Untapped Dallas

After hearing rave reviews of last April’s Untapped beer and independent music festival we decided to give the Dallas fall edition a visit. September 7th’s event was at Gilley’s Dallas on South Lamar. The event featured local and national brewers and some of the country’s best alternative artists.

With VIP tickets in hand we arrived for early entry, grabbed our swag bags and were ready to head straight for the rare tappings. While I was a little upset be the last minute decision to release a limited number wrist bands at a Friday night pre-party. I must say that the entrance process went pretty smoothly after ticket-holders figured out what line to go to. VIP gift bags, re-useable Central Market shopping bags, were stuffed with ear plugs, hangover remedies, coupons, earplugs and snack and water and served as a good survival kit for the day.  The only complaint was about the cheap quality and size of the tasting glasses. The $65 VIP ticket got a small plastic cup that was easily spilled, especially given the fact that beer was being poured in 100 degree heat. To get the taller glass tasting glasses you had to spring for Super VIP tickets. Our detailed program included the ever growing beer list, a map, the band schedule and a description of each of the DFW-area brewers. 

I was impressed with the variety and expanse of the sampling featured. Every local and Texas brewery was represented along with the more well known national craft brewers. Many featured seasonal  and rare tappings including several pumpkin, chocolate and barrel aged offerings which were tasty but still a little early to enjoy in the outdoor heat. My biggest complaint was that the VIP ticket advertised exclusive access to beers likely to run out when gates opened to general admission. While we were not there the entire time, we were there nearly 5 hours and did not find a tap that ran out but there was more than one brewer that held on to certain beers and ciders till later in the day. The only advantage to paying almost double for VIP was the early entry and the goodie bag. The VIP area on Gilley’s deck was overcrowded and had no available seating so we stayed inside the restaurant which was open to the public and took turns venturing out in the heat for more beer and music. 

I must say the selection of brewers and beers was amazing and hard to match at any other local festival. While we passed up some local favorite like Martin House and Firewheel because they were only serving their standard brews others brought special offerings. Locally I loved Rahr’s 2012 barrel aged winter warmer, Texican’s Summer Sandia Watermelon wheat ale and a version of Armadillo Ale Work’s Quakertown stout with cocoa nibs and coconut. Revolver premiered their Sidewinder, a slightly spicy American brown ale and Grid Iron a smoked rauchbier. I also liked Saint Arnold’s Icon gold which featured brown sugar and plums and had a pleasant light sweetness.

On the national scene my favorite finds were from Founders, Avery, Brooklyn Brewery and Maui Brewing Company. I normally love Founder’s dark scotch ale Dirty Bastard but the bourbon barrel aged version, Backwoods Bastard was even better. Avery had a very unusual stout called Tweak that used cappaucino. Brooklyn’s Post Road Pumpkin was my favorite pumpkin ale with just the right blend of spice and sweetness. New Belgium had hands down the best overall offerings. While I went to try their Coconut Curry Hefenweizen out of sheer curiosity they willingly offered small taste of the other two beers before pouring a full sample.  The hefeweizen was not to spicy and the Pumpkin had just the right amount of pumpkin and nutmeg. The Yuzu berlinerweiss was my favorite. This was a light, dry beer with a pale malt and the tartness of the yuzu fruit. The Yuzu and Coconut curry are both part of New Belgian’s Lips of Faith series which are small batch of strong and unusual flavored beers especially designed for the adventurous beer drinker.

I did not stay long enough to see most of the bands. However Blackalicious was entertaining and I enjoyed what I saw of Leagues.  The food truck offering were varied and gave more interesting but higher priced food options than Gilley’s BBQ and burgers. Central market was featuring a line of different beers from brewers participating in their Brewniversity. A few other vendors hawked shirts, hats, magnets, stickers, growlers, food items and other merch. All in all it was an enjoyable festival but may have been more so if some sampling were indoors or the festival was pushed back a little for cooler temps.  I am looking forward to the upcoming Canned and Untapped Fort Worth festival and  Untapped Houston was just announced.