Editor's note: Ivanhoe Ale Works in Denison, Texas also opened, bringing the total to 15 breweries that opened in 2015.
If there's one word to describe Dallas-Fort Worth's craft beer scene in 2015, it would be growth. Two words? Monumental growth.
Fourteen new breweries and brewpubs opened or plan to by the end of the year, boosting the total count of local craft beer producers to more than 40.
That's a lot of beer to wrap your brain around, so we'd like to introduce you to the Class of 2015 brewers. Keep these in mind the next time you go for a local pint.
On Rotation
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Opened: January
Husband-and-wife duo Jacob and Lindsay Sloan opened this brewpub in East Dallas as an extension of their homebrew setup. The goal: to create small-batch beers and experiment with unusual flavor combinations. They wanted to provide a little something for everyone, so they installed 40 taps that rotate nationally renowned brands as well as a handful of originals.
7328 Gaston Ave., Suite 110, Dallas. 972-807-2588. Find hours and more info at on-rotation.com.
Texas Ale Project
Opened: January
Since opening in Dallas' Design District, Texas Ale Project has been a hotbed for fun events, such as a summer water balloon fight, a car show and outdoor concerts. Beer flows from the taproom's 12 drafts, and the brewery's offerings are also available at bars throughout the region. Come November, its beer will be available in cans, too.
1001 N. Riverfront Blvd., Dallas. 214-965-0606. Find hours and more info at texasaleproject.com.
Nine Band Brewing
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Opened: February
Nine Band is one of Allen's best new bars, according to patrons. It's a bright, wood-laden space with several TVs and an inviting patio. Offerings are predominantly lighter styles, including Kölsch, hefeweizen, blonde and wheat beers, but the barleywine is like the designated hitter, offering a malty, high-ABV profile with a semisweet aftertaste. Beers are available on draft and in cans in the Dallas-Fort Worth area.
9 Prestige Circle, Allen. 972-663-5707. Find hours and more info at ninebandbrewing.com.
Braindead Brewing
Opened: March
Patrons of this Deep Ellum brewpub will want to bring an appetite. In addition to the bar's 30 taps adorably mounted on 1950s refrigerator doors, the restaurant has a casual but killer menu of from-scratch eats (check out these mouth-watering photos). Drafts rotate through house beers and national brands. Braindead has one of the best patios in Dallas, so bring four-legged friends when the weather is nice.
2625 Main St., Dallas. 214-749-0600. Find hours and more info at braindeadbrewing.com.
Bitter Sisters Brewery
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Opened: March
This family operation is named for just that -- three sisters (and their brother) who own the brewery with their spouses. Bitter Sisters is a cozy space with a couple of TVs and couches. The brewery launched with a year-round lineup that includes four beers: two lagers, an IPA and an Irish red, all of which are available on taps around the D-FW area.
15103 Surveyor Blvd., Addison. 972-479-0949. Find hours and more info at bittersistersbrewery.com.
Tupps Brewery
Opened: May
Nestled among McKinney's historic, beautifully weathered Cotton Mill buildings, Tupps is flush with character. DIY pieces like the stage and beer garden, built from old, rusted knick-knacks, give the brewery a comfy, industrial feel. Tupps offers a diverse lineup featuring five year-round brews and some seasonals. Beers are only available on draft, but on-site bartenders also make beer cocktails, such as the Ale Mary, a mix of a pepper-infused pale ale and Zing Zang Bloody Mary Mix.
721 Anderson St., McKinney. 214-856-7996. Find hours and more info at tuppsbrewery.com.
Four Bullets Brewery
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Opened: May
This operation claimed the title as Richardson's first brewery, and it certainly has a neighborhood feel. It's the only place drinkers can try Four Bullets' seasonal beers, though year-round offerings are available at select bars in the area. The brewery is a quaint space with a dive-bar vibe, complete with a couple of TVs, backyard games and an outdoor area where food trucks pull in.
640 N. Interurban St., Richardson. No phone. Find hours and more info at fourbulletsbrewery.com.
3 Nations Brewing
Opened: May
Founder Gavin Secchi all but won the lottery when he began his quest to make North Texas beer. After working with Grapevine Craft Brewery at its temporary space in Farmers Branch, he was able to acquire the location, essentially inheriting a turnkey brewery. Since then, 3 Nations has been cranking out European recipes with an American twist. There's no taproom here yet, but the beer is around D-FW on draft and in cans.
2405 Squire Place, Suite 200, Farmers Branch. 214-642-5055. Find hours and more info at threenationsbrewing.com.
Noble Rey Brewing Co.
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Opened: July
Noble Rey burned through several years and potential locations before putting down roots in Dallas' Design District, but it was worth the wait. Walking into the space is like entering someone's refurbished garage, with couches, a foosball table, arcade games and two bars, one for beer and one for cider. (See some pictures.) Because of its license, patrons can take beer to go in growlers or crowlers, can growlers that bartenders fill and seal on-site.
2636 Farrington St., Dallas. 972-677-7612. Find hours and more info at noblereybrewing.com.
Oak Highlands Brewery
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Opened: July
This brewery may have opened this summer, but the operation has been around much longer. In 2013, Oak Highlands earned awards from several local homebrewing competitions, including two first-place honors. That's when the brewers knew they were on to something, so they set up camp in a Lake Highlands industrial strip with 16,000-plus square feet of brewery and taproom. Grab the beer there or at numerous bars and stores in D-FW.
10484 Brockwood Road, Dallas. 469-802-9455. Find hours and more info at oakhighlandsbrewery.com.
Woodcreek Brewing Co.
Opened: August
The founders at Woodcreek consider themselves liaisons between craft beer and new craft drinkers. The brewery's quaint taproom is equipped with eight to 10 taps of what they call good "gateway" beers, or styles with mass appeal that might be the first step someone takes toward more complex brews. Drinkers can also sip suds in the brew house or out back, where guests can play cornhole and other yard games.
1400 E. Interstate Highway 30, Rockwall. 972-589-0048. Find hours and more info at woodcreekbrewing.com.
Barley & Board
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Opened: August
The Denton Square became home to the city's first brewpub this summer. The business includes several high-profile partners, including actor and recent Denton resident Jason Lee, Midlake guitarist Eric Pulido and chef Chad Kelley, formerly of the Meddlesome Moth. The restaurant has upscale touches in the menu and decor, a full bar and 36 rotating draft taps, some of which pour small-batch house brews.
100 W. Oak St., Denton. 940-566-3900. Find hours and more info at barleyandboard.com.
Division Brewing
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Expected opening: November
Downtown Arlington has become a cultural hot spot in recent years with a walkable area of restaurants and a music venue, so why not add a brewery? That's the thinking behind the city's planned Division Brewing, which is expected to open in November. It will be a small operation, but brewers there hope to bring in neighborhood folk with unique brews, including several different IPAs, and a casual atmosphere.
506 E. Main St., Arlington. 214-697-8350. Find more info at divisionbrewing.com.
Intrinsic Smokehouse and Brewery
Expected opening: December
Located in downtown Garland, Intrinsic will serve house brews alongside smoked meats in a brewpub-style environment. If the name sounds familiar, you may have already tried its Honey Basil Hefeweizen, which won a homebrew competition last year and was brewed and distributed by Deep Ellum Brewing Co. With a six-barrel system, spacious patio and delicious smells, brewers here hope to lead a revitalization of the historic downtown square.
508 W. State St., Garland. Find more info at intrinsicbrewing.com.
