USA, NC: King Canary Brewing Company slated to open in Mooresville in May

Lovers of hoppy, sweet, sour and malty brews across the state are recognizing April as North Carolina Beer Month. And as this sixth-annual celebration - in appreciation of the state's ever-growing beer culture - reaches mid-month, two Mooresville brewers are preparing their flavors for future patrons of King Canary Brewing Company, the Mooresville Tribune reported on April 15.

Founders Matt and Andrea Gravina have renovated the 4,500-square-foot facility at 562 Williamson Road - former home of Spadels - into a welcoming, family-friendly, multi-story brewery. With a year of work behind them, only finishing touches remain before inviting the public to taste Mooresville's newest beer offerings.

“I like hops a lot, but we’ll have a good mix of stuff,” said Matt, who began home brewing five years ago. He hopes for a tap list that includes an IPA, double IPA, pale ale, porter, amber ale and Berliner Weisse - a sour beer.

The brewery is slated to open in May. Although King Canary was already preparing for a spring opening, it wasn’t until early March, when the stainless-steel tanks arrived, that Matt turned his small-batch homebrews into larger-production beers.

“People want to come the first time you’re brewing and you’re like, ‘I think I’m going to do this first time myself,’” Matt said with a laugh.

But, the Gravinas said, King Canary isn’t just about the beer; it’s about an inviting atmosphere for the community. The brewery will feature two floors with a combination of bar seating, tables and couches. Expansive windows as well as outdoor seating areas allow for ample viewing of the Lake Norman cove, along which King Canary sits.

King Canary also will include a game room, outdoor fire pit and other amenities to create “a cozy farmhouse” environment, Andrea said.

But what about that name? King Canary, Matt said, is a tribute to his grandparents, who had bird-themed nicknames: Goose and Loon.

Two years ago, Andrea and Matt, a former CPA and forensic accountant, left the corporate environment in Florida for Mooresville, where Matt’s homebrew dreams could flourish more freely. North Carolina, they said, offered a better area for self-distribution as a brewer and beautiful surroundings for raising two young children.

“We never lived anywhere with seasons before,” said Andrea, who brings a decade of experience in marketing and merchandising for Ralph Lauren to the design, outreach and strategic marketing of King Canary.

With little left to accomplish before welcoming guests to the brewery, Andrea said family, friends and neighbors are starting to churn with excitement for the new Lake Norman location. Food truck vendors are even lined up with interest to offer munchies alongside the Gravinas’ new brews and the planned snacks, wine list and additional refreshments, they said.

“We just want a cool place for people to hang out,” said Andrea.

Noting the King Canary’s slogan - “Stay Loyal, Fly Royal” - she added, “We can still be little birds, but still make great beer.”

16 April, 2018