We may have just experienced the coldest weekend in recent memory in Dallas, but things are about to heat up as the Dallas Winter Warmer fest rolls into town once again. And the event organizers aren’t playing around with the beer list for this one – be prepared for your 5 oz. Belgian snifter to be sufficiently boozed up with some of the best stouts, porters, and barrel-aged beauties around.

This is the second iteration of the Dallas Winter Warmer fest from Rhizome Productions’ event organizer extraordinaire Matt Leff, and he’s got a few new tricks up his sleeve this year. Moving away from the smaller setting last year at the AT&T Performing Arts Center, this year’s event will take place on Saturday, December 14 from noon to 5 pm in the more centrally located Main Street Garden, a downtown public park. Some of the perks of the new space include a large parking deck across the street, public transportation accessibility via the DART, more grub available via local food trucks, and musical entertainment from Somebody’s Darling.

Some of the basic tenants of the festival, however, will remain the same. Every tent at the fest will be manned by an employee of that brewery – be they a sales rep, brewery owner, or the brewers themselves. That way, says Matt, patrons will have the chance to educate themselves on the styles of beer available and hopefully leave with a true appreciation for the time, effort, and love that goes into each brew.

“It’s a big thing for us to have someone who works for the brewery, knows who makes the beer, how it’s made, why it’s made, and what ingredients are in it so we can continue to give people the chance to really learn what it’s all about,” said Matt. “We want to encourage people to talk to one another and learn about the beer.”

And the beer list speaks for itself – in addition to the very rare and coveted Goose Island Bourbon County Brand Stouts (VIP only), attendees will be able to sample some special brews that are either not yet available in our market or are available in limited quantities. I’m personally excited to see Southern Tier Choklat, a cask of Oskar Blues chipotle Ten Fidy, Martin House’s brand new Sugar & Spice Barleywine, Pedernales Spiced Porter, and a mystery beer from Rahr & Sons (if it can hold a candle to their Tenderfoot Barleywine or their Bourbon Barrel-Aged Winter Warmer, then we’re all in for a treat). If you’re feeling brave, check out the complete beer list available from the nearly 40 participating breweries.

The event’s also capped at 2,000 – so if you’re not on the ball in purchasing your ticket, you’re missing out on one deliciously decadent beer event.