Walking through Fort Worth’s Rahr & Sons Brewing Co., you will often see work by local artists displayed, or find samples of a bread made by a nearby bakery, or a notable food truck parked outside.
“We are passionate about working with the artists from the community and focus on local partnerships as much as possible,” explained co-founder Erin Rahr. “It’s important to us as a local business ourselves to support other businesses.”
In addition to brewing 20,000 barrels a year and winning over 50 nationally recognized awards, the 30,000-square-foot brewery can be used for private events, group tastings and tours.
The on-site Pallet Room can accommodate 300 guests for a reception or dinner. Groups can arrange for a brewer to give a seminar on all things beer, from the history of brewing and lessons on the differences in styles to blind tastings. Groups can also tour the brewery and arrange for beer and food parings.
“We are open to partnering with local business and have partnered with Eagle Mountain Cheese in the past on beer dinners and cheese tastings,” said Rahr.
Rahr & Sons Brewing Co. was founded in 2004 by husband and wife Fritz and Erin Rahr, and although the brewery was new, the Rahr family tradition of brewing was not. The tagline on opening day was, “The brand new beer with a 150-year history!”
Frederick William “Fritz” Rahr Jr.’s great-grandfather William Rahr began making beer in America in 1847 after the family immigrated to Wisconsin from Germany. Shortly after, a malt house was added and William was sending his malted barley to other local breweries, eventually shipping to St. Louis where another German brewer used the barley for his now internationally famous megabrand.
The rest, as they say, is history.