Crooked Hammock to Bow in April

Crooked Hammock’s backyard is calling—and it’s almost time to answer.

Raleigh’s next backyard hang is almost ready to swing into action. First announced in 2024 to much fanfare, Crooked Hammock is slated to bow its West Raleigh outpost in April in the burgeoning GlenLake development—bringing the brand’s eat-drink-play escape to NC. 

Not your typical brewery, the Hammock is built for lingering, serving up a “place for anyone to get away from the everyday,” says founder Rich Garrahan. “Whether it’s work, family or just personal stresses, coming to the Hammock and cracking open a cold beer, and hanging out and laughing with friends and family is really the spirit of what we’re all about—the foundation of our brand and our culture.” 

In short, it’s not just a spot to grab a bev and a bite—but a laid-back way of life built around slowing down and taking it easy. And the Raleigh outpost promises plenty of places to do exactly that.

Serving up a more lush, green, rustic vibe than the brand’s existing breweries (two in Delaware, one in Myrtle Beach), Crooked Hammock Raleigh’s signature backyard backs up to an evergreen-lined hill that feels like it spawned straight from a Jimmy Buffett daydream—fire pits flickering, lawn games underway, drinks pouring from the outdoor bar, and hammocks swaying lazily between chatting and play.

“We put so much thought into the aesthetic and design,” says Garrahan of its signature appeal. “When you’re in the backyard, you don’t feel like you’re anywhere else but at the Hammock.” 

Inside, the mood leans cozy cabin meets beach-bar hang. A slice of the brewery sits squarely in the middle of the space—a Raleigh-only design detail—serving a behind-the-scenes peek at the craft bevs brewed on-site. Vaulted ceilings stretch overhead, a massive stone fireplace anchors the room and intimate corners like the Brewer’s Nook invite lingering over another round. Out front, a donated vintage Jeep sets the tone—like someone rolled in from the beach, grabbed a bev and never
quite left.

Naturally, the menu follows suit. Built around the spirit of a backyard barbecue—“we see ourselves as the authority on the backyard cookout,” nods Garrahan—expect crowd-pleasers like nachos, wings and ribs, steak burgers and stacked sandwiches, plus a smattering of salads. A new-to-Raleigh pizza program adds six stone-fire oven-baked pies—including a “community pie,” doling $1 per pie to a different local org.

“We put a lot of love into our food and beers,” emphasizes Garrahan, as well as into an evolving roster of cocktails, sours, housemade hard teas, lemonades, sodas and chillers (like a hard Gatorade). “We want all of our offerings to be things you can only get at the Hammock,” he adds. “I think we’ve really hit a sweet spot that’s pretty unique in the hospitality world: If you’re not a beer drinker, there’s products coming from our brewery you’ll really enjoy too.”

With its stacked cast, Garrahan is confident Crooked Hammock will be a welcome addition to the area’s already-thriving brewery scene. Thanks to its inclusive vibe, it’s the kind of place where kids can run around and play games alongside young adults and multigenerational families relaxing nearby. 

“The Hammock is so big that people can always find their places—that’s the beauty of the backyard,” says Garrahan. … “We’re going to fit in swimmingly.” And as for us Raleighites? We’re ready to swing Crooked Hammock into our weekly rotation. crookedhammockbrewery.com