There are more craft breweries in the United States than there has been at any other time in our history. The Brewers Association reports that as of March of 2013, there were 2,360 craft brewers, whereas in 1990 there were less than 100.
However, as Matt Quenette, bar manager at the Meddlesome Moth, points out, "Craft beer still only makes up about five percent of beer sales in Texas. It is easy to be blind to that fact when all we sell is craft beer. Also, it's easy forget that all of the industrial lagers sold in the U.S. are produced by foreign corporations now. Bud, Miller and Coors are all owned by companies abroad. This week is also about supporting businesses born and bred in the U.S."
So, that means we've got a lot of ground to cover in one week. Pace yourself. Get a cab on speed dial.
We're going to update this post all week. So, stay tuned.
Friday Lakewood Brewing Co. will have a dinner at Whole Foods Park Lane for $30 per person this Friday. The family-style Belgian-inspired menu includes beef stew, whole citrus white fish, pork cutlet and a giant Swiss roll, all paired with Lakewood brews.
The Libertine will have oSKAr the G'Rauch and Stone vanilla bean smoked porter.
Jack Mac's will have a Lakewood tap takeover, a T-shirt giveaway and Fish Fry Bingo will play at 8:30 p.m.
Union Bear will release Real Ale's Brewers' Cut Imperial Red.
The Bottle Shop will have Saint Arnold Bishops Barrel 1, 2 and 3.
Armadillo Ale Works is launching their new Greenbelt Farmhouse Ale at Oak St. Drafthouse in Denton. The festivities start at 5 p.m. and the first few hundred patrons get a free pint glass with a purchase of the new beer.
Saturday Peticolas will tap a keg of Wintervention at the tour from 1 to 3 p.m. this Saturday.
Lakewood Brewing Co. will have an "all cask tour" at their brewery. It's $10 at the door and starts at noon.
This weekend Revolver Brewing in Granbury will have half-priced tours ($5 per person) and all proceeds will be donated to those affected by the tornado there ealier this week. They will also have a new beer on tap.
Rahr is closing out the week with some cool free American Craft Beer Week pint glasses for everyone at their tour and tasting from 1 to 3 p.m.
Sunday The Bottle Shop on Greenville is hosting a beer brunch with chef Josh Black from 11:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. that includes beers with four courses for $35 (only eight seats remained as of Monday).
The Oak Cliff BrewRiot Homebrew Competition will close out the week of festivities with a brew-off for amateur home brewers from 4 to 8 p.m. There are already 50 teams in the event and there will be more than 150 beers to sample. And be sure to train for the 1.1 Mile Beer Run, which starts at 3:30 p.m. at Nova and darts down 7th Street with stops at the Kessler and Bolsa, where runners will drink 8 ounces of beer at each spot before an all-out sprint to the Bishop Arts District. Cost to sample the beers at the Brew Riot is $20. If you want to race also, it's $35. Get tickets here.
