Best Resources To Brew Beer At Home In DFW
Craft beers have been popping up at new local breweries all over the Metroplex for the last couple of years. The biggest beer fanatics like to take this even further by brewing a batch right at home. It takes a few basic ingredients to start, including malted barley, hops, yeast and water. Of course, many other fruit and spices can be added to create different and specialty favors. Some specialty brewing equipment is also needed to get you started. Your best bet is to go to one of these brewing experts for advice, recipes and supplies to get you started.
Homebrew Headquarters
300 N. Coit Road, Suite 134
Richardson, TX 75080
(972) 234-4411
www.homebrewhq.com
Homebrew Headquarters is located in Richardson, but it also has a product catalog right on its website. This makes its inventory easy to comb through before you drive out to the store. You can order anything not in the store from the website as well. For first-timers, this is a good place to start since it has all of the equipment and ingredients you need. The guys that work here are also very helpful, so they'll be happy to walk you through any questions and help you find just what you need.
Dallas Farmers Market
1010 S. Pearl Expressway
Dallas, TX 75201
(214) 670-5880
www.dallasfarmersmarket.org
Specialty beers like Belgium Whit call for extra ingredients like fresh orange and lime zest. One dozen fresh fruits are needed to make just five gallons of this flavor. The Dallas Farmers Market is an ideal place to find fresh fruit in larger quantities, and it is typically less expensive when bought this way. A bonus is that you are supporting local farmers. The Dallas Farmers Market is located downtown Dallas and is open seven days a week from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., but mornings always have the best selection.
Dallas Homebrew
1500 N. Interstate 35E, Suite 116
Carrollton, TX 75006
(972) 323-7921
www.finevinewines.com
Dallas Homebrew and The Wine Maker's Toy Store are located together, making wine and beer supplies available in one place. The supply of beer kits makes brewing even easier without the need to buy and measure individual ingredients. The variety of beer kits will keep an indecisive palate happy. For the more adventurous, there is also an extensive supply of grains, hops, flavors, yeasts and more.
Foreman's General Store
3801 Colleyville Blvd.
Colleyville, TX 76034
(817) 281-7252
www.foremansinc.com
Foreman's General Store has been serving Colleyville since 1976. It has an unusual combination of goods. There are products for landscaping, birding and brewing. There are tubes, hoses, bottles and smokers, to name a few. The store likes to hold occasional cookouts in the parking lot and employees have been known to bring their dogs to join in the fun. Overall, it creates a friendly, old-fashioned atmosphere for everyone.
Elliott's Hardware
116 E. Kearney St.
Mesquite, TX 75149
(214) 324-5087
www.elliottshardware.com
Many supplies needed for brewing, like a large stock pot, may already be in your kitchen. If not, they can easily be found at a local hardware store. Elliott's has been around since 1947 and is known as the place to find anything you need, not just for brewing. The true do-it-yourself-brewers may want to build their equipment themselves. A hardware store like Elliott's can help you do just that.
Emilie DesJardins currently works in Dallas television and worked with KRLD Restaurant Week for several years before that. She is always trying new places around the Metroplex to find the best food and unique things to do. See her work at Examiner.com.
