Over the past decade, craft breweries have been popping up all over the Triangle area offering unique and 
delicious NC beer options as well as fun brewery tours. One of my personal favorites is the Triangle Brewing Company located at 918 Pearl Street, Durham, NC 27701. All the beers are good, the owners really seem like cool normal guys just having fun making great beers, and the laid back warehouse brewery environment is a great place to take both friends and business associates for a kickin’ afternoon.
Every Saturday (unless noted on the calendar) Triangle Brewing Company opens the doors to their warehouse at 1pm for tours starting at 1:30pm. For only $3, you get a Triangle Brewing Company pint glass and all the samples you want before and after the tour. Typically they pour about 8 oz. samples so you can feel free to try them all. If you particularly enjoy one, during the tour they pour growlers to take home and also allow you to purchase 6 packs of the beers they have canned. After the tour is finished, people stick around for more chilling and drinking. I have been a few times now and had a blast.
My personal favorite beer is the Habenero Pale Ale. As part of their special Rufus Reserve Series, this beer isn’t always available, so if they do have it you should be sure to try it out. It is a pale ale with a peppery aftertaste that is just right and not overpowering. All the peppers are locally grown and well balanced between sweet and hot to give the beer the amazing unique flavor not available anywhere else! When the Habenero is not around, the Belgium and IPA are my top selections, however I am always interested in trying out something new.
Be sure to bring your id and dress appropriately for the weather since as Triangle Brewing Company states on their website, “our warehouse temperature is controlled by ‘Mother Nature’ and sometimes she is unkind.”
What is your favorite Triangle Area brewery or brewery tour?
