You may be more focused on the best ways to injure your insides with fried things at the State Fair of Texas, but we need to talk for a few moments about Dallas Observer Brewfest, our annual ode to beer. The upcoming fest is less than a month away, and the list of participating brewers has come out. It's looking really good.
Local beer has exploded in Dallas in the past few years, and the growth is reflected in the breweries you'll have access to at this year's event. Peticolas, Lakewood, and Deep Ellum are breweries we've all gotten to know really well, but these newcomers will round out a solid local beer offering.
Revolver Brewing Co. was at last year's event, and since then its Blood and Honey has been taking over taps all over town. Community Beer and Four Corners have been taking over more taps since breaking out on the local scene, and you'll see them there as well.
Our web editor, Gavin Cleaver, was just telling me about the "amazing" Wondermelon beer he tried from Denton-based Armadillo Ale Works. Gavin describes a lot of things as "amazing" so take his endorsement with a grain of salt, but I'm excited to check out their beers.
Continue to expand the radius and Grapevine, 903 Brewers, Cobra Brewing Co., and Firewheel Brewing Co come into focus. And the folks behind my favorite pretzel flavored beer Martin House Brewing Co. will be there as well. Finally, Rabbit Hole Brewing, who recently nabbed former DEBC employee Tait Lifto, will round out the notable local beer options served at Brewfest.
On top of all that great, local beer, more than 70 national breweries are headed to Dallas for the September 13 fest. Check out the list at the that list at the bottom of this post, but not before you head to Ticketfly to pick up your tickets. You can always grab them at the door but you'll save a significant amount of money if you pick them up now.
General Admission is currently $45, and gets you a 7 p.m. entry and 12, two-ounce beer samplings. VIP admission gets you in at 6 p.m., before the masses swamp the beer tents, as wells as access to the VIP Area which will be loaded with liquor sampling and exclusive catered food.
So go buy your tickets. And then check out the list of the rest of the beer you have to look forward to. Oh, and don't make plans for the following Sunday. You're going to want to sleep in.
Abita Austin Eastciders Ballast Point Sam Adams Boulevard Firestone Walker Shiner Bridgeport Lazy Magnolia New Belgium Pedernales Rahr & Sons Southern Tier Summit Blue Moon Leinenkugel's Crispin Ace Cider Alaskan Brewing Co. Asahi Beer USA Belukus Marketing Breckenridge Brewery Brewery Ommegang Brooklyn Brewery D&V International Deschutes Brewery Dogfish Head Franconia Gambrinus/Trumer Geloso Beverage Group Goose Island Grapevine Craft Brewery Green Flash Brewing Harpoon Brewery Johnny Appleseed Lagunitas Brewing Co. North American Breweries Odell Brewing Co. Original Sin Hard Cider Oskar Blues Brewery Real Ale Brewing Co. Real Ale Brewing Co. S&H Brands Shock Top Sierra Nevada Brewing Spaten/Franzikaner St. Killian Importing Stella Cidre Stone Brewing Co Unibroue Upslope Brewing Co. Vermont Hard Cider Company Victory Brewing Company Alaskan Deschutes Dogfish Franconia Lagunitas Odell Oskar Blues Real Ale Saint Arnold Sierra Nevada Stone Left Coast Brewing Co Crabbies/MOA RNDC Lucky Buddha Beer