Beer - Brewery Archives ~ NC Triangle Dining Food Blog

August 25, 2018 by Ron Wen

First Take: Hutchins Garage is Fixing Up Top-Notch Pizzas for Durham!

Front of Hutchins Garage in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Front of Hutchins Garage in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the past several months, business has been booming out on Geer Street in Durham! This neighborhood hot spot which already counts Fullsteam Brewery, Motorco, and the Accordion Club amongst its local businesses, has had several major announcements for a future arcade bar and ax-throwing entertainment place. So I was excited (and surprised) to hear about one new business that had snuck under my radar screen, Hutchins Garage. I had spotted a couple of quiet announcements on social media but had no clue what it would be about besides a bar. Luckily a visit to Durham left me with some free time on my hands so I spun out to Geer Street to see what was going down at the new Hutchins Garage!

Garage interior of Hutchins Garage in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Garage interior of Hutchins Garage in Durham – nctriangledining.com

With only a handful of parking spaces up front, be aware that this end of Geer Street is getting pretty tough for finding a parking spot! From the front, Hutchins Garage exudes a minimalistic face with a creamy utilitarian brick storefront along with several, white pane garage doors. A small doorway (an old service door?) to the far right is the main entryway in this small and jam-packed parking lot. There is parking on some side streets so you may need a bit of time to find a spot and do a short walk when you visit.

Dining area at Hutchins Garage in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Dining area at Hutchins Garage in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Exquisite bar at Hutchins Garage in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Exquisite bar at Hutchins Garage in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Stepping inside, I was amazed at how nicely redesigned the interior is at Hutchins Garage. Small dining area in front of me and a bar to the left in the first room. The building is all concrete and painted brick walls staying true to its industrial and automotive origins. The space is sprayed in industrial green in the first room along with fascinating blown-glass lamps overhead. There’s also a handful of quirky neon signs displaying “HOT and “Pizza Made Me Do It” showing off some tongue-in-cheek humor. Some industrial signage and details (phone) remain in the space in homage to its past life as an automotive garage.

Menu at Hutchins Garage in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Menu at Hutchins Garage in Durham – nctriangledining.com

The second room is where diners can order their pizzas for dine-in or take-out eats. Overall it’s a very comfortable space for hanging out and meeting up with friends! While Hutchins Garage is primarily categorized as a bar, its short menu of salads, pizzas, sandwiches and more make it a destination for a quick dinner or late-night bite (open until 2am). I’m curious to see how the menu may morph over time!

Arancini at Hutchins Garage in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Arancini at Hutchins Garage in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Over the course of several visits, I’ve had a chance to dabble across their menu, a bit. Enjoyed some arancini and of course, their pizzas! While you can certainly start with the margherita pizza base and build on it, I tend to order up their custom house pies since they usually sound interesting. On a recent visit I did a beautiful pie with ham, sausage and Calabrian chiles which was wonderfully spicy. But even the base margherita pizza here at Hutchins Garage is excellent with great cheese coverage and snips of basil. At $11 for a margherita ($4 for 2 toppings, $5 for 3 toppings) it’s all pretty reasonable for a substantial individual pie. I’d say they were 14″ to 15″, thin-crust but not Neapolitan. The pizzas here are more of a traditional Italian with a crispy crust, really delicious and well done.

Pizza with ham, sausage, calabrian chiles at Hutchins Garage in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Pizza with ham, sausage, calabrian chiles at Hutchins Garage in Durham – nctriangledining.com

Crisp pizza crust at Hutchins Garage in Durham - nctriangledining.com — Crisp pizza crust at Hutchins Garage in Durham – nctriangledining.com

All in all I have been pretty impressed by Hutchins Garage over the course of several visits. Great space, great food, well-trained staff and this neighborhood in Durham was in need of good za! The decor is fantastic and remains true to its automotive origins. And the pizzas are top-notch! So welcome to Bull City, Hutchins Garage. You’re doing both the bar part and pizza part of your business really well, so glad to have you in the hood!

Hutchins Garage

402 W Geer Street

Durham, NC 27701

984.219.6578

Location on Google maps

August 11, 2013 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

A Winning Combo of Beer + Pizza at Trophy Brewing in Raleigh

Front of Trophy Brewing, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Show of hands but who out there likes beer? And how about pizza? Well how about both?! Over at the newly opened Trophy Brewing Company on Morgan Street, not only are they putting out their own craft brews but also some lovely and creative pizzas now! Located in a quiet spot in Boylan Heights, Trophy has the enviable position of being one of the few eateries/bars in the area. Lots of locals here, many of the hipster variety, Trophy usually has a selection of five or six brewed on the premises beers along with a smaller menu of pizzas and salads. And who can go wrong with that combo? Especially when you see some of the specialty pizzas that Trophy has on the menu, deelish!

Participant-Berliner weisse at Trophy Brewing, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

I pop in a bit after Trophy’s 3pm opening and the place is already busy. Small patio on the side, full and the inside at 70% capacity, every seat at the bar taken. I go with a wit beer which is decently light but over-carbonated. Like many new breweries, Trophy is still finding its way and stride when it comes to its beers. My friend Andrew shows up and we put in an order for a large Daredevil pie at $19. This spicy treat comes topped with ghost-chile salami, jalapenos, caramelized onions and sriracha sauce, whoooeee! The waitress places a cool pizza stand in front of us, made from an old trophy per their namesake.

Cool pizza stand at Trophy Brewing, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

Fifteen or twenty minutes later our pie shows up at the table and wow, she’s a beauty! Plenty of green baked peppers atop a roasted tomato base, white mozz and swirled fiery red sriracha sauce. A great looking pie, I pull a slice out and check out the crust. It’s nicely baked, cornmeal at the bottom and a crust that’s a bit snappy. Reminds me a bit of a recent pie I had from Capital Creations. On top their is some serious spiciness and heat from the salami and jalapenos. The texture is pretty soft but it makes for a satisfying and spicy bite. I down one slice and start getting some good sniffles. My beer is disappearing quickly so it’s time for the Participant, a light German-style beer served with a shot of pureed raspberry. My second slice still has some heat with the beer so that’s all she wrote for me! The sweet waitress brings us some cups of a creamy pepper sauce to take down some of the bite but I am tapping out for now…

Daredevil pizza at Trophy Brewing, Raleigh- NC Triangle Dining

What can I say but I really like the concept of Trophy Brewing. A neighborhood bar and brewery with a small selection of high-quality eats. No need for a 10 page menu, just some fresh pizza choices and salads to tide you over or make a small meal with. And even though the food-pizza side of Trophy just happened recently, it’s ahead of the game compared to their beers. I’ve tried four or five over my two visits and I’d have to say only one was above-average. The rest needed some work but not a big deal, it takes time for most breweries to figure things out. So rock on Trophy Brewing! You get a second place award for your beers and a first place award for your pies which is a darn good start. So check out this new neighborhood spot just south of Hillsborough Street. But just watch out for that Daredevil pizza cause it will hit you pretty good and spicy!

Trophy Brewing Company

827 W. Morgan Street

Raleigh, NC 27603

919.803.4849

Trophy Brewing menu

Location on Google maps

August 29, 2015 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

A Beautiful Spot for Beer at Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte

Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining

With breweries popping up everywhere in the state of North Carolina, it’s getting harder and harder to stand out and be noticed. But a recent visit to Sycamore Brewing down in Charlotte showed me that there is still plenty of room for breweries to compete! Sycamore Brewing does a fantastic job of not only making great beer but also turning their brewery into a community and destination meeting spot.

Bar area at Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining

What makes Sycamore Brewing such a great brewery is their multi-use design. Outside they’ve got the typical beer garden setting with a bar and picnic tables. I’ve heard they also do live music here from time to time. Head on inside to the main bar/tap area where you’ve got the usual Edison lamps overhead and a large variety of their on-premises brews, very impressive. And then they’ve got a side-room and hang-out area with four-tops which allows you to get a group together to enjoy your beers in a more civilized fashion! The interior is modern and slightly rustic, it feels a bit like a restaurant. Sycamore Brewing does do sandwiches, Monday to Thursday and has food trucks to cover the weekend.

Diverse beer menu at Sycamore Brewing in Charlotte- NC Triangle Dining

Checking out their beer list is a LOT of fun! 16 beers on taps in a variety of styles and flavors. Sycamore has come up with some creative, cool names like the Salty Coconut Red Ale and Gourd Have Mercy Pumpkin Amber. A lot of the beers have a bit of a twist whether it’s some fruit, spice or cask aging. I start off with the vanilla session ale on this hot afternoon. And it’s a smooth, clean beer great for the heat but with some lip-smacking vanilla on the back end, nice. My next beer an Apricot Wheat is well-balanced between the light carbonation and fruit flavor, nice job there too.

As we roll into 5pm, the crowd at Sycamore Brewing thickens with the happy hour crowd. Young professionals from the local offices mixed with Carolina Panthers fans in teal blue. It seems like a happy place and it should be with this great beer, solid service and cool, mixed space. I would love to have a spot like Sycamore Brewing up in the Triangle. While we have some really good breweries, none quite as well put-together as this place. So awesome job Sycamore Brewing for raising the bar!

Sycamore Brewing

2161 Hawkins Street

Charlotte, NC 28203

704.910.3821

Location on Google maps

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February 20, 2018 by Ron Wen

Retake: The Flying Saucer in Raleigh, a Classic Destination for Great Beer!

Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

When it comes to beer in the Triangle, we’ve been in a renaissance for the past 5 years! Breweries, bottle shops and brew pubs have been opening up, left and right, in Raleigh, Durham and points beyond. I mean, who doesn’t love a tasty, locally brewed beer on a warm summer’s day?! But way back when, before this whole beer revolution started, there were only a handful of spots you could go to get a great craft beer, enter the Flying Saucer on Morgan Street! This beer and brews stalwart has been pouring out great beer for years and even though it wasn’t my personal favorite spot, I decide to go back for some visits to see how things have held up at the Saucer. And I’m glad to say that it’s still doing an excellent job serving great beer for Oak City residents…

Covered patio at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Covered patio at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Located on the corner of Morgan and Harrington Street, you can’t miss the Flying Saucer! You’ll usually find the covered patio, filled with Raleighites enjoying a good beer and snacks when the weather is nice. Stepping through the doorway you’ll immediately be hit by the enormity of the Flying Saucer space and its beer hall interior. Checked floor in black and green, long bar with taps to the right and four-tops to the left. And yes, beer plates! Gold rimmed plates line every bare spot on the walls and ceilings, with a customer message on each. Part of the UFO club that the Flying Saucer runs, taste and/or drink 200 different beers and you’ll get your own special plate to adorn the Flying Saucer space! The beer hall is a bit worn and aged which adds to the charm here. There have been a LOT of brews and beers quaffed down at the Flying Saucer over the years.

Rich and weathered interior at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Rich and weathered interior at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Sitting down at the bar and choosing one of the Flying Saucer’s 200+ beers can be a bit intimidating but thankfully the staff here is super knowledgeable when it comes to suds. And honestly, after the Raleigh Beer Garden offered up 360+ beers, the Saucer seems less difficult. At least most of the Saucer customers know their beers pretty well, making the selection process, quicker. The Flying Saucer is also known for for its waitstaff with many of the female servers sporting plaid skirts and knee-high socks, but you know what? Don’t let their looks fool you. They know their beer here really well, too.

The Bratzel at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — The Bratzel at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Great beer, cool decor but what about the food at the Saucer? Well they’ve offer a small selection of appetizers, sandwiches, salads (hahaha), plates and pizzas. You do need something to eat along with all that great beer! The food falls comfortably into the category of simple bar food and is not super memorable. But I do think they are upping their game when it comes to the eats. From snacks to sandwiches and pizzas, it’s all hearty rib-sticking fare are the Flying Saucer

Tex-Mex hash brown skillet at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Tex-Mex hash brown skillet at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Bacon, egg and cheese pizza at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Bacon, egg and cheese pizza at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

A recent visit for brunch turned up a Tex-Mex hash brown skillet and breakfast pizza! Tasty hash-browns topped with cheddar-jack cheese, fried egg and jalapenos, yum! And the breakfast pizza topped with scrambled egg, bacon and cheddar was pretty solid too! The Flying Saucer does brunch from 11am to 3pm. I think it’ll be a fun option out on that patio once it gets warmer. The Flying Saucer also runs beer specials on Sundays ($3 pints, NC Beer) and Mondays ($3 pints, all taps).

UFO Plates on the ceiling at Flying Saucer in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — UFO Plates on the ceiling at Flying Saucer in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

So a slow round of applause for the venerable Flying Saucer on Morgan Street! While the Raleigh food scene has improved by leaps and bounds over the years, the Saucer has also upped its game to keep up. The Flying Saucer may not be top of mind for a drink or food, I think it’s a totally decent spot to get a feel for what Raleigh is about and sample some great beer. And while I may not ever have a UFO plate up on the wall with my name on it, I will definitely be back to sample more off of their food menu!

Flying Saucer Raleigh

328 W Morgan Street

Raleigh, NC 27601

919.821-7401

Location on Google maps

November 28, 2020 by Ron Wen Leave a Comment

Photos: Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh

Front of Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Front of Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

With the recent addition of Wegmans and McNeill Pointe (Chido Taco, Shuckin Shack), the Wake Forest Road corridor has been booming with construction lately! A recent addition to the scene is the newish, Bowyard Pizza and Brewyard located just south of E. Whitaker Mill Road. The entrance to Bowyard is pretty tricky, a small entryway between Tobola Automotive and StorageMax. Thankfully they’ve added some permanent signage there. Drop down into the gravel lot and you’ll find a small building to your left along with two side patios. There’s also a larger lawn and gaming area decked out with picnic tables, umbrellas and cornhole for when the weather is better.

Signage at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh - nctriangledining.com — Signage at Bowstring Pizza and Brewyard in Raleigh – nctriangledining.com

Serving up craft beer, cocktails and pizza, the scene at Bowstring is pretty casual and young but an interesting spot with interesting decor inside. They are currently partnering with Vic’s Pizzeria pizza bus for their pies. Like many businesses that have opened up during the COVID pandemic, they are still figuring things out. But definitely stop by for a visit if you’re in the area. I’ll add to this post after I’ve had time to come for a couple of visits.

First Take: Hutchins Garage is Fixing Up Top-Notch Pizzas for Durham!