Martin House Brewing Company

When I moved from Austin a couple of years ago, with so many choices for Texas Craft Beer, I could not believe that there was only one craft brewery in Fort Worth.  At the time, Rahr & Sons Brewing  was the only option.  Rahr brews David’s favorite beer, Ugly Pug, and I enjoy some others as well.  However, when Martin House Brewing Company opened, I was so excited to try something new.  Martin House quickly became my favorite brewery in Fort Worth!  Their style of beer fits my taste buds better.  I have visited the brewery twice and really enjoyed both of my experiences.

Let’s take a look at Martin House Brewing Company based on our Brewery Grading Scale.

Logistics:  5 Every Saturday from 2-5pm and Thursday evenings from 6-8 the brewery is open and ready to welcome you.  Parking, like at most breweries, is tricky, but something that is so great, is that each time I have been, there are volunteers in front of the brewery that direct you to the available parking areas.  This first impression is such a great personal touch, making it easy to visit.  On their website, a Google map shows you where you can and cannot park.  Want to take the train and then bike to the brewery?  Check out their train/bike map for that too!

View of Downtown Fort Worth from the Brewery

Atmosphere: 4  Bring your dog, bring your lawn chairs and get ready to relax.  Inside the brewery can get crowded, but that is where the live music stage is set up; you might want to brave the crowds and enjoy the tunes.  Or continue through the building, and set up your lawn chairs outside.  With the Trinity River and downtown Fort Worth as the backdrop, you can enjoy the picturesque scene while sipping your pints.  The view does not get better than this!  Some lawn games are available for playing. There is a food truck in the back as well.  Hmm, for restrooms, well, I cannot remember too well.  There are some pot-o-potties out back.

Value: 5  The entrance fee is $10 which includes the tour, pint glass, and three pours. Cash or credit cards are accepted at the door.  Don’t forget your ID!  The last pour is 15 minutes before closing.  This is a great deal!

Canning Day Break 4 Grain Breakfast Beer

Beer – Variety: 5 I really like meeting friends at Martin House because no matter who meets us there, they will like a beer and more likely, they will like two or three.  It is just a great place.  Specialty beers are usually available for about a month.  The 6 standards include the most famous Day Break, a 4 grain ale with local honey and milk sugar, modeled after a breakfast cereal.  It is a great year round beer.  Others include The Imperial Texan, a 9% ABV (alcohol by volume) red ale, River House which is a Texas Saison, the Pretzel Stout made with of course, pretzels, Gateway Blonde Ale, and an American Style IPA, Cellerman’s Reserve.

Beer – Taste: 5  Taste makes Martin House my favorite brewery in Fort Worth.  I cannot wait for their winter seasonal, Sugar and Spice, to come out each year!!!  I kind of don’t want to tell people about it because I don’t really want to share, but I will :). Sugar and Spice is a spiced American Barley Wine with cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, vanilla and piloncillo, a Mexican unrefined sugar similar to brown sugar.  It is SO tasty.  Unfortunately, you can’t drink this now.  So lets talk about the beers available year-round.  I love Day Break, The Imperial Texan, and the Pretzel Stout.  I look forward to trying the Bockslider, Martin House’s tribute to the Toadies.

Pac Man – The Cold Water Tank

Tour 3: The tour is only available on Saturdays.  Meet out back about 4:30.  It is about 20 minutes long, giving some history and explaining how the brewing process.  It is a little tricky because the tour moves around the brewery, and since the brewery is usually crowded, it is hard to navigate and hear.  Most people do not come for the tour.

Other Noteworthy Items:  Their website is GREAT!  Each beer comes with a history of the beer, its stats, and even recommended activities.  The other thing that cracks me up about this place is that the water fountain is actually a tap with a Michelob Ultra tap handle.  It is funny details like this around the brewery that makes it a fun visit.

To find a local Texas brewery around you or for your next trip, check our updated Texas Craft Brewery List.

The Water Tap