Business is Brewing

Carolina Brewery & Grill in Pittsboro is our first brewery and the fifth oldest in North Carolina. They recently hosted a sneak peek into their expansion, the perfect pre-NC Beer Month festivity. Live music, a beautiful patio setting with soft lights, tours and talks with the brewmasters, Brew Crew items, appetizers, and, of course, plenty of beer crafted the perfect evening.

We asked owner, Robert Poitras, to share the latest developments and it is all very exciting. Poitras tells us, “Our recent major expansion at our Pittsboro brewery will allow us to continue to grow our business more efficiently; now, we can our beers on site with the purchase of our own line. We have added two 30 bbl Brite tanks exclusively dedicated to our new Wild Goose Canning line. We also have added a 60,000 lb malt silo and a large walk-in cooler to expand our beer production and storage.”

Poitras continues, “New for this year, we are releasing our award-winning Sky Blue Golden Ale in 12 packs in April and our popular Copperline Amber will be released in 12 oz cans in May. In addition to these year-round offerings, we are testing some exciting new beers such as our “Carolina Honey” Brown Ale featuring local wildflower honey from Busy Bee Farm in Chatham County.” The connection to Chatham County when possible, the seasonal menu choices, and an innovative spirit are among the drivers of success for Robert Poitras and are a reflection of his commitment to the community and customer service.

The weekend to close the chapter on winter is busy; tours and tasting opportunities to learn about the brewing process resume March 18. Shamrock Ale is appropriately released for St. Patrick’s Day, with an option to pair with Irish dishes. Try food specials that include corned beef and cabbage and Reuben egg rolls. Free public tours of the Brewery are offered Saturdays at 2pm. Visit our nearby Chatham Marketplace farmers’ market, then visit for lunch, and finish by participating in an informative tour and tasting. Our guests find the tour to be an impressive experience that ends with a taste of award-winning craft beer. Visit again this summer for the Saturday patio music series, which expands to Friday evenings this year.