North Texas reaches new heights at 2025 Texas Craft Brewers Cup

Image credit: Texas Craft Brewers Guild.

Earlier tonight in Austin, winners were announced at the 2025 Texas Craft Brewers Cup, an annual event presented by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. It was another strong showing for North Texas beer-makers, as 11 area breweries secured medals honoring 21 locally-made beers. That number, incidentally, beats the area's best ever count of 20 medals in 2022.

In addition, for three years running now, a North Texas purveyor of pints was named Brewery of the Year. This time it was False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills in the Over 620 bbl Group - congrats to the Wolf Pack!

Completing its fourth year, the Texas Craft Brewers Cup is designed to "showcase the outstanding quality and variety of Texas craft beer and the brewers that make them." For the 2025 edition, 162 Texas breweries submitted 931 entries sorted into 30 different categories. Those beers were then judged against style guidelines published by either the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) or the Brewers Association as created for the Great American Beer Festival (GABF).

Notable statistics:

• Just over 35% of active Texas breweries competed (162 down from 170 in 2024).
• Medals were awarded to a total of 55 Texas breweries - 20% of those being from North Texas.
• North Texas medal count: 8 gold, 8 silver, and 5 bronze.

A list of winning beers from North Texas and the breweries behind them is provided below. For more on the Texas Craft Brewers Cup, click here for a full competition summary.

3 Nations Brewing Co., Carrollton

• Devour - Mexican Chocolate, Silver in the Chocolate & Coffee category.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Ube Piña Colada Tropic, Silver in the Pastry/Dessert/Puree, a.k.a. Decadent Beers category.
• Stellar Remnants, Bronze in the Hazy IPA category.
• Dreamhack, Bronze in the Fruit & Field Beer category.

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Hollowveil, Gold in the Pastry/Dessert/Puree, a.k.a. Decadent Beers category.
• The True One, Gold in the Brett & Mixed Culture category.
• Squirtle Squad, Gold in the Belgian & Farmhouse Ales category.
• Let it Rip, Silver in the Belgian & Farmhouse Ales category.
• Life of an Outlaw, Silver in the American IPA category.

Jaquval, Dallas

• Abbey Normal, Bronze in the Belgian Abbey Ales category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Battle of Britain, Gold in the Barleywine & Strong Ale category.
• Paradise Porter, Gold in the Fruit & Field Beer category.

Martin House Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Tropical Nuke Juice, Gold in the American & European Sour category.
• Imperial Texan, Silver in the Barleywine & Strong Ale category.

Odd Muse Brewing, Farmers Branch 

• Unified Dry-Hopped French Saison, Gold in the Legislative Pro-Am category.
• Graveyard Ghosts, Silver in the Amber & Dark Beers category.
• Eyes Never Lie, Bronze in the Strong Hoppy Beer category.

On Rotation, Dallas

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

Three Wide Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Off With Your Red, Bronze in the Specialty Hoppy category.

Union Bear Brewing Co., Denton

• Mexican Lager, Gold in the American & International Pilsner category.

Vector Brewing, Dallas

• Bullpen, Silver in the American & International Lager category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Locals land 19 medals at 2024 Texas Craft Brewers Cup

Image credit: Texas Craft Brewers Guild.

Results from the 2024 edition of the Texas Craft Brewers Cup were announced this evening in Austin, with 14 North Texas breweries recognized for a combined total of 19 beers. And, for the second year in a row, a local got the nod for Brewery of the Year in the Under 600 bbl Group - congrats to Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth!

Organized by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, the Texas Craft Brewers Cup is a competition open to all licensed and operating Texas breweries meeting the criteria of the Guild's "craft brewer" membership definition. Guild membership is not an entry requirement, but out-of-state breweries are not eligible to participate.

This year, the event drew 956 entries from 170 Texas breweries. Submissions were then evaluated across 31 categories and associated sub-styles based on guidelines published by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) and Great American Beer Festival (GABF).

Notable statistics:

• Just over 35% of active Texas breweries competed (170 up from 147 in 2023).
• Hazy IPA repeated as the most-entered style category with 61 entries.
• North Texas swept the Smoke & Chili Beer category.
• North Texas medal count: 6 gold, 6 silver, and 7 bronze.

Area winners are featured below. For more on the Texas Brewers Cup, click here for a full competition summary.

Armor Brewing Co., Allen

• Smoked Porter, Gold in the Smoke & Chili Beer category.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Dallas

• Neato Bandito, Gold in the Golden, Blonde & Light Ales category.

Denton County Brewing Co., Denton

• Devil's Tears, Bronze in the American & International Light Lager category.

Edgewise Eight Brewing, Weatherford

• Social Betty Ann, Silver in the Wheat or Rye category.

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Let it Rip, Gold in the Belgian & Farmhouse Ales category.
• Sinister Shadows, Silver in the Decadent Beer category.
• Squirtle Squad, Bronze in the Belgian & Farmhouse Ales category.

Funky Picnic Brewery & Café, Fort Worth

• Why Can't I Be Turboman?, Silver in the Fruit & Field Beer category. 

Lakewood Brewing Co., Garland

• Velvet Veil, Bronze in the Strong Hoppy Beer category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Raspberry Fields, Gold in the Fruit & Field Beer category.
• Romanov's Revenge, Gold in the Barleywine & Strong Ale category.
• Gigi's Juice, Bronze in the Smoke & Chili Beer category.

Odd Muse Brewing, Farmers Branch 

• Rose Colored Glasses, Silver in the Strong Hoppy Beer category.

On Rotation, Dallas

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

Tupps Brewery, McKinney

• FAYM - Forever Always Your McKinney, Silver in the Legislative Pro-Am category.
• Juice Pack, Bronze in the Hazy IPA category.

Union Bear Brewing Co., Denton

• Mexican Lager, Gold in the American & International Lager category.

Vector Brewing, Dallas

• Rubus Rex, Bronze in the Brett & Mixed Culture category.

White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas

• Big Thicket Blonde, Bronze in the Golden, Blonde & Light Ales category.
  
  

Cheers and congratulations to all!

North Texas nabs 17 medals at 2023 Texas Craft Brewers Cup

Image: Texas Craft Brewers Guild.

The second annual installment of the Texas Craft Brewers Cup is now in the books, with 12 North Texas breweries heading home from Austin with some nifty new craft beer bling. Not only that, Vector Brewing of Dallas was also named Brewery of the Year in the Under 600 bbl Group.

A Texas-only craft beer competition, the Texas Craft Brewers Cup is presented by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild. Judging takes place in the weeks ahead of the organization's annual meeting, during which winners are announced during a special awards ceremony.

Surveying statistics from the 2023 event, 852 entries from 147 Texas breweries were sorted and judged across 27 medal categories (Hazy IPA being the largest with 61 entries). Each of those categories contained a mix of related sub-styles defined by guidelines published by the Beer Judge Certification Program (BJCP) and Great American Beer Festival (GABF). Overall, a total of over 150 different beer styles were represented at the judge's table.

And on the participation metric, 147 competing breweries translates to approximately 35% of the more than 400 brewing companies currently operating in Texas. That's roughly on par with the participation level in 2022.

As for the local winners, 17 North Texas beers were recognized, with their medals breaking down as follows: 8 Gold, 6 Silver, and 3 Bronze. Area honorees are summarized below, or you can click here for a full competition summary.

Armor Brewing Co., Allen

• Smoked Porter, Bronze in the Smoke & Chili Beer category.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Double Stars, Silver in the Strong Hoppy Beer category.
• Polymath, Bronze in the American & International Lager category.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Dallas

• Neato Bandito, Gold in the Golden, Blonde & Light Ales category.

Edgewise Eight Brewing, Weatherford

• First of His Name, Gold in the Stout & Porter category.

Funky Picnic Brewery & Café, Fort Worth

• Banjo! Banjo! Banjoooo!, Gold in the Smoke & Chili Beer category.

Lakewood Brewing Co., Garland

• Lion's Share X, Gold in the Barrel & Wood Aged Beer category.
• Mechanical Grizzly, Silver in the Chocolate & Coffee Beer category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Battle of Britain, Gold in the Barleywine & Strong Ale category.
• Raspberry Fields, Bronze in the Fruit & Field Beer category.

Odd Muse Brewing, Farmers Branch 

• 500 Pesos, Silver in the American & International Lager category.

Rollertown Beerworks, Celina

• Juice Serum, Gold in the Hazy IPA category.

Siren Rock Brewing Co., Rockwall

• The Divine Monk, Silver in the Belgian & Farmhouse Ales category.

Vector Brewing, Dallas

• Moonsmoke, Gold in the Experimental, Hybrid & Specialty Beer category.
• Pho Sho, Gold in the Fruit & Field Beer category.
• Open Rhythms, Silver in the Session & Standard Hoppy Pale Ales and Lagers category.

White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas

• Big Thicket Blonde, Silver in the Golden, Blonde & Light Ales category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

North Texas takes 20 medals at inaugural Texas Craft Brewers Cup

Image credit: Texas Craft Brewers Guild.

The first ever Texas Craft Brewers Cup concluded this evening in Austin, with 12 North Texas breweries appearing among the winners.

Put on by the Texas Craft Brewers Guild, the inaugural competition was open to any Texas brewery meeting the Guild's Craft Brewer membership definition, but being an active member was not a requirement to participate. At this year's event, 755 entries from 131 Texas breweries were evaluated across 27 categories. The chosen groupings covered over 150 different beer styles combined.

Breweries from North Texas were awarded 20 total medals at the competition - 4 Gold, 8 Silver, and 8 Bronze. A complete list of local beers honored is provided below, or you can click here for a full competition summary.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Technical Skillset, Gold in the Strong Hoppy Beer category.

Denton County Brewing Co., Denton

• Small Town Strong, Bronze in the Barrel & Wood Aged Beer category.

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Spirit of Energy, Silver in the Hazy IPA category.
• Law Enforcement Cheetah, Silver in the Session & Standard Hoppy Pale Ales and Lagers category.
• 2 Live & Die in LA, Bronze in the American IPA category.

Lakewood Brewing Co., Garland

• French Quarter Temptress, Silver in the Chocolate & Coffee Beer category.
• Lakewood Live Vol. 3, Bronze in the Experimental, Hybrid & Specialty Beer category.
• Tangerine Queen, Bronze in the Fruit & Field Beer category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Jack's Wandering Soul, Gold in the Fruit & Field Beer category.
• Monkey Business, Silver in the Wheat or Rye Beer category.

Odd Muse Brewing, Farmers Branch 

• Museverse, Gold in the Chocolate & Coffee Beer category.
• 500 Pesos, Silver in the American & International Lager category.

On Rotation, Dallas

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

Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas

• Velvet Hammer, Bronze in the Barleywine & Strong Ale category.

Vector Brewing, Dallas

• Moonsmoke, Silver in the Experimental, Hybrid & Specialty Beer category.

Siren Rock Brewing Co., Rockwall

• The Divine Monk, Bronze in the Belgian & Farmhouse Ale category.

Texas Ale Project, Dallas

• 100 Million Angels Singing, Silver in the Strong Hoppy Beer category.

White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas

• Urban Parakeet, Gold in the Session & Standard Hoppy Pale Ales and Lagers category.
• Figment of Your Imagination, Bronze in the Decadent Beer category.
• Flaaaaanders, Bronze in the Wood & Barrel-Aged Sour & Brett Beer category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!