Texas Beer Scene

Welcome back! Things really have changed tremendously. There were 6 distributing breweries in Texas when I got into craft beer. And don't get me started on our selection of out-of-state beer back then. Hell, I remember shitting my pants when Stone started distributing Ruination to TX (they used to only give us Arrogant Bastard and IPA). Now there's all kinds of cool new stuff for you to try. Enjoy the journey!

 

is this where we swing dick about being old?

 

Welcome back!

 

Beer is love. I've just been loving longer than all of you. So suck it.

 

are you saying you'd love me long time?

too beaucoup! too beacoup!

 

GET OFF MY LAWN!!! Damn kids and yer Mexican stouts...

 

FTFY

 

Texas has straight blown UP! I can't keep track of all the brews coming out of Dallas/Fort Worth/Denton. Barely leaves room for Austin offerings. I live near Wichita Falls, so Houston might as well be a different planet.

 

I would love you so long that I would have enough time to look up that reference and get it.

 

Welcome back from Longview. Hope you enjoy all the new stuff since you left. Cheers!

 

You haven't seen one of the best movies ever. Are you a youngster?

Seven six two millimeter full metal jacket.

 

What is your major malfunction numb nuts?!

 

I bet the best part of you ran down your mama's asscrack and wound up as a stain on the sheets!


Gunnery Sergeant Hartman is the best. Top five movie scene, for sure.

 

Question for some of you long time Texans...I moved down here (Dallas) about 3 months ago from western IL/eastern IA (Quad Cities for anybody familiar with that area). So far it's been a very underwhelming experience as far as local craft beer goes. There are many breweries in the DFW area but there are very few beers that stand out. It seems like the majority of the local beer is the same. Community is the only one that has stood out from the pack. Lakewood has some good beers too. Maybe I haven't tried enough though. Most of the breweries seem newer. Were there laws passed that only recently allowed local breweries to start popping up in the DFW area? Why aren't there more one-offs at the breweries? It seems like all of these places are missing a big opportunity to stand out from the others.

 

Yes. As someone who grew up 10 minutes from Three Floyds, I was also underwhelmed and confused when I moved to the state. Texas has a lot of growing to do, although it has gotten a lot better in the past 3 years. I agree with you though, there are still a lot of tricks that breweries could do to stand out. But, just give them time. Things will keep getting better.

In the meantime, enjoy the fresh local IPA's, and trade for what you can't get here!

 

I'm going to try not to sound like an old fart this time.

Having spent a little time in the midwest (Indianapolis area mostly) and being from Maryland originally, I know where you're coming from. I'd love to have that selection at my fingertips. And of the 4 major cities in TX, DFW probably has the most room for growth in terms of local breweries. Lakewood and Community are definitely standouts, though Deep Ellum, Revolver, and Peticolas are putting out some solid brews as well. Rahr and Sons is the oldest brewery in that area. I think most (maybe all) of the others are less than 5 years old. Keep in mind that until fairly recently, there was no market in Texas for crazy barrel-aged beers and other one-offs. Even Real Ale and St. Arnold, both of which have been around for 20ish years, have only started to ramp up their barrel programs and experimental batches within the last 3-4 years or so now that there's a market for such things.

Overall, the TX beer scene has seen tremendous growth over the last decade, but we still have a lot of room for more growth and innovation. In the 8 years that I've been in the beer game, I've seen us grow from 6 distributing breweries (that's 6 in the entire state of Texas) to somewhere around 40-50. That's a lot of new kids on the block trying to establish themselves. I'd say just keep trying new stuff and support the breweries you like. And try to make a trip to Jester King sometime. You won't regret it.

 

That's my biggest gripe with local DFW breweries. They rarely try anything outside the box or keep up with what's going on in other states or regions. I want more barrel aged offerings that are left in the barrel longer than a few months. Not sure if these brewers think that people don't want something like that or if they just want to get it out of the barrel as quickly as possible so they can sell it. I think Legion could have been left in the barrel twice as long as it was. I'd like to see more adjuncts being used, more big abv styles, more fruits being used in beers (like razzy), and more creativity. Martin House has been killing it in the creativity area.

 

Martin House, oh shit yes. I should've included them in my last post. We just recently started getting their beers here in SA and I've been very impressed so far. Community may be coming down here soon as well, according to the rumor mill.

 

Dallas is as much a part of Texas as New York City is.