We sure do love our craft beer here in DFW. Of course, there are plenty of bars and restaurants serving up the local stuff on tap, but it tastes even better at the source, especially now that the winter chill has thawed. Here's a comprehensive guide to DFW's craft breweries, with information on tours, cost, any special appearances by food trucks or musicians and, most importantly, beer samples.
Unless noted, breweries are not climate-controlled, so dress accordingly (e.g., as little clothing as possible when it's hot.) And plan ahead, as most breweries stop serving samples 30 minutes before closing. Cheers! — Margo Sivin
903’s Sherman brewery is open from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday, and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Trivia Night on Thursdays. Tours take place on Saturday. Admission is free, and beers are available for $3 (8oz) or $5 (16oz.) All current beers (like The Chosen One coconut ale or General Sherman’s brown ale) plus one seasonal beer are available, and there is usually live music and food on site. The tap room is air-conditioned.
Located southeast of the metroplex in Seven Points, the Cedar Creek tap room is open Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m, and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free tours are offered several times each day, and kids and pets are welcome. $3 pints of their three year-round beers, including the cleverly-named Elliott's Phoned Home pale ale and $4 seasonals are available during tap room hours; the tap room is also air-conditioned (or heated in the winter).
Community Beer Company’s Design District taproom is open Thursdays 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays 5 p.m. 10 p.m. Open house takes place almost every Saturday from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. There are a limited amount of $10 tickets available online, otherwise admission is $15 at the door. Ticket price includes a guided tour and samples of their diverse beer selection, including the award-winning English-style Public Ale. Each open house features artists, live music, and food trucks. The space is air-conditioned, and kids and pets are welcome.
The brewery is open Thursday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. $10 gets you into the brewery, a (casual) tour, logo pint glass, and three samples. Food trucks and live music are a regular occurrence; check their site for a schedule. Dogs and kids are welcome in the beer garden. DEBC seemingly always has something new in the works, but highlights include the oh-so-hoppy Dreamcrusher IPA and the seasonal Cherry Chocolate Double Brown Stout.
Rowlett's craft brewery offers tours every Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; $10 gets you in the door with a pint glass or Mason jar for three tastings (plus, you can always buy more). Most weeks a food truck or two will be on hand for soaking up all those suds; expect to sample Texas Pale Ale, Midnight Ninja (an 8% ABV black ale) or other seasonal or limited beers. (Bonus: The brewery is just a brief walk from the closest DART rail station.)
Dallas’ Four Corners Ale House is open Wednesday–Friday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free tours, including samples of their five ales and two limited edition “hard stuff,” brews, take place Saturdays at noon and 1 p.m. Tours are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot online. Kids are welcome and the Ale House is air conditioned.
[Photo: Robert Strickland]
Franconia’s off-the-grid, eco-friendly McKinney brewery is open on Saturdays only, and tours start promptly at 11 a.m. Tickets are just $5 and include the two hour tour and samples of their German-style beers including the refreshing Koelsch. Part of the tour takes place in the beer cooler, so bring a jacket.
Denton County's Independent Ale Works launched way back in 2010, but they just debuted their taproom last month. Although they don't have a set schedule just yet, stalk them on Facebook for updates -- and expect live music and food from local food trucks like The Waffle Wagon. Their beer lineup is pretty small, but dark beer lovers should be sure to try the new Dark Intentions black ale.
Lakewood Brewing Company (which, be advised, is not in Lakewood but rather in Garland) is open from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m on Saturdays. Admission is $10, and includes an informal tour (starts at 1:30 p.m), four free samples of their Belgian-inspired brews (don't miss the 9% ABV Temptress) and a souvenir glass. Live music and rotating food trucks will be on hand, and lawn chairs encouraged. The tasting room is air-conditioned, and well-behaved kids are welcome.
Martin House’s Ft. Worth brewery is open every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. $10 admission covers a pint glass, three free pints, and brewery tour at 4:30pm. Beers include six year-round brews, like Day Break, a “4 Grain Breakfast Beer” brewed with local honey and milk sugar. Food, live music, and games (cornhole, washers, ladder golf) are available; kids and pets are welcome.
Tours are offered the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and sometimes Wednesdays. For $10 (cash only), you’ll receive three wooden nickels redeemable for three beer samples and a free Peticolas Brewing Company glass. Fill it up with award-winning Velvet Hammer, two other year-round brews, or seasonal beers. Food trucks and bands make occasional appearances.
DFW’s newest brewery, located between Denton and Ft. Worth, is open every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and includes a pint glass, tour, and three tokens. The tokens are redeemable for a pint of beer -- including Mike Modano's 561 Kolsch -- $2.50 off merchandise, or a charity of the brewer's choice. (For the full Rabbit Hole story, go here.)
[Photo: James Rambin]
The Fort Worth brewery is open Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with a guided tours starting an hour after opening. $10 ticket (folks under 18 are free) gets you a pint glass and three free samples. Restaurants, local artists, and sometimes local bakeries will be in attendance. Specialty beers will be on tap on Wednesdays. Ugly Pug is a perennial favorite, and the seasonal Iron Thistle Scotch ale is also worth a try.
Revolver’s Granbury brewery is open every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes a logo pint glass, four pints of beer brewed with water from the Trinity Aquifer well, and a tour at 1:30 p.m. Kids are welcome, and food (think barbecue, Frito pies, chili, and fajitas) is available for purchase. Musicians perform almost every Saturday; check website for schedule. If you haven't yet tried their Blood & Honey, you're missing out.
903’s Sherman brewery is open from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. each Saturday, and 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. for Trivia Night on Thursdays. Tours take place on Saturday. Admission is free, and beers are available for $3 (8oz) or $5 (16oz.) All current beers (like The Chosen One coconut ale or General Sherman’s brown ale) plus one seasonal beer are available, and there is usually live music and food on site. The tap room is air-conditioned.
Located southeast of the metroplex in Seven Points, the Cedar Creek tap room is open Friday 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 9 p.m, and Sunday 12 p.m. to 6 p.m. Free tours are offered several times each day, and kids and pets are welcome. $3 pints of their three year-round beers, including the cleverly-named Elliott's Phoned Home pale ale and $4 seasonals are available during tap room hours; the tap room is also air-conditioned (or heated in the winter).
Community Beer Company’s Design District taproom is open Thursdays 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Fridays 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Saturdays 5 p.m. 10 p.m. Open house takes place almost every Saturday from 2 p.m to 5 p.m. There are a limited amount of $10 tickets available online, otherwise admission is $15 at the door. Ticket price includes a guided tour and samples of their diverse beer selection, including the award-winning English-style Public Ale. Each open house features artists, live music, and food trucks. The space is air-conditioned, and kids and pets are welcome.
The brewery is open Thursday nights from 6:30 p.m. to 8 p.m. and Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. $10 gets you into the brewery, a (casual) tour, logo pint glass, and three samples. Food trucks and live music are a regular occurrence; check their site for a schedule. Dogs and kids are welcome in the beer garden. DEBC seemingly always has something new in the works, but highlights include the oh-so-hoppy Dreamcrusher IPA and the seasonal Cherry Chocolate Double Brown Stout.
Rowlett's craft brewery offers tours every Saturday from 11 a.m.-3 p.m.; $10 gets you in the door with a pint glass or Mason jar for three tastings (plus, you can always buy more). Most weeks a food truck or two will be on hand for soaking up all those suds; expect to sample Texas Pale Ale, Midnight Ninja (an 8% ABV black ale) or other seasonal or limited beers. (Bonus: The brewery is just a brief walk from the closest DART rail station.)
Dallas’ Four Corners Ale House is open Wednesday–Friday 5 p.m. to 10 p.m., Saturday 12 p.m. to 10 p.m., and Sunday 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Free tours, including samples of their five ales and two limited edition “hard stuff,” brews, take place Saturdays at noon and 1 p.m. Tours are limited, so be sure to reserve your spot online. Kids are welcome and the Ale House is air conditioned.
[Photo: Robert Strickland]
Franconia’s off-the-grid, eco-friendly McKinney brewery is open on Saturdays only, and tours start promptly at 11 a.m. Tickets are just $5 and include the two hour tour and samples of their German-style beers including the refreshing Koelsch. Part of the tour takes place in the beer cooler, so bring a jacket.
Denton County's Independent Ale Works launched way back in 2010, but they just debuted their taproom last month. Although they don't have a set schedule just yet, stalk them on Facebook for updates -- and expect live music and food from local food trucks like The Waffle Wagon. Their beer lineup is pretty small, but dark beer lovers should be sure to try the new Dark Intentions black ale.
Lakewood Brewing Company (which, be advised, is not in Lakewood but rather in Garland) is open from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m on Saturdays. Admission is $10, and includes an informal tour (starts at 1:30 p.m), four free samples of their Belgian-inspired brews (don't miss the 9% ABV Temptress) and a souvenir glass. Live music and rotating food trucks will be on hand, and lawn chairs encouraged. The tasting room is air-conditioned, and well-behaved kids are welcome.
Martin House’s Ft. Worth brewery is open every Saturday from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m. $10 admission covers a pint glass, three free pints, and brewery tour at 4:30pm. Beers include six year-round brews, like Day Break, a “4 Grain Breakfast Beer” brewed with local honey and milk sugar. Food, live music, and games (cornhole, washers, ladder golf) are available; kids and pets are welcome.
Tours are offered the 1st & 3rd Saturdays of the month from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m., and sometimes Wednesdays. For $10 (cash only), you’ll receive three wooden nickels redeemable for three beer samples and a free Peticolas Brewing Company glass. Fill it up with award-winning Velvet Hammer, two other year-round brews, or seasonal beers. Food trucks and bands make occasional appearances.
DFW’s newest brewery, located between Denton and Ft. Worth, is open every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. Tickets are $10 and includes a pint glass, tour, and three tokens. The tokens are redeemable for a pint of beer -- including Mike Modano's 561 Kolsch -- $2.50 off merchandise, or a charity of the brewer's choice. (For the full Rabbit Hole story, go here.)
[Photo: James Rambin]
The Fort Worth brewery is open Wednesdays from 5 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. with a guided tours starting an hour after opening. $10 ticket (folks under 18 are free) gets you a pint glass and three free samples. Restaurants, local artists, and sometimes local bakeries will be in attendance. Specialty beers will be on tap on Wednesdays. Ugly Pug is a perennial favorite, and the seasonal Iron Thistle Scotch ale is also worth a try.
Revolver’s Granbury brewery is open every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Admission is $10 and includes a logo pint glass, four pints of beer brewed with water from the Trinity Aquifer well, and a tour at 1:30 p.m. Kids are welcome, and food (think barbecue, Frito pies, chili, and fajitas) is available for purchase. Musicians perform almost every Saturday; check website for schedule. If you haven't yet tried their Blood & Honey, you're missing out.
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