If you’re looking for some of the best craft beer in the country, Texas is the place to go. The Lone Star state is the proud home of over 300 craft breweries, up from just 20 in 2005. With breweries continuing to open at a steady place with few closures, the state’s craft brewery explosion shows no sign of stopping. In the face of so much choice, it’s important you know where to go for the best breweries offering unparalleled quality, atmosphere, and flavor.
Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling
An award-winning “brewstillery” in San Antonio, Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling prides itself on using high-quality, local ingredients to handcraft unforgettable beer and whisky. Whether you’re a fan of classic ales or more unusual flavors, Ranger Creek has the perfect selection of craft beer for you. For example, Strawberry Milk Stout embodies chocolate-covered strawberries in beer form. As fresh strawberries are added to roasted chocolate malt in the fermentation tank, a delightfully decadent and sweet brew is crafted as a result. Alternatively, the Imperial Brown offers pleasant notes of caramel, vanilla, and toffee complemented by roasted malts, ultimately creating a nutty and creamy beer with depth of flavor. Be sure to take a tour of this popular brewstillery to see how the fine beer and bourbon is crafted for yourself.
Jester King
Located on a stunning 165-acre ranch in the Texas Hill Country, Jester King is an authentic farmhouse brewery dedicated to creating delicious beers that embody the area’s unique personality. Indeed, Texas acreage in Hill Country is known for its gorgeous rural scenery and character. Patrons can therefore also enjoy nice views along with great beer — free tours are offered on Fridays and weekends (no reservation required). While Jester King’s tasting room menu never stays the same for long, it includes gems, such as, Snörkel (farmhouse ale brewed with oyster mushrooms and alderwood smoked sea salt), Chamango (a tropical Mexican-inspired beer brewed with tamarind, barrel-aged for twelve months, re-fermented with mangos, and finished with chamoy and Tajín), and Black Metal (an interesting beer fermented with English yeast and featuring notes of brown sugar and chocolate). A sustainable brewery, Jester King even also uses their own well water and locally-harvested malted grains and wild yeast.
Peticolas Brewing Company
Peticolas Brewing Company is a relatively new brewery in Dallas already with many awards for its exceptional beers. Family-owned, Michael Peticolas, the current owner, was inspired to open Peticolas by his mother, Jacque Peticolas, and her hand-brewed Mexican-style beer. Here, you can enjoy delights, including, Rumble in Russia (a red ale), Don’t Be Scared (a barley wine), and Velvet Hammer (an imperial red ale). The charming brewery hosts tours on the first and third Saturdays of every month where you can sample as many complimentary beers as you wish. There’s no shortage of great craft breweries in Texas. Ranger Creek Brewing & Distilling, Jester King, and Peticolas Brewing Company are some of the best places to go for delicious, great-quality beers.
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