This calls for a toast: Seven breweries based in North Texas won medals at the annual U.S. Open Beer Championships over the weekend.
Founded in 2009, the competition includes professional brewing operations as award-winning homebrewers. This year, more than 6,000 beers from all over the world were judged across 105 different categories. Dallas-Fort Worth's showing in 2017 beat last year, when local breweries garnered 12 medals.
Honorees ranged from stalwarts like Rahr and Son Brewing Co. in Fort Worth to newbies on the scene such as Bankhead Brewing Co. in Rowlett. Dallas' Peticolas Brewing Co. and Fort Worth's HopFusion Ale Works tied for the most medals, at three each. Rabbit Hole Brewing in Justin won two gold medals.
"We're very humbled and very excited that we won medals," said Laron Cheek, founder of Rabbit Hole Brewing. "It's fantastic that North Texas has won 13 medals. It shows you how strong the beer culture here is, especially with some new guys winning. It really shows the D-FW area what great beer they have available at their fingertips."
Macy Moore, co-founder of HopFusion, said he is "very proud of the HopFusion team to represent Fort Worth in this year's competition, especially considering it's our first year in the competition. It's an honor to be recognized amongst such notable North Texas breweries as well as those around the country."
Here are the results:
Peticolas Brewing Co.
- Silver for Velvet Hammer (Imperial red ale)
- Silver for Sledge Hammer (American barley wine)
- Bronze for Irish Goodbye (Red ale)
HopFusion Ale Works
- Silver for Fur Slipper (Cream stout)
- Silver for Fiesty Blonde (Honey beer)
- Bronze for Hairpin (Rye/Roggen beer)
Rabbit Hole Brewing Co.
- Gold for 10/6 (English pale ale)
- Gold for Off With Your Red (Imperial red ale)
Lakewood Brewing Co.
- Silver for All Call (English Summer Ale)
- Silver for Sin Mint Tempress (Experimental beer)
903 Brewers
- Bronze for Sasquatch (American stout)
Bankhead Brewing
- Silver for Highway 1 (Bohemian pilsener)
Rahr and Sons Brewing Co.
- Gold for Regulator (Dopple/strong bock)
In total, Texas brought home 26 medals. One brewery also placed in the competition's top 10: Guadalupe Brewing of New Braunfels, Texas came in No. 8. Peep the full list of winners (a.k.a. beers you should try) here.
CORRECTION, 1:03 p.m., July 10, 2017: An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated there were two breweries from Texas in the top 10.
