Now Beer This: Where Do I Be Drinkin’?

It’s crazy times, I know. Many of us are scared to go out and do the things, and those that aren’t are very much hobbled by the rules – sometimes promulgated by government and sometimes reflecting the concerns of business owners – that restrict what we can and cannot do.

If you’re a beer drinker in the Chapelboro area, not to worry! You’ve got tons of good options even in light of all the wackiness. Here’s a quick list of places that take craft beer as seriously as you do:

Vecino: Located in Carrboro, this brewery creates some great to-style-standard offerings. They also serve food, so huzzah! Currently, they’re taking reservations, so call or check them out online. Remember that you can’t have more than six at a table, though.

Craftboro: Dedicated to showcasing traditional beer styles and not hopping from bandwagon to bandwagon, this joint offers several traditional ales and lagers made and served in-house. You can get growlers (and bottles/cans from various other breweries) to go with online or phone ordering, and you can drink on premises on their spacious patio. Reservations are the way to go.

Top of the Hill: One of the earliest brew pubs in the area, Topo is offering in-house dining (first come, first serve, no ressies) and online pick up ordering, too. A Chapel Hill classic, they deserve our support!

Carolina Brewery: The flagship Chapel Hill brew pub also offers traditional beer and pub food. You can order online to pick up at your convenience, but it appears that low-capacity dining in house is available, too.

Beer Study: The Chapel Hill location isn’t the team-up brewery associated with Star Point, but it has a finely curated selection of TONS of cans/bottle options as well as lots of draft offerings as well. Online/phone ordering is available for pick up AND DELIVERY! Yes, JD and friends will bring beer to your door. Dope.

See! It’s not so bad. Find some new beer and do some beer exploration. Enjoy yourself. It’s all going to work out just fine.

Chapelboro.com does not charge subscription fees. You can support local journalism and our mission to serve the community. Contribute today – every single dollar matters.

‹

Now Beer This: Pick-Me-Up

Back in the ’90s, Drew Carey was a thing, and his show featured him and his weird friends (who were just like us) doing their weirdo things. One of those things was developing a beer with caffeine in it, which they called Buzz Beer. Silly idea, but I think they were on to something… I’m […]

Now Beer This: Craft Beer Needs Your Help

Talking about craft beer normally gets me all excited but I have to admit it’s kind of a downer these days. Every day I wake up and read about another brewery closing and it makes me terribly sad for the future of this industry, and selfishly sad for our ability to easily access top-notch beer. Who […]

Now Beer This: How Do We Beer Now?

I know, I know, you’re sick of thinking/hearing about how the whole virus thing is completely smurfing up our way of life currently. Me too, friend. But I thought it would be worthwhile taking a moment to talk about the best ways to procure beer while we are engaging in “social distancing.” I suppose it […]

Now Beer This: A Wicked and Pernicious Weed

There’s a myth that one or more Kings of England referred to hops as “a wicked and pernicious weed,” which isn’t true, but it sounds really good and people who love hops — such as myself — enjoy sniggering at it. Beginning in the High Middle Ages in England, there was a distinction between ale […]

Now Beer This: Beers for Your Stupid Friends Who Don't Like Beer

Beer for your stupid friends who don’t like beer? Well, first, you shouldn’t be hanging out with those people. It’s 2020 and there’s enough negativity out there already. Ditch ’em. But if you can’t ditch ’em, then maybe you can turn ’em! This is actually one of my favorite past times: Trying to convince non-beer […]

Now Beer This: Beers for Your Wine-Drinking Friends

We all have them. We might not admit it, but they are in our lives. They lurk at your get-togethers, Solo cup in hand, doing their best to fit in with the normal people. For all intents and purposes they look like normal people, but if you look past the friendly facade and into the […]

Now Beer This: Brewing Your Own

Ugh. The whole COVID thing has really got us all down. We used to be able to freely go to bottle shops and fondle dusty bottles imported from deepest, darkest Europe, or even San Diego (pronounced, “SAN DEE AH GO”). We could sidle up next to complete strangers in bars and breweries and try wacky […]

Now Beer This: Hops, Hops, Hops

I make no secret of the fact that my favorite thing about beer is hops. I love the aroma, the flavor, and while I don’t necessarily get excited about it, I’m intellectually appreciative of the antimicrobial properties of this special plant product. As a brewer, I often take for granted the knowledge of what hops […]

Now Beer This: Burial Brewing

Best Brewery Ever Right Now: Burial Brewing Seriously – these folks know their stuff. Everything I’ve had from them has been top-notch and I truly don’t think I can sing their praises too much. That said, in the spirit of journalistic integrity, my only attempt to balance this glowing recommendation will be to mention that […]

Now Beer This: Differentiating Between Ales and Lagers

What makes Ales “Ales” and Lagers “Lagers?” When people find out I’m a Professor of Beer-ology, I almost always get this question from them. It’s a great question, and I’m happy to answer it. I can give you a short answer, but the long answer is SOOOOOO much more informative, and helps you to understand […]

›