NC Beer Month: Brewgaloo + More Fests

When you think of North Carolina, you might associate it with the Great Smoky Mountains or even Krispy Kreme donuts (invented in Winston-Salem), but a mecca for craft beer may not be the first thing that comes to mind. The second annual North Carolina Beer Month takes place this April to celebrate the state’s ‘hopping’ scene. Brewgaloo, the World Beer Festival and Hickory Hops are just a few of the festivals in the name of the almighty sud.
Did you know North Carolina is ranked 10th in the country for the most craft breweries? With 84 breweries or brewpubs, the Tar Heel state has the most of any state east of Texas and south of Pennsylvania, according to 2012 figures from the Brewers Association.
During the entire month of April, festivities include beer-pairing dinners, brew schools and special-edition beer releases.

Here are just a few highlights of ‘brew-ha-ha’ to come during the North Carolina Beer Month:

Blowing Rock Beer Retreat: An overnight stay at Blowing Rock Ale House & Inn with dining at the Ale House Restaurant and a class with the Blowing Rock Ale brewery.

Kinston Beer Weekend: Three-day event, April 3-5, featuring a beer dinner (Chef & the Farmer with Mother Earth Brewing); a downtown Barbecue, Oysters & Beer Bash; Mother Earth Brewing’s Neuse River Brews Cruise; and breakfast on the world’s only full-size replica of a Confederate ironclad.

Mountain getaways: Savings of 25 percent on lodging, food and recreation (mountain biking, zip lining, kayaking and more) from a host of businesses in Brevard. (www.visitwaterfalls.com/beer-month)

Beer dinners: Including Good Food Award winner Sean Lily Wilson (Fullsteam) with James Beard award winner Andrea Reusing (Lantern) in Chapel Hill; Aviator Beer Co. with Carolina Crossroads in Chapel Hill; and Heinzelmännchen Brewery and Innovation Brewing with City Lights Café in Sylva.

Hickory Hops: Festival on April 26th featuring broad representation of North Carolina craft beer, with 40 microbreweries and the Carolinas Championship of Beer.

World Beer Festival Raleigh and Brewgaloo: Two festivals showcasing the range of taste in the Capital City, the first offering North Carolina beer in an international context, the second zeroing in on the local — craft beer, food trucks and entertainment.

Beer Lovers, Listen Up: New Releases!

North Carolina breweries prepare for NC Beer Month all year, saving their newest or most unique creations for release during the festivities. Here are just a few to whet your whistle:

• A Scotch ale from Highland Brewing in Asheville, kicking off its “20 Beers for 20 Years” anniversary celebration
• Tripel Overhead Bourbon Barrel Aged Belgian Tripel at Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston
• Raspberry wheat collaboration from Heinzelmännchen Brewery and Innovation Brewing in Sylva

More North Carolina Beer Month Resources

Visit NCBeerMonth.com between now and the end of April to tap into celebrations from the mountains to the coast. For a map of the state’s breweries, check out NCBeer.org. And for travel planning, head to VisitNC.com.

Photo courtesy of Bill Russ – VisitNC.com.