North Carolina is known for producing tobacco, sweet potatoes and Christmas trees. But, you may not know the Tar Heel State is also getting a name for producing distilleries. With nearly 100 distilleries in the state, Charlotte will be the first to have a Black-owned 'brew-stillery.'
What is a 'brew-stillery' you ask? The owner of Hippin' Hops Brew-Stillery told QCity Metro it's a combination of a brewery that makes its own beer and a distillery that makes its own liquor. And if you're a true connoisseur of spirits, that means the best of both worlds.
Clarence Boston owns Hippin' Hops Brew-Stillery in Atlanta, and plans to open up one in the Queen City this Februrary. It'll be located inside the Savoy Apartments in uptown Charlotte on the ground floor. Boston used to live in the Queen City. He now lives in Atlanta, but says Charlotte is still home to him. In fact, he says in the QCity Metro article the idea of the 'brew-stillery' was born in Charlotte.
What's Inside?
Once you step inside the 900-square-foot taproom, you are sure to smell the rich fragrance of brews and craft cocktails. And that's not all. Outside is a 3,000-square-foot area that Boston says will be used for live music shows. Hippin' Hops will not have a kitchen, but patrons will be able to purchase food from local food trucks on site.
Boston explains Hippin' Hops will use a five-barrel system with 10-barrel fermenters and will be able to produce 1,800 barrels of beer each year. If brew isn't your thing, Hippin’ Hops will be able to satisfy your palate with other options. It will also sell liquor, including vodka, rum, gin, moonshine and whiskey.
While Hippin’ Hops will be Charlotte's first Black-owned distillery, it's also the Queen City's third Black-owned brewery. And Boston open Another Brewery (casual neighborhood dive) in NoDa in 2023 and Weathered Souls Brewing Company is in lower South End (LoSo) that opened in 2022.
Hippin’ Hops will have a soft opening on Valentine’s Day. And it's grand opening is set for Feb. 16.
Top 10 Craft Breweries In North Carolina
Beer is big business in North Carolina. According to Business North Carolina, the Tar Heel State has the tenth most craft breweries in the United States, based on 2021 data. With 364 craft breweries, North Carolina is only one behind Ohio. California has the most, by far, with 931.
Asheville has long been thought of as the beer capital of North Carolina, but that may not be entirely accurate. When ranking the state's craft breweries by self-reported barrels of beer produced in 2021, Charlotte has more in the top ten than any other city. You can see the list below.
