Local Craft Breweries near Ben Franklin, TX (6)

Dr. Robert Lenington wears many hats and owner of Backstory Brewery is one of them. After settling in Sulphur Springs and opening his medical practice, he and head brewer Phillip Rose discussed the benefits of opening a brewery to serve the Sulphur Springs community. A homebrewer himself, the doctor’s friendship with Phillip goes back over 20 years. Soon after, they both made the leap and established BackStory Brewery in 2017. With the mantra “good people deserve great beer”, the co-founders are dedicated to brewing “the highest quality craft beer available”. This “small town brewery” stands on a building that was built in 1907. It has a kid- and a dog-friendly environment with a wide selection of in-house brews. “You’d only expect (this brewery) in a much larger city… the best cold brews in town!” It is really "fortunate" that there is "this amazing brewery" which is really "fitting for some of the coolest hangouts in Uptown Dallas or Austin!"

Cypress Creek Southern Ales is a small batch nano-brewery in Winnsboro. Mike Howard and his family owns and operates the brewery, which opened August 2018. Currently one of the highest rated brewery on the popular beer-centric app Untappd, it is also the lone representative for Texas. Mike is a veteran of the U.S. Navy and specialized in IT upon leaving the service. His brewing philosophy simply means he brews “the beers (he and his family) want to drink". The brewery currently has almost 50 beers available for rating on Untappd, which are all named after something in Winnsboro or in connection with the East Texas area. According to one review, the brewery's taproom is “small and cozy”. However, the beers are “nothing short of sudsy divine-ness”. In good weather, the outdoor area becomes a venue for corn hole and horseshoe games.

Husband and wife Terry and Catherine Gordon are first time commercial brewers who opened Thirsty Bro Brewing in Royse City. Calling their guests “bros and bro-ettes”, they aim to be that neighborhood taproom where everybody can say "cheers!" to one another and not be a stranger. Opened in March 2017, Thirsty Bro Brewing is the city's first brewery. The brewery uses “the finest hops, grains, and other ingredients”. For extra thirsty bros and bro-ettes, there’s a 17oz Tankards Club. Members get access to a wide variety of beers and gluten-reduced selections”. Located at the historic downtown area of the city, the brewery invites guests to order from a local restaurant or go BYOF (bring your own food).

Gabe Parker bought the building where Ivanhoe Ale Works stands for $10 -- a gut job that Gabe’s wife thought could never be repaired. Meanwhile, Homestead Winery, stood just next door. Also owned by Gabe, the winery started operations in 1989 making it the oldest continually operating winery located in the Red River Valley of North Texas. To start Ivanhoe Ale Works, Gabe partnered with brewmaster Johnny Wells. Opened in May 2015, they subsequently restored to the old building to its art deco roots. Gabe’s unique vision allows wine and beer drinkers to come together in one taproom – Texas’ first brew-winery! The brewery’s lineup of beers includes their Ivanhoe IPA. In an interview, Gabe says he got started with the winery after his wife gave him a wine making kit. A few years before establishing the brewery, she gave him a home brewing kit. These days, he wonders what’s next.

The Sasquatch Imperial Chocolate Milk Stout is one of 903 Brewers’ award-winning beer, and its biggest triumph so far. It won the silver in the 2015 Great American Beer Festival in the aged beer category. The brewery is owned by husband and wife team Jeremy and Natalie Roberts, and they opened the brewery’s door to the public in 2013. Their first hits, The Chosen One Coconut Ale and Roo’s Red Ale continue to be bestsellers. The taproom at Sherman serves both the mainstays as well as seasonal and special release brews. It also serves food courtesy of the Grilled Cheese Company & Pies, a company owned by Jeremy’s parents. Here’s how good their beers are from a reviewer: “I never thought I would be one of those people… who will drive for a great beer…[even if it’s] about 45 minutes outside of Dallas.” The brewery hosts trivia nights movie nights, too, so go catch a Sasquatch!

Opened in 1998 as a pub, the Cellarman’s Pub & Brewery started out serving just five craft beers and a relatively small menu. With its license approved in 2016, the 100-seat pub planned to expand to 200-seats and to establish its own brewery on-site. In February 2018, the new Cellarman’s opened and guests got a view of the brewery’s equipment at the back of the pub. The brewpub also built its own grain silo on the premises. The brewpub has since built its offerings to about a dozen craft beers produced by the brewpub's own brewery. They also offer draughts from other breweries, and 100 local and imported bottled beers. The large menu now includes their own gourmet pizzas coming from their wood-fired stone oven, burgers, oysters, and more. The bar also has over 200 spirits, a selection of wines, and house specialty mixed drinks.