Colorado’s Backcountry Brewing throws its hat into the Texas ring

What defines a local brewery? If a beer is brewed locally, does that make it a local beer?

Technically, Miller Lite, Coors Light, Keystone Light, Foster’s (Australian for beer!), Old Milwaukee and a host of other beers brewed in south Fort Worth, at the Miller Brewery on I-35W, would be local beers by a loose definition.

They are brewed here, after all.

Typically, however, when someone is referring to local beer, they’re referring to independent craft breweries that have multiplied and grown by leaps and bounds over the last decade.

The North Texas market in particular has exploded recently with local breweries. The market is so hot for craft beer that several out-of-state breweries have launched their Texas distribution efforts first in DFW before spreading their reaches to Austin, Houston and others.

Colorado’s Backcountry Brewing has taken both the local and out-of-state concepts and blended them in a way that is unique to North Texas.

Having purchased the now-closed Firewheel brewery in Rowlett in late 2015, Backcountry was looking to expand its reach into Texas by brewing here rather than simply producing in Colorado and shipping it here.

Other larger craft breweries have done similar things in past years. Oskar Blues (Colorado), Lagunitas (Northern California) and Stone Brewing (Southern California) have all expanded outside their home states.

Backcountry’s beers have been available locally on draft for a little while, but cans have recently started becoming more commonly available throughout the area.

Its first beer brewed is also made exclusively for its new home. Texas IPA is Backcountry’s way of respecting its new market and jumping in with more than its standard offerings from its Colorado legacy.

Texas IPA is a big, bitter India Pale Ale that hop lovers will enjoy. It utilizes the uncommon Comet hop that gives the beer grassy notes and hints of grapefruit. Sitting at seven percent ABV, it’s strong but not overly so and has enough malt to carry the hops. It’s most certainly a bold first foray.

Ultimately, consumers decide whether or not brewery ownership or founding location matters to them. By and large, the principled “drink local” crowd is vocal but still in the minority.

If a brewery makes a good product that’s well marketed and provides something that someone else doesn’t, then it will do well.

If Texas IPA is any indication of what we can expect from Backcountry, they could carve out a nice slot for themselves among the myriad other breweries of North Texas.

Quick Sips

Oak Highlands turns one: Dallas’ Oak Highlands Brewery is celebrating its first year in business with a bash at the brewery noon-9 p.m. Saturday, July 16. Admission is $25 online, $30 at the door. That gets you three beers, a commemorative glass and a koozie. 10484 Brockwood Road, Dallas. www.oakhighlandsbrewery.com

This story was originally published July 10, 2016 at 7:45 PM with the headline "Colorado’s Backcountry Brewing throws its hat into the Texas ring."