Emerald Isle

Emerald Isle Wine Market is the only halfway decent choice on Emerald Isle itself, but Harrika's Brew Haus is only a stone's throw away, and it has a little more personality and, IIRC, a wider selection to choose from. The owners of Harrika's always seemed passionate about beer, so it's probably worth asking them for specific recommendations of what NC beer to pick up.

Mother Earth Brewing is more or less on your way (in Kinston), so if may be worth stopping by on the way in or out.

You can compare distribution of NC and DC at SeekABrew. Assuming it's accurate, a few other breweries that catch my eye:

Cascade (fairly limited)
Dark Horse
Evil Twin
Olde Hickory (I don't think they distribute that far East)
Sweetwater
Terrapin

I wish I could give more specific recommendations, but I haven't been out to that area in a few years. Enjoy!

 

Gonna shoot you a BM mcaulif .....

 

Yeah swing by Mother Earth on your way down...shouldn't be more than 30 minutes out of the way.

They released the window pane blackberries a few weeks ago and should have some good things on tap, not sure what you'll be able to get growlers of though.

The way I'm pretty sure you should go is 95, get off on 301 for only about 15 minutes, then hop onto 7-95

7-95 is 70mph and much better riding than actual 95, much less traffic and it takes you close by Kinston and already has you heading east towards Emerald Isle. There's a few good places at EI to eat at, Big Oak for shrimp or oyster burgers. There's a few more place just like it that are just as good but I can't get the name to come to.

Awesome beach though, enjoy!

 

Yeah, stay away from Nasty Greenes (except for the Cellar Series Barleywine which I MAY have a bottle or 3 of) and Carolina don't do much for me either (i.e. average brews). I'm gonna drop that BM to you eventually if my computer ever stops going ape shit about the 3rd paragraph in (4 tries now). Will try to type it in word pad then copy and paste it to ya. Cheers, it's FN Friday !!

 

Dont skip Lowes Food, they had a decent selection last summer.

 

My experience with Lowes Foods down on Highway 58/24 intersection is that they do have a great selection, but not alot of really good N.C. brews. GO TO HARRIKAS, great shop (voted 1 of the Top 100 U.S. Bars 4 years in a row), great atmosphere, great people. You're probably not gonna find much if any Foothills or Pisgah down that way, I think both only distribute as far east as Raleigh; if that far.
Not sure when you are coming down exactly, but there is a beer festival in New Bern (an hour north of E.I.) on Saturday 6-29 called Brew Bern. Lotsa local brews will be pouring there. If interested in going, drop me a BM (since my non drinking wife will be driving) and we can hook you up with a ride there. Also that night (again 6-29), Harrikas will be doing a beer tasting, they have a very cool patio out back.
My wife and I are coming down from Greensboro (200 miles west) on Friday 6-28 and staying until the following Friday 7-5 @ a place about 1/2 mile from Harrikas (5 miles or so from E.I.) and I always hook up with a couple of locals for several bottle shares while we are down there. You are more than welcome to join in. Up for a trade on some of that delicious Williamsburg or Hardywood brews from up your way, just drop me a BM, hopefully we can hook up while you're down our way. Cheers, Gary aka RNBz

 

Mother Earth, Lonerider, and Duck Rabbit. The Duck Rabbit selection should be plentiful down that way. Check out Hoppy Bunny first and foremost, and the Milk Stout. You will probably see Weeping Radish bottles as well. If you like the Kolsch style, theirs is worth a try. Super bready and earthy.

Carolina Nut Brown Ale is also a nice standard to try, if you're gonna try one of their beers. I don't mind it at all.

Not sure how far east the Green Man and NoDa bottles have made it, or the Asheville Brewing Company cans...or Highland and French Broad...but you should be on the lookout for those as well. Enjoy....Emerald Isle/Pine Knoll is one of my favorite places on earth!

 

Definitely hit up Harrikas. I was in there 2 days ago. They have a good NC beer section. They had Foothills, Asheville Brewing Company Shiva (good IPA) and their stout cans, and I saw Greenman IPA and ESB. I can't remember what Olde Hickory they had but I remember seeing Daniel Boone and Redeemer. Plenty of Duck Rabbit and Mother Earth. Had Lonerider, Aviator, Highland, and I think French Broad too. I feel like I saw a few Pisgah or Nantahala growlers, but can't quite remember. Wasn't really focusing on the nc section but they seemed to carry a good amount.

 

Wow the only Nantahala growlers we get here is the Pale Ale and only a couple of Pisgah's. Good excuse to go to the coast. "Hey honey I need to go pick up a growler" (down in Cedar Point). Cheers and thanks for the update !

 

Had a chance to talk with Jamie (owner and head brewer @ Foothills) yesterday up @ Mr. Peabody's (frigginAwsome) Cellar Sale. He told me that Coastal distributes their brews down east. He also said that they had just sent 2 tractor trailer loads of brew out to them Friday. Fresh Foothills beer on the coastal plain ......... ahhhhh ain't life grand !!

 

Westbrook (especially Mexican Cake) is only distributed in S.C., GA., and AL. But some redneck sumuhbeach has a bottle of said Mexi Cake and a Weiss Weiss Baby I'd be up for trading for some fine azz Hardywood or Williamsburg brews. We could do an I.P. if you wanted to (I could come over to E.I.). Lemme know.
Not to much seasonal per say from Foothills and/or Olde Hickory right now although Foothills recently did "Hundred Foot Centennial Ale" which was brewed for the 100th ann. of the towns of Winston and Salem joining to make the city of Winston Salem. A flavorful Cream Ale (3.5 to me) that I DON"T THINK saw much distribution outside of the triad (but I could be wrong on where it ended up). Also, Olde Hickory did a collaboration with Ivory Tower Brewing (The Fermentation Science program @ Appalachian State University) called "Bee Student" and @ $3.99 a bomber this tasty Rye Ale brewed with honey is a steal. Also, Olde Hickory has their Imperial Stout, Daniel Boone, and Irish Walker on the shelves here now. I was over @ Foothills last Friday and they were pouring pints and growlers of Barrel Aged Stout and Jade (One of the top 3 N.C. IPAs in my low life opinion). Plan on heading back there this Thursday to pick up at least one Growler of each for our trip Friday down to the E.I. area. Hit me with a BM if I can help you with any other info. Cheers RNBz

 

Cool Beans. Maybe I can drop in and jack your ass up like it's some kind of third world kidnapping and take you off and get ya shit faced on some great N.C. brewz. That shit could really happen But, I'd be sure to drop you off like 12' from where you're staying like I was a good Samaritan