Bishop Cider acquires Wild Acre, plans Tarrant County expansion with 3 new locations

Jessika Harkay
·2 min read

Bishop Cider, a Dallas-founded cider bar and beverage manufacturer, will be expanding into Fort Worth and Arlington.

“To support the growth of its beverage co-packing business, Bishop Cider has acquired Wild Acre Brewing in Fort Worth and Legal Draft Beer Co. in Arlington, and has secured properties for new entertainment concepts in Dallas, Arlington, and two in Fort Worth,” a news release from the cider company said.

TexBev, a beverage co-packing company owned by Bishop Cider, is expected to relocate from a facility in Dallas to Wild Acre’s Fort Worth building, where it’ll “expand its capacity and capabilities with the addition of the equipment from Bishop’s Dallas cidery and Legal Draft’s Arlington brewery.”

The Fort Worth warehouse is over 200,000 square feet and sits on 21 acres, the news release said, adding that the deal is expected to close by the end of May.

“Bishop will also be opening a one-of-a-kind entertainment concept at the site and details will be revealed in the fall,” the release said.

Although Bishop Cider is moving to Fort Worth, the company said that Wild Acre beer will still be produced at the facility but that they plan to “fine-tune” recipes.

“Rightfully so, Wild Acre has gained a lot of respect in Fort Worth. They have built a very impressive facility and the beer can hold its own against other local breweries, but I believe there is potential to compete on a larger stage,” Bishop Cider CEO Joel Malone said in the release.

Alongside manufacturing growth, Bishop Cider’s Cidercade, a cider bar with games and varieties of beer choices and food, will expand into Fort Worth and Arlington, adding to its three current Texas locations in Dallas, Austin and Houston.

“Construction is currently underway on Cidercade Fort Worth, located just south of downtown,” the news release said. “It will be the largest Cidercade to date at 25,000 square feet and is expected to open by the end of summer.”

The Cidercade Fort Worth location will be at 1813 W. Bowie St.

Bishop Cider also plans to use its Arlington acquisition to open a fifth Texas Cidercade by the end of the year.

“Bishop acquired Legal Draft’s assets for the equipment, as new equipment lead-times have grown exponentially in recent years,” the release said. “Bishop did not assume their liabilities and will not market beer bearing the Legal Draft brand.”