#North Carolina Archives – PorchDrinking.com
Event Preview | Cape Fear Craft & Cuisine
March 31, 2022 | Christopher Hilliard
Craft Beer Week is upon us! That is, if you’re near Wilmington, North Carolina. The Cape Fear Craft Beer Alliance, through their Craft on the Coast initiative, is continuing the annual, week-long event. And, this weekend, craft beer fans can attend the unique Cape Fear Craft & Cuisine, held at the North Carolina Aquarium at Fort Fisher.
Haw River Farmhouse Ales | Torn Paper Leaves (Spanish Cedar & Tea Leaf)
December 27, 2021 | Dave Drury
Haw River Farmhouse Ales brings the flavors of Belgium to North Carolina. The brewery, located in Saxapahaw, North Carolina, takes inspiration from the classic Belgian styles before blending it with a Southern flair.
Hi-Wire Brewing Presents LagerFest 2021
August 5, 2021 | Christopher Hilliard
This Saturday, Aug. 7, in downtown Durham, North Carolina, Hi-Wire Brewing is throwing a ‘90s, beach-themed LagerFest. Complete with 20 lagers (list below), live music and a waterslide, LagerFest promises to heat things up and cool them off at the same time!
Duck-Rabbit | Oh, No Let’s Go! Cacao Milk Stout
March 5, 2021 | Christopher Hilliard
One of my earliest craft beer memories is drinking Duck-Rabbit’s Milk Stout. For a fledgling crafty, it was a great way to break into the scene and has stuck with me to this day. Which is perfect, because today we’re taking it up a notch with one of Duck Rabbit’s latest concoctions: Oh, No Let’s Go! Cacao Milk Stout.
Strong BA Series | Four Saints Impending Grace
December 21, 2020 | Christopher Hilliard
Without question, 2020 has been one of the wildest years in human memory. With world-shaping events happening (it seems) almost every day, and the constant, grating drip of catastrophe from the news, one is always on the lookout for reprieve, for some sort of grace.
Court Shoes Only | A Double IPA Benefiting ACEing Autism
December 7, 2020 | Alexis Dickie
Residents of Charlotte, North Carolina look forward to Queen City Brewers Festival every February. But given all that 2020 has brought us, the 2021 Queen City Brewers Festival will be in the format of a collective beer initiative: Court Shoes Only.
2021 would have been a milestone 10th year of Queen City Brewers Festival (QCBF). Each February the city gathers to sample beers from breweries across the city and region while benefiting a good cause. The proceeds of the festival and raffle historically have always gone to ACEing Autism. This is a nonprofit whose mission it is to serve children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) through unique tennis programs.
Sycamore Brewing | Christmas Cookie Winter Ale
November 20, 2020 | Alexis Dickie
Sycamore Brewing releases their highly anticipated Christmas Cookie Winter Ale today, Friday November 20. Last year their cans sparked controversy and even prompted a visit from North Carolina Alcoholic Beverage Control Commission.
Ultimate 6er | College Collaborations Perfect for March Madness 2020
March 11, 2020 | Dave Drury
With Selection Sunday coming up on March 15, March Madness 2020 will soon be in full effect. As more and more colleges are teaming up with local breweries to create school specific brews, this March Madness Ultimate 6er features six beers from universities (and breweries) we’ll likely see playing in the coming weeks. Read More
Haw River Farmhouse Ales | Vuilbaard
June 21, 2019 | Christopher Hilliard
From Appalachia to Outer Banks and everywhere in-between, fine craft beer crops up all over North Carolina. For example, some 25 minutes east of Chapel Hill, you’ll find Saxapahaw, North Carolina. If you reach Haw River, turn around and look for a rejuvenated old mill. You’ll know by music from the chronically hip Haw River Ballroom, weekly community get-togethers in the form of Saturdays at Saxapahaw, and maybe most importantly, fine craft beer from Haw River Farmhouse Ales.
Brewery Bhavana | Patina Gold #1
April 26, 2019 | Christopher Hilliard
Regret is hard to live with, especially when that thing was right in front of you. My story begins at Brewery Bhavana in downtown Raleigh. My wife and I attended one of their private parties where they served up some of their signature dishes and drinks. Edamame and ginger dumplings, pork and mushroom bao, an open bar featuring many of their core brews and if that weren’t enough, at either end of the room they popped bottles of barrel-aged beauties. To try it all, you either had to be super lucky or a pushy jerk. For better or worse, I was neither. So, I missed out on a beer that I thought would be gone forever: Patina Gold #1, a peach and apricot sour aged for four months in a Cabernet foeder.
Fortunately, Bhavana had the good sense to produce more. Even more fortunately, I found a bottle of Patina Gold sitting in the dusty back room of Chapel Hill’s Bottle Rev. Given the price ($14 a bottle), I had to think twice about buying it, but only twice. The regret from earlier, missed opportunity was gnawing at me.
Bull Durham Acquired by R&D Brewing
February 15, 2019 | Christopher Hilliard
On January 10, 2019, Bull Durham Brewing Company came under new ownership. And R&D Brewing, located on Capital Blvd in downtown Raleigh, became the proud new owners.
Before we get into that, let’s talk about Durham and its minor league baseball team, the Durham Bulls. Thirty-odd years ago, the Durham Bulls became part of popular culture with the release of the Susan Sarandon/Kevin Costner/Tim Robbins film “Bull Durham.” If Rotten Tomatoes can be believed, it’s safe to say people like it. I would say it has its moments.
Preyer Brewing Co. | Undercurrant
December 20, 2018 | Christopher Hilliard
It’s been a season of surprises in North Carolina. First, we have one of the biggest December snow storms I’ve ever seen. Then, I discover a new brewery — Preyer Brewing — that managed to fly under my radar for the past 3 years.
Brewery Bhavana | Cellar Door No. 3
October 25, 2018 | Christopher Hilliard
Confession: I never wanted to be a beer snob. In fact, I fought it. But I wouldn’t be writing this if I succeeded.
I started drinking craft beer because I didn’t know better. All I knew was I liked it better than the macros. Before long, I was drinking craft beer because I did know better. Words like “boozy” and “barnyard” and “mouthfeel” entered my vocabulary. At bars, the hunt began with the most expensive. I researched the history of lambic and pilsner and bière de garde. And to complete my snob-ucation, I joined a beer club.
Beer & Book Club | Already Dead
April 10, 2018 | Christopher Hilliard
Ben and I are back for another installment of Beer & Book Club (NC chapter)! After our last meeting in the UK, we’ve hopped back across the pond into the good ol’ US of A. Manhattan, New York, to be precise. There we met Joe Pitt, the enigmatic, vampiric protagonist of Charlie Huston’s pulp, noir, detective novel Already Dead. To complement our discussion, we drank Blood Orange Wheat from New Sarum Brewing out of Salisbury, NC. Read More
The Unknown Brewing Co. | 3.5ish
August 23, 2017 | Christopher Hilliard
The next stop on North Carolina’s sour beer train takes us to Charlotte, home of The Unknown Brewing Co. This summer they released 3.5ish, a gueuze-inspired lambic-style ale, to celebrate three-and-a-half years (more or less) of beer brewing. Read More
D9 Brewing Co. | Systema Naturae 4th Edition
August 16, 2017 | Christopher Hilliard
D9 Brewing Co. hits on all cylinders with their Systema Naturae program. As a reminder, Systema Naturae “emphasizes the exploration of scientific processes and ingredients exhibited throughout the natural world.” … Read More
Ultimate 6er | Fruit-Forward Sours For a Southeast Summer
June 7, 2017 | Danele Bova
Featured image courtesy of Creature Comforts.
If you’re the type of beer lover who really enjoys sour beers, the recent news of acquisitions may have you searching for your new favorite when it comes to fruit-forward sours in the Southeast. Look no further! We’ve discovered 6 sour and funky ales that showcase a variety of fruits, perfect for summer sipping.
Event Preview | Sierra Nevada Burly Beer Fest
March 22, 2017 | Jose Minaya
On Saturday, April 1, Sierra Nevada and the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild are giving us the opportunity to enjoy a variety of beers from around the country as well as food trucks and live music at the Burly Beer Fest. April in the Appalachians means its time to break out your burliest, heartiest, most lumberjack-worthy beers and enjoy them before the heat of summer. So grab your flannel and check out what all is expected to fill your taster glasses.
The Unknown Brewing Co. Releases Garage Ninja Homebrew Collaboration
March 15, 2017 | Danele Bova
The Unknown Brewing Co. in Charlotte, North Carolina announces the release of their 2nd Homebrewers collaboration: Garage Ninja.
Event Preview | Sour Barn Bash
December 2, 2016 | Christopher Hilliard
Consider this your formal invitation to the second Sour Barn Bash (brought to you by Steel String Brewery). On December 10th from 2:00-6:00 PM, a dozen or more breweries from … Read More
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