Looking for something to celebrate? N.C. Beer Month starts today

April is N.C. Beer Month, with breweries and others hosting celebrations around the state.

Owen Covington
Reporter- Triad Business Journal

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North Carolina continues to increase its presence in the craft beer industry, and the state officially recognizes the importance of beer and brewers, beginning today.

For a third year, April has been officially proclaimed “N.C. Beer Month” by the governor, with Visit North Carolina and the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild partnering to promote multiple celebrations of brew around the state.

Beyond those official events, many Triad breweries are also celebrating Beer Month in their own ways with specialty beers and events.

“N.C. Beer Month adds dozens of fun ways to approach a visit to North Carolina,” said Wit Tuttell, executive director of Visit North Carolina, the state’s official travel and tourism website.

This year also brings a partnership with ride-sharing app Uber, which is offering a free ride up to $20 for first-time users of their mobile app using the promotion code “NCBEER.”

Among the highlights of N.C. Beer Month:

• Barks and Brews Night at Natty Greene’s. Hosted by the Greensboro brewery and the Humane Society of the Piedmont, the event brings together live music and four-legged friends at the brewery’s downtown Greensboro location on April 24. Free dog treats are offered with every purchased pint.
• Hickory Hops. This North Carolina beer festival on April 25 will feature more than 50 breweries and the Carolinas Championship of Beer.
• World Beer Festival Raleigh. This April 11 festival includes the N.C. Beer Festival, which will showcase 30 North Carolina breweries presenting 50 beers made in the state.
• The Fifth Ingredient. This beer education class is offered each Wednesday at 5:30 p.m. at Gibb’s Hundred Brewing Co. in downtown Greensboro. The brewery is also offering tours each night it’s open beginning at 6 p.m. and is preparing a new brew — Shearing the Wolf IPA — sometime this month.

Find a full listing of events at www.ncbeermonth.com, or call your local brewery or bottle shop to see if they’re planning something special this month to celebrate N.C. beer.

Owen Covington covers health care, insurance, law, media/advertising and sports business. Contact him at 336-370-2909.