With the Craft Brewers Conference going on up in Philadelphia, it seems a good week to discuss this proposal of a Second Room at trade shows and invite the public to attend and interact with brewers. Kind of an educational engagement with the industry. While interesting in concept, I don’t think it would work out. The conference runs Monday through Wednesday, who of the public would attend, likely only retired folk would be able to attend those days. Second, in a time of tight budgets who would pay for this extra room? Yes the Brewers Association could seek out a vendor interested in sponsoring the space, but who would appeal to both brewers and the general public? It’s an intriguing concept and well worth the read.

Lars Garshol is Norwegian Farmhouse brewing expert. Not only that he also has studied farmhouse brewing across Scandinavia and as far as rural Russia. This recent post looks at diversity in Farmhouse yeast. Another great read.

Triangle Business Journal has a state of the brewing industry article, but if you don’t have access through their paywall you can read the Brewers Association’s original release. 

Down in South Carolina another profile piece on the South Coast Beer Project. Also University of South Carolina is brewing up their own student designed beer.

Out of Charlotte I noticed Heist Brewing was hiring for their reopening brewpub location, but it was news to me that the brewpub had been closed. Evidently there had been a fire in the kitchen back in 2024. I’d been seeing their beer out in the Triangle so I hadn’t realized. So as they get open give them some support I am sure they will need it. In addition Lower South End gets some love as a potential walking brewery tour destination.

Fonta Flora is listed by Outside magazine amongst the most scenic breweries in the United States. 

Lastly Crooked Hammock Raleigh brewpub is opening today. It will be the company’s fourth location, it was started in Delaware with two locations and its third is in North Myrtle Beach. They all feature a beach theme motif with over sized games like connect four, shuffle board, etc. 

This new location will be pure on premise but with some beer to take home. The brewhouse is a 10 barrel which for brewpub is a good size system, large enough to keep Flagships in stock, but small enough that experimentation can still happen. I don’t know if they have plans for distribution in the local market, their South Carolina location definitely is sized large enough they could.  

We attended the soft opening last week, not surprising they haven’t started brewing at the location, but were happy to show us around the space. But since they aren’t brewing in the space yet, they brought beer from Myrtle. Kyle Schug, who opened the Myrtle location, will be brewing in Raleigh. The food was fairly typical pub fare, but they also offered pizzas, which I believe is unique to this location.

This weekend is always one of the busiest of the year Glass Jug Beer Lab has their Beer Mile, Brewgaloo and a personal favorite Piedmont Farm tour so plenty of options to explore in this last weekend of Hop into Spring.