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Session #29: Will Travel for Beer
by Steph Weber - July 3rd, 2009Categories: breweries, Session
This month’s Session topic (hosted by Beer By Bart) is “Will Travel for Beer.” Gail and Steve ask us to elaborate on either a beer trip we’ve taken, or one we’d like to take. Since I’ve already written extensively about our trip to Colorado last year, I thought I’d talk about a trip that I’ve been wanting to take for some time now — North Carolina.
North Carolina is turning out to be a pretty exciting beer destination, though the things weren’t always so great in the Tar Heel State. Beginning in 1933 with the repeal of Prohibition, NC had a 6% ABV restriction on all beer sold and brewed within the state. It wasn’t until August 2005 that a bill was signed to raise this limit to 15% ABV. (To find out more about the bill, check out Pop the Cap’s history.) Since then, 10 new breweries have popped up in the state, and I expect the number of breweries will continue to grow.
The main reason I want to experience NC beer culture is that Tim and I hope to become a part of it someday. We have plans to open a brewpub sometime in the next 10 years. Not only is NC absolutely gorgeous, it could very well become the next big state for brewing. And we’d love to be a part of it! (Side note: tell us what you think of our brewery name!)
So, where-oh-where shall we go? NC is practically overflowing with breweries! Here’s what I think we would do.
We’d start off by driving down to the Winston-Salem, where a friend of mine lives. We could check out Foothills Brewing, which I’ve heard good things about, as well as the three other breweries in that area.
Then we’d head over to the Raleigh/Durham area, which really has a lot going on — Carolina Brewing, Triangle Brewing, LoneRider Brewing, and Aviator Brewing, to name a few. Perhaps we’d get a chance to meet the owners of Fullsteam, a brewery-in-planning in Durham. We’d certainly love to hear their story!
Next would be Wilmington, where we’re kiiiiinda thinking we might end up opening our brewpub. Of course, we could completely change our minds after visiting there, but that’s the whole point of going! My folks went to Front Street Brewery in Wilmington this year, and had a lot of good things to say about it. They even brought us back a growler of Dram Tree Scottish Ale, which was excellent. So we’d definitely hit them up.
Finally, we’d end our trip in beautiful Sunset Beach at my family vacation home. I’ve been going down there since I was a wee 8-year-old, and I have to say it’s my favorite place in the world. Unfortunately, not much of a beer scene, but wonderful nonetheless.
Sunset Beach, NC
A sunset at Sea Trail Plantation, Sunset Beach, NC
Hopefully, we’ll be able to take this trip summer 2010. I can’t wait!
For more info on NC beer, check out Know Your Brewer, beerinator.com, and Pop the Cap.
July 5th, 2009 at 1:24 am
That’s a tempting dream vacation… well-researched, though I can’t imagine it could have much more meaning than it does for you, with the memories you have.
All the links for The Session #29 are now up
http://beerbybart.com/2009/07/04/the-session-will-travel-for-beer-roundup-29/
Thanks for participating!
July 5th, 2009 at 1:35 am
Hi Steph,
North Carolina sure seems to be the emerging East Coast craft beer venue. We just helped produce a beer tasting/judging class during the National Homebrewers’ Conference in Oakland. One of the participants was from Ashville, N.C. He was extremely knowledgeable about all things beer and very proud to talk about the beer scene in N.C. Your tale helped put N.C on our beer travel map. Thanks for your enthusiasm.
Steve
July 6th, 2009 at 4:47 pm
Yay Winston-Salem…that sounds like the best part!!! hehe
July 7th, 2009 at 10:05 am
Seeing the photos of the sunset reminds me that you ought to include a jaunt out to Kill Devil Hills on the Outer Banks. The Outer Banks Brewing Station is a great place for some fine beers, good food and nice place to get out of the sun once the sunburn has kicked in. Besides all that they have an environmental commitment as they have a wind-turbine providing much of their power needs – billed as America’s First Wind Powered Brew Pub.
July 7th, 2009 at 2:23 pm
American’s first wind powered brewpub – now that’s cool. We’ll have to think about extending our trip out that way!
September 20th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
Wow! Was f?r eine Idee! Was f?r ein Konzept! Beautiful .. Erstaunlich
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January 16th, 2010 at 11:34 pm
On your way from Raleigh to the Wilmington area, I recommend side trips to Duck Rabbit Brewery in Farmville (Pitt County) and Mother Earth Brewery in Kinston (Lenoir County). Eastern NC could do with more brew pubs — check out the New Bern area where there are none…
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