USA, NC: Bootleggers and Barrels already open in New Bern

New Bern businessman Dale Overbee has not slowed down since he began fulfilling his dream of bringing nightlife to the area, the Sun Journal reported on May 5.

Already the owner of several local businesses, Overbee opened his latest venture, Bootleggers and Barrels on May 4.

The bar, brewery and distillery is at 417 B S. Front St. in downtown New Bern beside Blackbeard's Triple Play Restaurant & Bar and Pirate's Cove Triple Play Seafood & Oyster Bar, both of which are also owned by Overbee.

Overbee said Bootleggers & Barrels will not only offer patrons a full-service bar with 44 tap beers, other popular domestics and a wide variety of liquors and wines, he will also serve his own brand of vodka, a special brewed craft beer and Overbee's Shine, a moonshine that will be made in-house with his hybrid reflux still.

Manager Ashley Sandklev said there are three parts to the business.

"The brewing part is called Triple Play Brewing," she said. "It's an ode to Dale's first business, Triple Play Restaurant & Bar that was in James City." This is in addition to the bar and the distillery, coined as Overbee's Stillrey.

Sandklev said they will also offer alcohol-infused coffees and sell retail merchandise such as T-shirts, hats and koozies for all three of the connecting businesses. The club will have live music, as well, and plans to offer its branded merchandise.

Overbee will be adding something that is not often found in other establishments downtown.

"When I was bartending at Blackbeard's customers were always asking where they can get a cigarette or cigar from," Sandklev said. "I have to tell them that everywhere around here is closed."

The bar will have cigars and cigarettes available for purchase and has an outdoor seating area for those who want to partake while enjoying their favorite drink.

Additionally, food can be ordered from either of Overbee's other connected businesses to satisfy their hunger while patronizing Bootleggers & Barrels.

Speaking on the design of the bar, Overbee said he loves themes.

"This is barrel-themed," he said. "It's like you've walked inside of a brewing barrel, it's burnt like it is inside here, and I think the theme blends in with the two other establishments."

The walls, ceilings and inside of the bar were actually burned with torches to give it the distinguished look.

Overbee attended Brewing and Distillery classes at Craven Community College where he learned the basics and furthered his knowledge by taking their advanced class and visiting other breweries and distilleries that have also been helpful to him throughout the process.

He will begin serving his own first batch of crafted beer Wednesday.

"The moonshines and vodka will take a little longer because we have to get all our recipes approved," he said. "Hopefully we will begin serving those in a few weeks."

Overbee previously stated that he didn’t want to live somewhere without nightlife and saw people were going to other towns to go to clubs. He wanted people to be able to stay in town and enjoy themselves. Now, his desire is to bring others from surrounding areas here to enjoy what he is offering.

A man of many hats, in addition to the three downtown bars and restaurants, he is also the owner of Triple Play Oasis Restaurant and Sports Bar located in the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport in New Bern, Dale Overbee Construction and Dale's Heating and Air Conditioning.

He started out working with a heating and air company out of Raleigh. After a loss of contracts in the area, he started a heating and air conditioning business in New Bern out of his car. Seven years later, he fulfilled his dream of bringing nightlife to New Bern. He gained a lot of knowledge about the business as he also moonlighted as a disc jockey during those years.

Prior to his current portfolio, he previously owned the Diamond Club, which was his first nightlife entertainment venue in New Bern, Bambooz Tiki Bar located in the Bridgepointe Hotel and Marina and Triple Play Restaurant and Sports Bar, which closed due to new highway construction on U.S. 70.

Bootleggers & Barrels opens daily at noon.

06 May, 2022