April is NC Beer Month #ncbeer


April is NC Beer Month. In April 2015, the North Carolina Division of Tourism and the North Carolina Brewers Guild join forces for the third time to celebrate NC Beer Month.

North Carolina is one of the best states for craft brewing. Specifically, we have breweries that boast multiple medals from the Great American Beer Festival and The World Beer Cup.


I've partnered with NC Beer MonthLowes Foods and Visit Winston-Salem, to bring you a series of content AND events throughout the month of April to educate, promote and entice you about the craft beer scene in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Did you know that Winston-Salem is the birthplace of North Carolina craft beer?

I've written about craft beer before, but it's not just me in this thing this time. I'm coming out of the gate blazing with a team behind me! Think of it like The Boondock Saints. But wielding cans of NC craft beer instead of guns.

This is getting interesting, no?

That's right. Before Sierra Nevada, Oskar Blues, and New Belgium, were twinkles in their forefathers' eyes and moved East Coast operations to the mountains of North Carolina, Moravians in Salem were purifying water, roasting barley, and producing beer in the Wachau valley, known today as the Piedmont Triad.

The Moravians settled in this area in 1766 by way of Pennsylvania, by way of Germany. The old Germanic ways of living, working and producing beer did not leave this devoutly religious group of people as they settled into North Carolina. Taverns and inns were very much a part of the landscape and what better to entice patrons to pay to stay than with a cold brew?

The first brewery in North Carolina began in 1774 in Old Salem. A whole two years before we declared independence, we were getting it in! The beer of the 18th century was very different from what we drink today. First of all, it had little to no carbonation. That's a modern invention that yeast and fermentation provide.

Small Batch Beer Co., which opened November 2013 has partnered with Old Salem Gardens and Museums, Inc. to recreate this 18th century receipt (what recipes were called back then) and have it for sale to the public during the month of April. Named Salem Lot 93, it's based on historic recipes and techniques. The new brew includes a four-hour boil and an open oak fermentation process.

Photo courtesy of Small Batch Beer Co.


Super. Cool.

To find more information about this brew, where to get it, Small Batch Beer Co., the beer scene in Winston-Salem or anything else beer related, click HERE.

Stay tuned throughout the month of April for more history, receipts recipes and chances to win travel prizes and opportunities to Visit Winston-Salem.

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About the author

Nikki Miller-Ka

Nikki Miller-Ka

Ms. Miller-Ka is a classically trained chef with a BA in English from East Carolina University and a Culinary Arts Associate Degree from Le Cordon Bleu-Miami.

Formerly, she’s worked as a researcher, an editorial assistant, reporter and guest blogger for various publications and outlets in the Southeast. She has also worked as a catering chef, a pastry chef, a butcher, a baker, and a biscuit-maker. Presently, she is a food editor, freelance food writer, and a tour guide for Taste Carolina Gourmet Food Tours.

Leave a reply

  1. I love craft beer! I don't live in North Carolina but there are also some great small breweries near my home (Virginia). It's great to support them!

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  2. Oh wow - what a perfect promotion for you to be a part of! (I'm jealous!) Have fun!

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  3. Im not much of a beer drinker, but i definitely have some friends who would LOVE this!

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  4. Thank goodness you shared. I had no idea. Better get to planning on celebrating!

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  5. What a fun partnership, I love craft beer. And I love that Boondock Saints reference. ;)

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  6. Wow! A whole month to celebrate beer is spectacular! LOL Interesting post, thanks for sharing.

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  7. My husband would love this!! Thanks for sharing!

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  8. How fun. Enjoy your partnership. I'm not much of a beer drinker but I know my husband would LOVE this!

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  9. My husband would be in heaven! We considered moving to NC when he retires from the military. This might seal the deal on the "where" in his eyes :)

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  10. I didn't know Winston-Salem was the birthplace of craft beer in NC. How fun!! I love this series, Nikki!!

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  11. How great that they've recreated the 18th century beer! My husband and I love craft beer and really need to visit Winston-Salem.

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  12. What a fun partnership! I love craft beer - it's really come a long way in the past few years.

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  13. I had no idea that April was NC Beer Month!oh my gosh and 18th century beer? Too cool! I love history! we may have to drive down and give it a try!

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  14. Beer month! Yes. Please. Such a fun partnership and of course who doesn't love beer?

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  15. Great to know that NC has a big craft beer scene! We love out craft beer out in SF as well, I'll have to check out NC someday!

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  16. I love craft beer! A whole month dedicated to it?? How fun!

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  17. What an awesome partnership! I never realised NC had such an active craft brewing scene... unfortunately, we don't see much US craft brews up here in Ontario, thanks to our I'll definitely have to try to hunt some down.

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  18. Your blog is awfully appealing. I am contented with your post. I regularly read your blog and its very helpful. If you are looking for the best French Wine Montmorency, then visit Craft and Vine. Thanks! I enjoyed this blog post.

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