The Collective Brewing Project Brings Funk to the Fort Worth Beer Scene

Craft beer has been a booming industry in Dallas for a number of years, but Fort Worth may soon rival Dallas' lineup, with several breweries planning to open before the end of the year. In 2014, the Collective Brewing Project first came onto the North Texas craft beer scene after renting a space in Haltom City before moving into their current location, a few blocks from Fort Worth's Southside. 

While many local breweries have been churning out hoppy beers, Collective Brewing Project is fearless in their ever-expanding selection of wild and sour beers, especially their Petite Golden Sour. In fact, of the 11 beers available in their tap room, three are variations of their notable sour beer. As one bartender succinctly put it, "we're known for the funky stuff." With the increasing popularity of sour and wild beers, this collective seems to be tapping into exactly what the beer-drinking masses are looking for.
Open Wednesday through Sunday, the taproom at the Collective Brewing Project is bathed in natural light, a small but perfect stop for happy hour or a launching point for weekend day-drinking. The vibe is relaxed and the crowd varies in age but on a weekend is mostly made up of the young professionals and the occasional couple with a baby. Beers are poured in 4-, 8- and 12-ounce options, which makes trying several beers easy, but without overdoing it. If you find a beer you like, Collective Brewing Project is one of the few breweries in the area to feature a crowler machine.

The Petite Golden Sour is one of the most popular beers at Collective Brewing Project; a fruity-smelling beer with a sour flavor, sweet aftertaste and smooth feel, it stands out among North Texas beers. One of its variations, the Cranberry Petite Golden Sour, smells of a sour fruit juice and has a very tart flavor, but is light and crisp, perfect on a 100-degree summer day.
Collective Brewing Project's beers often trend toward tart and fruity flavors, but there is something for just about every beer snob. Mr. Green, a pale ale that's easy on the ABV at 4.7 percent, still has a hoppy flavor but is a light-bodied ale that makes for a solid session beer. The amber saison, Suspicious Delicious, is oak-aged and a bit stronger at 6.9 percent ABV, but had a sweeter flavor with subtle tart hints. Urban Funk House, a barrel-fermented farmhouse saison, is another of CBP's stronger beers at 7.2 percent ABV and, as the name implies, has what's best described as a funky taste that is a treat to match it's light body and murky yellow coloring.

With solid takes on trending beer styles — and a location that will only improve with the continued rebuilding of Fort Worth's Southside — the Collective Brewing Project is a funky little spot that's becoming a destination brewery for beer fans across North Texas.

The Collective Brewing Project, 112 St Louis Ave., Fort Worth