DFWBeerScene: 2023

As a craft beer connoisseur and a traveling sales manager, I was able to visit 75 breweries this past year. I got to visit 5 states along with some stops all over the state of Texas. 2023 also saw me visit my 500th different brewery (in Kansas of all places). Of the 75 breweries I visited, 51 of them were breweries that I hadn’t been to before. I’ll post the list of all breweries I visited at the end of this blog. Here’s some of my most notable and favorite places I visited this year.

Favorite Kansas brewery

Central Standard Brewery - Wichita, KS

Opened in 2015, Central Standard features a warehouse style taproom. They brew all styles of beer from Belgians, IPAs, Barrel-Aged, Sours, and Brett/Wild beers. This was my 500th different brewery! Favorite beer was their “CSB Vienna Lager”.

Favorite Oklahoma brewery

Stonecloud Taproom & Patio - Stillwater, OK

Stonecloud boasts 2 locations with the other being in Oklahoma City. This location in Stillwater features 27 beers on tap as well as 3,000 square feet of indoor space and 6,000 square feet of patio space. They brew a wide variety of styles and have plenty of cans to go as well. My favorite beer was Astropup - Session IPA.

Photo courtesy of Stonecloud Brewing

Favorite New Mexico brewery

Downshift Brewing (Hidden Tap) - Ruidoso, NM

Nestled in cozy downtown Ruidoso, Downshift focuses on ales and lagers while also having rotational beers on tap. They have pizzas made from scratch as well as other pub fare. This location is their home base but they have 3 other locations with one down the street that overlooks the river Rio Ruidoso, one in nearby Alto, NM and another in old town Albuquerque. My favorite beer was “Helles” helles lager.

Favorite Nashville brewery

Southern Grist Brewing Company (East Nashville)

Southern Grist’s main location is closer to downtown that features a 9,900 square foot production facility and taproom. This location on the east side seats 49 people with an ample patio space when weather permits. Their mantra is “brewing out-of-the-box flavors and styles of craft beer”. Beer and Brewing named their Gin- aged “Perpetual Composition” one of their top 20 beers of 2023. Don’t overlook their excellent food either. My favorite beer was “Money Moves” milk stout with peanut butter powder and maple syrup

Photo courtesy Southern Grist Brewing Co

Favorite Hill Country brewery (Texas)

Vista Brewing - Driftwood, TX

Located between Wimberley and Dripping Springs, Vista sits on a 21 acre farm that has ranch views and acres of beer garden. The massive trees and great views really accentuate the beauty of the Texas hill country. With a full kitchen featuring salads, sandwiches, burgers and tacos; the most intriguing menu item is their wildflower caramels made with their black pilsener. Vista has a second location in San Antonio. My favorite beer was their Rain Dance IPA.

Photo courtesy Michelle Clairee

Favorite new DFW brewery

Armor Brewing Co - Allen, TX

This brewery in Allen opened in November and used to be Nine Band Brewing previously. The outside and inside looks totally different. Jenn Todryk from HGTV fame and her husband Mike had a vision for this place and it’s beautiful inside. They brew a variety of beers but my favorite was their “No Joy” Vermont style IPA.

Favorite West Texas brewery

Three Missions Brewing - Socorro, TX

Located about 20 minutes southeast of El Paso, Three Missions is close to the Socorro Mission (one of the three historical and oldest missions in the United States). Its stucco walls, natural wood structural supports and tile floors give it that unique style that matches the history of the area. Favorite beer was their “5 C’s IPA”.

Favorite High Plains brewery

Good Line Beer Co - Lubbock, TX

In the Tech Terrace area of Lubbock, Good Line opened up in 2022. You’ve heard of “East coast” and “West coast” styles, but Good Line created their own line of beers which are brewed for Lubbock called “Dust coast”. They brew all kinds of beers and want to be a place for everyone. They even have juice boxes for kids and a dog-friendly patio. My favorite beer was the “Floating In Space” Hazy pale ale

2023 list - (underlined are breweries I had never visited before)

1.Blackwater Draw Brewing Company - Bryan, TX

2.SoulFire Brewing - Roanoke, TX

3.On Rotation Brewery & Kitchen - Dallas, TX

4.Celestial Beerworks - Dallas, TX

5.Sunnhaus Brewing Project - Abilene, TX

6.Plateau Brewing Company - San Angelo, TX

7.Lucky Brewing Company - Dublin, TX

8.Flix Brewhouse - El Paso, TX

9.Blazing Tree Brewery - El Paso, TX

10.Guadalupe Mountain Brewing Company- Carlsbad, NM

11.Downshift Brewing Company (Hidden Tap) - Ruidoso, NM

12.Cloudcroft Brewing Company- Cloudcroft, NM

13.Icebox Brewing - Las Cruces, NM

14.Three Missions Brewery - Socorro, TX

15.Mountain Star Brewing Co - El Paso, TX

16.Deadbeach Brewing Co - El Paso, TX

17.Lone Man Mountain Brewing - Driftwood, TX

18.Ghost Note Brewing - Dripping Springs, TX

19.Vista Brewing- Driftwood, TX

20.Tall City Brewing Company - Midland, TX

21.Mano Negra Brewing Co - Lubbock, TX

22.Good Line Beer Co - Lubbock, TX

23.Auld Brewing - Borger, TX

24.Railport Brewing - Waxahachie, TX

25.Boozie’s Brewery & Texas Fare - Fairview, TX

26.Athens Brewing Co - Athens, TX

27.White Rock Brewery Co - Dallas, TX

28.Stonecloud Brewing Company - Stillwater, OK

29.Iron Monk Brewing Company - Stillwater, OK

30.Limestone Beer Company - Wichita, KS

31.River City Brewing Company - Wichita, KS

32.Wichita Brewing Company - Wichita, KS

33.Norton’s Brewing Company - Wichita,KS

34.Tor Brewing - Wichita, KS

35.Pourhouse _ Wichita, KS

36.Hopping Gnome Brewing - Wichita, KS

37.Central Standard Brewing - Wichita, KS (#500)

38.Manhattan Brewing Company - Manhattan, KS

39.Tallgrass Taphouse - Manhattan, KS

40.Anvil Brewing #2 - Royse City, TX

41.Southern Roots Brewing Company - Waxahachie, TX

42.Rickhouse Brewing - Mineral Wells, TX

43.Bear King Brewing Company - Marble Falls, TX

44.Bar D Brewhouse - San Saba, TX

45.Cedar Creek Brewery - Seven Points, TX

46.Breakaway Brewing - San Antonio, TX

47.Bold Republic Brewing Company - Temple, TX

48.Austin Beerworks - Austin, TX

49.Celis Brewery - Austin, TX

50.Funky Picnic Brewery & Café - Fort Worth, TX

51.Voodoo Brewing - Grand Prairie, TX

52.Division Brewing- Arlington, TX

53.Say When Brewing - Denison, TX

54.903 Brewers - Sherman, TX

55.Nolan Creek Brewery - Belton, TX

56.East Nashville Beer Works - Nashville, TN

57.Southern Grist Brewing Company - Nashville, TN

58.Smith & Lentz Brewing - Nashville, TN

59.Lost Forty Brewing - Little Rock, AR

60.Oak Cliff Brewing Company - Oak Cliff, TX

61.Pivovar - Waco, TX

62.Bird Creek Brewing - Temple, Tx

63.Tanglefoot Brewing - Temple, TX

64.Pinthouse - Round Rock, TX

65.Independence Brewing Company - Austin, TX

66.Meanwhile Brewing Company - Austin, TX

67.Mountain Fork Brewery - Broken Bow, Ok

68.Black Fox Brewing Company of Texas - Denton, TX

69.Denton County Brewing Company - Denton, TX

70.Armor Brewing Company - Allen, TX

71.Flix Brewhouse - (520)Mansfield, TX

72.Bankhead Brewing - Farmers Branch, TX

73.By the Horns Brewing - Mansfield, TX

74.Downshift Brewing - Riverside - Ruidoso, NM

75.Lost Hiker Brewing Company - Ruidoso, NM

Clint Doherty

DFWBeerscene

@DFWBeer on “X”

www.DFWBeerscene.blogspot.com

This past weekend, Voodoo Brewing Company opened a franchise brewery in Grand Prairie across the street from IKEA. None of their beer is brewed here in Grand Prairie. It is brewed at their corporate location in Meadville, Pennsylvania and shipped to this location. They do have 6 flagship beers and many other rotators. They had 23 beers on tap when I was there, as well as a cooler full of cans to go. They do have a variety of different beers available. IPAs, a Belgian Tripel, a stout, ales, lagers and sours are on tap currently. The decor is modern rustic with epoxy sealed pallets as bar tops as well as barrels with round tabletops.

Their kitchen is currently open and serving all different kinds of food. Their American fare includes beer cheese macaroni, wings, pizzas, sandwiches and burgers. They also offer “beer mussels” in 1 pound and 3 pound quantities. It will be interesting to see how this brewery fares against other beers that are brewed here locally. If you’re in this neck of the woods this place would be worth checking out.