North Carolinians

Keep at least a couple of Porters and/or Stout even during summer. Not everybody enjoys IPAs. I drink Stouts during summer time.

 

WW is having a hard time keeping their two brew pub's stocked.. This will change though. I consider S/N, Oskar Blues and soon New Belgium NC brewerys but I'm very alone in this opinion, at least on this forum. You could always ask them for beers actually brewed in NC for a selection for you taps?!? Just to double checked all your beer is "brewed in NC" ... >shrugs< Obviously, New Belgium, you're going to have to wait till the end of the year to grab "brewed in NC" beer from them. They're plugging away in Asheville, its looking more and more like a brewery, every day.

 

Alright, well I guess I stand corrected about the Red Oak then. I assumed they relied on bottle sales from the grocery stores much more so than draft sales. Perhaps I just don't frequent the places where people are drinking it.

I would definitely consider stuff like Oskar Blues and New Belgium NC breweries personally. The beer is being brewed in NC.

 

Red Oak is great gateway beer for those who are new to craft. Plus, whenever I crave a lager I find myself drinking it. I can see how it kills it on draft.

 

IMO you're limiting your clientele by limiting your selection to just NC but I guess it depends on the clientele you want to attract. Wouldn't you draw more people by broadening your selections? There's quite a few places that do this and I don't get the impression that they draw anymore people than those that would come just to eat.

 

I can't argue with your list and think the all-nc idea can work if that's what you are going for. We have plenty of good beer. Just one point to add is to make room for seasonals. It's great to have a core list of year-round beers but is always good to have something new every time someone stops in.

 

Unless you can get Wicked Weed, stick to Fullsteam Rocket Science for your IPA. But keep at least 1/3 to 1.2 of your list seasonal. The craft beer community likes rotation.

 

@kgar2121 do let me know if your travels take you to Durham. We've got some classic styles (Rocket Science our most popular) and some new seasonals and one-offs. PM me if I can answer any questions!

Cheers, and thanks for supporting NC beer...no matter what you choose!
Sean

 

I'm not really a Fullsteam fan, but their stuff is just as good as anything on the list you posted.

As far as sours, that would be a great idea. But there aren't really any NC sours being made on a large production scale that I can think of. Just Wicked Weed bottles and some seasonals, most of which don't leave the brewery. Is there an NC gose or Berliner that's available in kegs for restaurants to get?

 

Never understood what the hell the air temperature has to do with the color of beer people drink.
You'd do well to keep 2 porters, a brown and at least 2 pales on a 24-tap list. Unless you want to chase inconsistent and ephemeral IPAs, like many seem to think is a good idea. Moar IPAs!! Tripe.

Get the biggest, baddest, hoppiest tongue-strippers you can find to bring in all the one-timers, and train your barkeeps to listen patiently to all of their braggadicio. But also keep Green Man porter and Highland Gaelic on dedicated taps if you want a steady clientele.

OP, please stop saying 'def'.

 

@peetoteeto

Not the biggest fullsteam fan either, but I have to say, your taproom atmosphere is awesome. Had some good drunken table tennis games there, that's for sure. Props to ya'll.

Edit - Usertag

 

It's like those people who don't like eating hot beef stew in July.

 

def no offense taken.

 

If you were trapped on a desert island and naked cannibals were circling you, I'll bet a Red Oak would taste just fine. Red Oak tastes like sweet tea; how can that be bad?

 

Haha well I can't really argue with that scenario. I don't really think it tastes like sweet tea, but I haven't had one in a while. I just don't really like any amber lagers, would rather have any of the other lighter beers mentioned in this thread.

I'm super sorry for the Red Oak bashing in here guys, stop picking on me!!!!

 

I well remember the original brewer of Red Oak, fresh from Canada and also Weihenstephan, marvelling at North Carolinian's proclivity for sweet tea. He said, "if I could make a beer like that, I would kill it". In all honesty, I had several Red Oaks recently and found them to be very good.