This tucked-away beer garden and bottle shop in Winston-Salem is a hidden gem known for live music — jazz night on Thursdays is especially popular — and a large tap selection, which even includes cider and kombucha. In warmer months, you can sip your drink on the gravel patio or near the open garage doors for a view of the action inside.
The Southside Beer Garden and Bottle Shop
2108 South Broad Street
Winston-Salem, NC 27127
(336) 955-2277
thesouthsidebeergardenbottleshop.business.site
Located on the Rocky Mount Mills campus, this bottle shop is not actually surrounded by water — or goats. Instead, it’s named after an island in the nearby Tar River, and is located in a historic toolshed from the original mill property. Choose a brew — there are hundreds of bottles and cans to browse, as well as a rotating tap — and kick back in the beer garden, which features string lights, long tables, and live music.
Goat Island Bottle Shop
1139 Falls Road, Suite 127
Rocky Mount, NC 27804
(252) 545-6521
facebook.com/goatislandbottleshop
Sam’s Bottle Shop has deep roots in Durham: It began as Sam’s Quik Shop, a legendary convenience store that opened near Duke’s campus in 1974. Today, this larger store in south Durham offers a huge selection of craft beers (and wines) to peruse, plus a rotating tap. Make sure you journey upstairs to find the tasting room and outdoor deck.
Sam’s Bottle Shop
1112 NC Highway 54
Durham, NC 27707
(919) 973-2489
samsbottleshop.com
This award-winning south Asheville bottle shop and hangout features 21 rotating taps, plus a selection of bottles and cans. If you’re hungry, order from Marco’s Pizza a few doors down and bring your dinner into the taproom. On Tuesday and Thursday nights, Craft Centric offers a much-loved trivia night.
Craft Centric Taproom and Bottle Shop
100 Julian Shoals Drive, No. 40
Arden, NC 28704
(828) 676-0075
craftcentricbeer.com
Whether you’re looking for a North Carolina IPA or a Bud Light, you’ll have options at this one-stop shop. After you make your selection, venture out to the beachy backyard beer garden — kid-friendly and dog-friendly — and slip into an Adirondack chair.
Lighthouse Beer and Wine
220 Causeway Drive
Wrightsville Beach, NC 28480
(910) 256-8622
lighthousebeerandwine.com
When it comes to spreading holiday cheer, the residents of this Chatham County town start early.
Our editor in chief shares a few treasured memories from her childhood home, a Christmas Eve night being one of the very first.
We took some, ahem, creative liberties when we combed through Our State’s archives to find a few favorite stories that carry the tune of a Christmas classic.
From decades-old family recipes to a centuries-old Carolina cookie, we’re filling our holiday tables with dishes that have stood the test of time.
