An entry for my beer travelogue…

Dallas, Texas, October 2014 — My business trip to Dallas found me at the Hilton Anatole, a massive hotel with a huge atrium. I picked a great time to visit — set-up inside the atrium throughout the weekend were three beer tents offering free pours of fall seasonal brews. It was a mini beer festival to promote the fall beers on tap in the hotel’s eight restaurants and bars. I took advantage…

My favorite tent was sponsored by Franconia Brewing Company, a local brewery from McKinney, Texas. I enjoyed learning about Franconia from the chatty brewery employees who were pouring at the tent.

Inspired by its German heritage and history, Franconia offers genuine and fresh Bavarian beer. The beers from the green brewery were approachable, sessionable, and thoroughly enjoyable. Their line-up included:

• Franconia Wheat, an original German Hefeweizen (4.8%)
• Franconia Octoberfest, a traditional German Märzen (5.0%)
• Franconia Dunkle, a Dark Lager with a chocolate finish (5.0%)

The two other tents were sponsored by Anheuser Busch and Sam Adams, where they were pouring:

• Goose Island Rambler IPA, a beautiful auburn ale with spicy hop flavor (6.7% ABV, 65 IBU)
• Shock Top Honeycrisp Apple Wheat, a unique hybrid of Belgian wheat beer and sweet cider
• Shock Top Pumpkin Wheat, a Belgian-style wheat ale brewed with pumpkins and a variety of spices, including nutmeg, cinnamon and cloves
• Johnny Appleseed, a sweet hard cider
• Sam Adams Octoberfest, one of my favorite fest beers of the fall season is hearty, smooth, and extremely drinkable
• Sam Adams Fat Jack, a strong, hearty Double Pumpkin Ale that clocks in at 8.5% ABV

I also enjoyed a few local Texas brews in the hotel bar during my trip:

• Velvet Hammer, Peticolas Brewing Company, Dallas, Texas (9.0%), an American Strong Ale that was my go-to beer at the Media Grill + Bar. I recall loving this brew the last time I was in Dallas in 2012. I highly recommend it.
• Ugly Pug, Rahr & Sons Brewing Company, Fort Worth, Texas (4.8%), an easy-drinking Schwarzbier

I was so busy during my business trip to Dallas that I left the hotel only once over three days, but I still managed to find some great local beer!

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