ETBrews Update:
Yeah, yeah, we said June.
But here’s the deal: the ETBrews relaunch isn’t canceled. It’s just packing its bags. Because before we pour the next chapter, we’re checking a big one off the bucket list.
We’re going to Oktoberfest.
Live from Munich. Steins. Pretzels. Lederhosen optional.
The full relaunch is still coming. Cleaner, bigger, bolder, and more East Texas than ever. But first, we drink.
Prost, y’all.
Craft beer isn’t dying. Let’s start there.
Yes, closures outpaced openings across the U.S. last year for the first time in decades. Yes, Texas saw production dip. But this isn’t a crash. It’s a course correction.
The boom years brought thousands of breweries to life. Some amazing, some mediocre, some hanging on by vibes alone. Now the market’s maturing. Breweries that can brew great beer and create a strong community around it? Those are still going strong.
In Texas, we’ve seen a slowdown but not a collapse. Some cities lost long-standing taprooms. Costs have gone up. Consumer tastes have shifted. And a lot of small-town breweries found out that passion doesn’t always pay the rent. But when beer is paired with purpose, when it revitalizes neighborhoods and brings people together, it still works. Especially out here in East Texas.
East Texas: Our Craft Beer Story Keeps Pouring
Out here in the Piney Woods, the craft beer boom never felt like a trend. It felt personal. We weren’t chasing hype. We just wanted a good beer close to home.
And now?
That dream’s reality.
Marshall: Rüeggenbach Brewing Co. opened its doors during the Christmas parade in 2023 and wowed the community with their beautiful facilities, delicious food, and great beers. It's housed in the old fire station and features a rooftop beer garden, small-batch brews, and beer taps built into a vintage hydrant. It’s community storytelling in pint form.
Tyler: True Vine continues to be the gold standard for live music, outdoor hangs, and family-friendly energy. Down the road, ETX Brewing pours award-winning beers like their silver-medal Dunkel, paired with hot food and hometown vibes.
Longview: Oil Horse Brewing offers gluten-removed beers in a welcoming taproom with board games, acoustic nights, and regulars who treat you like kin.
Winnsboro: Cypress Creek Southern Ales may be tiny. Operated by a husband-and-wife duo on a single-barrel system. But their Belgian-inspired beers and intimate taproom bring a loyal crowd. It's proof that passion still scales.
Sulphur Springs: BackStory Brewery, perched right off the courthouse square, balances a great food menu with creative brews and regular community events.
Texarkana: Pecan Point Brewing and Redbone Magic anchor the downtown beer scene, with rotating house taps and true “beer on both sides of the border” energy.
Carthage: Yep. Even Carthage has a brewery now. Grind & Grain Beverage Co. proves there’s no town too small for a little local pride in a pint glass.
Athens: Athens Brewing Company sits right on the square, serving up house-made craft beer and local flavor in a historic downtown building. It's the kind of place where your bartender might know your dog’s name.
Cedar Creek (Seven Points): Cedar Creek Brewery has been in the game since 2012, offering award-winning beers, a laid-back beer garden, and one of the most family-friendly setups in East Texas. Come for the Belgian Blonde, stay for the vibe.
Nacogdoches: Fredonia Brewery keeps the taps flowing in the oldest town in Texas with local vibes, live music, and a killer patio.
Lufkin: Rusty Axe Brewing is putting Lufkin back on the craft beer map with a laid-back taproom, rotating house brews, and a growing local following.
Are some places closing? Sure. Angelina Brewing in Lufkin shut its doors. Anvil Brewing in Pittsburg is no longer pouring. Gilmer Brewing had to call it. But those closures didn’t happen because people stopped caring. They happened because craft beer is still hard. The ones left standing are adapting, refining, and serving their people better than ever.
Shreveport-Bossier: Our Backyard Bonus
Just across the border, Great Raft, The Seventh Tap, and Flying Heart keep the Louisiana-side scene alive and well. Even with Red River Brewing closing last year, the community support in Shreveport-Bossier is strong. And for many of us, it’s all part of the same craft beer family.
Why I’m Still Hopeful
Here’s the truth. The craft beer industry isn’t as explosive as it was five years ago. But that’s not a bad thing. What we’re seeing now is clarity. Purpose. Heart.
East Texas brewers aren’t chasing trends. They’re restoring old buildings, hosting trivia nights, sponsoring fundraisers, and building places where neighbors become friends. They’re not just selling beer. They’re creating spaces for connection.
And maybe that’s the future of craft beer. Smaller, more personal, and deeply local. Not trying to be everywhere. Just trying to matter somewhere.
Out here, we still believe in that. And as long as the lights are on at your local taproom and there’s a familiar face behind the bar, the craft beer spirit is alive and well.
Sláinte.
Joel Patrick Heflin
