903’s Dreamsicle Smoothie Style Beer

      Located in Sherman, TX north of Dallas, 903 is one of only 4 breweries in the United States that is brewing fruit slushy/smoothie style beers. Their “Dreamsicle” beer is a tangerine, vanilla and lactose smoothie style Gose Ale. This beer definitely has the tartness that a Gose comes with but has the sweetness from the tangerine and vanilla and lactose to soften the tartness. This ale is fruity and thick like a smoothie. This would definitely be a great dessert beer with all of the fruit and tartness involved.  903 often releases new fruit smoothie style beers every couple of weeks and have a popular following here in North Texas.  These beers are available in beer stores in DFW but are better enjoyed at the brewery. 

        903 offers a spacious taproom with live music on the weekends, trivia nights during the week and an excellent lineup of food served in house. They have great grilled cheese sandwiches with the option to add bacon or brisket to your sandwich. Their pizzas, high stacked burgers and trash can nachos are also very popular.  Although it’s a bit of a drive north of DFW, the beers, the overall brewery experience and the food are well worth the drive to check out 903 Brewers. 

Clint Doherty

The Best in-house grub at DFW Breweries

We all love food and beer right? And while lots of breweries have food options and/or food trucks at the brewery; many of the breweries in DFW are making their own food in-house while serving up their own craft beer. Today I’d like to take a look at 14 of my favorite places that I’d recommend to get good grub while drinking a craft beer at the brewery. I’ve ranked them from #14 all the way to #1. Cheers! 

14. Parker County Brewing Company - Willow Park

Located west of Fort Worth in Willow Park, Parker County offers charcuterie boards, pretzels and signature pizzas. A new favorite is their Mia Bella pizza made with pepperoni, Parmesan, San Marzano sauce topped with ricotta and basil pesto. Recommended beer - 1879 Prohibition Era Ale

13. 903 Brewers - Sherman

Located in Sherman, 903 has tons of space and variety of good food. Their pizzas, high stacked burgers, grilled cheese sandwiches and trash can Nachos are all very popular. Recommended beer - Any of their Fruit slushy beers available. 

photo courtesy- 903 Brewers

12. Cowtown Brewing - Fort Worth 

Serving up good BBQ near downtown Fort Worth,  Cowtown often has daily specials and also offers brisket tacos, wings and a Fried Bologna Sandwich. Recommended beer - Rhinestone Cowboy - Kolsch

 

11. Brutal Beerworks - North Richland Hills

Known for their hazy IPAs and fruited sours, Brutal is offering thin crust pizzas that are made to order and pair really well with their beers. You’ll enjoy the fun artwork on the walls of the brewery too.  Recommended beer - Gusherz fruited sour. 

10. White Rock Alehouse & Brewery- Dallas 

On the Southside of White Rock Lake, White Rock Ale house and Brewery offers sandwiches, flatbreads, wraps, and other American fare. One of their more well liked dishes is their Fish and Chips. They offer their “Rise and Shine” brunch on saturdays and Sundays featuring their breakfast tacos and Chicken and waffles. Recommended beer - Capsized Kayak Wheat. 

9. Wild Acre Brewing Company - Camp Bowie - Fort Worth

Wild Acre’s 2nd location on Camp Bowie opened early 2020 and offers “Sweet Chicken Chili Lollipops” starters and sandwiches and burgers. They’re wagyu beef burgers are popular with the option to add Tillamook Cheddar, smoked bacon and fried egg. They also offer “Spam Fries” - fried Spam and Sambol thousand island. Recommended beer - Juicy Bingo Series IPA 

photo courtesy- Wild Acre Brewing Co.

8. Steam Theory Brewing  Company - Dallas

Just across the Margaret Hunt Hill bridge in Dallas, Steam Theory Brewing company offers Wagyu Burgers, Signature Pizzas and sandwiches. Their “Wing and beer pairing flight” is a favorite. Recommended beer - Hops against Humanity IPA

7. Braindead Brewing - Dallas/Deep Ellum

Braindead has a very eclectic menu and it’s hard to find something that doesn’t sound delicious. Things that caught my eye are the Smoked Butcher steak, the Cheezus is King Burger featuring Dr Pepper glazed tomatoes and their Stout Chocolate Milk and fresh cookies. I thoroughly enjoyed the Bacon and beer flight pairing. The bacons available were Pork, Beef belly, Lamb and duck and all paired great with their beers. Recommended beer - Hammer of the Gods Imperial Porter 

6. Vector Brewing - Dallas

Located near Lake Highlands, Vector Brewing provides their customers with options like salads, pasta, and craft pizza. Vector’s pizza dough and sauces are made from scratch every day.  They even offer a vegetarian Red Curry based pizza with tofu. Don’t forget about their brunch on Saturdays and Sundays which features an “All Gravy” pizza - cream gravy, cheese, cheddar jalapeño biscuits and sausage. Recommended beer - Microscopic Sharks IPA

5. Funky Picnic Brewery and Café - Fort Worth

Just south of downtown Fort Worth, Funky Picnic has mastered their sandwiches, burgers and wings. I really enjoyed their “Cluck Norris” sandwich that has fried chicken, bacon, ranch, avocado, Swiss cheese, lettuce, tomato on a sesame seed bun. Recommended beer - Two Peanut Butters, One Cup Milk Stout. 

4. Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery - Garland

A staple in downtown Garland, Intrinsic has outstanding BBQ offering brisket, pork, ribs, sausage and delicious sides.  On Fridays, they offer a tasty brisket French dip, but Instrinsic is known for their Chicken Fried Brisket with mashed potatoes and burnt end gravy that is available on Tuesdays.  They’re famous for it. Recommended beer - Texas Shake-Milkshake IPA
photo courtesy- Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery

3. Malai Kitchen - 3 locations. Dallas, Southlake, Fort Worth

Malai Kitchen is a Thai/Vietnamese restaurant but they do brew their own beer in house. You’d be hard pressed to find better Thai food in DFW. With dishes like Drunken Noodles, Lemongrass Chicken and Vietnamese Pork Ribs, it’s hard to choose something that doesn’t sound tasty. My favorite is the Thai Chicken Wings. Jumbo whole wings, Thai chili garlic glaze and toasted sesame seeds. Recommended beer - Peach Tea Wheat. 

photo courtesy-Malai Kitchen 

2. Union Bear Brewing Company - Plano

Union Bear describes itself as a restaurant and brewery with a west coast feel and deep Texas roots. They have something for everyone offering salads, flatbreads, sandwiches and plates that will leave you impressed. My favorite was their Mesquite grilled Texas quail glazed with bourbon bbq sauce,  brussel sprouts, creamy corn with bacon and red peppers. They also offer a great brunch on Saturdays and Sundays. Recommended beer - Union Bear New England IPA.

photo courtesy- Union Bear Brewing Co.

1. Bankhead Brewing Co. - Rowlett

Nestled in downtown Rowlett, Bankhead is named after the transcontinental highway that ran through Rowlett. Bankhead is a rustic style brewpub that has great sandwiches, pizzas, and entrees that they will always recommend which beer to pair with your meal. With dishes like Lobster Mac and cheese, Roasted Salmon and their Chicken Fried Ribeye, you will find something that you’ll love. They constantly have daily flavorful specials that aren’t always on the menu. This is their Bacon-wrapped Mahi-mahi on a bed of mashed potatoes and asparagus accompanied by grilled shrimp finished with lemon caper butter. Recommended beer - Hoofer’s Hef Hefeweizen 

photo courtesy- Bankhead Brewing Co

Clint Doherty

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