The craft beer revolution is still alive and kicking in North Texas, despite a national slowdown in the industry’s growth. More than a dozen new businesses fired up their brew kettles in 2019, including bars that added house beers to their menus and brands that tapped into the market without their own brick-and-mortar locations. Local favorites that moved to new spots are also included on this list.
As you head out to celebrate North Texas Beer Week, which runs Nov. 1-10, keep an eye out for these newcomers.
Bluffview Growler
Started brewing: January
Bluffview Growler opened in 2017 as a to-go beer bar, but recently it added original beers to the menu. A regular, Mason MacPhail, inspired the jump into brewing, and now the geophysicist at Southern Methodist University collaborates with Bluffview bartender Ross Frederick on brew days. Of Bluffview Growler’s 52 taps, up to five are dedicated to a rotating mix of house brews. The rest are devoted to kegged wine, cider and other craft beers from around the nation. Owner Dale Czech does not plan to install a brewing system at the sister business, Lakewood Growler, though he hopes to begin serving Bluffview’s beers there soon.
3850 W. Northwest Highway, Dallas. 469-607-2337. bluffviewgrowler.com.
By the Horns Brewing
Opened: January
Beer and tacos are a match made in heaven. And Mansfield residents can find them both in one place since the opening of By the Horns Brewing. Founder Jason Boso, also owner and operator of Twisted Root Burger Co. and Truck Yard, envisioned the brewery as a congregating space for the community. It specializes in German-style beers to pair with bites from Tacos and Avocados, the restaurant inside. In addition to Tex-Mex staples like brisket, chicken and pork tacos, the kitchen serves a Oaxacan cricket tostada “just for fun,” Boso says. He also makes tortillas from the brewery’s spent grain, offering some interesting synergy.
109 S. Main St., Mansfield. 682-341-0051. bythehornsbrewing.com.
Toasty Bros.
Opened: February
Brian Tiensvold has always been fascinated by toast. It inspired both his nickname, a website where he met his wife, and now the name of his commercial brewing brand. Toasty Bros. joined the D-FW beer scene in February, thanks to a partnership with Hop and Sting Brewing Co. in Grapevine, where Tiensvold produces about three barrels at a time. The beer is available almost exclusively in his hometown, Denton, until the business opens a taproom — “hopefully in the next year or two,” he says. Keep an eye out for the flagship Long Tacky Old Slacks Kolsch on draft on the Denton Square.
Visit the website to see where to buy Toasty Bros. beer. toastybros.com.
Walking Beam Brewing Co.
Opened: February
John Townsend, co-owner of Walking Beam Brewing Co., has been brewing since “before it was cool,” says his wife and business partner, Candy Townsend. His first commercial release was in the 1980s, when he contract-brewed a German-style pilsner and distributed it himself throughout Delaware, Maryland and Virginia. In February, the Townsends opened a brick-and-mortar spot in Bridgeport, west of Decatur, where they brew a variety of styles, including several gluten-free recipes. Because Candy has gluten intolerance, John experiments with alternative grains, such as millet, which he’s showcased in a brown ale and a pale ale. Walking Beam is also a restaurant serving elevated pub grub, including pizzas fired off in a rotating brick oven.
1019 Halsell St., Bridgeport. 940-394-3424. walkingbeambrewing.com.
Deep Ellum Funkytown Fermatorium
Opened: March
One of Dallas’ original craft breweries expanded west this spring with a colorful, punk rock-inspired restaurant and brewery near Fort Worth’s cultural district. North Texans can find staples like the Dallas Blonde and Deep Ellum IPA, but the real attractions are the beers specific to the location, such as the Slightly Manic hazy IPA, Funkytown Brown ale and Texas Corn grisette. Pair them with a flatbread pizza or Brussels sprouts appetizer before you hit the nearby Fort Worth Botanic Garden.
611 University Drive, Fort Worth. 817-873-3322. deepellumbrewing.com/taprooms/funkytown-fermatorium.
Funky Picnic Brewery and Cafe
Opened: June
For here or to go? That’s the primary question drinkers need to answer when deciding where they’d like to have their Funky Picnic experience. “For here” means grabbing an artisanal sandwich and a flight in the plant-filled and mural-adorned interior at this brewery on Fort Worth’s Near South Side. But sandwiches and beer can be wrapped and crowlered if you’d rather picnic outside. Bonus: “You can drink in public in Fort Worth,” says Samantha Glenn, Funky Picnic co-founder and general manager. The brewery has 15 taps boasting a variety of styles, from a traditional Mexican lager to a peanut butter stout. The food is also infused with beer, like the IPA-bacon jam on the Throw Your Hands in the Heir-loom sandwich and the blue cheese IPA dressing on the chopped salad.
401 Bryan Ave., Fort Worth. 817-708-2739. funkypicnicbrewery.com.
Brutal Beerworks
Opened: June
Experimentation is the name of the game at this North Richland Hills brewpub. Co-brewers Eric Johnson and Jason Perez release at least one new beer each week, and they aren’t afraid to push the boundaries of convention. Brutal Beerworks recently introduced a Pumpkin Pie Stout, brewed with 12 pies and a healthy helping of vanilla, and a Lucky Charms cereal-infused milkshake IPA. The brewery also has a beer-topper machine, which Johnson describes as a slushie machine that tops pints with a frozen layer of flavor. For example, Brutal Beerworks has served a mango milkshake IPA with a slice of frozen blackberry beer on top.
8447 Boulevard 26, North Richland Hills. 817-666-2728. brutalbeerworks.com.
Trinity Forest Brewing Co.
Started brewing: July
Trinity Forest Brewing Co. aims not only to make tasty beer, but also to raise awareness about the 250-acre urban oasis in southeast Dallas that inspired its name. The goal is to open a taproom with scenic views in two or three years, says head brewer Ricky Del Bosque. For now, he’s brewing recipes such as a blonde ale and a SMASH IPA with pilsner malt and mosaic hops at Grapevine’s Hop and Sting Brewing Co. The beers are available on draft in North Texas, including at the Trinity Forest Golf Course, though Del Bosque is planning some limited releases for bottle distribution.
Visit the website to see where to buy Trinity Forest beers. trinityforestbrewco.com.
Noble Rey Brewing Co.
Started brewing (again): July
Noble Rey has spent much of 2019 in the news. The brewery, originally opened in 2015, filed for bankruptcy in January before shuttering in March. The closure ended up being temporary after an investor group bought the business over the summer and brought its beer back to market. Brandon Pitzer is regional and general manager of CanJoined Collective, which partners with breweries to help build sustainable growth models through bulk discounts on cans, malts and other products. The company is shepherding Noble Rey’s rebirth by arranging for another facility in Nocona to make recipes like Sex in a Canoe lager and Eagles Tears gose, and searching for a new taproom in Dallas, which Pitzer expects will open by New Year’s Eve.
Watch for updates at noblereybrewing.com and canjoinedcollective.com.
Soul Fire Brewing Co.
Opened: September
Aaron Bennett and James Brown have been partners in crime since high school. Three decades later, they’re partners in Soul Fire Brewing Co., a new brewery in Roanoke. The business is one of nine vendors in an 11,000-square-foot, soon-to-be-finished venue called Oak Street Food and Brews, which Bennett calls “the country version” of a food hall. Soul Fire, named for the Cult’s song “Sweet Soul Sister,” has 20 taps that pour house recipes such as a Belgian witbier and double IPA, as well as other Texas craft beers and ciders. For food, purveyors include Famous Fatsos Burgers, fish-and-chips spot Churchill’s and the Hot Potato.
206 N. Oak St., Roanoke. 682-237-7379. soulfirebrewing.com.
Howling Mutt Brewery
Opened: September
The first time Howling Mutt co-founders Justin Reed and Alex Manning met was at an apartment in Denton rented specifically for beer pong parties. Reed served Manning a shot of whiskey, which Manning almost instinctively spit all over the wall. They became fast friends. Eight years later, the duo’s craft brewing hobby has turned into a small commercial operation near the Denton Square, where they collaborate with a rotating cast of local brewers. For example, Howling Mutt recently worked with Toasty Bros. to release two beers — a strawberry blonde and a peanut butter blonde — that were meant to be mixed together.
205 N. Cedar St., Denton. howlingmuttbrewing.com.
Westlake Brewing Co.
Opened: October
Located in Deep Ellum, Westlake Brewing Co. is named for the Dallas neighborhood where founder Art Harvey started homebrewing beer in the 1990s. The brewery has been almost as long in the making — Harvey began writing a business plan 10 years before the doors opened this fall. The tap wall boasts a mix of recipes, including a hazy IPA and Hefeweizen to pair with pretzels. It’s the only food item served here and is based on an employee’s home recipe. Best of all, they’re prepared by Westlake Brewing’s CPO — that’s chief pretzel officer.
2816 Commerce St., Dallas. 877-994-2337. westlakebeer.com.
3 Nations Brewing
Opened: October
3 Nations Brewing isn’t new to local drinkers, having opened in 2015, but the company recently moved into a massive new home in downtown Carrollton. Located in the shadow of a 70-year-old grain mill, the new spot includes five rooms, an outdoor patio and upgraded amenities. “We only had one bathroom [in Farmers Branch],” says partner John Royer. “Now we have five stalls for women.” 3 Nations is also close to the DART line and numerous restaurants where guests can buy food to bring to the brewery.
1033 E. Vandergriff Drive, Carrollton. 469-289-6062. 3nationsbrewing.com.
Manhattan Project Beer Co.
Expected opening: November
Since Manhattan Project’s beer hit taps in 2016, it’s had a hard time keeping up with the local thirst for its India pale ales, like the Half Life hazy and the Hoppenheimer West Coast style. It started by contract brewing at several North Texas breweries, but will soon have a facility in West Dallas to call its own, complete with a restaurant and espresso bar. Manhattan Project was recently embroiled in a global controversy over the name of one of its beers, but it’s unlikely to extinguish local excitement about the brewery’s grand opening.
2211 Sulphur St., Dallas. manhattanproject.beer.
Craft and Growler
Expected opening: Late November
Opened in 2012, Craft and Growler is Dallas’ undisputed growler bar pioneer, and soon it will begin serving its own beer. Owner Todd Quigley recently added a three-and-a-half-barrel brew house and plans to invite local brewers to experiment with recipes on a small scale. It’s the latest addition since a kitchen over the summer, which turns out “the best wings ever” in eight flavors, Quigley says. Expect an IPA to be among the first house recipes available on draft.
3601 Parry Ave., Dallas. 214-821-1122. craftandgrowler.com.
Odd Muse Brewing Co.
Expected opening: December
Located in Farmers Branch, Odd Muse Brewing Co. is the brainchild of Bobby Diaz and Charles Roffino, who met while they were roommates at the University of North Texas. When the brewery opens, it will sport 14 taps for original beers and focus on serving the bars, restaurants and drinkers within a 5-mile radius. Odd Muse’s name was inspired by Diaz’s daughters — Olivia and Danielle Diaz — whose initials spell ODD. “They’re what pushed me to take a leap of faith and jump off a cliff and start my own business,” Diaz says. “When they get older, I wouldn’t feel comfortable telling them to follow their dreams if I hadn’t done it myself.”
4488 Spring Valley Road, Farmers Branch. oddmusebrewing.com.
Happy Hippie Brewing Co.
Expected opening: December
Michael Frederick is a proud fan of the Grateful Dead, having seen them in concert more than 20 times. So when it came to naming his brewing operation, Happy Hippie seemed like an apt fit. Frederick expects to begin brewing soon through a partnership with Hop and Sting Brewing Co. in Grapevine, and when he does, drinkers can expect thematically named beers, such as Friend of the Devil, a salted caramel milk stout, and Captain Tripels, a Belgian beer.
Watch for updates at facebook.com/HHBCAbides.
