking for a place to go where you can get away from it all, a new venue in Rendon may be just the sort of spot you seek. What's more, with the primary offerings being craft beer and barbecue, one wonders what more does a Texan need?

Founded by Art & Sunny Anderson, you could certainly call Village Creek Brewing Co. a labor of love, considering the couple has been working to make the business a reality since 2019. That year, they poured beer at Luckapalooza V, hosted by LUCK at Trinity Groves, while they were scouting locations for their future endeavor.

By the end of 2019, the Andersons had purchased a 4.7-acre site in Rendon, with the brewery and an expansive biergarten set to front the property while occupying around an acre of that land at 6690 Levy County Rd.

So, why did it take six years to get here? Well, to start, there was this pandemic thing that caused a few disruptions. Beyond that, by all accounts Village Creek was built by the family from the ground up, almost completely by hand. The result being the very definition of a destination brewery, given the remote, rural locale and wooded surroundings.

As for what the experience is like at Village Creek, it begins with the aforementioned beer and barbecue.

Liquids pour from upwards of 20 taps, with the menu featuring mostly classic styles or slight variants of such. Examples include This Spuds for You (potato cream ale), Hopfire Amber (hoppy amber ale), Big L Vanilla Porter and a favorite of those sampled, Blackwater Scotch Ale. You could even turn back the clock with a pint of Threat Level Midnight, a peanut butter and chocolate milk stout dating back to the Luckapalooza days.

Among other beverages available, Village Creek's house hard seltzer can be enhanced with one of four flavoring options, while those preferring wine can choose from varieties bottled by Burning Daylight Estate Vineyard & Winery of Mansfield.

Then for non-alcoholic drinks, canned soda and bottled tea are sold at the Smokehouse Republic food trailer, an on-site barbecue purveyor. There, hungry patrons can order from a food menu consisting of brisket options (sandwiches, nachos), smashburgers and more.

And entertainment? If communing with nature while holding a beer in hand isn't quite enough, you can find widescreen televisions and board games in the taproom, with cornhole and giant connect four set-ups outside. There are also donkeys in an attached pen, who appear to quite enjoy poking their heads through the fence line for a friendly pat.

That brings us to the topic of when to visit, as Village Creek has been opening at noon on weekends - beer and food stock permitting. Given the latter, it's best to check the brewery's social media channels for updates before heading down south.

A look at 2025 North Texas production numbers

Click to enlarge.

This is the annual update of the breakdown of brewery sizes in North Texas, based on 2025 production data as reported to the Brewers Association (BA) and published in the May/June 2026 issue of The New Brewer.

Note, not all brewing companies provide their numbers, and some report statistics combining multiple locations. For 2025, roughly 80% of brewing companies active in North Texas are accounted for in the BA's production report.

Data also includes production from breweries that closed during the course of 2025. 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:

Brewery tiers in North Texas, based on production (shown alphabetically):

     Regional (> 15,000 bbls)

• Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas.

     Large (> 10,000 bbls)

• Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth.

     Mid-Size (> 5000 bbls)

• Community Beer Co. of Dallas.
• Four Corners Brewing Co. of Dallas.
• HopFusion Ale Works of Fort Worth.
• Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth.
• Tupps Brewery of McKinney.
• Twin Peaks Brewing Co. of Irving.
• Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton/Plano.
  
  

Tier movement

• Advancing from "Small" to "Mid-Size" tier: Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton/Plano.
• Moving from "Large" to "Mid-Size" tier: Community Beer Co. of Dallas.

Year-to-year production change

• At 54%, just over half of the breweries in North Texas reported a drop in production during 2025 (flat compared to 55% reporting declines in 2024).
• Overall production in North Texas was down 3% for those reporting in 2024 and 2025 (compared to a 6% overall decline in 2024).
• Comparison: Craft beer volume was down 4% nationally in 2025, according to the Brewers Association.

Significant year-to-year production gains (based on those reporting in 2024 and 2025)

• For the fourth year in a row, Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas had the largest year-to-year gain in raw barrels produced locally for 2025. The brewery is now the fourth largest craft beer producer in all of Texas, behind Gambrinus Co. of San Antonio (Shiner), Saint Arnold Brewing Co. of Houston, and Real Ale Brewing Co. of Blanco.
• 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, Four Corners Brewing Co. of Dallas, Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas, Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth, Oak Highlands Brewery of Richardson, Rollertown Beerworks of Frisco, Three Wide Brewing Co. of Fort Worth, and Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton/Plano.
  

Lucky Vines closes tasting room in Dublin

Image credit: Lucky Brewing Co.

Lucky Vines Vineyard & Winery has announced the closure of its tasting room in Dublin. While not explicitly mentioned, this presumably means the company's side project, Lucky Brewing Co., is closing as well.

Owners Jeff and Kimberley Hutchins added house beers to the menu in August 2021, roughly three years after opening the winery in late 2018. The company's name and logo had an Irish theme, in deference to the more famous Dublin city across the pond, which extended to stylistic beer offerings like Beour Blonde, Emerald Isle IPA and Luck-in Bock.

From a social media post:

"After much consideration, we have made the difficult decision to close the Lucky Vines Vineyard & Winery Tasting Room."

This is not goodbye to Lucky Vines — it is simply the closing of one chapter and the beginning of another.

While our Tasting Room has closed, Lucky Vines will continue through wine sales, private events, and honoring all currently booked events. We are excited for what the future holds and look forward to continuing to share wine and special memories with you."

Second Rodeo joins Firefly Park project in Frisco

Rendering of Firefly Park in Frisco (Wilks Development).

For the past two years, Second Rodeo Brewing of Fort Worth has been actively exploring options for a second location, with the latest possibility - a least in North Texas - a new development being built in North Frisco.

Coming from Wilks Development of Fort Worth, Firefly Park is a mixed-used urban village set to occupy a 217-acre tract of land on the southwest corner of the Dallas North Tollway and U.S. 380, expanding down to PGA Parkway.

According to a press release, once completed "Firefly Park will feature 3 million square feet of Class A office space, 400,000 square feet of retail, dining, and entertainment, 1,200 hotel rooms, 230 townhomes, and 1,970 residential units."

Second Rodeo signed on as a tenant in late April. The brewpub, a concept from Jason Boso and Brain Storm Shelter (the group behind Truck Yard), debuted its original location in the Fort Worth Stockyards during the summer of 2021.

"Second Rodeo Brewing has always been about more than cold beer and good food - it’s about creating a place where the outlaw spirit is alive and the live music never stops,” says Boso. “Frisco is growing quickly and deserves a destination that grows with it, making Firefly Park a natural fit. We built Second Rodeo as a full experience, with house-brewed beer, strong cocktails, great food, and live music every day - all coming together to create a place people want to stay awhile."

It should be noted that plans for Second Rodeo - Frisco are in the very early stages, and details could change (dirt is moving at the site, with condos and office space under construction). Based on the current outlook, the brewpub is scheduled to open in Fall 2027, alongside other first phase retail, residential, office and hotel elements of Firefly Park.

As for other expansion options, Brain Storm Shelter previously looked into adding a Second Rodeo location in Richardson in mid-2024. That project is now a Truck Yard (with no attached brewing operation), opening later this year.

And if we're talking further out, both in terms of timeline and geography, Second Rodeo has eyes on San Antonio for its first location outside of North Texas.

Dirty Job closing brewery in Mansfield

Image credit: Dirty Job Brewing.

Dirty Job Brewing has announced it will close its doors in Mansfield.

A group made of Derek and Lashawn Hubenak, along with Justin Watson, opened Dirty Job on N. Main St. in Historic Downtown Mansfield during the summer of 2017. And at the time, it was the city's first and only brewing operation.

The brewery's most popular beer was The Short Stack, a maple pecan porter, though a personal favorite was Sluggo's Black EyePA. Dirty Job also produced No Big Dill, a cucumber wheat, throughout its run, with that beer and The Short Stack being examples of the company's trademark willingness to experiment with different flavors in its recipes.

From a social media post:

"We are ready to let you all know. It has taken some thinkin’, some reflectin’ and a lot of back-and-forth decidin’. We are officially closing up shop here in Mansfield. 

Do not be sad for us. We came to this decision for multiple reasons, but mostly because we are ready to get back our time as a family and for our family, as well as some close friends.

Over 9 years, we have done more than we could imagine for our community and the vision we shared with our fellow small business owners and the city representatives that we knew saw what could be. We took the leap and put our full efforts, savings, earnings, hearts, blood, sweat, and sincerity into building something that would instill a heartbeat for this amazing Historic Downtown to thrive. We could not be more proud of what we know we have accomplished, especially when we saw the tragedy of so many small businesses collapse during the few years of the pandemic/post-effects. We doubled-down, worked harder, fought for everyone we could and succeeded.

Recent things have put us in the spot to make the decision. You cannot get back your time with loved ones. You cannot get back every day you are given to make memories and cherished moments. We will cherish the moments we have made and helped make in the welcoming environment we built and know you will, as well. So many friendships and even relationships we have seen spark and solidify before us truly warms our hearts."

As for its final day of business, Dirty Job will close after a "Drinko-Goodbye-o!" farewell event on Saturday, May 2.

Blue Flag now flying over familiar Fort Worth spot

Single malt in the bottle, Blue Flag Pale Ale in the glass (Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

A new beverage alcohol business called Blue Flag Distillery has taken over a long-time familiar spot in the Near Southside neighborhood of Fort Worth.

Led by Will Rucker and Nate Swan, Blue Flag replaces Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. at 701 Galveston Ave., with the brewery's former taproom transformed into a special event space known as The Vault. Blue Flag has been hosting private events there for a few weeks, but a Saturday soft opening was the first time The Vault's doors were open to the public.

Incidentally, Rucker comes from an oil and gas background, while Swan spent many years as a cellarman and brewer at Rahr & Sons, which for him means this new venture makes for a full-circle moment.

So, what's the "blue flag" all about? It's drawn from a tradition built around neighborhood gatherings. Symbolic of an open invitation, if a blue flag was being flown outside of someone's house, it meant friends were free to stop by for community, conversation and a bit of food and drink.

Now, a blue flag flies not only over the entryway to The Vault, but also over the brewhouse in the production area. Among remaining equipment from Rahr & Sons, the brewhouse is the origin point for both house-brewed beer and the distillery's flagship American single malt whiskey.

For the single malt, the "American" designation is new, as "American Single Malt Whiskey" was officially recognized as a category by the U.S. Government in January 2025. Though, at Blue Flag, you could arguably add a "Texan" tag as well, since Blue Flag is partnering with Fort Worth-based TexMalt to source 100% of their malted barley from Texas farms.

In terms of product lines, beer options currently include a rice lager, house lager and a pale ale, with other styles like an IPA and stout in the works. Then on the spirits side, in addition to single malt whiskey, Blue Flag is bottling gin and straight rye whiskey. And like most distilleries just starting out, Blue Flag is outsourcing whiskey to sell (finished, blended and bottled on-site) while its own liquid is aging.

Still to debut is the Tasting Room at Blue Flag, the distillery's retail space being set up at 700 S. Main St. in a building adjacent to the former location of Locust Cider. Until that happens, public access would presumably be limited to pop-up dates at The Vault, so stay tuned to Blue Flag's social media channels (Facebook, Instagram) for upcoming opportunities to visit.

Manhattan Project working to build facility in Waco

Foster Pavilion and parking garage at Baylor University (City of Waco).

According to the minutes of a council meeting held by the City of Waco on Tuesday, a North Texas brewery may one day be operating a new location within its borders.

Council members approved a lease agreement that would allow Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas to construct a 10,260 square foot facility at 600 S. University Parks Dr. in Waco, the targeted location a retail development on the ground floor of the parking garage serving Foster Pavilion at Baylor University.

To be built by K4 Construction, site functions would involve the "operation of a craft beer brewing and manufacturing facility, including the production, packaging, storage and distribution of  beer; a taproom and bar for on-site consumption; a full-service restaurant and kitchen serving elevated bar foods and chef driven menu items; and a coffee and beverage concept." 

Manhattan Project produces beer at its original site on Sulphur St. in West Dallas, as well as at Four Corners Brewing Co. in The Cedars. Last summer, the company also explored the possibility of expanding to Mesquite, but it is not known if that initiative is still under consideration.

As for the Waco site, it's projected to open by May 1, 2027.

3 Nations notches another win at 2026 World Beer Cup

Image credit: Brewers Association.

Tonight in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, winners were announced at the 2026 World Beer Cup (WBC).

While the WBC hasn't always been a yearly event (annual competitions began in 2022), this was the 30th anniversary of the first WBC, which took place in 1996. Over that period, 24 beers brewed in North Texas have been recognized as being among the best in the world.

For 2026, in a repeat of last year's result, 3 Nations Brewing Co. of Carrollton was the lone North Texas honoree, taking a bronze for its year-round Mexican lager, Texian. It's the third overall WBC award for 3 Nations, having previously won medals at the 2022 and 2025 competitions.

Competition Statistics:

• 8,166 beers judged based on entries sent by 1,644 breweries and cideries representing 50 countries worldwide. For a historical comparison, 600 entries were submitted by 250 participating breweries in 1996.
• 356 medals awarded across 119 style categories covering craft beer (114) and cider (5).
• Most-entered categories in ranked order: West Coast-Style IPA, Juicy or Hazy IPA, Classic IPA.

Medals

• 3 Nations Brewing Co. of Carrollton: Bronze for Texian - Mexican-Style Light Lager.

Cheers and congrats to 3 Nations!

Craft, a new Canadian beer and food concept, now open in Dallas

The beer - Manhattan Project White Sands Witbier, the food - Brewmaster Chicken Sandwich (Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

A new Canadian import is now serving up a wide-ranging menu of beer and bites in the Preston Center commercial district of North Dallas.

Simply called Craft, the restaurant located at 5974 W. Northwest Hwy is part of a venture founded by entrepreneur, P.J. L'Heureux. And since debuting the first Craft location in 2011, his company has gone on to open nine restaurants in seven Canadian cities.

Now, for Craft's first foray into the U.S., L'Heureux has partnered with Dallas Stars owner, Tom Gaglardi, to develop a two-story gathering spot which consists of a 10,500 square foot indoor space topped off by a 5,250 square foot open-air rooftop patio/beer garden.

As for the vibe, Craft fits the mold of an upscale sports bar/restaurant (with plenty of widescreen televisions throughout). Yes, the beer selection is literally a centerpiece, with a large two-sided tapwall surrounded by a rectangular bar centering the space, but Craft is a bright and lively spot with plenty of hustle and bustle, as opposed to a dark and quiet neighborhood pub.

The drink menu at Craft touts over 100 beverages on tap, with 75% sourced from local Dallas breweries. The current lineup doesn't hit that number, but you will find many familiar Dallas names among the listings, including Celestial, Community, Four Corners, Peticolas, Manhattan Project, Texas Ale Project and Westlake. These are supplemented by selections from cities further out by Rahr & Sons, Tupps, Union Bear and others.

Roughly 10% of Craft's taps are labeled as "rotating," which suggests they'll be refreshed from time to time. The everyday beers cover a full range of styles (wheat, white, blonde, IPA, stout, porter, Belgian, light lager, pilsner, fruit, sour, etc.), but either way, you should expect to pay $8-$9 a pour.

Regarding food options, they also run the gamut. There's the expected elevated pub fare in the form of appetizers, bowls, handhelds and pizzas, along with chef-crafted signature entrees, steak dinners and more. Then, a kids menu is available as well.

Beyond the consumables, community is also a key aspect of Craft. On that note, the restaurant features a "Community Brew" called Light Eh! Lager, a collaboration between Craft and Kingsville Brewery of Canada - the latter owned by former Dallas Stars goalie, Marty Turco. One dollar from every pint of the beer goes to the Heaven's 27 Foundation, created in memory of the 27 girls who lost their lives at Camp Mystic during the 2025 Central Texas floods.

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Craft serves patrons seven days a week, with hours beginning at 11 a.m. on weekdays, and 10 a.m. during the weekend.

Maple Branch, Flix Frisco/Little Elm medal at 2026 Best of Craft Beer Awards

Image credit: Best of Craft Beer Awards.

Two North Texas breweries have been honored at the 2026 Best of Craft Beer Awards competition.

Held in Central Oregon since 2014, and reported on here since locals were first awarded medals in 2016, the Best of Craft Beer Awards is billed as "one of America's fastest growing competitions." For the 2026 edition, the event drew 1,498 entries from 270 breweries, with submissions judged against style guidelines covering 58 beer and beer-adjacent categories and subcategories.

Among this year's winners were Flix Brewhouse Frisco/Little Elm and Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth. This is the first Best of Craft Beer award for the crew at Flix Frisco/Little Elm, while Maple Branch has now nabbed four medals at the competition. In fact, Maple Branch's winning beer, Raspberry Fields, has been recognized at three separate competitions, including the Great American Beer Festival (2022) and the Texas Craft Brewers Cup (2023, 2024).

For more on the 2026 Best of Craft Beer Awards, click here for a full competition summary.

Flix Brewhouse, Frisco

• Flixbrau, Bronze in the Rye Beers category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Raspberry Fields, Bronze in the Fruit & Field Beers category.

Cheers and congratulations to Maple Branch and Flix Frisco/Little Elm!

Brewery proposal targets Old Town Roanoke

Image credit: Pirate Panda Brewing/Spiars Engineering & Surveying.

A new brewery may be in the works for Old Town Roanoke, based on the minutes of a Planning & Zoning Commission meeting that took place in the city on Monday, April 6.

Tentatively called Pirate Panda Brewing, the project would be a new construction located on what is now an approximately one-acre empty lot at 200 S. Oak St., just across from Hard Eight BBQ. Plans call for the build-out to consist of a "4,328 square foot brewery, a 3,500 square-foot patio area, and a 200 square-foot kitchen."

Should the proposed venture come to fruition, Roanoke would then be home to two brewing operations, with Pirate Panda joining The 206 Brewery & Bar on Oak St., with just three blocks separating the two establishments.

Also of note, ownership appears to be based in South Florida, which may have been a proposed destination for the project at one time based on a logo design contest held on the graphic design marketplace, 99 Designs.

Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen debuts in Downtown Plano

Plano Pils and the Okie Smash Burger at Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen
(Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

What better way to celebrate National Beer Day than with the debut of a new craft beer destination in North Texas. Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen is now open at 1001 14th St., Suite 500 in Historic Downtown Plano.

The spot is an offshoot of Odd Muse Brewing Co.'s original brewery in Farmers Branch, with the "Craft & Kitchen" naming chosen for a couple of key reasons. For one thing, the Plano locale features a full-service kitchen, upping the culinary game for the company's patrons. Then for another, with no on-site brewing operations, it just made sense to forego the "Brewing Co." tag in creating a clear identity for the satellite location.

Of course, the beer being served is all Odd Muse, with the pub's 23 taps (plus a side-pull) sourced from Farmer's Branch. Recipes will rotate just as they do at the brewery, though co-founder Bobby Diaz says to expect Plano to feature a few taps not currently pouring at headquarters. Right now, satellite exclusives include Plano Pils (a rye pilsner), Woodpecker Lips Scotch Ale, and 2025 Barrel-Aged The Hermit American Barleywine.

Shifting the focus to the food side of things, longtime industry vet Greyson Lane brings a wealth of culinary experience to the project, though his smash burger-based food truck venture The Drop D-FW influences things most at Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen. He's got a good bit of beer knowledge as well, for those who remember Bleshoux Brewing from area homebrew competitions of the past.

Given that, it should come as no surprise that the food menu is designed to pair well with a pint. In addition to burger options like Jam Session (bacon jam), the Okie (grilled onions) and the Mushroom Swiss (mushrooms grilled in the brewery's 500 Pesos Mexican Lager), the kitchen will serve up a selection of starters (poutine, pretzel bites, wings) and sandwiches (cheesesteak, hot chicken, Korean) as well.

On top of all that are additional amenities, which include free parking in an adjacent lot, outdoor patio seating, widescreen televisions behind the bar, and the beer-to-go fridge just off the lobby.

Then there's the convenience of the place, which exists as part of a walkable downtown district that's been in need of a stable brewery presence. Indeed, Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen literally replaces a Voodoo Brewing Co. taproom whose home base was in Pennsylvania, which means there's now a little bit more local flavor to be had in Downtown Plano.

As for when to visit, while an official grand opening celebration is slated for early May, Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen is already running a full schedule, being open seven days a week with operating hours beginning at 11 a.m.  

Black Fox closes brewery in Denton

Image credit: Black Fox Brewing Co.

Black Fox Brewing Co. has announced its closure in Denton.

Michael Velasco opened Black Fox in October 2023 after taking over a space previously occupied by Howling Mutt Brewing at 205 N. Cedar St., just steps away from the Downtown Denton Square.

The product portfolio at Black Fox leaned on a back-to-basics approach, with classic styles brought to the forefront. Black Fox Stout, a straightforward American stout, was the highlight, being a beer Velasco first introduced while taking part in the Homebrewers League at Barley & Board of Denton.

From a social media post:

"We want to take a moment to sincerely thank you for [your] continued support and patronage.  Serving this community as well as those from afar has been an incredible experience, and we are truly grateful for the relationships and interesting conversations we’ve experienced along the way.

Sadly, we have made the extremely difficult decision to shut the doors at our location on N Cedar St. effective immediately.

While this chapter is coming to an end, we want to share that this is not goodbye, rather simply, 'see you later'.

Keep following us on social media and stay tuned, you never know what’s next!"

Odd Muse expanding to Historic Downtown Plano

Image courtesy of Odd Muse Brewing Co.

Odd Muse Brewing Co. of Farmers Branch has announced the upcoming opening of Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen, a new satellite taproom and full-service kitchen concept set to launch in Historic Downtown Plano in Spring 2026.

Set to be located at 1001 14th St., Suite 500 (in a space formerly occupied by Voodoo Brewing Co. of Pennsylvania), Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen will bring the brewery’s acclaimed lineup of craft beer to one of the region’s most vibrant dining and entertainment districts.

According to a press release, the new spot features approximately 3,000 square feet of interior restaurant space and an additional 1,000 square feet of patio seating, creating an inviting indoor-outdoor destination for beer lovers and food enthusiasts alike.

Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen will offer up to 23 rotating taps of its award-winning beer, including flagship favorites, seasonal offerings, and limited-release specialties. The Plano taproom will also feature a full beer-to-go program, giving guests access to packaged releases available for off-premise enjoyment.

In addition, for the first time, Odd Muse is pairing its craft beer experience with a dedicated kitchen program. The food menu will spotlight elevated comfort favorites, including smash burgers, chicken sandwiches, wings, hand-cut fries and more, designed to complement the brewery’s diverse beer portfolio.

“Odd Muse has always been about creating welcoming spaces where community and creativity come together over great beer,” says Bobby Diaz, founder and managing member of Odd Muse. “Downtown Plano gives us an incredible opportunity to expand that experience into a new neighborhood, with a concept that stays true to our brand while offering something fresh through Craft & Kitchen.”

For Odd Muse, which originally debuted in 2019, the Plano expansion represents a strategic next step, leveraging the brewery’s established production facility in Farmers Branch while expanding its direct-to-consumer presence in a high-traffic, walkable market.

As for the timeline, renovations are currently underway at Odd Muse Craft & Kitchen, with an anticipated opening window between April 1 and April 15.

On eleven, and another spicy little number at On Rotation

Image credit: On Rotation Brewery & Kitchen.

I just happened to be going over some numbers related to On Rotation Brewery & Kitchen of Dallas when I got a message from owner Jacob Sloan about a few things they've got going on at the brewpub over the next few weeks.

At that moment, the number five was foremost on my mind, considering it's how many awards - five silver medals - the company's Jalapeño Saison has won at major competitions over the years. Not only that, it's a beer we've been drinking for at least twelve years, if you consider it was first poured at Brew Riot in 2014, which happened the year before On Rotation opened for business in early 2015.

Of course, this brings up the number eleven and On Rotation's upcoming Eleven-Year Anniversary Party on Saturday, March 7. The festivities will take place...you guessed it...eleven years to the day since On Rotation released their first beers commercially. And did you know being eleven makes them the oldest continuously operating brewpub in the City of Dallas?

As for event details, Sloan says it'll be an an all-day Stranger Things-themed affair featuring Stranger Things trivia at 5 p.m., and a Steve Harrington's "6 Little Nugget" Basket for $1.10 all day.

There will also be a few new beers (adding to 450+, the number of different beers On Rotation has released historically), one of which is Chaotic Evil, a Belgian dark strong ale. In fact, Chaotic Evil will be aligned with the brewpub's Dallas Dry Beer (a dry saison) to create "a never-before-seen take on a black & tan [they're] calling the Upside Down."

But, getting back to the thought process that got this whole thing started, those five Jalapeño Saison medals include four from the Texas Craft Brewers Cup (TCBC) and one from the Great American Beer Festival. Plus, Jalapeño Saison is only one of three beers (by my count) to have been honored four separate times at the TCBC.

With that, I keep coming back to one question. Given the history, recognition and longstanding commitment to excellence, isn't it about time we label Jalapeño Saison as iconic in the lexicon of original North Texas beers?

Discuss amongst yourselves (while making plans to attend the anniversary party).

North Texas secures 15 medals at 2026 Texas Craft Brewers Cup

Image: Texas Craft Brewers Guild.

The awards ceremony for the 2026 Texas Craft Brewers Cup took place tonight in Austin, with breweries from North Texas claiming fifteen medals, along with one People's Choice award.

Presented by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, the event drew 930 entries from 142 Texas breweries (note, membership in the Guild is not required for entry). Competition beers were broken down into 30 different categories representing over 150 beer styles, then judged against guidelines published by either the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) or the Brewers Association as created for the Great American Beer Festival (GABF).

Of the eleven North Texas breweries to secure a medal, Four Bullets Brewery of Richardson was the sole first-time honoree. Also worth mentioning, Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth followed up their silver for Romanov's Revenge at last fall's GABF with a gold at the Texas Craft Brewers Cup.

Other statistics of note are listed below, followed by the complete list of local award winners.

Notable statistics:

• Just over 30% of active Texas breweries competed (142 down from 162 in 2025).
• Medals were awarded to a total of 56 Texas breweries - 20% of those being from North Texas.
• North Texas medal count: 5 gold, 6 silver, and 4 bronze.

For more on the Texas Craft Brewers Cup, click here for a full competition summary.

3 Nations Brewing Co., Carrollton

• Bumgarner Bock, Silver in the Legislative Pro-Am category.
• Devour - Mexican Chocolate, Bronze in the Chocolate & Coffee Beer category.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Kashmir, Silver in the Brett & Mixed Culture category.

Denton County Brewing Co., Denton

• Doppelbock, Bronze in the Strong Lagers category.

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Passive Dissent, Gold in the Belgian & Farmhouse Ales category.
• Snacks Ahoy, Bronze in the Decadent Beer category.

Four Bullets Brewery, Richardson

• Black Jack Brown, Gold in the Classic UK Styles category.
• Sweeten the Pot, Gold in the Fruit & Field Beer category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Romanov's Revenge, Gold in the Barleywine & Strong Ale category.

Odd Muse Brewing, Farmers Branch 

• Unified, Gold in the Legislative Pro-Am category.
• Playground Battles, Silver in the Decadent Beer category.

On Rotation, Dallas

• Jalapeño Saison, Silver in the Smoke & Chili Beer category.

Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas

• Royal Scandal, Silver in the Classic UK Styles category.

Rollertown Beerworks, Frisco

• The Big German, Bronze in the Kölsch category.

Vector Brewing, Dallas

• Sine Die, People's Choice in the Legislative Pro-Am category.

White Rock Brewing Co., Dallas

• Shadow Cat, Silver in the Session & Standard Dark Lager category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Panther Island closing brewery in Fort Worth

Image credit: Panther Island Brewing.

Panther Island Brewing has announced its closure in Fort Worth.

Led by Ryan McWhorter, the family-owned business debuted in December 2014 after taking over a spot formerly occupied by two other North Texas breweries of the past - the first of these opening in the year 2000.

The name Panther Island, of course, was drawn from the area surrounding the brewery, which consisted of 800-acres of land set to be revamped as part of the Panther Island development project. Though, long-time industry observers may also recall the early days when the venture went by the name of Wahoo.

As for notoriety, Panther Island pulled off the rare feat of winning a GABF medal before its first anniversary, bringing home a silver for Allergeez in September 2015. The brewery's American wheat ale colored-up just four years later, when Allergeez won gold at the 2020 event.

Beyond those awards, Panther Island was also known for its Buc-ee's beer, after the brewery rolled out Road Trip Snacks, a brown ale made with the popular Buc-ee's Beaver Nuggets corn puff snacks in early 2020. Then, a year later, Panther Island made news once again by promoting a female, Sandra Murphy, to the position of head brewer - a first for the local industry.

From a social media post:

"After 11 unforgettable years, Panther Island Brewing will be closing its doors.

We’re endlessly proud of the beers we brewed, the stories we shared, and the people who made it all meaningful.

To everyone who worked with us, the artists and musicians who filled our space with life, the fellow brewers who inspired us, and the incredible Fort Worth community who supported us from day one... thank you.

You’ve made Panther Island Brewing more than a business, you made it a family."

Panther Island will remain open through this weekend, with the last full day of service being Sunday, February 8. After that, a final Farewell Event will take place on Friday, February 13.

Oak Highlands gets Grand result at 2026 USBTC Winter Competition

Image credits: Brian Brown/Beer in Big D (background image), United States Beer Tasting Championship (award logo).

Four beers from Oak Highlands Brewery of Richardson have been honored at the 32nd Annual Winter Competition of the United States Beer Tasting Championship (USBTC).

For the 2026 edition of the event, 562 beers were submitted by breweries from across America. Regional Champions representing seven different U.S. regions were crowned across 19 different style categories. And as always, North Texas breweries competed in the Rockies/Southwest Region.

Surveying the winning beers from Oak Highlands, the brewery's Vanilla Porter was a Regional Champion for the fourth consecutive year. On top of that, Oak Highlands capped off its tenth anniversary in 2025 with a Grand Champion in its Quad Bless Texas Madeira-Aged Belgian Quad (arguably one of the best local beers of the year).

For more on the 2026 USBTC Winter Competition, click here to visit the official competition website.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Quad Bless Texas, Regional and Winter Grand Champion in the Non-Whiskey-Aged Beer category.
• Freaky Deaky, Regional Champion in the Belgian Tripel category.
• Oktoberfest, Regional Champion in the Vienna/Marzen Lager category.
• Vanilla Porter, Regional Champion in the Bean Beer category.

Cheers and congratulations to Oak Highlands!

Harvest House presents opportunity for ownership in Downtown Denton

Image credit: Harvest House.

Axis Realty Group of Denton has been chosen to represent the ownership of Harvest House, a long-time entertainment destination in Denton, as it explores options for a potential transition.

Located at 331 E. Hickory St., just east of the Denton Downtown Square, Harvest House has become a fixture of the city since it opened in 2015. The spot is known for its laid-back Austin-inspired vibe, big backyard-style patio, hundreds of community events, and a stage that has hosted thousands of live music acts.

“This is more than a bar or music venue,” says Brad Andrus, executive vice president at Axis. “Harvest House is part of the fabric of Denton. It’s been the hangout for students, professionals, families, and touring musicians alike. You don’t just sell a property like this; you pass the torch.” 

The opportunity includes the business and the 12,500-square-foot property on E. Hickory Street, giving the opportunity to step into an established concept and create the next chapter of Denton’s entertainment scene. 

According to the owners, this is about thoughtful transition. Harvest House is operating well, the team is strong, and the goal is to find someone who is interested in ownership of both the business and the community it serves. 

Ownership is open to conversations with experienced operators, hospitality groups, or any entrepreneurial individuals with deep roots in Denton. Multiple ownership and transition structures may be considered, including scenarios that support continuity of operations.

Interested parties should Axis Realty Group at 940-891-2947 for more information.