Breweries took a little longer to find a foothold in Dallas, but once they did, they took off.

There’s four main neighborhoods—some of which are entertainment districts and others that are more residential—well-known for their breweries. You might be surprised by which Dallas neighborhoods to head to for a good craft brew.

Design District

Photo courtesy of Steam Theory Brewery

The Design District gets its name from the art galleries, fashion companies, upscale stores, antique and modern furniture stores, and other design-focused businesses in the area. But the Design District has also become the best place in Dallas for breweries, primarily for the number of breweries located there. There are a whopping seven breweries in the Design District, and each has its own personality. Pegasus City Brewery focuses on lagers, porters, and ambers, while Peticolas Brewing Company serves specialty brews like cocktail beers (beers designed to mimic the flavors of cocktails), nitro beer, fruited beer, and cask ales.

While Bishop Cider Co. began in the Bishop Arts District, they’ve since expanded, bringing their ciders and meads to the Design District with Bishop Cidercade, a cider brewery with an arcade. Noble Rey Brewing Company has been around since 2012, with six core beers as well as seasonal and small-batch beers in their taproom. Community Beer Co. is a brewery that hosts plenty of events, all while serving creative craft beers like Texas Lager, Snicker Doodle Ale, and Funnel Cake Ale. 

Speaking of ales, the Texas Ale Project offers taproom tastings from Thursday to Sunday with IPAs, ales, and stouts available. Finally, the Design District has yet another brewery; Steam Theory Brewery opened at the beginning of July 2018, as a small brewpub with 12 of their own beers on tap.

Deep Ellum

Deep Ellum neighborhood

Deep Ellum is Dallas’ hip, artsy neighborhood, and it’s home to one of the most beloved brewing companies in Texas, the Deep Ellum Brewing Company. Their taproom is a laid-back spot with a warehouse vibe, filled with visitors enjoying a Dallas Blonde, Deep Ellum IPA, or seasonal brew like the Oak Cliff Coffee Ale. According to Brewbound, Deep Ellum Brewing sold 85 percent of the 45,000 barrels made in 2017 within a 20-mile radius of Dallas. After a recent sell to Canarchy Brewing Company, Deep Ellum Brewing Company is expected to grow.

Deep Ellum is also home to BrainDead Brewing Company, a significantly smaller brewery that’s more accurately described as a brewpub. They have a selection of their own brews on tap (about 30) which are popular among folks who enjoy craft beer. There’s also a nice patio for eclectic-people-watching in Deep Ellum. West Lake Brewing Company is also set to open in Deep Ellum within the next year after their taproom completes construction.

Lakewood

Photo courtesy of Lakewood Brewing Company 

Lakewood is a large residential area near White Rock Lake in East Dallas, and it’s doing well in terms of breweries. There’s On Rotation Brewery + Taproom which offers unique brews and 40 beers and ciders in their taproom and growler station. White Rock Ale House & Brewery’s main focus is to be a community spot for local craft beer and food. They also have a small selection of their own brewed beers with cool names like Bringing Mexi Back, Urban Parakeet, and Texas Girl.

It would be a bit odd to leave out Lakewood Brewing Company from this section even though it’s technically located in Grand Prairie. Lakewood Brewing Co. is a local favorite headed by an owner from Belgium. The Lakewood IPA and Temptress are popular Dallas beers, but visitors to the taproom will find a vast selection of seasonal beers.

Oak Cliff

Oak Cliff neighborhood photo courtesy of Michael Barera

Traditionally home to Mexican businesses and restaurants, there’s a new trend starting to make its way in Oak Cliff: breweries. Small Brewpub opened on Oak Cliff’s popular Jefferson Avenue with a small 5-barrel brewery made from repurposed dairy tanks. It’s a bit old-fashioned but their homemade brew will do. Then, there’s Bishop Cider Co., Bishop Arts’ cider brewery. They may have moved their production to the Design District, but they still have a tasting room in the original location on North Bishop Avenue. Oak Cliff Brewing Company will be coming soon to the area with the completion of their 14,000-square foot taproom at 1300 S Polk St. along the DART rail line.