History of NC Beer

Bethabara built a joint brewery and distillery in 1756. The first Moravian brewer and distiller was Henrich Feldhausen, who was born in 1715 in Holstein. He was the head brewer until 1762.

One of the earliest organized temperance societies in the state, if not the first, was founded in Guilford County.

Before nationwide Prohibition, North Carolinians voted on a statewide referendum to outlaw alcoholic beverages. North Carolina is the first Southern state to institute a complete ban on alcohol by a direct vote of the people, although loopholes allow sales to "social clubs" for men. Prohibition goes into effect on January 1, 1909.

The Cullen–Harrison Act is enacted by the United States Congress on March 21, 1933 and signed by President Franklin D. Roosevelt the following day, legalizing the sale of beer with a 3.2% ABV. Effective April 7, 1933, now celebrated in the U.S. as "National Beer Day". Prohibition would later be repealed in December of the same year.

North Carolina begins repealing state prohibition laws piecemeal, and permits the brewing of "near beer." Alcohol sales become a local option, decided at the county level, the following year.

The North Carolina General Assembly passed the Alcoholic Beverage Control Act (ABC Law), which allows voters in each county to determine whether spirituous liquor should be sold at retail locations.

The Brewers Association of America, then named the Small Brewers Committee, forms to secure an allocation of tin from the War Production Board to allow them to press bottle caps. The “Temporary Crown Relief” is an initiative set forth by a coalition of almost 200 brewers to advocate for a portion of supplies needed to bottle their beer during WWII when a significant percentage of metal was being used for war efforts.

Written in the notes from the first meeting is the line: “The meeting was marked by much enthusiasm, and it was generally felt that the Small Brewers Committee held great future possibilities for the Brewing Industry.”

The Brewers Association of America condones the pull-tab as a worthy product upgrade for beer lovers and brewers alike.

Homebrewing of beer with an alcohol content higher than 0.5% was legalized and excise taxes on homebrewers were eliminated when Jimmy Carter signed H.R. 1337 into law. The American Homebrewers Association, a division of the Brewers Association, was founded in 1978 by Charlie Papazian in Boulder, Co, and focused on homebrewers of beer, cider, and mead.

This year marks the inaugural Great American Beer Festival. Twenty breweries are on hand serving 40 different beers to 750 people during the one-day festival.

In 1986, Uli Bennewitz founded Weeping Radish Farm Brewery in Manteo, North Carolina, marking the state's first microbrewery post-Prohibition and the beginning of its modern craft beer movement.

In total, 26 breweries opened during 1986-2004, including Olde Hickory Brewing (1994), Carolina Brewing Company (1995), Front Street Brewing (1995), Top of the Hill Restaurant & Brewery (1996), Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company (1999), Catawba Brewing Company (2000), Mash House Brewing Company, French Broad River Brewery (2001), Outer Banks Brewing Station (2001), and Natty Greene's Brewing Co. (2004).

Highland Brewing Company (1994) was founded by retired engineer, Oscar Wong and was the first craft brewery in Asheville since Prohibition. It has grown to become the largest family-owned, female-led brewery native to the Southeast.

Wilmington Brewing Company (no affiliation with the current Wilmington Brewing Company) was founded by Tom Dergay in 1994, making it the first brewery in Wilmington, and was later sold to Williamsville Brewery in 2000.

In the Triangle, Robert Poitras set out to open Carolina Brewing Company in 1995, making it the first brewery in the area. Still operating today, the brewery has brewery restaurants in Pittsboro and Chapel Hill, and you can find their beer throughout the Carolinas.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, founded by John Marrino in 2009, was the first brewery to open in the Charlotte area that is still in production today. Olde Meck is now a Charlotte staple, gaining state-wide distribution and opening its second location in Ballantyne.

The state legislature raised the 6% ABV limit to 14.9% thanks to the efforts of the “Pop the Cap” campaign (House Bill 392), which a group of local brewers and beer lovers leads.

The Brewers’ Association of America and the Association of Brewers merge to create the Brewers Association. In doing so, the newly-formed Brewers Association is able to expand its member reach and take on issues in Washington, DC.

The first meeting of the Pink Boots Society takes place at the Craft Brewers Conference in San Diego. The Pink Boots Society was created to assist, inspire, and encourage women beer industry professionals to advance their careers through education.

On April 7, 1933, beer was effectively made legal again in the United States; however, National Beer Day did not become a celebrated holiday until 2009. The holiday honors the Cullen-Harrison Act, which was signed into law by President Franklin D. Roosevelt on March 22, 1933, and went into effect on April 7, 1933, making beer legal again in the United States after Prohibition.

The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild was founded to promote, protect, and prepare the independent craft breweries in our beautiful state.

In 2012, the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild administered the first annual NC Brewers Cup. Today, the NC Brewers' Cup is the largest craft beer competition in North Carolina. All independent craft commercial brewers across the state are invited to participate in this BJCP-sanctioned beer competition.

Mississippi and Alabama legalize homebrewing, a move that finally makes homebrewing legal in all 50 states! Mississippi’s law went into effect July 1, 2013, marking it the first day since Prohibition that the entire United States of America permitted homebrewing on the state level.

Sierra Nevada opens its east coast production brewery in Mills River, NC. The on-site taproom and restaurant opened a bit later, in March of 2015. In 2016, it is awarded LEED® Platinum, making it the first production brewery in the country to earn the certification.

One of the earliest and most influential pioneers of the U.S. craft beer movement, Sierra Nevada was originally founded in Chico, CA in 1980.

The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild held the first statewide conference and trade show on November 5 & 6, 2014 in Greensboro, NC. The first annual North Carolina Craft Brewers Conference + Trade Expo was created for the industry to learn, network, and build community within the NC Beer industry.

The Brewers Association is part of a coalition that rallies together to lower excise taxes for breweries. With the reduced rate, breweries are able to reinvest in their businesses and employees. Currently, our excise tax is: 1-60,00 Barrels: $3.50/barrel 60,000-2 million Barrels: $16/barrel Over 2 million Barrels: $18/barrel. Before 2017 it was $7 on first 60,000 barrels for brewers who produces less than 2 million barrels. $18 per barrel after the first 60,000 barrels.

The Brewers Association, the Boulder-based trade group for U.S. craft breweries, introduces the Independent Craft Brewer Seal. The certification mark is launched to help beer lovers tell the difference between independent craft breweries and acquired breweries. The BA will later release a supporter seal for retailers, distributors, guilds, websites, beer lovers, and any organization that wants to show it supports small and independent craft breweries.

Gov. Roy Cooper signs House Bill 363, raising the self-distribution cap from 25,000 to 100,000 barrels per year. The Act also allows a craft brewery to obtain a malt beverage wholesaler permit to annually sell, deliver and ship at wholesale up to 50,000 barrels per year.

The North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild announced the inaugural NC Pint Day, a statewide celebration of North Carolina craft beer that took place on April 7, 2024. This momentous occasion marks the first-ever NC Pint Day, inviting beer enthusiasts across the state to raise their glasses and toast to the craft beer scene that defines North Carolina. The first-ever pint day design was illustrated by Charlotte-based artist Christen Lucas and paid homage to all things that make North Carolina unique while celebrating the state’s vibrant beer culture.