In many ways, 2024 felt like the end of a chapter in craft beer.
Obviously, there are a lot of headlines out there about the decline in craft beer across the United States and the new challengers to the shelf space.
They say the time of “lines around the block” and “if you build it, they will come” have come to an end.
“Craft has been going through a painful period of rationalization as demand growth has slowed and retailers and distributors look to simplify their offerings or add options for flavor and variety outside of the craft category,” said Bart Watson, vice president of strategy and membership, Brewers Association. “That said, breweries have reacted to these changes by focusing on distribution, continuing to innovate in their taprooms and brewpubs, creating groups and partnerships, and offering a wider range of beverages in their portfolios.”
“The 2024 Year in Beer” by The Brewers Association
As a single location brewpub, On Rotation isn’t as impacted by these macro trends across the country, but we still felt a pinch.
A keyword in the industry circles this year is focus. In fact, it’s been said across a lot of brewery and restaurant circles. The meaning of this focus is to dial in on things that work, to pull back on innovation and “new for new’s sake.”
And we did. (Well, kinda.)
Let’s not forget that we’re also a nano brewpub so we focused while digging in on a smaller number of new things we couldn’t resist exploring. More on that later.
Here in our local community, we saw several closures of beer bars and breweries. To us, it feels like a dip in the roller coaster ride that started in 2011.
For 2024, closings outnumbered openings for the second time in three years. That, and there were only four openings – the fewest since 2011, the origin point of the modern craft beer boom locally.
“2024 Year in review: North Texas industry perseveres despite down year” by Brian Brown, Beer in Big D
All that said, we felt 2024 was a big year of growth for On Rotation in many ways.
We were incredibly proud to bring home our first medal from the Great American Beer Festival. That was on top of a second medal at the Texas Craft Brewers Cup for Jalapeño Saison. We love the hardware, and I guess we need a trophy shelf of sorts now.
Three of On Rotation’s beers were named best-in-class beers for their style in the first-ever Untappd Community Awards in 2024. Velvet Elvis, sadly, has left the building.
We once again swept a few categories of the Best in DFW awards – and thank you for that.
Plus, we put the work in and received a Copper Star Certification from 24HourDallas for our efforts to be a welcoming and safe part of the Dallas nightlife scene.
Our team grew, and we set a few high scores.
And we cooked up a lot of chicken tenders. A lot.
All in all, 2024 was a milestone year for us at On Rotation Brewery & Kitchen, and, while we certainly enter the new year cautiously like many of our craft beer compatriots, we’re pretty stoked about what we’ll accomplish in 2025.
“Don’t bet against craft breweries,” says Watson. “We have thousands of scrappy entrepreneurs working hard.”
“Brewers Association Report Shows Craft Beer In Decline, But The Future May Be Brighter” by Don Tse, Forbes
2024 By the Numbers
We dropped 23 new releases in 2024, bringing our total number of unique beers produced since 2015 to 420 beers.
That’s less than our new releases in 2023. Actually, 23 is the lowest number of new releases we’ve ever had outside of 2021, when we were closed for part of the year relocating to our new home at the Braniff Centre.
So was that focus? Well, we retired our pilot system in 2019, but a big part of why our new releases have shifted in recent years is that we now spend much of the brew schedule brewing fresh batches of mainstays like Jalapeño Saison and Café Au Lait and bringing back annual seasonals like Prancer, Blue Agave, and our Oktoberfest.
Was 2024 the year of the lager – as some predicted?
Beer, especially craft beer in the U.S., has always been about innovation. It’s just that how that innovation is showing up in the glass has changed drastically.
“From bold brews to bright: America’s beer tastes are shifting” by Kathleen Willcox, the drinks business
For decades that meant adjunct stouts, high-octane IPAs, lip-puckering sours, and a turn from localised markets to nationwide distribution. Now, it’s about light, bright and low, dry-hopped with community and connection.
For us, it was the year of the pilsner.
We fell in love with the pilsner anew in 2024 and new modernizations of the style. We crafted three new releases in the pilsner family that’ll be inspiring a few of our 2025 new releases.
Several of our past favorites also reappeared in 2024, including the reinvention of Saved by the Belma for our 9-year anniversary celebration in March.
In no particular order, here are eight new releases we especially enjoyed in 2024.
Orchard
Belgian Dark Strong with Plum & Apple
This combo of fruit and beer were an excellent way to start 2024.
Brownie Totality
Espresso Milk Stout with Brownies
Rich and jet black, we drank this once-in-a-lifetime beer in the darkness of the total solar eclipse.
Nothing Wrong With That
West Coast Pilsner for the P1s
Brewing this beer with Matt McClearin & 1310 The Ticket was a blast, but drinking it was even better.
Manzano Grizette
Chili Grisette with Manzano Peppers
Jalapeño Saison needed a little brother, and we crafted it with our current pepper crush, manzano peppers.
Cosmic Dream
Dry-Hopped Saison
The Nelson Sauvin and Pacific Sunrise hops had a power over us. We may have drank most of this collaboration brew with ODD Muse Brewing ourselves.
Adulting Is Hard Pink Lemonade
Hard Sparkling Pink Lemonade
We jumped headfirst into our first foray into packaging one of our gluten-free hard seltzer cocktails.
Fluffy
Breakfast Stout with Peanut Butter & Marshmallows
The spiritual successor to Velvet Elvis brought all the 90s TGIF lineup vibes.
Up All Night
Imperial Oatmeal Espresso Coffee Stout
An oatmeal coffee stout was on our wish list, and this collaboration brew with Peticolas delivered.
New Releases in 2024
Thank You & Looking Ahead
We say it every year, but it feels especially important as we enter 2025 to thank you for your support in 2024.
Craft beer may not be booming like it was a few years ago, but we have always been one to roll with the punches. We can pivot with the best of them.
Most importantly, On Rotation has evolved from a small craft beer taproom & nanobrewery in East Dallas into a full-fledged brewpub with a scratch kitchen we can’t say enough about. Many of you may be reading this with a greater love for our fried chicken than our beer, and we’re okay with that.
We know this year may be one for hard decisions. We hope to make at least one easy for you by continuing to provide one of the most cutting-edge and inviting food & drink experiences in North Texas.
That’s our focus, and we’re thankful to have you on this roller coaster ride with us.
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