Amid North Texas' ever-growing craft beer industry, one local microbrewery is closing its doors soon.
FireWheel Brewing Co. in Rowlett has ceased production and will go dark after a party on Nov. 14 celebrating the third anniversary of its imperial stout, Midnight Ninja. The brewery opened in 2012 and moved into a bigger location within the city in December 2014, nearly tripling its production space and making way for an onsite taproom.
Brad Perkinson, founder and owner of FireWheel, declined to elaborate on the circumstances under which the brewery is closing, but said he's focusing on making "FireWheel go out with the biggest bang we can." The brewery is hosting several events during North Texas Beer Week and beer will still be available in local bars until inventory runs out, Perkinson added.
FireWheel is one of few breweries that have closed since the modern microbrewery movement took hold in Dallas-Fort Worth. Independent Ale Works in Krum opened in 2013 and shuttered about one year later.
With the number of craft breweries approaching historical highs, many have questioned the existence of a craft beer bubble, but industry vets say there in plenty room to grow. Though market saturation has never been higher locally, Texas has only 0.6 breweries per 100,000 adults ages 21-and-up, placing it 44th out the 50 states, according to the Brewers Association. (States such as Oregon and Vermont have more than seven breweries per captia.)
Perkinson encouraged those who have yet to visit FireWheel to do so in its last couple weeks, promising beers he's never released before. Tickets to the Nov. 14 party cost $10. See more details about it here.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to clarify breweries per capita.
