This Saturday at Untapped in Fort Worth, indie music and craft beer will collide for one lovely day. Last year’s event was great: Sara Jaffe headlined and lots of beer, in small amounts, helped set the mood. There are also Untapped Festivals in Houston and Atlanta, so the kinks are all worked at this point and these events are typically well organized and easy to navigate.
There’s a lot to know, however, from music to beer, so we’ve broken it down into manageable parts:
1. Tickets are still available. There are three options: $26 for general admission, which gets you the show; $35 for a beer card (12 2-ounce samples) and the concert; and for the big rollers, the VIP package is $60 and gets you in an hour early (3 p.m.), and access to special areas and tappings.
2. In terms of beer, well, there’s a lot. More than 200 varieties. All the local players, then big names from elsewhere like Oskar Blues, Dogfish, Firestone Walker, Odell, on and on. If you can find a special tapping, that’s where the fun’s at.
Lakewood Brewing Company is debuting Antigoon’s Revenge, which is the fourth in their Legendary Series. Martin House Brewing will introduce Kafkaesque (a smoked, black, oaked, raspberry, rye imperial IPA). Armadillo Ale Works will have a special firkin of Greenbelt Farmhouse Ale with strawberries and honey. Deep Ellum Brewing will have a Tongue Punch firkin and their new Pale Ale.
3. If you’re looking for the full music and beer pairing, Kelly Dearmore over at DC9 at Night has already worked that out. Here’s an outline of who’s playing and how they’re best enjoyed, (The Joy Formidable’s London goes best with Peticolas’ Royal Scandal, of course.) It’s a pairing menu. Naturally.
4. If you want a full beer, you can do that too. (But pace yourself here, those little samples and high ABV’s can sneak up on you.) Twelve-ounce Oskar Blues cans will be available for $5 (cash only), and after 9 p.m. brewery tents and VIP areas will offer full 12-ounce pours for any beer in exchange for one completely unmarked tasting card. And you can also buy additional beer cards any time.
5. Food trucks will be on hand, including Bombay, So-Cal Tacos, Nammi, Easy Slider and Meat Church BBQ, which looks interesting. Last year these lines got rather longish. Have a strategy for your sustenance.