Lonerider’s new Brew It Forward series benefits local nonprofit organizations.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Not all heroes wear crepes. No, that’s not a typo—it’s the name of Lonerider Brewing Company’s newest beer release, a pastry stout that will be available on draft and in cans starting Friday, Feb. 26. A portion of the proceeds from the sale of “Not All Heroes Wear Crepes” will go toward InterAct, a provider of domestic violence and sexual assault services in Wake County that’s dedicated to saving and rebuilding lives and securing safer futures for victims and survivors and their families (heroes in their own right!).
“InterAct has a very important mission. We are humbled to be allowed to help,” says Lonerider CEO Sumit Vohra. “InterAct’s role in elevating the bravery in our community makes us proud. Thank you for all you do. And, most importantly, a shoutout to the heroes; it takes courage—and you have that in spades.”
Not All Heroes Wear Crepes is the first release from Lonerider’s new Brew It Forward series, a philanthropic effort that will consist of multiple brews, each of which will benefit a different organization with which the award-winning brewery has teamed up.
Philanthropy and a commitment to giving back to the community are very important aspects of Lonerider’s culture. In the past 12 years, the brewery has raised more than $750,000 in financial support and continues to provide products and services to a number of nonprofit organizations throughout the Triangle.
“This brew celebrates the strength and courage we see every day at InterAct,” says Allison Strickland, InterAct’s interim co-executive director and chief development officer. “We are grateful and proud to partner with Lonerider Brewing to celebrate our heroes—survivors of abuse.”
These Raleigh breweries are giving Truly and White Claw a run for their money with their own delicious versions of spiked seltzers.
In the world of canned alcohol products, spiked seltzer is arguably the best thing since, well, canned beer—especially for those who dislike beer in general or are gluten-intolerant. Brands like Truly and White Claw made low-cal (100 calories or less) spiked seltzer popular—and accessible—but now there are more options than ever to get your seltzer drink on and, lucky for us, Raleigh is ahead of the game.
Many of your favorite local breweries have started to brew their own spiked seltzers in a variety of unique and refreshing flavors that make it easier than ever to drink local. We highlight some of our favorite local options—and anticipate many more delicious spiked seltzers to come.
Lonerider Brewing Company 1626 Glenwood Ave.; 8816 Gulf Court | loneriderbeer.com Lonerider head brewer Joseph Wheeler brings his typical A-game to the award-winning brewery’s craft seltzers, adding electrolytes and vitamin C to the mix to give the seltzers a healthy boost (and hopefully help prevent those grueling hangovers). You’ll be hard-pressed to choose your fave from cherry lime, strawberry lemonade, mint mojito, watermelon and tropical flavors. But, luckily, you can sample through them all guilt-free—as they’re all less than 100 calories and gluten-free—available on draft and in 16-ounce cans at all locations. Come spring, we highly recommend sipping Lonerider’s seltzers on the patio of its new Five Points location—while snacking on pizza and wings, natch.
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing 201 S. Boylan Ave. | wyehill.com Wye Hill started serving its own housemade seltzers last summer to the joy of every Raleighite who frequents the brewery-restaurant’s patio for can’t-beat food, brews and views (guilty). Serving up another reason to frequent the hot spot, its flavor-forward and super-refreshing seltzers are born of a process involving fermenting a ton of fresh fruit in sugar and water; then adding additional flavor profiles like basil, mint and lime; and kegging it before carbonating. Wye Hill’s premiere seltzer, the Magnificent SOB, packs strawberries, orange zest and basil (nom nom!), and additional small- and large-batch seltzers include blackberry lime and a special Halloween-themed release called People Eater (cherry, coconut milk, pineapple and lime). No matter how you slice it—they’re all spooky good.
Lynnwood Brewing Concern 1053 E. Whitaker Mill Road | lynnwoodbrewing.beer Lynnwood’s director of brewing operations, Bill Gerds, is on a mission to create a spiked seltzer that’s similar to White Claw—as far as being clear and having no fermentation character. Gerds makes LBC’s seltzer by fermenting a dextrose solution with wine yeast that’s then filtered for clarity and run through a carbon filter to remove the color and fermentation character. Although LBC offers many of the same flavors as White Claw—think black cherry, tangerine, grapefruit and pineapple—Gerds’ housemade seltzers have less sugar and calories (winning!). Be on the lookout for LBC’s new mixed berry, fruit punch and lemon lime flavors coming soon. White Claw who?
Home-State Seltzers
Raleigh breweries aren’t the only ones ahead of the seltzer game. If you’re feelin’ frisky, road-trip it to Charlotte to check out Summit Seltzer—the first seltzer spot on the East Coast, specializing in both hard and nonalcoholic seltzers with fresh fruits. Otherwise, the next time you go on a seltzer run, show some local love and—instead of Truly or White Claw—grab some of these NC-made cans instead.
Bold Rock Hard Seltzer Bold Rock Hard Cider, Mills River Big-box grocery stores
Brizo NoDa Brewing Company, Charlotte Total Wine & More
Sercy Mother Earth Brewing and Spirits, Kinston Grocery stores, Weaver Street Market, Total Wine & More, House of Hops, Paddy O’Beers
Twisp Southern Hard Seltzer Created in partnership with Catawba Brewing Co., Morganton, Charlotte and Asheville Total Wine & More
There’s a new produce box in town and this one has the meats (insert Arby’s jingle here) plus a solid goal of giving back to the community. Originally on a mission to launch high-protein gummies made from fruits and vegetables grown locally, Will Kornegay, a veteran of North Carolina’s agriculture industry, was forced to pivot due to the COVID-19 pandemic (sound familiar?).
And pivot he did… and well. Enter Ripe Revival Market, a grocery delivery service offering meats, dairy, and seasonal fruits and vegetables sourced from North Carolina farmers. And, yes, we know—the market is saturated with produce boxes. But that’s where Korengay’s innovative box gets to the “meat” of the matter—as he thought it was important to include meat because, after all, meat producers are important to the state’s agriculture industry too.
Not to mention: Kornegay’s Ripe Revival Market was born out of three pandemic-related challenges he thought were crucial to address: consumers who weren’t comfortable going into grocery stores; NC farmers and food distributors who were in need of new markets; and the increasing number of families that are experiencing food insecurity—a number that’s especially on the rise during this time.
“Community is a word we don’t take lightly,” Kornegay says. “We want to build unity through community, which is why we give back to families in need. And when you invest in your community, they invest back in you.”
When consumers buy Ripe Revival Market’s Community Supported Produce box, they receive a box of tasty but imperfect fruits and vegetables—an effort to reduce food waste—for themselves, while a second box is donated through the YMCA, the Boys & Girls Club, Redeemer Church and Down East Partnership for Children to a local family struggling with food insecurity. Additional boxes offered include meat boxes containing NC-sourced beef, pork and poultry; and a grocery box with local produce, meat, dairy, beverages and snacks.
“Our mission is reviving both people and produce for purpose, one fruit and vegetable at a time.” Betcha your neighborhood grocery store doesn’t have the same passion. riperevivalmarket.com
WEB EXCLUSIVE The March 2021 issue of Raleigh Magazine will be on stands around town and delivered to your doors and mailboxes in just a few days! If you can’t wait until then, here’s a quick look at some of the stories we have in store.
Back in Business
To date, Raleigh has suffered a $175.6 million economic impact (with 327 conventions, meetings and sporting events canceled) due to the pandemic. As cases go down and vaccinations go up, the city is starting to schedule in-person events again—a sign that Raleigh’s economy is en route to recovery (and we finally have an excuse to get off our couches!).
A Modern Dive
We get a sneak peek of Cary’s forthcoming Hank’s Downtown Dive, Matt Bettinger’s (of SideBar) latest venture that will feature casual food and drinks with contemporary flair.
Hometown Heroes Save DTR
Downtown Raleigh Alliance CEO and President Bill King, Shop Local Raleigh founder Jennifer Martin, and North Carolina Bar and Tavern Association founder and myriad bar owner Zack Medford have used their wit and resources to breathe life back into our suffering city during the pandemic.
New & Next: March 2021
After five years of the same, we revamped our calendar with a more classy and streamlined layout featuring tons of fun virtual and in-person events scheduled for March.
Rock On
By day, Jerry Bodrie is the managing director/partner at advertising, design and media strategy company Baldwin&; by night, he creates badass guitars by hand for Redeemed Guitars, which he founded in 2012. They’re cool enough to make anyone want to learn how to play!
Subscribe by March 5 to get the issue sent directly to your door!
WEB EXCLUSIVE Ray Charles. Aretha Franklin. Donny Hathaway. Lil’ Kim. Curtis Mayfield. Any of these names ring a bell? For Black History Month, record label Rhino Records is celebrating the undeniable impact of Black musicians throughout history (including the ones listed above) with a special series of high-profile vinyl reissues, first-ever digital releases, initiatives, activations and collaborations. Get ready to stock your record collection!
“These legendary Black artists created the soundtrack to cultural, social and political revolutions when the world needed it,” Rhino Entertainment says. “They’re undeniably as necessary as ever in 2021 as they continue to amplify messages of truth, hope and change on tape.”
Rhino is working with Black-owned independent record stores throughout the U.S. to distribute these releases—as well as prints of alternative covers created by an artist of color—every Friday throughout the month of February. The prints come as a gift with the purchase of each of the nine vinyls included in the campaign.
In Raleigh, the physical releases will be available each Friday of the month at Lookout Music & Media, an “urban music store” that opened in 2003. The celebration kicked off Feb. 5 with the release of Donny Hathaway’s A Donny Hathaway Collection, The Jungle Brothers Done by the Forces of Nature (Deluxe Edition), and George Benson’s Breezin’.
“Hathaway immortally urged, ‘And when my life is over, remember when we were together,’ says Rhino Entertainment. “And this month offers us a chance to come together once again in celebration.”
This Friday, Feb. 19, Rhino will release Aretha Franklin’s Young, Gifted and Black and Sheila E’s …The Glamorous Life. Head to Lookout Music & Media to get your hands on them locally (several albums that are part of the series will be available digitally as well)—and let the music live on in the comfort and safety of our homes. Any and all eccentric dance moves welcome.
