Road Beers: Hit these Fort Worth, Dallas spots next time Ohio State visits
The job isn’t always glamorous, of course. But there are obvious perks to being a sports writer covering a team like Ohio State, starting with the press-box seats, access to plenty of food — and the chance to travel around the country. When it isn’t game day, our Lettermen Row beat reporters can usually be found in a local brewery sampling the options from around the country. Starting this season, Austin Ward will be chronicling the stops on the road with the best beers, coolest locations and top places to watch football when not in Columbus. First up: Dallas and Fort Worth, where the Buckeyes might soon be back again.
Not everything is bigger in Texas.
The craft beer scene has seemingly lagged behind the curve in terms of growth over the last few years, at least compared to the Great State of Ohio. And while some unique laws in the Lone Star State might contribute that, Dallas and Fort Worth both appear to be taking steps forward in the number of options — and the quality is following suit right along with it.
There’s a tremendous amount of variety for all kinds of beer fan in the area right now, which can lead to any number of palate adventures during a night around the Metroplex. Of course, many of the stops can be a bit spread out in the sprawling cities, so Uber was a must during the last visit.
Always be responsible on beer tours no matter where you are. Lettermen Row wants to have as many drinking buddies alive as possible, so never drive over the legal limit. Be safe!
So, where did the guys go last weekend before the thrilling game at AT&T Stadium? What’s recommended in case the Buckeyes are back for the College Football Playoff in December? Let’s get it started — cheers!
The Collective in Fort Worth won over Lettermen Row with an impressive selection of sours. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
The Collective Brewing Project
This low-key spot near downtown Fort Worth was one of the top recommendations from locals, and it was conveniently located near the night-before party Lettermen Row was attending at Flying Saucer later on Friday evening. It certainly lived up to the billing, especially when it came to experimenting with innovative ingredients.
Ever wonder what a ramen beer would taste like? The Collective crew apparently did, creating a gose with noodles and plenty of lemongrass and lime flavor. Compared to other offerings, the Cup o’ Beer is probably only worth a taster for the experience, leaving room for a handful of sour offerings that are the true specialties.
Top pick: DDH Tropsicle IPA. There are just enough hops for an IPA lover, but there is enough fruit flavor to make it enjoyable for just about anybody.
HopFusion Ale Works brings plenty of variety in Fort Worth. (Birm/Lettermen Row)
HopFusion Ale Works
Once the sun goes down in Texas, the heat gives way to a nice evening that begs for a patio. And HopFusion has a fantastic one available with picnic tables perfect for grabbing a flight as a nightcap.
The staff isn’t shy about testing out different variations of standard offerings like the Feisty Blonde, which had three different versions the night before the Ohio State-TCU showdown at AT&T Stadium. The Feisty Redhead with cherry was the way to go here before moving on to a couple different stouts, which didn’t seem to be a common style around Texas. Grab a Coco Anejo for a blast of coconut, hazelnut — and a solid punch with an ABV of 9 percent.
Top pick: Go Easy. Another IPA, but this time drifting more toward the session side and perfect for those scorching afternoons in Texas.
Community Beer Co.
Public Enemy No. 1 at Community Beer Co. was a top pick. (Austin Ward/Lettermen Row)
A sprawling space that feels more like a warehouse than a brewery is actually the perfect place to watch some football. The friendly guys behind the bar are also running the channels for two massive projection screens, and there’s plenty of room in the brewery to spread out and get comfortable.
On this NFL Sunday, there was a food truck out back serving chicken and waffles before Community was leading an afternoon tour of the facilities. And the work they’re doing there is impressive, and once again cut across the taste spectrum. There’s something for everybody, starting with a standard Texas Lager that obviously beats the mass-produced versions of a light-bodied beer all the way up to Belgian-style witbiers aged in oak. The quality across the board was fantastic.
The pick: Public Enemy No. 1. This special release probably won’t be around the next time the Buckeyes visit, and that’s a shame. Community took its English-style Public Ale aged it on oak with wild yeast and cherries and made one of the best beers Dallas has to offer.
