Brewgaloo: Voted Best Beer Festival
Thanks to all our readers, Brewgaloo was named the “No. 1 Beer Festival in America” by USA Today! We attended this festival last year and absolutely loved it, and we can’t wait to drink with everyone again. The festival closes Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh, a street that is bookended by the North Carolina State Capitol building and the Raleigh Convention Center. It’s a gorgeous location and has plenty of room for everyone to spread out (though Saturday does get busy).
There are two events to choose from (or you can attend both, of course):
Brewgaloo Block Party
Located in Raleigh’s City Plaza
Friday, April 26, 2019
6 p.m. to 10 p.m.
Breweries, taster event
Beers available here that won’t be available on Saturday (featuring sours and barrel-aged beers)
Food trucks, DJ, and vendors
One price to enter
Brewgaloo
Located on Fayetteville Street in downtown Raleigh
Saturday, April 27, 2019
2 p.m. to 10 p.m.
100-plus+ North Carolina breweries, food trucks, live bands, and vendors
By the pint or the taste
Our recommendation to our fellow beer enthusiasts is to buy tickets to the Friday night block party. This is an excellent way to sample all the beers and with much less crowds and less afternoon heat on Saturday (yes, this is North Carolina; it gets hot in late April). These tickets are $45 per person and can be bought here.
Here are a few of the breweries and beers we sampled last year if you need any more convincing:
Sparkky’s Coffee Chocolate Milk Stout by Double Barley Brewing
ABV: 11.5%
Location: Smithfield, North Carolina
Description: This beer is insanely smooth and creamy, and it’s made with dark-roasted malts, chocolate, and coffee from Full Bloom Coffee Roasters.
Wiggo! IPA by Carolina Brewing Company
ABV: 6.3%
Location: Holly Springs, North Carolina
Description: This IPA is a flavor explosion of dark caramel, tropical fruit, citrus, berries, and earthy herbs. Perfect amount of hops.
Tanker Coffee Porter by Check Six Brewery
ABV: 8.5%
Location: Southport, North Carolina
Description: Always a fan of Imperial Porters, this one is a particular treat with its strong coffee taste. And one of the cool things is that the coffee beans are specially made for this brewery by Jumping Java. The brewery describes it as “espresso in a pint glass.”
Oatmeal IPA by Mother Earth Brewing
ABV: 6.5%
Location: Kinston, North Carolina
Description: We’ve tried quite a few brews from Mother Earth Brewing and have enjoyed every one, so far, but this Oatmeal IPA was particularly delicious. Here is how their website describes this unique IPA: “Intentionally low in bitterness, high in residual sweetness and packed with late addition Citra and Mosaic hops. The central aim was to create an accessible IPA for traditionally non-IPA drinkers. Expect a melon/citrus fruit bomb.”
Hillbilly Prophet by New Anthem Beer Project
ABV: 10.2%
Location: Wilmington, North Carolina
Description: It was the name that drew me to this one, but it’s the spicy, complex, rich bourbon tastes that made me stay. Such an amazing beer.
Click here for a full list of breweries. And head over here to get your tickets and more info.
Photos from Brewgaloo’s Facebook page.
