Armed with T-shirts, stickers, buttons and a new slogan, North Carolina craft brewers are fighting for their right to grow. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery and NoDa Brewing are spearheading a statewide campaign to pop the cap on beer distribution for local breweries.
John Marrino of OMB and Todd Ford of NoDa announced the Craft Freedom initiative during a press conference at the launch of Charlotte Craft Beer Week. Craft Freedom is a statewide effort to lift the cap on the amount of beer a local brewery can produce and distribute before it must hire a distributor. Simultaneous kick off events were held at Red Oak Brewery in Greensboro, Iron Clad in Wilmington and Raleigh Brewing Company in Raleigh on Friday. Asheville breweries also support the effort.
Courtesy of craftfreedom.org
Forcing small breweries to cede distribution to an company results in a profit loss for local breweries and basically a loss of control on how/if their beer is promoted to potential vendors.
Lifting the cap will take effort similar to what we saw in 2003 when state legislators finally allowed higher gravity beer in the state. For 70 years, beer could onlh be a maximum of 6% ABV. Raising the limit is the reason craft breweries have sprouted like wildflowers throughout the state. Now, the craft industry must work together to educate the public, the media and legislators about the importance of raising the production limit.
What's up party people! This weekend is going to be crazy. Today's list is non-Halloween party. My Halloween party post goes live tomorrow. Put the finishing touches on your costume. It's going to be a crazy weekend.
Wednesday Breast Cancer Fundraiser - Enjoy wine specials and homemade baked goods at the Drink Pink Party. It benefits Little Pink Houses of Hope, which provides free weeklong beach trips for breast cancer patients and their families.6:30-8:30 p.m. The Cork and Cask, 9624 F Bailey Road, Cornelius.
Happy Hour - Sportsone & The Grays present Charlotte’s Favorite Happy Hour. There will be live music, food and drink specials. A portion of the proceeds will benefit Carolina Breast Friends. 5 - 9 p.m. Sports One, 321 N. College St. Free.
Thursday
Happy Anniversary - NoDa Brewery celebrates it's 4-year anniversary with events today through Sunday. There will be beer releases, including faves such as Hot Pistol and Captain Peanut Butter’s Chocolate Revenge. There will also be live music and food trucks!
Tonight: include a NoDable from every NoDa Brewer released every half hour. Food from Tiger Yakatori. First 100 people through the door are entered into a raffle for a variety of prizes.
Sunday
Last One - It’s the last Front Porch Sunday Market of the year. Enjoy Charlotte food trucks, fashion trucks, artisans and entrepreneurs. Beer samples from BREWPUBLIK and South End Hops Festival and free samples of beer and kombucha from Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Food: Southerncakequeen, Yummi Banh Mi Truck, True Crafted Pizza, #BigRedCLT, and King of Pops Charlotte. Vendors: L Squared, Dress Like A Girl Mobile Boutique, 704 Shop, Daylight Derived, Lightbeings, Stix+Stones, PlayGround Phresh Kids, Havok Designs, Journey Home, Ellie's Bijoux, Katelynn Racer, Crowned Sparrow Co., Basha Boutique, CLT Boutique, Jan Harris Studios and more.
Front Porch Sundays, 1 -5 p.m., Shook Kelley Building, 2151 Hawkins Street. Details.
Food & Lifestyle - Order/Fire is a culinary web series exploring local chefs personalities and passion. There will be a premiere party for the airing of the first episode. It features Heirloom's Chef Clark Barlowe and The Loose Lugnuts. The first 100 people to arrive get their first beer is on Asterisk Creative. 2 p.m. Sunday, Free Range Brewing,
2320 N. Davidson St. R&B Soulster - Raheem DeVaughn is showing his love for black women with his new project “Queen.” His Queens For A Day supported battered black women. He joins songstresses Leela James. 8 p.m., Fillmore Charlotte, 1000 NC Music Factory Boulevard. $27.50
Standing room only. Parking onsite.
Finally! A beautiful weekend is on tap and I can't wait. It's going to be a great weekend to get outside and play. don't miss Biketoberfest and the other outdoor events.
Ticket Giveaway! Sip + Play Charlotte is giving away VIP passes to the Gravediggers Ball. Enter here.
Tonight
Share Your Talent - Locals share their creativity at the favorite Pecha Kucha. The presentations are limited to 20 images, 20 seconds per image, for a total of six minutes 40 seconds. Tonight’s presentation is an open call which means no themes or restrictions. All topics, ideas and media are welcome. 7:30 p.m. The Chop Shop Noda, 399 E. 35th St. Details.
Fundraiser Event - The Breast Cancer Cure Party includes appetizers, wine and beer. Live music by Carey Sims. 6 p.m. Napa on Provience, 110 Perrin Place. $20
Thursday Monthly Happy Hour - The Black Professional Group of Bank of America and the NFL Players Association-Charlotte Chapter teamed up with Herb Gray for the Herb Gray Happy Hour. A portion of the food and beverage sales will benefit Elon Homes and Schools for Children. 5 p.m., Charlotte City Club, 121 W. Trade St. 31st Floor Corner of Trade and Tryon across from the Marriott. Free.
Art Discussion - Listen and participate in a discussion about the evolving practice of contemporary craft in our region and the role that makers and supporters play in advancing the art form. Join craft advocate and collector Lorne Lassiter, curator Mark Leach, McColl Center Artist-in-Residence Mei-ling Hom, and gallerist/art consultant Noel as they discuss the past, present, and emerging trends in craft at McCOLL + RESPONSE | Discussion: Understanding Process + Practice in Contemporary Craft. 6-8 p.m. McColl Center, 721 N Tryon St. Details.
Friday
Got Game? - Show your bar game skills at the featuring flip cup, cornhole, beer pong, mini basketball and a mystery event for qualifying teams! 10 per team of two. Includes one drink. Team check-in is 7 p.m. - 7:45 p.m. Games begin at 8 p.m. Prohibition, 200 N Tryon St.
Favorite Hip-Hop Event - Art, Beats and Lyrics returns in its 11th year. This year will feature visual pieces by Dubelyoo, Carla Aaron Lopez, Miya Bailey and Matthew Curran, among many others. The event will also include appearances from hip-hop duo, 8Ball & MJG. 7 p.m. The Filmore, 820 Hamilton St. Ste. B2. Details.
OktoberFest Symphony Style - The Charlotte Symphony presents KnightSounds for symphony novices each Friday night. This month’s Oktoberfest theme features beer tastings, a roaming accordionists, and a live “oompa” band in the lobby after the show. The symphony will perform works of Johann Sebastian Bach and his son, W. F. Bach, plus Mozart’s Overture to The Marriage of Figaro, and selections from Brahms and Wagner. Local breweries, including NoDa Brewing Company and Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, will provide beer samplings, and the FestzeltMusik Oktoberfest Band will keep the party going after the concert.
7:30 p.m., Knight Theater, 430 S Tryon St. $29 includes a drink voucher. Drinks are permitted in the theater!
Saturday Family Fun - Bike, walk, and/or ride transit to a variety of destinations in Center City and South End while collecting stamps in at Sustain Charlotte’s Biketoberfest. The 7 p.m. afterparty at Triple C Brewing features live music, food trucks, and more. $15 and include a 2015 Biketoberfest t-shirt, entry to the after party at Triple C, a beer and more. 3 p.m. – 10 p.m. Uptown Charlotte, South End, and Triple C. Bike, walk, or ride the light rail around town to sponsoring businesses while obtaining stamps in your official Biketoberfest Passport! Passport pick up at Sustain Charlotte office Thursday and Friday or Saturday at Triple C. Registration available on Saturday at 2 p.m. Details. Note: Rain or shine! No refunds, but registration can be transferred to another participant.
Wine Event - It's the Southend neighborhood wine festival at the Southend Wine Festival. Enjoy unlimited tastings from 20 different vineyards, live music and food trucks. Proceeds benefit Classroom Central. 1 - 6 p.m., 308 W. Carson Blvd. $35. Details.
Fundraising Event II - The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation's Charlotte Chapter presents the 5th Annual Brewer's Ball a beer, wine and food tasting event to benefit cystic fibrosis research. More than 300 guests are expected. Enjoy handcrafted samplings from local microbrewers and restaurants. Guests also get to exploring the exhibits at Discovery Place. 7:30 p.m, 301 N Tryon St. $75 and include unlimited samplings. VIP tickets are $125 and include a one-hour early entry to the event with private tasting, and a pilsner glass for tastings. Details.
Sunday Rescheduled! Hispanic Festival - The Fourth Annual Hola Charlotte Hispanic Heritage Festival features Latin festivals, live performances, Latin American cultural village, Latin cuisine and kids activities. 12 p.m. Hola Charlotte, Tryon St. Between Trade and 7th St. Details. This has now been rescheduled for Oct 18.
Earlier this week, I attended the Charlotte Chamber of of Commerce Economic Development. I realize this isn't my usual Sip + Play adventure, but it was held at Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. The subject was beer. How could I resist.
The panel included: Center City Partners' Tobe Holmes, NoDa Brewing Company's Todd Ford and OMB's John Marrino.
I knew the craft beer industry was growing exponentially here, but there's a lot I didn't know. The industry is doubling in the state and growing four-times as fast in the city. North Carolina has the largest number of breweries in the south. The industry's impact on Charlotte is undeniable. It's certainly enhanced our entertainment options, but it's also impacting the economy.
Courtesy of Charlotte Chamber of Commerce
The shop local movement is fueling the growth, especially among the millennials. By the way, did you know Sam Adams is the largest American-owned brewery?
Interesting nuggets: Ford of NoDa said when he started six years ago start-up breweries couldn't get a Small Business Administration loan. Today, that's not issue.
The next movement will likely be distilleries and cideries.
Since returning to the nightlife beat, I've been constantly amazed and impressed by the impact of the local breweries on the city's nightlife. The breweries are gathering places for beer aficionados as well as newbies. Now, the breweries are appealing to fitness enthusiasts as well. Nearly every night each week, a brewery offers a fitness activity, from run clubs to yoga. Prices range from free to $5, and often include a beer.
I call the trend Brewfit, but it's more than fitness. It's community. The breweries are taking what can often be solo activities, such as running, and turning them into community events. They're creating new communities within yoga and crossfit groups, both of which are cliquish. The breweries are finding new and fun ways to bring people together.
Brewfit schedule after the video.
Sunday
Lenny Boy Brewing Co., 2224 Hawkins Street, Noon -Run Club(1.5 or 3-mile loop)
Old Mecklenburg Brewery, 4150 Yancey Rd - 2 p.m. Bike Up(1.5 hour ride, 20-mile route 12-14 mph pace or 28-mile route 17-18 mph pace)
Tuesdays
Sugar Creek Brewing, 215 Southside Drive - 6 p.m. - 10 p.m.Indoor Disc Golf Putting League tournament
NoDa Brewing Company, 2229 North Davidson Street - 6:30 p.m. NoDa Run Club (1, 3, 5-mile loops)
Sugar Creek - 6 p.m. Taproom Fitness with Metro Fitness (calisthenics)
Thursday
Triple C Brewing Co., 2900 Griffith Street - 6:30 p.m. Run Club (1-5-mile routes) or Yoga
Unknown Brewing Co., 1327 South Mint Street - 6:30 p.m. Brewlates (check website for schedule)
Saturdays
Lenny Boy - 10 a.m. Yoga with Lindsay $5 includes Kombucha (Mats for rent for $1 limited quantity. Tap Room open after class for a pint, a trio of new samples or growler fill-up.)
Unknown - 2:30 p.m. Bike and Brew (10, 25 and 35-mile loop)
I'm back!!! In 2005, I launched the Paid To Party column for the Observer. Now I'm back with a fresh look at Charlotte's entertainment offerings. For the next few months, I'll be testing a new feature, primarily aimed at weekend events and other ways to entertain yourself, your family, your visitors.
Sip + Play is your guide to fun things to do in Charlotte from Food Truck Fridays to bar crawls to events you've never experienced. I still love a party, so there also will be plenty of that.
Sip + Play will take you all over Charlotte and beyond with live event coverage on the weekends and recommendations of where to go and what to do. I'm looking forward to sharing my adventures with you. #cltevents
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