Craft Beer News
Local breweries stir up zesty new flavors for Dallas craft beer nerds
Two Dallas-area breweries have new beers to drink, and a local hotel has a cool travel package with a craft beer theme.
FireWheel Brewing gets points for releasing a beer unlike any other. Called A-Sake-Son, it's a sake ale made with rice. Finally, something that is not an IPA. FireWheel spokesperson Aubrie Wills says it's in the blond ale family with lighter characteristics and less bitterness than an IPA.
"It's a blonde ale brewed with Mosaic hops and sake yeast, which is a different type of yeast than is used in other beers," she says. "Not using traditional brewer's yeasts allows you to ferment the beer without some of the traditional 'beer flavors.' And the Mosaic hops give it a citrus taste. We use the hops more for flavor and aroma, so the beer is milder and more citrusy."
Like sake, the beer is made with rice, whose simple sugars allow the yeast to ferment very cleanly, which accentuates the hops.
Since sake ale is made from rice, it is a favorite among the gluten-free crowd, but FireWheel doesn't make that claim. "It is done in the same vats as our other beers, so we can't say it's gluten-free," Wills says.
The beer was released on July 10 and can be tried at a number of bars and markets including Elbow Room, LUCK, Offshore's Next Door, Ten Bells Tavern, World of Beer in Plano, What’s On Tap, Whole Foods Addison and Lakewood Growler.
Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. will release two new beers, named Drahthaar and USS Fort Worth, in August.
Drahthaar, a breed of German hunting dogs, is named in honor of the Rahr family's drahthaar, Schnapps. It's a double IPA with a bold malty flavor and a crisp aroma that includes notes of citrus, pine and grapefruit. It will be available the first week of August in 22-ounce bottles and on draft.
To celebrate the release of Drahthaar, Rahr & Sons will host a special tasting and tour at the brewery on Wednesday, August 5 from 5-7:30 pm. All attendees will receive a commemorative pint glass, and Drahthaar will be the featured brew. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.
The USS Fort Worth is an American session ale dedicated to the crew of the naval ship USS Fort Worth, a Freedom class littoral combat ship. The beer is light golden in color, crisp and clean with a medium body and a mild citrus finish. It will be available in 12-ounce cans; a portion of all sales will be donated to the USS Fort Worth Support Committee, which provides moral support and appreciation for the ship’s crew and families.
The brewery will host a tasting with members of the U.S. Navy on Saturday, September 5, from 1-3 pm. Attendees will receive a pint glass. Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at the door.
The Hyatt Regency Dallas at Reunion has partnered with two local breweries, Texas Ale Project and Deep Ellum Brewing Company, to provide visitors with an authentic Dallas craft beer experience.
Guests who book the package will enjoy overnight accommodations, a day of beer-tasting at both breweries and a tour of Texas Ale Project, along with round-trip shuttle service, and commemorative pint glasses from each brewery.