Last Saturday afternoon, I ventured over to Garland's Lakewood Brewing Co. with a few friends. A college roommate of mine and her husband are huge fans of brewery tours, and their weekend adventures often include some kind of craft alcohol. I'm not so much into beer—really, I have given it an honest try—but I appreciate the art of brewing and was up for a new experience with good company. 

Here's how it works: 

Admission to Lakewood Brewery costs $10, which buys you four beers (that you get to drink out of a fancy souvenir glass!) and a spot in the brewery's tour. They open to the public every Saturday at noon and close the doors at 3 p.m. An unofficial tour takes place at 1:30 p.m.

1. This brewery gets two thumbs up for atmosphere.

Like I said, I'm no brewery expert. I've only been to one other in the metroplex. But I feel confident saying that the vibes at Lakewood Brewery are pretty stellar. Being the directionally challenged person I am, I somehow managed to enter the brewery from the back entrance (anyone can go in the front door, right?). Dozens of folks were hanging out behind the brewery, with Lakewood Brewery beer glasses already half-empty, and some nomming on sushi from an Asian-themed cuisine food truck. As I walked through the brewery, patrons were snacking on beef jerky from a local vendor and watching a female singer-songwriter do her thing. The clientele was mostly under-35 trendy hipster-types—nothing to be shocked by. As for the tasting room, it featured a “stained glass” window with a beer glass and a nice log-cabin feel. Between the music, food offerings and brewery aesthetics, Lakewood Brewery makes for a unique Saturday activity.

2. Arrive early and bring cash, or you'll miss out.

I arrived around 12:30 after paying my $10 (cash only!), and the line for beer was already getting pretty long (about a ten-minute wait). By the time the tour started, there were easily 100 people in front of our group, and we drank our beers while standing in line so that we had time to try each type (I’m a beer pansy, so I loved the Rock Ryder, but my friend Devin especially loved the Punkel (pumpkin-spiced beer). Everyone in the group seemed to enjoy the Hop Trapp (Lakewood Brewing Co.’s IPA) and the Lakewood Lager. Personally, I wasn’t a fan of the milk stout, The Temptress—way too dessert-y and sweet to me (also, it’s double the alcohol content of the other options). It is, however, the brewery’s bestseller. My advice would be to make sure you get there right around noon if you want the time to try four samples. If you just arrive for the tour, only expect to have time to stand in line for two beers.

3. Don't expect to hear the tour guide or learn very much about the beer-making process.

The brewery advertises the tour as “informal.” That it is, which didn’t bother me at all. There were certainly folks who were all ears during the brief (15-minute) tour/history of Lakewood Brewery from owner Wim Bens, but the majority of folks just remained in line chatting with friends and waiting for their next glass of ice cold, fresh brew. I wouldn’t expect an educational experience about the process of brewing beer at Lakewood Brewery, but certainly anticipate a good time.

Lakewood Brewing Co. is open every Saturday from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. An unofficial tour is given at 1:30 p.m. Last call is at 2:15 p.m., and they stop pouring at 2:30 p.m. Click here for more information.