North Texas continues its winning ways at 2026 U.S. Open Beer Championship

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Following up back-to-back record-setting runs in 2024 and 2025, North Texas showed up once again at the 2026 U.S. Open Beer Championship, with area breweries winning 19 awards at this year's event.

For the 2026 edition of the competition, submissions were judged against guidelines covering more than 180 categories and subcategories. From those entries, 11 North Texas breweries emerged among the winners, bringing home 8 gold, 5 silver and 6 bronze medals.

All but one recognized brewery represents a repeat winner at the U.S. Open, with Flix Brewhouse - Frisco/Little Elm being the lone honoree to appear for the first time.

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 Sentinel in the Kellerbier or Zwickelbier category.

Bankhead Brewpub, Rowlett

• Gold for Low Beams in the American Premium Lager category.

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Silver for Tyrant Reign in the Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter Extreme category.
• Bronze for 2 Live & Die in LA in the New Zealand IPA category.
• Bronze for Snacks of the Titans in the Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter Specialty category.

Flix Brewhouse, Frisco/Little Elm

• Gold for Cumbersome Blonde in the Field Beer category.

Flix Brewhouse, Mansfield

• Gold for Over the Moon in the Fruit Wheat Beer category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Gold for Raspberry Fields in the American-Style Fruit Beer category.
• Bronze for Romanov's Revenge in the Stout category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Gold for Charity in the German Altbier category.
• Bronze for BBA Vanilla Porter with Tart Cherries in the Wood/Barrel-Aged Fruit Beer category.

Odd Muse Brewing Co., Farmers Branch

• Silver for 500 Pesos in the Mexican-Style Light Lager category.
• Silver for La Lucha in the Mexican-Style Dark Lager category.
• Bronze for Playground Battle in the Other Kettle Sour category.

Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas

• Silver for Royal Scandal in the English Pale Ale category.
• Bronze for Velvet Hammer in the Imperial Red Ale category.

Three Wide Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Gold for Harlequin Dancer in the English Pale Ale category.
• Silver for High Groove in the Near Gluten Free/Gluten Reduced category.

Turning Point Beer, Bedford

• Gold for Edwin in the Foeder- and Cask-Aged Beers category. 

Cheers and congratulations to all!

North Texas achieves new heights once again at the 2025 U.S. Open Beer Championship

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The 2025 U.S. Open Beer Championship is in the books, with North Texas breweries showing out once again with 23 medals awarded. This sets yet another new record for the region at the U.S. Open, besting last year's total of 21.

As for competition details, the 17th annual edition of the U.S. Open drew over 8000 submissions from across America. Entries were then judged against guidelines covering more than 170 categories and subcategories. A total of 9 North Texas breweries were recognized for their beers, with the medal count breaking down as follows: 5 gold, 5 silver, 13 bronze.

Of particular note, Turning Point Beer of Bedford marked its first ever appearance on the U.S. Open winners list with four medals, while Union Bear Brewing Co. of Denton/Plano set a local record for the number of individual awards won in a single year at the competition with seven.

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 Blood Orange Gose in the Fruit Gose category.
• Gold for Front Toward Enemy in the Imperial Stout Specialty category.
• Bronze for Smoke Session in the Smoke Beer category.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Bronze for Corporate Estate in the Session IPA category.
• Bronze for It's All Happening in the English Barleywine category.

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Silver for Groovy in the Field Beer category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Bronze for Levitator in the Strong Bock category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Bronze for Golden Dharma in the International-Style Pilsener category.

Odd Muse Brewing Co., Farmers Branch

• Bronze for Silver Spaceship in the Hazy/Juicy Strong Pale Ale category.

Three Wide Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Silver for Whitechapel in the English Pale Ale category.
• Bronze for Tienne in the Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale category.
• Bronze for Tropic Groove in the Coconut Beer category.

Turning Point Beer, Bedford

• Gold for City Lager in the Australian, Latin American or Tropical-Style Light Lager category.
• Silver for Blackout Brunch in the Barrel-Aged Breakfast Stout category.
• Silver for Life in the Foeder & Cask-Aged Beer category.
• Bronze for Sportz Fruit Punch in the American-Style Fruit Beer category.

Union Bear Brewing Co., Denton/Plano

• Gold for Bock in the Traditional German-Style Bock category.
• Gold for Saison with Sage & Honey in the Specialty Honey Beer category.
• Silver for Schwarzbier in the German-Style Schwarzbier category.
• Bronze for Dry Irish Stout in the Classic Irish Dry Stout category.
• Bronze for Kölsch in the German Kölsch category.
• Bronze for Amber Ale in the Near Gluten-Free/Gluten Reduced Beer category.
• Bronze for UB Light in the Near Gluten-Free/Gluten Reduced Beer category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

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

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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!

Area breweries win 11 medals at 2023 U.S. Open Beer Championship

Image credit: U.S. Open Beer Championship.

The U.S. Open Beer Championship has announced the winners from its fifteenth annual competition.

For the 2023 event, breweries submitted over 9000 beers representing 160 different categories. Incidentally, the U.S. Open now lays claim to judging more beers styles than any competition in the world.

As far as our local showing, eight breweries from North Texas were awarded 11 medals combined (6 silver, 5 bronze). First time U.S. Open medalists for 2023 include Celestial Beerworks of Dallas, Odd Muse Brewing Co. of Farmers Branch, Union Bear Brewing Co. of Plano, and the yet-to-open Armor Brewing Co. of Allen.

A rundown of winning beers from North Texas is provided below. You can also click here for a complete competition summary.

Armor Brewing Co., Allen

• Silver for R&D Sticke Altbier in the Historical Beer category.

Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett

• Bronze for Classy Chassis in the French/Belgian Ale - Belgian-Style Blonde Ale category.

Celestial Beerworks, Dallas

• Silver for Ground Control in the Mixed Culture Brett Beer category.
• Bronze for Mailer Daemon in the New England/Juicy DIPA category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Silver for Raspberry Field in the American Berry/Fruit Beer - Raspberry category.
• Bronze for Bavarian Classic in the Münchner Dunkel category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Bronze for Barrel-Aged Vanilla Porter with Tart Cherries in the Barrel-Aged Fruit Beer category.

Odd Muse Brewing Co., Farmers Branch

• Silver for Fun Tolerance Grapefruit IPA in the American Berry/Fruit Beer - Grapefruit category.

Union Bear Brewing Co., Plano

• Silver for Union Bear Bock in the Bock category.
• Silver for Union Bear Foeder Saison in the Foeder and Cask-Aged Beer category.

White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas

• Bronze for Dreamsicle Kayak Specialty/Anything Goes category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

North Texas hauls in 19 medals at 2022 U.S. Open Beer Championship

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Medals, medals and more medals for North Texas - that seems to be the theme when winners are announced at the annual U.S. Open Beer Championship. And, this year is no different.

As for a few details, the 2022 edition of the event drew more than 9000 entries from breweries around the world, with those broken down into 150 different categories for evaluation. Reviewing the list of winners, eleven breweries from North Texas were awarded 19 medals combined (6 gold, 5 silver, 8 bronze). From that group, False Idol Brewing of North Richland Hills represents the area's lone first-time honoree, while Deep Ellum Brewing Co. of Dallas appears for the first time since 2016.

Winning beers from North Texas are summarized below. You can also click here for a complete competition summary.

903 Brewers, Sherman

• Silver for Fragile Like a Bomb in the Aged Beer category.

Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett

• Gold for Low Beams in the American/German Light category.

Cowtown Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Silver for Cold Fort Worth Beer in the American Premium Lager category.

Deep Ellum Brewing Co., Dallas

• Silver for Dallas Blonde in the Golden or Blonde Ale category.

False Idol Brewing, North Richland Hills

• Gold for Banquet Boy in the American Lager/Pilsner category.

HopFusion Ale Works, Fort Worth

• Gold for Feisty Blonde in the Honey Beer category.
• Silver for Mi Familia in the American-Style Fruit Beer category.
• Bronze for The Hop Root Beer in the Root Beer - Kids category.

Lakewood Brewing Co., Garland

• Gold for Muy Importante in the American-Style Fruit Beer - Lime category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Gold for Bavarian Classic in the Munchner Helles category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Bronze for Red Wine Freaky Deaky in the Wine Barrel-Aged Beer category.
• Bronze for Freaky Deaky in the Aged Beer category.

Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas

• Bronze for Great Scot! in the Scottish Ale category.
• Bronze for Velvet Hammer in the Imperial Red Ale category.
• Bronze for Top Shelf in the Experimental Beer category.
• Bronze for Golden Opportunity in the Ukrainian Golden Ale category.

White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas

• Gold for Midnight Delight in the Imperial Porter category.
• Silver for Chocolate Reign in the Imperial Stout Specialty category.
• Bronze for Dreamsicle Kayak in the Specialty/Anything Goes category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Locals land 16 medals at 2021 U.S. Open Beer Championship

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The hits just keep on coming for North Texas at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, as area breweries have landed 16 medals (6 gold, 5 silver, 5 bronze) at the 2021 competition. In fact, including this year's tally, North Texas brewing companies have brought home more than 100 medals from the U.S. Open during the course of the last 10 years.

At this year's event, breweries from around the world sent in over 8000 beers for evaluation, with those entries representing over 140 different styles. Among the winners were 11 local brewers, with first time honorees including Pathfinder Brewery of Hudson Oaks, along with Cowtown Brewing Co. and Maple Branch Craft Brewery of Fort Worth.

A list of winning beers from North Texas is provided below. You can also click here for a full competition summary.

903 Brewers, Sherman

• Silver for Fragile Like a Bomb in the Imperial Stout Extreme category.

Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett

• Gold for Mile Marker 12 in the Triple IPA category.
• Bronze for Low Hood in the Belgian Tripel category.

Cowtown Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Silver for Cold Fort Worth Beer in the American Premium Lager category.

HopFusion Ale Works, Fort Worth

• Silver for Coco Añejo in the Coconut Beer category.

Maple Branch Craft Brewery, Fort Worth

• Silver for Coalition Coffee Stout in the Coffee Beer category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Gold for Tipsy Goat in the Heller Bock/Maibock category.
• Gold for Freaky Deaky in the Aged Beer category.
• Bronze for Tejano Pecano in the Nut Beer category.

Pathfinder Brewery, Hudson Oaks

• Gold for 3 Dragons in the Belgian Quadrupel category.

Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas

• Silver for Great Scot! in the Scottish Ale category.

Tupps Brewery, McKinney

• Bronze for Full Grown Man in the American Imperial Stout category.

Vector Brewing, Dallas

• Bronze for Monospace: Nelson in the New Zealand IPA category.
• Bronze for Squoze in the Vegetable Beer category.

White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas

• Gold for Dreamsicle Capsized Kayak in the Specialty/Anything Goes category.
• Gold for Dave's Perfect Pils in the Kellerbier or Zwickelbier category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Accolades abound for NTX breweries at 2020 U.S. Open Beer Championship

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Building on an already impressive history of wins at the U.S. Open Beer Championship, North Texas breweries were honored with 16 awards (6 gold, 7 silver, 3 bronze) at the 2020 edition of what's billed as "One of the Top 3 Beer Competitions in the USA." Comparing to results from 2019, locals improved upon the 13 medals area breweries brought home last year.

At the 2020 event, more than 6000 beers were judged across over 140 different categories. From that group, 10 North Texas breweries had entries counted among the winners. Eight of those breweries added to their lifetime U.S. Open win totals, while Tupps Brewery and Vector Brewing were recognized at the event for the first time.

See below for a list of winning beers from North Texas. You can also click here for a complete competition summary.

903 Brewers, Sherman

• Silver for Kilt Switch in the Strong Scottish Ale category.

Bankhead Brewing Co., Rowlett

• Silver for Classy Chassis in the French/Belgian Ale category.

HopFusion Ale Works, Fort Worth

• Silver for Feisty Redhead in the Vegetable Beer category.

Lakewood Brewing Co., Dallas

• Gold for Lion's Share VIII in the Spirits Barrel-Aged Beer (non-whiskey) & Brandy Barrels category.
• Gold for Sin Mint Temptress in the Experimental Beer category.
• Bronze for Temptress in the Imperial Stout Specialty category.

Martin House Brewing Co., Fort Worth

• Gold for Columbiana in the Rum Barrel-Aged Beer category.

Oak Highlands Brewery, Dallas

• Gold for Bourbon Barrel Vanilla Porter with Tart Cherries in the Barrel-Aged Fruit Beer category.
• Silver for Tipsy Goat in the Heller Bock/Maibock category.

Peticolas Brewing Co., Dallas

• Gold for Black Curtains in the American Imperial Stout category.
• Silver for Great Scot! in the Scottish Ale category.
• Silver for Royal Scandal in the English Pale Ale category.
• Bronze for Velvet Hammer in the Imperial Red Ale category.

Tupps Brewery, McKinney

• Silver for Full Grown Man in the American Imperial Stout category.

Vector Brewing, Dallas

• Bronze for Slightly Darker Black in the American-Style Black Ale category.

White Rock Alehouse & Brewery, Dallas

• Gold for The Little Guy in the Sessions Beer category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

North Texas breweries land 13 medals at 2017 U.S. Open Beer Championship

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U.S. Open Beer Championship

Winners were announced today for the 2017 U.S. Open Beer Championship, with the results showing seven North Texas breweries to be among those earning recognition.

According to a press release, breweries from Vermont to Vietnam sent in more than 6,000 beers representing over 100 different styles for evaluation in this year's competition. Just like in prior years, the event was open to both professional brewers and award-winning homebrewers.

As far as the 2017 performance of North Texas breweries goes, first-time winners at this year's competition include Bankhead Brewing Co. of Rowlett and HopFusion Ale Works of Fort Worth. Their wins are included in the list below, along with other local breweries, each of which has brought home at least one medal from the U.S. Open in the past (a complete list of winners may be found by clicking here).


903 Brewers

• Bronze for Sasquatch in the American Stout category

Bankhead Brewing Co.

• Silver for Highway 1 in the Bohemian Pilsner category.

HopFusion Ale Works

• Silver for Fur Slipper in the Cream Stout category.
• Silver for Feisty Blonde in the Honey Beer category.
• Bronze for Hairpin in the Rye/Roggen Beer category.

Lakewood Brewing Co.

• Silver for All Call in the English Summer Ale category.
• Silver for Sin Mint Temptress in the Experimental Beer category.

Peticolas Brewing Co.

• Silver for Sledgehammer in the American Barley Wine category.
• Silver for Velvet Hammer in the Imperial Red Ale category.
• Bronze for Irish Goodbye in the Irish Red Ale category.

Rabbit Hole Brewing Co.

• Gold for 10/6 in the English Pale Ale category.
• Gold for Off With Your Red in the Imperial Red Ale category.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

• Gold for The Regulator in the Doppel/Strong Bock category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!

Seven North Texas breweries medal at 2016 U.S. Open Beer Championship

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U.S. Open Beer Championship

After judges from England, Canada and the U.S. evaluated nearly 5000 beers entered in over 90 different style categories, the U.S. Open Beer Championship has announced the winners from its 2016 competition.

This U.S. Open Beer Championship is an annual event open to both professional brewers and award-winning homebrewers. This year, seven North Texas breweries were among those honored, bringing home a total of 12 medals. Not only that, Rahr & Sons was named as one of the competition's "Top 10 Breweries of 2016."

A rundown of medals won by local breweries is given below, with a complete list of winners to be found by clicking here.

903 Brewers

• Silver for Sasquatch in the American Stout category

Deep Ellum Brewing Co.

• Silver for Rye Pils in the American Lager/Pilsener category.

Grapevine Craft Brewery

• Gold for Wee Heavy in the Strong Scottish Ale category.
• Silver for NightWatch in the Oatmeal Stout category.

Lakewood Brewing Co.

• Silver for Sin Mint Temptress in the Experimental Beer category.

Peticolas Brewing Co.

• Silver for The Duke in the Barley Wine category.
• Silver for Great Scot! in the Scottish Ale category.

Rabbit Hole Brewing Co.

• Gold for 10/6 in the English Pale Ale category.
• Bronze for Rapture in the American Brown Ale category.

Rahr & Sons Brewing Co.

• Gold for Summertime Wheat in the German Hefeweizen category.
• Gold for The Regulator in the Doppel/Strong Bock category.
• Silver for Rahr's Blonde in the Münchner Helles/Light category.

Cheers and congratulations to all!