With a snowy (not to mention dangerous) week here in Texas, we pulled our last holiday ale out of the fridge to toast goodbye to the winter storm that swept through our area. We are halfway through February, so it was about time to polish off our last Christmas ale. It was a good way to finish off this crazy week, but it got me thinking: who exactly is Trinity Forest Brewing Co.?
Who is Trinity Forest Brewing Company?
Trinity Forest Brewing Co. was founded in 2019 by a group of friends in Dallas. Named after one of the largest urban hardwood forests in the country, the team took it upon themselves to spread the word about the DFW area’s oft-overlooked natural beauty. The actual Great Trinity Forest is a 6,000 acre expanse that sits just south of downtown Dallas. The Trinity River snakes through the forest and has unfortunately become a local dumping ground, but the team at Trinity Forest Brewing Co. made it their mission to raise awareness of the forest & advocate for its preservation.
As for beer: TFBC seem to be pretty good at that, too. Trinity Forest started off slow by building a small portfolio of core beers, but this beer is a testament to their willingness to step into a more creative realm. Head brewer Ricky Del Bosque started off sharing home-brewed beer with friends and is now the brains behind beers like TFBC’s SMASH IPA & Good Neighbor Double IPA.
Where is Trinity Forest Brewing Company?
TFBC doesn’t have their own brick-and-mortar brewing operation yet, so they currently contract with another local brewer to produce & can their beer. That hasn’t stopped them from putting out some interesting beer: they have produced about a dozen unique beers since beginning their operation in 2019.
The brewing team has stated their intention to eventually bring their operation to a physical location near the Great Trinity Forest, so keep an eye out for developments as TFBC continues to grow. For now, you can expect to find TFBC beer throughout the DFW metroplex and as far south as Austin, TX. Trinity Forest currently cans and distributes their SMASH IPA, West Coast IPA, and Blonde Ale (along with the new-for-2021 limited Coffee Blonde Ale).
What’s so special about Trinity Forest’s Holiday Brown Ale?
Let it be known that I am a holiday ale fanatic. There is something magical about spiced beers loaded with cinnamon and nutmeg when it’s cold outside. When I saw this 22oz special release sitting on the shelf of a DFW bottle shop, I couldn’t help snagging a bomber for myself.
This was the first Trinity Forest beer that I found distributed in bottle form. Most of their beer comes packed in bold cans with simple yet modern designs, so the relatively ornate label on the bottle caught my eye.
The folks at TFBC have hinted at this becoming a seasonal release, and I couldn’t be happier. Seeing a new holiday beer tradition start, no matter how small, is always worth celebrating!
What does their Holiday Brown Ale taste like?
Expect a medium-dark brown that is a bit cloudy & opaque. The aroma immediately reminds me of Christmas: baking spices like cinnamon & nutmeg are very apparent on the nose.
The mouthfeel was balanced and relatively light considering the appearance; this felt like a proper brown ale.
Take a sip to experience a classic Christmas ale. The baking spices come through on the palette and are followed with clove & ginger to keep things interesting. Thankfully, the flavors mesh well and are not overbearing. The malty brown body holds up well to the spiced recipe, and everything here comes together into a very enjoyable holiday beer.
Final Thoughts
Trinity Forest Brewing Co. is still trying to figure out where they fit into the ever-growing DFW beer scene, but I am really encouraged by what they have been producing recently. Between the Holiday Brown Ale, a honey-infused Double IPA, and their newly introduced Coffee Blonde Ale (produced in partnership with Moravian Coffee Roasters), I am ecstatic to see a smaller brewery taking risks on unique brews to help differentiate themselves in the market.
Have you tried any of TFBC’s beers yet? Let us know on Instagram by tagging us in a pic!
