Drinking local
All the Fort Worth bars, wineries, and breweries selling alcohol to-go during the shutdown
In the last round of the ever-fluctuating restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Gov. Greg Abbott put the hammer down on bars, breweries, distilleries, and wineries — closing them again with just a few hours’ notice on June 26. But he threw them a lifeline, saying they may remain open for delivery and takeout, including for alcoholic beverages, as authorized by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission. This time, that means pre-mixed cocktails, too.
While many watering holes and college bars have closed indefinitely, others are doing the best they can to stay afloat by, once again, offering alcohol to-go. Here's an updated list of Fort Worth-area places ready to pack up cocktails, bottles, cans, and cases for thirsty patrons.
3 Vino
While the Roanoke wine bar is closed for on-site sipping, folks can still stop by for bottles to-go. Call or shop online and your order will be available in less than two hours for pickup. Choose from boutique selections to more widely recognized labels, as well as cider by the can. The wine bar is open Tuesday through Saturday from 2 to 7 pm for carry-out and curbside pickup.
Acre Distilling Co.
The downtown Fort Worth distillery is open for bottle sales via its curbside pickup window. Call ahead to place your order and be prepared to read your credit card number over the phone. All bottles are 25 percent off while the tasting room remains closed. Regular pricing ranges from $19 for the award-winning ginger peach tea vodka to $58 for the Longhair Jim Straight Bourbon Whisky. Mixers like tonic and ginger beer are also for sale, along with house-made hand sanitizer and several coffee beverages. Pickup hours are Tuesday through Saturday from 11 am to 8 pm.
The Bearded Lady
The South Main Street bar and patio operates like a restaurant, offering a full menu of scratch-made dishes. But they sell more alcohol than grub, which led to their closure with the most recent restrictions on bars. Drive by now for curbside drinks like their trifecta of margaritas in lemon basil, pineapple lime, and cherry lime. They’re each available in 32-ounce to-go containers for $20. Order a family-style meal and get them for $15. The Bearded Lady is open Tuesday through Saturday from 12 to 8 pm.
Blackland Distillery
The swanky Foundry District distillery and tasting room is operating for bottle, cocktail kit, and hand sanitizer sales on Fridays, and everything is first-come-first-served. Simply pull up and a Blackland team member will take your order. Choose from three cocktail kits ($8 each with the purchase of a bottle), including the Old Fashioned (serves 12), the Grapefruit Punch (serves four), and the Gimlet (serves 6). Blackland makes four spirits: vodka ($25), gin ($30), bourbon and rye ($35), and 100-proof bourbon and rye ($55). Don’t forget the new 8-ounce aerosol hand sanitizer spray ($7), also made on-site.
HopFusion Ale Works
There’s no need to call in advance or pre-order at this South Fort Worth brewery. Pull up between 12 and 8 pm daily and someone from the HopFusion team will quickly provide assistance. Try the Sex Rocket pale ale, newly available in 16-ounce four-packs, or the fan favorite Feisty Blonde. The brewery also has 32-ounce crowlers and 64-ounce growlers for your own fresh pours.
Legal Draft Beer Company
Head to the Arlington brewery’s taproom patio at the southeast corner of the building, where staffers take orders and retrieve your selections with swift service. Prices range from $10 for a six-pack to $20 for a 64-ounce growler fill. Favorites include the Accused Amber Lager, Chief Justice Stout and the Impeachment Peach IPA. Hours are Thursday and Friday from 4 to 7 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm Make plans to visit July 26 for a doughnuts and drafts pairing to-go in collaboration with FunkyTown Donuts.
Martin House Brewing Company
The Riverside brewery known for its local collaborations used to draw hundreds weekly for its tours and events. Now only the taproom is open for beer to-go. Visit daily from 12 to 7 pm for six-packs of year-round favorites like Salty Lady and True Love or taproom-only cans to-go. The brewery just launched Melted Rocky Roads and Waffle Cones in a partnership with Melt Ice Creams. Snag some soon before it’s gone.
Messina Hof Winery
The cancellation of GrapeFest, Grapevine’s annual four-day festival typically held in September, is sure to hurt several Grapevine tasting rooms and wineries. This one is open for curbside pick-up with an order placed in advance online or a quick phone call. The lineup includes several fun canned varietals, including bubbly peach moscato, as well as its new Bonarrigo Family Wines collection. Prefer not to leave the house? Order 12 or more bottles and shipping is free.
Panther Island Brewing
Cans may be completely customized at this north Fort Worth brewery. Simply call ahead or order online to choose which tap beer to be canned to-go. Selections ($5 for 16-ounce and $6 for 19-ounce) range from the Tailgater Blonde Ale to IPf’nA Imperial IPA. Check Panther Island’s social media pages for occasional visits from food trucks and grab a bite while waiting for your order. Curbside beer to-go is available Thursday through Sunday from 12 to 8 pm.
The Post at River East
The Race Street live music venue has possibly the best deal in town for curbside cocktails, selling 32-ounce carafes (about six drinks) for $25. Customers may upgrade the liquor for $5 more. Choose from classics like margaritas and mojitos to signature sips like the cucumber vodka Dilly Dally and the peach and ginger beer infused Peach Please. Carafes with custom spirits include the gin Fitzgerald, lemon basil blossom, whiskey smash and whiskey shandy. Curbside pickup is offered from 3 to 9 pm. daily.
Rahr & Sons Brewing Company
Fort Worth’s original craft brewery is selling all its goodies curbside, including six-pack cans ranging from $7.99 to $9.99 and the Rahr’s Original 19.2-ounce banger for $1.99. Look for special 32-ounce crowlers, too. The brewery is open for curbside pickup, 4-8 pm Wednesday and Thursday, 3-8 pm Friday, and 12-6 pm Saturday.
Rancho Loma Vineyards
The South Main Street tasting room was just gaining steam as a go-to for West Texas wine before government restrictions forced its closure. Now Rancho Loma Vineyards, which sources its grapes from the Texas High Plains, is only open for curbside pickup — and with a special deal. Customers who buy three bottles get two shatterproof, reusable wine glasses free, perfect for poolside sips. Rancho Loma is open Thursday through Saturday from 2 to 7 pm.
Shannon Brewing Company
The Keller brewery is keeping its fans hydrated with curbside pickup of its Irish-inspired lineup, all fire-brewed with Texas spring water. Try rare releases available on tap for growler fills, including Oak-Aged Irish Red, Almond Vanilla Hazelnut Stout, and Scotch Barrel-Aged Wee Heavy. Shannon’s brews are also available in six-pack cans. Visit Wednesday through Friday from 2 to 7 pm and Saturday and Sunday from 12 to 5 pm.
Southside Cellar
While the taproom is closed, this South Main Street beer shop is open for carryout and curbside pick-up, offering 30 beers on tap plus hundreds more canned and bottled. Find rare selections from around the country along with old school favorites. The Cellar is open a little later than most curbside hot spots, selling from noon all the way until 9 pm Monday through Saturday.
Thompson’s Bookstore
The downtown Fort Worth craft cocktail bar will launch its online ordering system on Wednesday, July 15. Place an order by 3 pm and pick up between 5 and 8 pm on the same day. Prices will range between $16 and $32 for two to four servings, or $70 for large format favorites like the Old Fashioned, boulevardiers, and martinis that serve eight to 10. All cocktails may be enjoyed right away or stored in the fridge for a quick shake or stir before imbibing later. Note that Thompson’s menu will change weekly and pickup will be available Wednesday through Saturday.
Turning Point Beer
Established in 2018, the Bedford-based brewery has a strong loyal following for its quirky lineup of libations. There’s an IPA named for lyrics from a Seal song (My Power, My Pleasure, My Pain), a sour called Calibrate the Virus, and a stout called Endgame. Cool off with new Shake Zula Pina Colada milkshake double IPA. Open for curbside pickup 4-9 pm Tuesday-Thursday 4-10 pm Friday, 12-10 pm Saturday, and 12-6 pm Sunday.
Twilite Lounge
The New Orleans-themed bar and lounge is staying afloat by offering curbside cuisine and cocktails Thursday through Saturday from 5 to 9 pm. Libations range from the classic NOLA Pimms and Louisiana Bulldog to frozen hurricanes and frozen Irish coffee. Call ahead to order.
Two Brothers Winery
The Keller winery is open every day but Monday for curbside pickup and even delivery within a five-mile radius. Located in in Old Town Keller and owned and operated by brothers Brian and Eddie Kirkwood, the wine bar produces its own wine on site using grapes from California. Patrons can expect standard whites like Chardonnay and Sauvignon Blanc along with a few red blends. Sweet wine lovers will be happy with the lengthy list, including wines flavored with peach, strawberry, raspberry, and apple. Also look for “happy hour” pickup specials with wines by the glass for $5. Pickup is available Tuesday through Saturday from 2 to 8 pm and Sunday from 1 to 7 pm.
WineHaus
The cozy nooks in this charming South Fort Worth wine bar are once again off limits for on-site consumption, but WineHaus fans can visit for vino to-go, including wine on tap. Buy a wine growler and fill it with one of nearly two dozen wines available right now, including several sparkling selections. WineHaus is open for pickup from 3 to 8 pm Tuesday through Saturday and 5 to 8 pm Monday.