Live and Local: Dallas' beer scene by bus

North Texas is undergoing a craft beer renaissance with new breweries and beer-centric bars and restaurants opening each month. With so many new breweries entering the market, keeping up with who is brewing what is getting more difficult.

To help beer lovers stay in the loop, three local entrepreneurs have taken on the roles of North Texas beer ambassadors by offering bus tours of local breweries. The first tour took place Feb. 23, with the second scheduled for March 23.

Matt Dixon, one of the founders of Dallas Brew Bus, as well as the Dallas Brew Scene website, said each tour costs $50 and consists of trips to three breweries with complimentary samples at each, as well as lunch and a 6-ounce snifter glass.

"We don't want this to be a frat party on wheels," said Dixon, who founded the company with his wife Vanessa and friend Jordan Moon. "I genuinely want this to be about the education and experience and to have everybody have a good time."

The March tour will stop at Firewheel Brewing in Rowlett and Deep Ellum Brewing Company in Dallas, before concluding at the newly opened Community Beer Company across from the American Airlines Center. Dixon said each month will feature different breweries in order to encourage repeat riders and offer a unique experience. Plans are also under way to offer a tour of Fort Worth breweries and to incorporate bars into the experience, Dixon said, but there is no timetable on when that may occur.

The bus tours are an off-shoot of Dallas Brew Scene, a website containing information on beer events throughout the Metroplex. Dixon said his work with the website has made the transition into tour bus operator seamless.

"We began Dallas Brew Scene in April and spent all of last year establishing the DBS name as the go-to source for craft beer in North Texas," he said. "For the most part, we have developed really strong, friendly relationships with brewers and bars in Dallas. We have now turned that relationship into a working relationship."

Keeping with the theme of supporting small local businesses, lunch on the tour is provided by LUCK, an acronym for Local Urban Craft Kitchen. The restaurant focuses on using only local ingredients and is creating special dishes for each tour.

"I don't know what they are going to do for March, but in February they came up with lemongrass-braised brisket b‡nh m“ that was amazing," Dixon said. "They are a newer restaurant concept that doesn't have a space yet, but they are hoping to open up in May or June. We are really kind of lucky to partner with them, no pun intended, because it is a win-win. Both of us want to get our name out and they are helping us with our end goal of providing a unique, one-of-a-kind experience on the bus."

For information or to purchase tickets, visit dallasbrewscene.com.

North Texas breweries

*Armadillo Ale Works -- Denton

Cedar Creek Brewery -- Kemp

Community Beer Company -- Dallas

Deep Ellum Brewing Company -- Dallas

Firewheel Brewing -- Rowlett

Four Corners Brewing -- Dallas

Franconia Brewing Company -- McKinney

Lakewood Brewing -- Garland

Peticolas Brewing Company -- Dallas

Rahr & Sons -- Fort Worth

Revolver Brewing -- Granbury

** Breweries under construction

903 Brewers -- Sherman

Grapevine Craft Brewing -- Grapevine

Independent Ale Works -- Krum

Martin House Brewing -- Fort Worth

Rabbit Hole Brewing -- Justin

Reunion Brewing Company -- Dallas

* Armadillo Ale Works beers are currently brewed at Deep Ellum Brewing Company.

** At least 15 other breweries are in the planning and development stages. They are not included on this list.

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