Local Craft Breweries near the Blue Ridge, Texas 75424 Area (3)

Founded by Brewmaster Dennis Wehrmann, Franconia Brewing Co. is a company in McKinney that started operations in 2008. Dennis comes from a long family line of brewmasters. He traces his family’s involvement in beer to a great great grandfather. Grandfather Schaubert owned and operated a brewery in Germany in the 1800s. Dennis also got his start in traditional German brewing practices in Germany until his move to the U.S. in 1999. Under his guidance, Franconia strictly follows the Reinheitsgebot or German Purity Law. They only stray from tradition for special releases. The brewery is also equally known for their “green” brewing practices. The brewery’s eco-friendly facilities include an on-site mini-power plant that works on renewable fuels such as solar and natural gas. 100% of the plant's power requirement comes from these renewable sources. They use 100% natural ingredients and also donate spent mash for conversion to cattle feed by local farmers.

The “Tupps” in TUPPS Brewery is Tupper Patnode, its co-founder, head brewer, and half of a two-man partnership. Its other half is co-founder Keith Lewis, a sales and marketing guy. Together, they blend art and science, and sprinkle in some business savvy to run a successful brewery. They start with great beer, which accounts for the artistic side, and use the senses to create, validate, and refine the beers. The scientific side comes in “to ensure quality and consistency in the brewing process”. A brewery is a business, however, and needs business smarts. For TUPPS, that means using management tools to streamline operations or taking in an excellent distribution partner. It seems Keith and Tupper perfected beer brewing. They opened in 2015, and a year later, production grew by 400 percent in total volume. Visit TUPPS at McKinney’s historic Cotton Mill complex and see for yourself. They have free tours every Saturday at 12:30pm.

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).