E-Malt.com News article: USA, NC: Big growth expected in NC beer in 2014

The new year in North Carolina beer means more than bottle releases and new breweries. The industry and scene is poised to establish itself as a national player and become one of the top craft beer producing states once Sierra Nevada starts production outside Asheville later this year, News & Observer reported on December 31.

Sean Lilly Wilson, chief executive officer, Fullsteam Brewery in Durham says: With the launch of a number of new, experimentally minded breweries, the maturity of existing breweries and the influx of established, diverse regional breweries, North Carolina is in the upper echelon of craft beer states.

North Carolina is not only the “state of Southern beer,” it is considered by many one of the top 10 beer states in the nation.

Erik Lars Myers, CEO and head brewer, Mystery Brewing in Hillsborough: There are two main things I see coming: a lot more local ingredients, and a lot of new breweries. And cider. It’s the next new thing. We have a bunch of up-and-coming cideries that I’m really excited about.

John Federal, production manager and brewer, Raleigh Brewing: There are a lot of new, small breweries that are opening up in the state, which is great. But a lot of them are being opened by homebrewers or groups of craft beer lovers that have a seemingly large learning curve to overcome.

Brent Manning, co-owner, Riverbend Malt House in Asheville: I see it serving a number of new, smaller markets. Breweries are opening in Asheboro, Cary, Saxapahaw, Wilson, Tarboro – the list goes on. Brewers opening in these markets are bringing craft beer to an expanded audience, and I think it is great news for beer lovers across the state.

Les Stewart, head brewer, Trophy Brewing in Raleigh: I believe that we can continue to work with local producers of malt and hops and make use of ingredients indigenous to this region. We should be creative in cultivating twists on styles that can reflect this part of the world.


03 January, 2014