Suggestions for Durham, NC

Closer to downtown you have Fullsteam, Durty Bull and Ponysaurus. None will blow you away, but Fullsteam does a couple beers I like. The new Hi-wire satellite taproom would be worth checking out. A little further out from downtown you have Barrel Culture, which does a lot of crazy sours if you are into that. Personally I think Raleigh/Wake County has better options with Brewery Bhavana, new Burial Satellite taproom, Trophy and Bond Brothers in Cary.

 

Beer Study - Durham (assuming you’re ok with sharing space with dogs)

https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/48554/

 

The two can't-miss options:

Raleigh - Brewery Bhavana. Get a reservation, preferably for lunch, but dinner is great too. James Beard cred, pretty amazing. Beer is phenomenal, food is out of this world.

Durham - Barrel Culture. Absolutely beautiful, and some world-class new school sours.

 

Just as an option for a day trip (if time allows), I would suggest a small journey over to Saxapahaw, just north and west out of Chapel Hill. Haw River Farmhouse Ales in the newly reinvented Jordan Mills property is truly eye-opening. The beers are very good, but the area and environs are just plain pleasant.....

 

Meh, for that long of a drive, I would just say stay and explore Durham/Raleigh. Haw River has a cool location, but really has been doing similar/same beers repeatedly with nothing new for many a moon now.

if you can make it to Raleigh, the Burial satellite location is going to be some of the best NE IPAs you'll find in the state, Barrel Culture has some of the most 'unique' sours, and if you just have time for some beers, Sam's in Durham is the place to go.

 

Sam's Bottle Shop - best option in the Triangle after the Quik Shop closed
Hire Wire Taproom - new, fun and family friendly w/ lots of game options
Fullsteam - new brewer is legit, the first to do a "plow to pint" brewery in the region
Barrel Culture - fruited sours, slushees and don't take themselves too seriously
Bull City Burger - beer is good but the burgers get raves
The Fed - solid gastropub option with an interesting tap list
Enjoy your visit and DM me if you'd be up for a good locals-for-locals IP trade.

 

Your's is definitely one opinion. I like a place that is true to their mission and not chasing new beers that are market driven. Placating certain pieces of the modern beer market by constantly brewing new beers just isn't for everyone. I think this place is unique and is a fine expression of the variety of breweries here in North Carolina. The area is beautiful and worthy to visit if time allows.........

 

I love making the trek out to saxapahaw. The view, the river, the food at the eddy, the coffee shop, a bonus if it’s for a concert, the beer, just a fun trip, I never feel like it’s not worth it.

 

I've been visiting and doing business in Saxapahaw for years, but our first show at The Ballroom was Richard Thompson. It was an astounding!

 

Haw River is currently going through a big expansion. I thought they hired a new head brewer last fall, but it seems the search is either still on or back on...

I imagine when the dust settles they’ll get back to cranking out new brews at a steady clip. In the meantime, there’s still plenty enough goodness on tap down there to warrant a visit.

 

Grab some Nana Taco or Q shack to go and walk across the street to Beer Study. Very diverse tap list, arcade in the back, and excellent selection to purchase including Wilmington beers.

Downtown, hit up Bull Mcabes, the federal, and get a nice cocktail on the Durham hotel rooftop.

 

I do enjoy the occasional rare craft beer find at bull mccabes with their great food! And always a mug of old speckled hen! Haha don’t know why but I always have to get one.

 

Also, the General Store in Saxpahaw serves great food and has been on tap. They sometimes have different offerings on the shelf than the rest of the Triangle. I think they're served by a different distributor or something. I like the butcher shop there, too!

 

As a beer and wine salesman, the first time I walked into Saxapahaw General Store around 2003, I fell in love with the concept, the place, and the people. I always really looked forward to driving the 45 minutes to Saxapahaw, order a sandwich at SGS (brisket), and do my best at getting more products in their rotation every week. I'll just say that this relationship is still alive. Some locales suit certain people and Saxapahaw suits me.