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.
  

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!"

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.

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 3 Flights Up Taps & Tacos of Little Elm, Hoppin' Fort Worth, On Tap of 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!

A look at 2024 North Texas production numbers

Click to enlarge.

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

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

Inside the numbers:

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

     Regional (> 15,000 bbls)

• Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas.

     Large (> 10,000 bbls)

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

     Mid-Size (> 5000 bbls)

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

Tier movement

• Advancing from "Large" to "Regional" tier (>15,000 bbls): Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas.
• Advancing from "Very Small" to "Small" tier: Armor Brewing Co. of Allen, Panther Island Brewing of Fort Worth, Rollertown Beerworks of Celina.

Year-to-year production change

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

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

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

Toasty Bros. a place for pints and paintings in Denton

Photos © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D.

Six years after first debuting its brand, Toasty Bros. has a place to call its own with the opening of a permanent location for its brewery, taproom and art gallery at 104 N. Bell Ave. in Denton.

Toast Tiensvold launched Toasty Bros. in March 2019 with the release of Damage Dealer Double Stout. Since then, that beer and others have been brewed at Hop & Sting Brewing Co. of Grapevine through an alternating proprietorship agreement. All the while, the path to self-sufficiency has been in the making, the last leg of the journey starting when a lease was signed on the Bell Ave. building around three years ago.

Speaking of the new home of Toasty Bros., the business sets up in a former auto repair shop complete with front-facing roll-top doors. There's roughly 1500 square feet of space to work with, a little more than half of that devoted to the taproom.

And inside, it's unquestionably cozy, with earth tones on the walls and natural wood tabletops in the seating area. Then there's the bar installation, which has barrel staves forming the foundation for a bar top featuring wood planks framing a neon blue light centerpiece. Add to all that the surrounding gallery of original paintings, and you've got what amounts to a neighborhood tavern turned artistic oasis.

On the beer, house recipes pour from 12 taps, with selections like Bäkéneko Black IPA, Earl the Orange Alien Dessert Stout, Experience Points Porter, Random Number Generator DIPA, Rock Philosopher Undead Ale and others joining Damage Dealer on the current menu. Future offerings will be borne out of a three-barrel system on site, maintaining the small-batch approach Toasty Bros. has touted from the outset.

As for other amenities, sodas and bottled water are kept on hand for those not imbibing. There's also a dart board if you need a competitive diversion, and charging outlets are installed just below the bar for anyone needing to give their phone or tablet a battery boost while enjoying their beer.

Looking back on past coverage, fostering local pride has always been a focus for Toasty Bros. (the phrase is in the logo), and opening a taproom someday in Denton was the goal from its earliest days. Now that the ambition has been realized, fans of the brewery can celebrate the arrival of the city's newest craft beer destination.

Stop in and raise a glass with Toasty Bros. five days a week, with hours beginning at 5 p.m. Thursday-Saturday, and 10 a.m. on Sunday and Monday.

2024 Year in review: North Texas industry perseveres despite down year

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

The intro to this year's annual review piece is probably going to sound a little bit like a broken record - times are tough and growth is stagnant, with brewery owners doing any and everything they can to stay afloat.

Ask a local owner how things are going, and you get responses like "we're just barely breaking even," or "we've literally never made a profit." That, or there's a note of exasperation with a shake of the head and a shrug, followed by "I'm running a craft brewery." Even worse, "Man, every week, we're just trying to make it to the next Monday."

These are actual conversations had in the last 12 months. Yet, the industry continues to persevere in the face of ongoing difficulties. The bottom still hasn't fallen out despite accelerated closures, but that's only because new openings have been just enough to keep things in balance since 2021.

Whether or not that continues will be something to watch. For 2024, closings outnumbered openings for the second time in three years. That, and there were only four openings - the fewest since 2011, the origin point of the modern craft beer boom locally. And while there are more than a dozen new projects in the works, the development cycle has been a lengthy one for more than a few, leading to uncertainty as to when they'll actually open.

Of course, breweries aren't the only entities struggling, as evidenced by double-digit closures of craft beer-centric bars and growler shops across D-FW in 2024 (see a list provided later in the article). Those calling it quits are citing many of the same reasons behind brewery closures - rising costs, rising rents, and other factors being at the forefront of decisions to fold.

So, how best to navigate the market going forward? In its own 2024 Year in Beer post, the Brewers Association points to things like brand differentiation, a renewed focus on successful product lines (after years of pushing diversification), and being mindful of the overall customer experience.

Even then, uncertainties abound, which leads to the "adapt or die" refrain all over again, but brewery owners would probably be the first to tell you they've been pivoting almost daily since before the pandemic.

As for consumers, the message should be clear - support your local bars and breweries today, so you're not lamenting their loss tomorrow.

Now, more on the 2024 year in beer...

The Business of Beer - Local Dealings

Something else the Brewers Association mentions is the increasing likelihood of consolidations and strategic alliances. Locally, we've had breweries make deals to tap into excess capacity at other locales, but a full-on merger like that of three Houston breweries over the summer hasn't come to pass here.

What we have seen, though, is how breweries can get passed around like trading cards when it comes to large-scale buyouts. Last year, the owners of Four Corners Brewing Co. regained control of their Dallas-based brewery after being acquired by Constellation Brands in 2018. Unfortunately, a different fate has befallen the area's two other acquisition targets.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co. of Dallas, which joined CANarchy in 2018, was part of a package sold to Monster Energy in early 2022. Then, in May of this year, Monster ceased local operations in favor of moving production to a facility out of state.

Then, there's the case of Revolver Brewing of Granbury. After a majority interest in the brewery was sold to MillerCoors in 2016, the big beer boys passed the brewery on to Tilray Brands in September. Tilray, however, seems to have its sights set on the THC-infused beverage space, which leaves Revolver's future in doubt.

Moving on to other dealings, even in a tough market there were a number of expansions in 2024. 

From the roster of North Texas brewing operations, Tupps Brewery completed its move to a larger facility in Downtown McKinney in February, while Union Bear Brewing Co. of Plano finalized an expansion with a July opening of its new Denton taproom, where production had begun late in 2023.

Among local retailers expanding their reach, Civil Pour Coffee & Beer raised a new "Ruckus" in Richardson and The Old Monk established a new presence in Oak Cliff.

Out-of-state retail companies made moves as well, with The Brass Tap of Florida upping its area franchise count to 13 with openings in Euless and McKinney, Hoppin' of North Carolina introducing its self-pour taproom concept to Fort Worth and Grapevine, and Voodoo Brewing Co. of Pennsylvania adding spots in Plano and Fort Worth (the latter closed after only a few months).

The area's one notable contraction came to light just recently, as Fort Brewery & Pizza is closing its restaurant and taproom in Fort Worth to focus on production and distribution only.

What's in store for 2025 (or later)? Union Bear is opening a restaurant (sans brewing operations) in McKinney, Rollertown Beerworks of Celina has begun work on their new headquarters in Frisco, 903 Brewers of Sherman has taken out a lease on a satellite spot in Denison, Parker County Brewing Co. is moving across I-30 to a larger locale in Willow Park, Edgewise Eight Brewing has a new spot coming soon in Weatherford, and Bosque River Taphouse has a permanent location in the works for Stephenville.

There are also rumblings of an expansion or a second location being considered by Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas. This, after consecutive years of having the largest reported year-to-year gain in raw barrels produced in North Texas.

Finally, Voodoo Brewing Co. looks to continue its occupation of North Texas with taprooms in Prosper and Lewisville.

The Business of Beer - Statewide Statistics 

According to 2023 economic updates provided by the Brewers Association, Texas produced nearly 1.52 million barrels of beer last year (up from 1.3 million), the state ranking third in production nationally. On total brewery count compared to 2022, Texas had 445 breweries (up from 407), with 2.1 breweries per capita (up from 1.9) - ranking 48th nationally (down a notch from 47th).

For 2024, preliminary numbers based on personal tracking show there were only around 30 new brewery openings across Texas (down from 60+ in 2023), with 35 or more closures (down slightly from 39 in 2023).

Numbers for total economic impact in 2023 were up as well, Texas ranking third nationally (steady) while contributing over $5.25 billon to the economy (up from 4.55 billion). Then, with regards to employment, statistics show 28,543 full-time equivalent workers were employed by the state's brewing industry during 2023 (up from 27,000), with the average wage being $49,312 (up from $47,237).

Image/Data: Brewers Association.

Comings and Goings

The overall brewery count in North Texas didn't see significant movement up or down for the third year in a row, with four openings and seven closings and/or consolidations taking place in 2024.

A couple of notes...

Franconia Brewing Co. of McKinney is included in the list of permanent closures for 2024. Social media posts suggest plans to move the business after shuttering the McKinney site in February, but the company filed for bankruptcy in October.

Also, one retroactive change involves adding Brew Aleworks of Granbury to the closure count for 2023. The company closed its taproom and restaurant in November 2023 to focus solely on production and distribution. This involved entering into a joint proprietorship with Revolver Brewing of Granbury, but as of now a related TABC application has not been approved.

With that, there are now 88 active brewing operations in North Texas after taking into account the already announced 2025 closure of Barley & Board in Denton. Adding side projects and subtracting licenses for breweries with multiple locations, 85 different brands of local beer are available in the market.

On the horizon: Acre Distilling of Fort Worth (adding brewing operations), Balanced Rock Brewing of The Colony, Bearded Ax Brewery of Midlothian, East Dallas Brewing Co. of Dallas, La Hermana Cerveceria at Far-Out Dallas (formerly Wriggly Tin), Forney Brewing Co. of Forney, Landon Winery of Gainesville (by way of Greenville production space), Palo Pinto Brewing Co. of Strawn, Smittox Brewing Co. of Dallas, Toasty Bros. of Denton (permanent location), Village Creek Brewing Co. of Rendon...and others.

Openings:

• Black Hawk Brewery, Prosper.
• Glen Echo Brewing, Wylie.
• Three Wide Brewing Co., Fort Worth.
• Uptown Rail Brewery, Sanger.

New Locations (not counted as a new opening):

• Tupps Brewery, McKinney.

New Taprooms (not counted as a brewery opening):

• Union Bear Brewing Co., Denton (included in 2023 count, production began last year).
• Voodoo Brewing Co., Fort Worth.
• Voodoo Brewing Co., Plano.

Temporary Closures:

• Edgewise Eight Brewing, Weatherford - moving to new location.

Permanent Closures:

• Barley & Board, Denton (will be included in 2025 count).
• By the Horns Brewing, Mansfield.
• Franconia Brewing Co., McKinney.
• Funky Picnic Brewery & Café, Fort Worth.
• Happy Hippie Brewing Co., Richardson.
• Neutral Ground Brewing Co., Fort Worth.
• Wriggly Tin, Dallas.

Consolidations:

• Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Dallas (parent Monster Energy moving production out of state).

Taproom Closures (not counted as a brewery closure).

• Voodoo Brewing Co., Fort Worth.

Source: Individual research.

The Year in Beer 

• A timeline of heady local headlines
  
  January - Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth enlists 6th Ave. Storytelling to help with brand refresh ahead of 20th anniversary. The goal being to "share their journey from the past to the present while casting a vision for their future growth and evolution."
  
  January - Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland expands its education efforts by partnering with the University of Texas at Arlington (UTA) on a curriculum designed to educate the next generation of brewing talent.
  
  February - Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth brings home prize for Brewery of the Year in the Under 600-bbl Group at the 2024 Texas Craft Brewers Cup, the professional beer competition put on annually by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild.
  
  February - Guitars & Growlers, a music-centric craft beer bar and restaurant, taps Outfit Brewing of Dallas to create a line of house beers to be served at the company's three DFW-area locations.
  
  April - North Texans gather to take in a rare total solar eclipse, with over a dozen area breweries crafting special dark beers for the occasion.
  
  April - Fort Brewery & Pizza of Fort Worth begins producing Heim Lite for Heim BBQ (both companies fall under the same ownership umbrella). The new beer is available at all area Heim locations.
  
  May - Fritz Rahr, founder of Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth, reveals cancer battle. He returned to work at the brewery bearing his name after two years fighting the disease.
  
  May - 3 Nations Brewing Co. of Carrollton/Anna unveils new logo. The updated design is meant to symbolize the changes happening at 3 Nations, and to reflect the company's "commitment to ensuring our beers are of the highest quality."
  
  May - Community Beer Co. of Dallas reveals its head brewer is now sober, something which happens to align perfectly with the uptick in demand for non-alcoholic beers.
  
  June - Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland teams with Andy's Frozen Custard of Missouri to create the world's largest beer float. The record-breaking result was realized using 50 scoops of Andy's frozen custard and 75 pints of The Temptress, Lakewood's popular imperial milk stout.
  
  June - With the announcement of a new signature event in October, Cloud 9 Charities ends the 11-year run of Best Little Brewfest in Texas.  
  
  August - Ivanhoe Ale Works of Denison debuts new logo and outlook for upcoming 10th anniversary. The brewery worked with Climer Design to develop visuals with a retro and nostalgic vibe "that would honor the original logo and continue to fit the setting of this brewery housed in a vintage movie theater."
  
  August- Vector Brewing of Dallas expands hours and offerings, now providing breakfast and lunch service.
  
  August -  Unlawful Assembly Brewing Co. of Plano becomes the exclusive draft beer provider for Legacy Hall.
  
  September - Lakewood Brewing Co. of Garland creates sweet and savory special release for State Fair of Texas. The brewery's Cotton Candy Bacon Blonde Ale was made to pair with a cotton candy syrup-glazed bacon-on-a-stick offering from Rousso Concessions.
  
  September - Rollertown Beerworks of Celina collaborates with Dallas-based metal band Drowning Pool on a Czech dark lager named Revolution. The beer gets its name from the band's newest single.
  
  October - Local supplier of raw ingredients and supplies to professional brewers nationwide, Pro Brew Supply, expands to larger facility in Fort Worth.
  
  October - Celestial Beerworks of Dallas one of over 240 national breweries to participate in the Pouring for Neighbors initiative supporting relief efforts for those affected by Hurricane Helene. The brewery released Fresh Start, a wet hop hazy IPA, in late October, with a dollar from every pint sold going directly to the cause.
  
  November - Three beers from Vector Brewing of Dallas among those featured in the Best in Beer 2024 issue of Craft Beer & Brewing Magazine. Their creations were reviewed alongside other funky, wild and sour beers.
  
  November - Hop & Sting Brewing Co. collaborating with Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q on a new beer to be sold at the restaurant's new, permanent location opening in Allen in 2025. Vaqueros Texas Bar-B-Q Light Lager is said to pair well with "Good Friends and Great Food."
  
  December - Hop Culture names Vector Brewing of Dallas one of The 11 Best Breweries of 2024.
  
  December - Locust Cider of Washington closes Fort Worth taproom, a location it opened in October 2018.
  
  December - Texas Longhouse Meadery opens for business in Wylie.
  
  
• In Memoriam
  
  The year in beer began on a very sad note, as two local industry figures passed away within days of each other in March.
  
  Charlie Pelletier was a staunch supporter of craft beer in North Texas, especially for those who followed the industry in Fort Worth and Tarrant County. He was the ever-present admin of the Facebook group, Fort Worth Craft Beer. Two local breweries created beers in his honor: Celestial Beerworks of Dallas released Charlie, a hazy IPA in April, followed by Panther Island Brewing of Fort Worth with Cheers Charlie, a fruited gose, in May.
  
  Dave Kirk was the co-founder of White Rock Alehouse & Brewery and White Rock Brewing Co. of Dallas. White Rock brewed and released Dave's Heavenly Pils in rememberance of him in May.
  
  Their deaths remind us that craft beer is more than just a beverage or brand, indeed... "Craft Beer is People."
  
  
• List of bar and growler shop closings in 2024
  
  Pour one out for these craft beer-centric venues.
  
  Beer Geeks, Fate.
  Bluffview Growler, Dallas.
  Bubble & Squeak Craft Beer & Wine, Forney.
  City Works, Frisco.
  Cork & Growler, Frisco (opening new spot in Prosper).
  Craft Beer Cellar, Dallas.
  Guitars & Growlers, McKinney.
  Kegs & Mugs, Lewisville.
  Rugby House, Plano.
  T&P Tavern, Fort Worth.


• Ten- and Twenty-year toasts
  
  Those reaching the 10-year anniversary milestone in 2024 included Malai Kitchen of Dallas (brewing operations added in 2014 after originally opening the restaurant in 2011), and Panther Island Brewing of Fort Worth. And 20 years? That would be Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. of Fort Worth. A look at what each was serving in their very early days:
  
  Malai Kitchen: Bia Hoi Vietnamese Lager, Thai-PA.
  Panther Island Brewing: Allergeez American Pale Wheat Ale, Boom Summer Blonde, Real Good Cream Ale.
  Rahr & Sons: Rahr's Blonde, Texas Red.
  
  Celebrating 10 years in 2025: 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 Dallas, On Rotation of Dallas, Texas Ale Project of Dallas, Tupps Brewery of McKinney.
  
  
• North Texas award winners: Click here for listings of award-winning beers from 2024, 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, Best of Craft Beer Awards, Craft Beer Marketing Awards, and Indiana Brewers' Cup.
  
  

• Preferred pours of 2024 (new-to-market, or newly-discovered beers some blogger particularly enjoyed):
  
  Armor Wheat Wine
  Celestial Stare at the Sun Japanese Black Rice Lager
  False Idol Knifehead Bourbon Barrel-Aged Imperial Stout
  Ivanhoe Dammit Janet English Brown Ale
  Jaquval Rabble Rabble Coffee Stout
  Maple Branch Prince's Gate Smoked Amber Kellerbier
  Martin House Day Ruiner Whiskey Barrel-Aged Blonde Barleywine
  Oak Cliff Ravenator Doppelbock
  Odd Muse The Hermit Barrel-Aged American Barleywine
  On Rotation Orchard Belgian Dark Strong Ale with Plum & Apple
  Rollertown Revolution Czech Dark Lager
  Soul Fire Cleburne's Goatman Oatmeal Stout
  Tupps Red Riot Rye IPA
  Turning Point Under the Big Top Apple Brandy Barrel-Aged Salted Caramel Imperial Stout
  Union Bear New Zealand Pilsner
  Vector/Smittox Collective Rhythms Coffee Cream Ale

Cheers and Happy New Year!

Barley & Board closing brewpub in Denton

Image credit: Barley & Board.

A longtime Denton brewpub is set to close its doors after the first of the year.

Barley & Board, developed by Radical Hospitality Group, debuted on the Downtown Denton Square in August 2015. The company went on to open a second restaurant in The Colony during the summer of 2021, but that locale closed as well just last month.

As the city's first gastropub, elevated food offerings were naturally a focus. But, on the topic of in-house brewing operations, Barley & Board might best be remembered for its Home Brewers League, a program where local homebrewers were invited to collaborate on the production of a commercial batch. At least two Denton-based brewery owners are League alums - Brian "Toast" Tiensvold of Toasty Bros. and Michael Velasco of Black Fox Brewing Co.

According to a social media post, Barley & Board's closure will take effect on Monday, January 6, after a decision was made not to renew the lease on the building at 101 W. Oak St.

Union Bear debuts new lair in Denton

Images: A sampler of the brewpub's Hazelnut Coffee Stout enjoyed alongside a plate
of Grown Up Chicken Tenders at Union Bear - Denton. © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

Union Bear Brewing Co. of Plano has added to its pack this week with the introduction of a new location at 221 S. Bell Ave. in Downtown Denton.

It's the next step in the evolution of a brand that's been part of the local language for more than a decade. Union Bear first appeared on the marquee of a spot in the West Village of Uptown Dallas in 2012. Those behind the original concept passed the baton to 33 Restaurant Group in mid-2014, who then sent the Bear off to hibernation for a bit before re-introducing it in Plano as part of The Boardwalk at Granite Park in January 2018.

Of course, many will remember the Denton address as the former home of Armadillo Ale Works. The folks at 33 Restaurant Group purchased the site in late 2022, with work on the 17,000 square foot facility getting underway around the middle of 2023. Renovation plans called for the installation of a full kitchen and a complete taproom overhaul, steps needed in order to bring the full brand experience to bear, if you will, in the new space.

Along those lines, fans of Union Bear Plano should feel right at home in Denton. Similar furnishings and color choices fill the interior, with one adder being a lounge area off to one side having a pool table and video games as entertainment options.

Further diversions like dart boards and cornhole setups are part of the patio outside, where a fresh coat of paint, murals and new signage adorn a building that stands out from the neighbors in its urban setting. Indeed, the exterior presents as the primary visual difference compared to Plano's suburban retail digs.

From there, similarities are also found in the food and drink. While the dining menu is maybe slightly scaled back, many familiar dishes carry over, though one change is the flatbreads at Plano swap out with hand-stretched pizza pies in Denton. That said, many flatbread-turned-pizza items share the same name and toppings.

On the topic of beer, hardware was already in place, so production actually began late last year in Denton, according to Coty Bell, director of brewing operations. Since then, a 30-barrel system has been churning out standards served at both sites like the brewpub's blonde and amber ales. Other recipes crafted by head brewers Nick Stolz (Denton) and Eric Todd (Plano) will supplement the mainstays, though Denton may see more active rotation since it has access to a smaller, five-barrel system.

In terms of availability, Bell says upwards of 20 beers will be poured daily in Denton, this number including a few taps dedicated to guest beers from neighboring breweries. Cans of select Union Bear beers are also in the works as of this week, both for distribution and to-go sales.

As for one other notable feature in Denton, efforts have been made to keep the memory of the former tenant alive. To that end, Union Bear pays homage to Armadillo Ale Works with Easter eggs hidden in the decor inside and out (these discoveries are left to the reader). This provides a sense of continuity for the Denton community and industry friends as well...and isn't community and camaraderie what this whole craft beer thing is all about?

Union Bear - Denton is open daily, with operating hours beginning at 11 a.m.

Guild and Method Architecture announce 2024 grant recipients

Image credits: Texas Craft Brewers Guild, Method Architecture,
Toasty Bros., Village Creek Brewing Co.

Recipients have been announced for the fourth year of a grant program awarding aspiring craft brewers with membership in the Texas Craft Brewers Guild.

Grantees listed below will receive a one year "Brewery in Planning" membership - a $300 value - in the trade association that represents small and independent craft breweries in the Lone Star State. These grants are funded by Method Architecture, a Texas-based firm that's also a longtime member of the Guild.

2024 Grantees:

Cottonwood Creek Brewery & Smokehouse - Hutto
Point City Brewing Co. - Houston
Toasty Bros. - Denton
Village Creek Brewing Co. - Rendon
Weber Brewing - Victoria

More on the two projects hailing from North Texas...

Toasty Bros., Denton

• Founded by Toast Tiensvold, Toasty Bros. has been active in North Texas since debuting its first commercial beer in March 2019. From that point on, the company's beers have been produced as part of an alternating proprietorship agreement with Hop & Sting Brewing Co. of Grapevine.
  
  A permanent location is on the horizon, though, as construction is currently underway on an existing 1200 square foot space at 104 N. Bell Ave. in Denton. Pop-up events are a regular occurrence on site, as Toasty Bros. continues to raise funds as it works towards opening.

Village Creek Brewing Co., Rendon

• Art and Sunny Anderson began working to bring Village Creek Brewing Co. to fruition in early 2019. They first appeared on the local radar in April of that year after participating in LUCKapolooza V at LUCK in Trinity Groves.
  
  By early 2020, they had secured a 4.7-acre site at 6670 Levy County Line Rd. in Rendon, where they've been building a brewery from the ground up ever since.

Click here for the full press release from the Guild.

A look at 2023 North Texas production numbers

Click to enlarge.

This is an update of the annual breakdown of brewery sizes in North Texas, with 2023 production data added as reported to the Brewers Association and published in the May/June 2024 issue of The New Brewer.

Note, not all brewing companies provide their numbers (assumptions are made for a couple of "Large" tier breweries based on past history), while some report statistics combining multiple locations. Data also includes production from breweries that closed during the course of 2023. As a result, the number of entities represented in the chart is not equal to the total number of breweries open and operating at any given time.

Inside the numbers:

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

• Community Beer Co. of Dallas.
• Deep Ellum Brewing Co. of Dallas.
• Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas.
• Martin House Brewing Co. of Fort Worth.
• Revolver Brewing of Granbury.

Tier movement

• Advancing from "Mid-Size" to "Large" tier: Manhattan Project Beer Co. of Dallas.
• Advancing from "Very Small" to "Small" tier: Fort Brewery & Pizza of Fort Worth, Second Rodeo Brewing Co. of Fort Worth (includes data from Beard Science Sour House of The Colony), and Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton/Plano.

Year-to-year production change

• Overall production in North Texas was down roughly 9% for those reporting in 2022 and 2023. This value is influenced somewhat by numerous "Small" tier breweries showing significant drops, though in some cases this involves cuts occurring prior to closing a second location or closing permanently.
• Comparison: Craft beer volume was down 1% nationally in 2023, according to the Brewers Association.

Significant year-to-year production gains (based on those reporting in 2022 and 2023)

• For the second year in a row, Manhattan Project had the largest reported year-to-year gain in raw barrels produced locally for 2023. In fact, sales of the brewery's beers have more than tripled since 2019.
• The largest year-to-year percentage gains for brewing companies with production greater than 1000 barrels were realized by 3 Nations Brewing Co. of Anna/Carrolton, Celestial Beerworks of Dallas (two locations), Fort Brewery & Pizza of Fort Worth, and Second Rodeo/Beard Science of Fort Worth/The Colony.