Drinking News
Dallas Beer Week looks to ride the growing wave of craft breweries
Firewheel founder Brad Perkinson is hosting an open house November 14 from 6-10pm at the brewery. Enjoy the brand-new biergarten.Photo courtesy of FireWheel Brewing Co.
Photo courtesy of Dallas Beer Week
"I think you're on to something when bars start replacing the 'big three' tapswith local ones," Dallas Beer Week co-founder Cathy Rascoe says.Deep Ellum Brewing Company/Facebook
The Ginger Man will be participating in Dallas Beer Week at each of its threelocations.
When Jay and Cathy Rascoe organized Dallas Beer Week last year, Franconia and Rahr & Sons were the only craft breweries operating, and Deep Ellum Brewing Co. had literally just opened its doors.
One year later year, DBW is an eight-day celebration featuring eight North Texas craft breweries, including Lakewood Brewing, Peticolas, Firewheel and Revolver.
“The Dallas market really exploded,” Cathy says. “It’s been really fun to see it happen. The enthusiasm is over-the-top.”
Dallas Beer Week is an eight-day celebration featuring eight North Texas craft beweries, including Lakewood Brewing, Peticolas, Firewheel and Revolver.
DBW runs November 10-17. It grew from the Rascoes’ original endeavor, Houston Beer Week, which began three years ago. Now the two festivals run at the same time. Cathy says that having Houston and Dallas on the same week makes it more alluring for out-of-state breweries to trek down to Texas.
Probably the biggest out-of-town name is Avery Brewing Co. from Boulder. Highly rated among Colorado and national craft breweries, ABC is doing a tap takeover at the Common Table on Saturday, November 10, as the first event in DBW.
But next week is about the local brewers, first and foremost.
Fortunately for Dallas beer fans, there will be plenty of opportunities to sample small batch brews at nearly 100 events spread throughout Dallas-Fort Worth. Well-known beer havens like the Flying Saucer, Ginger Man and the aforementioned Common Table will entertain imbibers throughout the week.
Cathy says that DBW will show just how far the craft brew scene has changed in a year. Though young, the Dallas brewery community was validated when Peticolas Brewing Co.’s Royal Scandal won gold in the Classic English-style Pale Ale category at this year’s Great American Beer Festival.
A second wave of craft breweries is headed for Dallas, including Four Corners Brewing, Wahoo Brewing and Reunion Brewing.
“It was so overwhelming when Michael [Peticolas] won, seeing him up on stage getting the award,” she says. “It was a great moment.”
As the first wave of craft breweries get settled in, the second is already coming. Four Corners Brewing in Trinity Groves opens November 17. Following that are Wahoo Brewing and Reunion Brewing.
Cathy says that the market is big enough to handle the rapid influx, and drinkers are starting to take notice — though there’s still work to be done.
“I think you’re on to something when bars start replacing the 'big three' taps with local ones,” she says. “But craft breweries are still 0.7 percent of sales in Texas. The market is so wide open, and it’s a magnificent time to be in the movement.”
