North Texas has best ever showing at 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship

Image credit: U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Winners were announced today at the 2024 U.S. Open Beer Championship.

Based in Oxford, Ohio, the U.S. Open is now in its sixteenth year. The event, billed as the second largest annual beer judging competition in America, has been a popular testing ground for local brewers for more than a decade. 

Looking back, the first win for a North Texas brewer occurred in 2012, but the region has celebrated wins for multiple breweries in each of the last 12 years - 2024 included. And now with this year's results, 29 area breweries have been awarded 175 medals combined at the U.S. Open since its inception.

For 2024, over 9000 beers were submitted for judging across 152 categories. From the pool, 11 breweries from North Texas were awarded 21 medals total (4 gold, 11 silver, 6 bronze).

This represents the best showing ever for the region, besting the 19 medals won by North Texas breweries in 2022. First time U.S. Open honorees for 2024 include Flix Brewhouse - Mansfield and Three Wide Brewing Co. of Fort Worth (though, the brewer in question here does have a bit of U.S. Open hardware from the Rabbit Hole days).

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

Armor Brewing Co., Allen

• Gold for Enigma in the Historical Beer category.
• Silver for Blood Orange Gose in the Fruit Gose category.

Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett

• Silver for Sherpa's Secret in the American-Style Lager category.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Gold for Kashmir (a collaboration with Mox Nix Brewery) in the Mixed-Culture Brett Beer category.
• Silver for Satellite in the American Light Lager category.
• Bronze for It's All Happening in the English Barley Wine category

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Silver for Eight One Seven in the Munchner Dunkel category.
• Bronze for To Live & Die in L.A. in the New Zealand-Style IPA category.
• Bronze for Overgrown Frenzy in the Field Beer category.

Flix Brewhouse, Mansfield

• Bronze for Tmave Pivo 13 in the European Dark Lager category.

Lakewood Brewing Co., Garland

• Silver for Lion's Share XI in the American Barley Wine category.
• Silver for Hydro in the Non-Alcoholic Hop Water category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Silver for Sun, Moon & Stars in the Belgian Quadrupel category.
• Bronze for Battle of Britain in the English Barley Wine category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Silver for Barrel-Aged Vanilla Porter with Tart Cherries in the Wood/Barrel-Aged Fruit Beer category.
• Silver for Tejano Pecano in the Nut Beer category.
• Bronze for Festbier in the German-Style Oktoberfest category.

Odd Muse Brewing Co., Farmers Branch

• Gold for Shoot the Moon in the New Zealand-Style IPA category.

Three Wide Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Gold for Harlequin Dancer in the English Pale Ale category.
• Silver for Berry Optimistic in the Fruit Wheat Beer - Mixed category.

Union Bear Brewing Co., Denton/Plano

• Silver for Union Bear Stout in the American Stout category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Maple Branch, Flix Mansfield among winners at 2024 Best of Craft Beer Awards

Image credits: Best of Craft Beer Awards, Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Flix Brewhouse.

This past weekend, the 2024 Best of Craft Beer Awards competition was held in Redmond, Oregon, with two Tarrant County breweries landing among the winners.

Now in its tenth year, the Best of Craft Beer Awards has grown to be the third largest professional brewing competition in North America. At this year's event, more than 1850 submissions were received for evaluation against style guidelines covering 55 categories and subcategories.

From the entry pool, judges awarded 169 medals to 123 breweries located worldwide. On the North Texas medalists, Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth previously won a Best of Craft Beer award in 2022, while Flix Brewhouse Mansfield appears on the honoree list for the first time.

Local winners and their beers are highlighted below. For more on the 2024 Best of Craft Beer Awards, click here for a full competition summary.

Flix Brewhouse, Mansfield

• Luna Rosa, Bronze in the Fruit & Field Beers category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Monkey Business, Gold in the German Wheat Beers category.
• Lion's Den, Silver in the Bocks category.
  

Cheers and congratulations to Maple Branch and Flix Mansfield!

Flix Brewhouse earns honor at 2023 NABA International Beer and Cider Awards

Image credit: Flix Brewhouse Frisco/Little Elm.

Flix Brewhouse Frisco/Little Elm has been awarded a medal for one of its creations at the 2023 NABA International Beer and Cider Awards.

Now in its 26th year, the International Beer and Cider Awards are sanctioned by the North American Brewers Association. For 2023, the competition took place alongside the Mountain Brewers Beer Fest in Idaho Falls, Idaho, with the combined festivities being the culmination of Idaho Beer Week.

Entries to the event were broken down into over 100 different categories covering beer, cider, seltzer, non-alcoholic beers and other hard beverages as stipulated by the 2023 North American Brewers Association Style Guide.

As for Flix Brewhouse/Little Elm, the brewpub/cinema was honored for Get Smoked, a German-style rauchbier featuring Beechwood-smoked pilsner malt.

Flix Brewhouse Frisco/Little Elm

• Bronze for Get Smoked in the German-Style Rauchbier category.
  

Cheers and congratulations to Flix Brewhouse Frisco/Little Elm!

Beer shares top billing at Flix Brewhouse Frisco/Little Elm

Flix Brewhouse's first North Texas "cinema brewery" is located at
1660 FM 423 in Little Elm (Photo: © Brian Brown/Beer in Big D).

The Round Rock-based company, Flix Brewhouse, made its first foray into North Texas earlier this year with the opening of an outpost in Little Elm. And, while some may cast an eye towards the business and assume it's mostly about movies, those who visit soon learn it's a place where first-run flicks share top billing with beer.

One reason for that is the investment put into the brewing side, at least considering how the brewpub's equipment array extends beyond what's installed at many smaller startups. A seven-barrel brewhouse anchors a front corner of the space, while fermentation and serving tanks overlook the lobby and bar from higher level perches on both sides.

It's not just for show, either, since head brewer Derrick Rima and assistant Dennis Diltz are tasked with manning the tanks daily. Still, visitors to the "cinema brewery" are more likely to be movie fans, which is something they hope to change.

"Right now, people coming in are primarily here to see a movie," says Rima. "But, we're working to build up the beer program to attract more of the craft beer crowd."

On that subject, it would be easy to consider Flix's status as a chain and assume its portfolio is limited to corporate recipes. Yet, Rima and Diltz have the freedom to create local flavors on a regular basis. This allows them to add variety, while also providing an outlet for putting their own signature on the menu.

"All locations start with the same six beers, and we typically put on a corporate seasonal once a month," says Rima. "Beyond that, we're able to release our own specialty beers, and we've also started a barrel program."

In this case, adding a personal touch often involves collaborating with friends in the local industry. Up to now, Flix has joined forces with other local breweries, a gypsy brewer, and members of a beer-centric nonprofit organization that focuses on educational opportunities for women.

These efforts have resulted in the beers below, all of which follow protocol at Flix in that they draw inspiration from a movie playing on the big screen.

• Cartel Candy - a strawberry limeade Berliner weisse inspired by the film, Peppermint.
  Collaborator: Barrett Tillman of Black Man Brewing.
• Dementor's Kiss - a bananas foster brown inspired by the film, Fantastic Beasts: The Crimes of Grindelwald.
  Collaborator: Noble Rey Brewing Co. of Dallas.
• Symbiote - a Belgian imperial stout with oats and brown sugar inspired by the film, Venom.
  Collaborator: BrainDead Brewing of Dallas.
• Pink Boots 8 - a Belgian blonde with tropical teas inspired by the film, Oceans 8.
  Collaborator: Pink Boots Society - North Texas Chapter.

Most recently, Rima and Diltz got together with Seth Morgan and the crew at Denton County Brewing Co. to make London Fog IPA. Brewed to celebrate the release of Peter Jackson's latest film, Mortal Engines, the beer is a dry-hopped hazy IPA infused with tea that's about as refreshing as they come.

The point is, beer plays a key role in the overall experience at Flix. In fact, the taproom is worth a visit in and of itself, especially if you're a member of the craft beer demographic. Either way, know that quality beers with a unique twist are always in play, regardless of whether you're there to see a movie, grab a beer, or both.

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Note: London Fog IPA was brewed at Denton County Brewing Co.'s facility, and is currently on tap there. It will appear at Flix Brewhouse Frisco/Little Elm once label approval is obtained from the TABC.

North Texas Craft Beer Conspectus - May 25, 2018 edition

The business of beer comes to the forefront in this edition of the Conspectus, with news bites on branding, packaging, production and licensing.

Cheers!


Braindead says yes, we can

Crowlers are a thing at Braindead Brewing in Dallas, now that the brewpub has installed a can seamer on site. Happiness Comes From Within, a New England IPA, was released in the 32-ounce can format on Monday, along with the promise of more beers to come in the future.


Flix Brewhouse now open in Little Elm

In late April, Flix Brewhouse opened its latest cinema/brewery in Little Elm. On-site brewing operations will mostly follow a list of corporate recipes, but head brewer Derrick Rima will have some flexibility to create special house beers on occasion. The Little Elm theater is the first of two planned locations for North Texas, with an additional outpost in the works for Mansfield.


Tillman readies first gypsy brew

Gypsy brewer Barrett Tillman of Black Man Brewing has bottled his inaugural release, Gesho Forest Rustic Ale. Set to debut on draft at Small Brewpub on Tuesday, June 19 (Juneteenth), Tillman describes the beer as a "rustic ale with gesho leaves, cinnamon tree bark and hickory wood." Consumers can secure take-home bottles on the day of release by purchasing them in advance at iso.blackmanbrewing.com. Public sales will take place later, beginning on June 23.


Canning underway at Old Town

Old Town Brewhouse of Lewisville initiated the first canning run under the company's new moniker in early May (Old Town was formerly known as Cobra Brewing Co.). Six-packs of Can't Get Enough Amber Ale began arriving at retail locations last week. No doubt the beer is best enjoyed while listening to Bad Company's self-titled debut album.


Hop & Sting shifts production to Grapevine

Hop & Sting Brewing Co. is now producing beer at North Texas Brewing Co. (a.k.a. Grapevine Craft Brewery), after making the decision to move operations to secure more production time and space. In addition to helping Hop & Sting increase its market presence, the change also enables the company to serve its products in Grapevine's taproom.


Chimera re-branding as Fort Brewery & Pizza

After being sold to the principals behind Kent & Co. Wines and other Fort Worth ventures, Chimera Brewing Co. will now be known as Fort Brewery & Pizza. The re-branding puts the focus of the business primarily on pizza and beer, though salads and bar bites remain as additional food options. A launch party for the new brand will occur at the brewpub on June 6.


Pick up beer to-go at Panther Island

Looking to add the ability to sell beer to-go, Panther Island Brewing Co. has switched over to a brewpub license. Consumers can now fill growlers and/or pick up cans of Panther Island brews from its facility in Fort Worth.

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Image credits (top to bottom, click to enlarge): Braindead Brewing, Flix Brewhouse, Black Man Brewing, Old Town Brewhouse, Hop & Sting Brewing Co., Fort Brewery & Pizza, Panther Island Brewing Co.

North Texas Craft Beer Conspectus - April 20, 2018 edition

A fresh round of North Texas brewery blurbs includes news on four future brewing companies, a new look for an east side operation, and the start of distribution for a barbecuing brewpub.

Cheers!


G Town gets the green light in Greenville

The City of Greenville has approved plans for G Town Brewery, meaning the future brewpub can move on to the construction phase. Since closing on a site at 2824 Lee St., the company had been seeking the waiver of a moratorium on alterations to structures in Greenville's downtown district. That moratorium was rescinded in January, which cleared the way for G Town to initiate the standard permitting process.


Thirsty Bro debuts new logo, can designs

Things continue to be busy over at Thirsty Bro Brewing Co. of Royse City. In addition to signing on as a founding partner of the Royse City Griffins, an independent league baseball team set to begin play in 2019, the brewery recently debuted a new logo and initial packaging designs for two of its beers. Cans of Southern Belle Porter and Bro'd Trip English Style IPA are expected to hit retail later this year.


Brutal Beerworks raising funds via Indiegogo

Brutal Beerworks is the latest entity to turn to crowdfunding as a way to raise funds for its proposed project. The company, which hopes to set up shop in North Richland Hills, has established an open-ended goal of $75,000. Funds would go towards closing and construction on a location, equipment and the required permits. Click here to visit the campaign page, where you can learn more about the group and its plans.


Intrinsic begins North Texas distribution

After signing with Austin-based Flood Independent Distribution, the beers of Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery are now available at draft accounts around North Texas. The agreement took effect in April, after which a launch event was held at Opa Greek Taverna, the Garland brewpub's first outside account.


TABC approves two new North Texas operations

The Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission (TABC) issued licenses for Flix Brewhouse Little Elm and Oak Cliff Brewing Co. of Dallas on back-to-back days earlier this month. Both operations are currently under construction, with Flix Little Elm slated to open at the end of April, and Oak Cliff Brewing targeting the end of May at the earliest.

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Image credits (top to bottom, click to enlarge): G Town Brewery, Thirsty Bro Brewing Co., Brutal Beerworks, Intrinsic Smokehouse & Brewery, Flix Brewhouse, Oak Cliff Brewing Co.

More on Flix Brewhouse and its future location in Little Elm

The Little Elm tapwall will look similar to the one currently in use at the
Flix location in Carmel, Indiana (courtesy of Flix Brewhouse).

With Friday's announcement that Flix Brewhouse will be opening an outpost in Little Elm, North Texans may be wondering what the new place will have to offer in terms of its beer program. So, in order to find out, I got in touch with Greg Johnson, director of sales and marketing for the firm, who provided a rundown of what to expect.

Naturally, given that Flix will have four other locations¹ by the time the Little Elm theater opens in spring 2017, the primary question on many people's minds has to do with how unique the beer offerings might be here locally. While the company does have a standard set of year-round and seasonal recipes that are made at each location, Johnson indicated that each brewpub still has a personality all its own.

Many design elements shown in this rendering of a future Flix Brewhouse in Chicago, Illinois,
will be incorporated in the exterior of the Little Elm location (courtesy of Flix Brewhouse).

"We have six core beers that each location brews and carries 365 days a year," Johnson says, "along with six national seasonals that all locations produce annually. One of those seasonals is Saison de Walt, which honors the memory of co-founder Walt Powell, who had been working to help push the Flix brand forward prior to his untimely passing in 2013. We also have what we call our 'Gentleman Series,' which consists of four-to-six hop forward beers (i.e. The Imperial Gentleman IPA) that we brew and tap at each location."

As can be seen in this image from the brewpub in Carmel, Indiana, Flix designs each location's lobby in a

way that allows patrons to observe work going on in the physical brewery (courtesy of Flix Brewhouse).

"After that," he explains, "each local brewer has the freedom to create in their market, so this means they concept and create as many as 18-20 full batch brews annually with the guidance of our brewery council. Of course, each brewer also has their own style when it comes to their barrel aging program. In Round Rock, we do lots of barrel-aged sour beers, since that's our Round Rock brewer's passion. In Iowa, we see more aging with rum, bourbon and cognac barrels. As for Little Elm, we won't know how that plays out until we have 'our guy' in North Texas, but whatever it is we will support their passion."

On that note, being as it's still early in the development process (with a lease signed, Flix is now involved in designing the architecture of the space), a local head brewer for Little Elm has yet to be hired. Based on current timelines, Johnson believes Flix will begin the search to fill that position sometime in the fall. Once hired, the plan is for the Little Elm locale to be up and running with a full slate of the brewpub's core beers and national seasonals on opening day.

For more information on Flix Brewhouse, visit the brewpub's website at: http://www.flixbrewhouse.com/

Details on Flix's lineup of year-round brews can be found at: http://www.flixbrewhouse.com/round-rock/brewery

1. Flix currently operates theatres in Carmel, Indiana, and Des Moines, Iowa, in addition to the original in Round Rock, Texas. A location in Albuquerque, New Mexico, is expected to open later in 2016.