THE BEST BREWERIES IN DALLAS + FORT WORTH // WHERE TO DRINK CRAFT BEER IN DFW

The sunny patios. The abundance of secret, small-batch releases. And the dawning of the age of Beer To Go. From the fruity notes to the hoppy sting, we love the Dallas-Fort Worth craft brew scene for a about a million reasons. These 26 breweries are chief among them.

1. Deep Ellum Brewing

📍Dallas, Texas

Pull up a seat at the picnic table, grab a flight if you can't make up your mind on which of Deep Ellum's many beers you want to enjoy first, and have a grand old time at the "largest independent brewery in North Texas," according to their own website. While their Dallas Blonde and Deep Ellum IPA are the most well-known beers on the menu, don't sleep on their Saison.

2. Community Beer Co.

📍Dallas, Texas

From the outside, the Community Beer Co. brewery, taproom and event space looks like it could have been an old CompUSA. On the inside, it’s a cavernous but lovely space to gather. Now that they've added a kitchen, which even has full brunch service on Sundays, they're open Wednesday through Saturday 11 a.m. - 10 p.m. and shorter hours on Sundays. The award-winning brews like their juicy and flavorful Mosaic IPA have made Community one of the most popular breweries in town. They've also got great NA choices for those who are abstaining!

3. Four Corners

📍Dallas, Texas

Keep Your Buzz Local by drinking more Four Corners. Now perched in Dallas' The Cedars neighborhood, this is one of the coolest craft breweries brewin' right now in our humble burg. The can design and overall aesthetic of the taproom is immaculate, but looks never overshadow substance at Four Corners.

4. Texas Ale Project

📍Dallas, Texas

Texas Ale Project is a really cool veteran and family-owned brewery, and we cannot get enough of their Fire Ant Funeral amber. We love it when breweries collaborate with legendary local musicians, and it looks like November will mark the release of a new "golden ale" done in partnership with the surviving members of local metal group Pantera. If that's your thing.

5. Rahr

📍Fort Worth, Texas

Rahr holds a special place in the hearts of the Love List crew, as it was the first craft brewery in Fort Worth to grab our attention, way back in 2010 or so — and by then they had already been around for six years! The concerts on their big ole' back porch are appointment viewing, and the beer is always on point.

6. Peticolas

📍Dallas, Texas

When you mention beers that have come out of Dallas to win some level of greater acclaim, Peticolas' Velvet Hammer is pretty high on that list. It's an award-winning imperial red ale that you absolutely have to try if you are new to the craft beer scene in DFW. But Peticolas' master brewers don't rest on their laurels, either. The breadth and depth of the selection at one of Dallas' most celebrated breweries makes them one of our faves.

7. ODD Muse

📍Farmers Branch, Texas

Odd Muse is another brewery we love, where the artful design of it all is such a huge part of what draws us in! The Hands on the Wheel West Coast IPA, the 500 Pesos Mexican Lager and the Inevitable Conclusion Raspberry Sour Stout are winners here.

8. Bitter Sisters

📍Addison, Texas

Addison's Bitter Sisters is criminally underrated. The name comes from the family the brewmaster and co-owner married into — lots of sisters, apparently. "It’s safe to say that we fully expect you to have an unreasonable emotional outburst after drinking this beer, it’s that good," says the product description of their Hissy Fit Marzen Lager, one of our favorites from the Bitter Sisters lineup. Yup, hard agree.

9. Four Bullets

📍Richardson, Texas

This is one of the few taprooms on this list that is open seven days a week! Truly, whenever the urge strikes, you and the crew can descend upon Richardson's Four Bullets and treat yo' self. And in what might be the growler deal of the Metroplex, Four Bullets is offering a dozen 16oz. growlers, mix-and-match flavors, for just $50, according to their website. Check it out. For science.

10. 3 Nations

📍Carrollton, Texas

It is becoming a trend. Breweries in the Dallas area that start with a number, followed by a two-syllable word. But don't let it trip you up; you're going to find great beers at all of them, including at Carrollton's 3 Nations Brewing. They won Best Local Brewery from the Dallas Observer in 2019, and followed that up with a win in 2020's CultureMap Tastemaker Awards for Best Brewery.

11. Manhattan Project

📍Dallas, Texas

You'll go full nuclear for the beers at Manhattan Project. Get it? Ok, I'll show myself out. What's really unique about the Manhattan Project taproom is that they also feature a coffee bar and a gluten-free kitchen. Try the Superfortress triple hazy IPA for a 10% abv kick in the pants or the Elemental Helles Lager for a nice, relaxing session beer.

12. Oak Cliff Brewing

📍Dallas, Texas

Oak Cliff's Historic Tyler Station houses the taproom of another one of our local favorites. Murals from local artist Jeff Rogers adorn the walls, and the vibe is chill at all times, even when the odd table tennis tournament breaks out. Try the Lee Hazy Oswald when they have it, and thank us later.

13. Hop + sting

📍Grapevine, Texas

Hop & Sting bought what had been previously known as Grapevine Craft Brewery in 2018, and they haven't missed a beat since acquiring the space just a block east of the city's beautiful Main Street. Make a night of it with trivia, food trucks and a wonderful rotating beer selection at the taproom, including our favorite, the Frigid Underworld Imperial Espresso Stout.

14. Division Brewing

📍Arlington, Texas

Division Brewing is Arlington’s first locally owned and operated brewery. They provide an always-rotating selection of true hand-crafted beer to the citizens and visitors of Arlington, and now that the word is out about their zany concoctions and delicious limited-release brews, folks come from miles around to sip on a couple at the bar or take home a 4-pack. There always seems to be a food truck with something delicious to pair with your suds in their parking lot, too.

15. Celestial

📍Dallas, Texas

Celestial Beerworks is another of the really enlightened breweries in the DFW craft scene. It's very hop-forward, very complex and very fresh. All good things! Celestial embraces both the science and the art of beer-making, and you can taste the love in every gulp. They've also got great NA choices!

16. pegasus city

📍Dallas, Texas

Downtowners, unite! The art deco design of the taproom unveiled in 2020 screams historic Dallas. But wait! There's more! Pegasus City also has a Design District location. The Downtown location features a larger taproom space, so plan accordingly! Whichever location you visit, try a Cannoneer Bold Amber while you're there.

17. Martin house

📍Fort Worth, Texas

Martin House Brewing knows what they're doing. And that rhymed. This Fort Worth staple is home to another local rock-n-roll beer collaboration, the famed Toadies Bockslider, which will make you throw up your hands and say Amen. Just like the song says. We do also recommend The Imperial Texan Double IRA, and while you're there, you really might as well try their Best Maid Sour Pickle Beer. No, really.

18. Cowtown Brewing

📍Fort Worth, Texas

Cowtown Brewing was founded on the ambitious idea that "great beer deserves equally great barbecue," according to their website. This is one of the fullest food menus offered by any craft brewery in North Texas. We love places like Cowtown that are big enough to offer both air-conditioned seating in the indoor taproom, as well as an expansive outdoor deck for when it isn't 1,000 degrees.

19. Funky Picnic

📍Fort Worth, Texas

🚨$10 cheeseburger and lager alert! $10 cheeseburger and lager alert! 🚨 We're still searching for a special as good as this one at another craft brewery in the DF-Dub. This place is more of a brewpub/cafe than a taproom, which just means they also serve a little bit of liquor and wine on premises, too. Funky Picnic's Vibes Kolsch is always a fantastic choice.

20. Fort Brewery & Pizza

📍Fort Worth, Texas

Fort Brewery is to pizza what Cowtown Brewing is to barbecue. Lots of good pizza options from the kitchen to pair with your suds. Don't miss the pizza specials on Thursdays, especially. Live music hits the stage at Fort Brewery most Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays as well.

21. Panther Island Brewing

📍Fort Worth, Texas

Just look at that mural and tell me your Insta profile doesn't need a shot of you blowing a kiss at that drunk cartoon man. And to boot, the beers housed inside those walls are pretty great as well. The Cannonball Strong Scotch Ale is amazing, the Tailgater American Cream Ale is perfect for day-drinking and the IP F'n A is one of the best IP F'n As in town.

22. Wild Acre

📍Fort Worth, Texas

Staying in Fort Worth, Wild Acre is another of Funkytown's most exciting craft breweries. It draws its name from "Hell's Half Acre," a part of town that earned infamy in the 1800s for its rowdy, rough-and-tumble nature in post-Civil War Texas lore. Enjoy a glass of the T-Hawk IPA, an easy-going red IPA, or the Billy Jenkins Bock, named after Fort Worth founder William Jenkins Worth, in tribute. But please, let's keep it civil.

23. Hop Fusion

📍Fort Worth, Texas

Hopfusion Ale Works is another taproom that is open seven days a week, deep in the heart of the Near Southside, one of Fort Worth's loveliest eating and drinking neighborhoods. The Feisty Blonde and the Fiesty Redhead are two beers for any occasion, even if the occasion is just Some Random Tuesday.

23. revolver Brewing

📍Granbury, Texas

The Revolver taproom is a little bit of a trip outside the traditional confines of DFW, but the hour-and-a-half jaunt to Granbury is worth it. The scenery of the outdoor patio is beautiful, and their outdoor stage is impressive, as well. The Blood and Honey is their most widely known beer offering, but you might also like to try the Backyard Bee Honey Ale, the Mi Cheve Mexican Style Lager or the Peach Haze Seasonal. Yum.

24. Westlake Brewing

📍Dallas, Texas

Fresh beer and good times abound at Dallas' Westlake Brewing. "Beer is the original social media," founder Art Harvey is fond of saying. And when you step inside Westlake's Deep Ellum taproom, you get a feel for how this beer, this place, really is a catalyst for bringing people together.

25. Maple Branch

📍Fort Worth, Texas

Trivia on Wednesdays. Live music every Friday. Cornhole tournaments on Thursdays, and seasonal vendors inside the biergarten. The Foundry District's Maple Branch delivers the classic craft brewery experience along with 28 beers on their tap list. TCU grads Stuart and Alyssa Maples run the show here and are gaining an impressive following.

26. Outfit Brewing

📍Dallas, Texas

Outfit Brewing is another craft house and brewpub with an impressive assortment of beers on its rotating tap list. We love the Microphone Czech 1..2 and the Legless Brown from our previous stops. It's a perfect spot for filling up a growler or for chilling with friends.

27. Lakewood Brewing

📍Dallas, Texas

@lakewoodbrewing

The local beer with the biggest body count HAS to be Lakewood's Temptress — she's seduced us all at one point or another. Temptress is like dessert in a glass. It pours with a thick milk chocolate head. Chocolate and caramel malt give it a complex and rich body. Lower carbonation gives the beer a silky mouthfeel. She’s voluptuous and will sneak up on you with soft alcohol warmth. But Lakewood is hardly a one-trick brewery — the immense selection and rotation offerings have won over many a beer nerd. They also carry great NA options!

28. Turning Point Beer

📍Bedford, Texas

They love a fruity beer at Turning Point, and TBH, so do we! The incredible variety of flavors on the menu at the taproom is always rotating, and they're always tinkering with something experimental and delicious. The taproom is open seven days a week, and they've got all their current releases for sale, to-go as well!

add these to the love list, just not all in one night, of course 😉