Craft Beer News

Rahr and Lakewood Brewing collaborate on beer but the name's a mouthful

Craft beer news.

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For the first time ever in the history of North Texas craft beer, two local breweries have come together to collaborate on a beer release. The brewers? Rahr & Sons of Fort Worth and Lakewood Brewing Company of Garland. The beer? A special limited-edition Belgian-inspired dubbel ale that combines their unique styles.

The name? DFW: A Collaboration of Two Breweries.

Come again?

Are all the good beer names taken? Because "DFW: A Collaboration of Two Breweries" does not roll off the tongue. "DFW: A Collaboration of Two Breweries" is unwieldy. Imagine yourself walking up to a local retailer or craft-beer dispenser and saying, "Hello, I'll have a pint of the DFW: A Collaboration of Two Breweries."

"DFW: A Collaboration of Two Breweries" is possibly the least imaginative name ever applied to a beer. "DFW: A Collaboration of Two Breweries" says, "I couldn't be bothered to spend even 15 seconds devising some kind of nominally clever, pull-it-out-of-my-hat nickname."

Belgian dubbels are nice malty beers that balance sweetness with bitterness. This one has an ABV of 6.4 percent, which is drinker-friendly and not overwhelming. Rahr's Fritz Rahr contributed a blend of German malts, while Lakewood's Wim Bens, a native of Belgium, added Belgian yeast and candi sugar. The result is a malty and sweet Belgian-style ale for easy drinking.

How about, "The Collaboration"? Or "Lake-Rahr"? What about "The Wimser" or "The Fritzer"?

Bens, Lakewood's owner and founder, began his brewing career at Rahr & Sons. "I’m very excited to team up with Rahr & Sons to create a beer that showcases the heritage of both our breweries," said Bens in a release.

A spokeswoman said that they would probably shorten the name to "DFW." It will debut in late October, when it will be on tap at various venues during North Texas Beer Week (October 31-November 9) and at retailers in 22-ounce bottles.

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Where to Drink

Where to drink in Dallas right now: 5 happy hours for September

Esco Dallas

The best-tasting drinks are blue.

It's time for the September installment of Where to Drink, our monthly column on the best places for cocktails and more. We're looking at our favorite theme — best happy hours — and have found five places taking it seriously in all the far reaches of Dallas: from Frisco to Wylie to downtown Dallas, even to the Park Cities, because they need a drink discount, too.

Here's where to drink in Dallas right now:

Ainsworth
Elevated sports bar at the Shops at Legacy has a weekday happy hour from 11 am-7 pm. And on Fridays, they add two extra hours of joy with an extended happy hour from 11 am-9 pm. Drink specials include $4 drafts, $5 wells, $7 house wines, and $8 signature cocktails. Select appetizers are $5, such as chips & salsa, spinach dip, and mozzerella sticks. The Friday dining deals include $7 flatbreads.

Casa Mia
Frisco Mexican restaurant has a daily happy hour from 4-7 pm with discounts on frozen and rocks margaritas, draft, and bottle beers. Select drinks are $4-$6.50, including house margaritas, exotic flavor margaritas, and domestic and imported beer. There are also deals on bites, including $6.50 tacos and $7.50 nachos and quesadillas.

Esco Dallas
Buzzy tapas restaurant in downtown Dallas from rapper 2Chainz has rotating happy hour specials Tuesday-Friday from 4-7 pm. Tuesdays are $3 well shots and $10 for three tacos. Wednesdays feature $5 wine by the glass, plus rum drinks and shots. Thursdays feature $7 Crown Royal and Dusse drinks. Friday, it's $9 Casamigos drinks.

Ferah Smokehouse
Wylie smokehouse and family-owned concept has a new daily happy hour from 3-6 pm, with an amazing array of items all priced at $4. Here's all the things you can get for $4: mojitos, margaritas, Moscow mules, cosmos, and house cocktails; plus brisket mac & cheese balls, meatballs, creamy elotes, and queso.

Half Shells
Snider Plaza, University Park’s historic shopping destination, is undergoing an upgrade, so the team at Half Shells is offering weekday specials from 3-6 pm, including oysters for $2.50, shrimp nachos for $8, shrimp & crab queso for $8, and a cheeseburger for $10. Drink specials include $6 glasses of house wine, $2 off all other glasses of wine, $6 Gold Margarita and $6 wells. Mondays will be happy hour all day.