Carolina Brewery has quickly become a favorite Pittsboro hangout, winning six different categories in our Best of Chatham 2021 poll
By Matthew Lardie | Photography by John Michael Simpson
If you think that after 15 years the folks at Carolina Brewery in Pittsboro would be content with their success, to just sit on their laurels (or hops, as it were), you’d be dead wrong. The brewery continues to expand and last year launched a new look, a renovated outdoor dining area and a brand-new brew to boot. “We took the time during COVID-19 to take a hard look in the mirror,” says owner Robert Poitras. He and his team came away with an idea for a whole rebranding campaign that included introducing a new can design inspired by the Carolina coast, a partnership as the exclusive beer of the North Carolina Coastal Federation (a percentage of sales supports the nonprofit’s mission) and a refit of the outdoor dining patio.
Renovations completed last year include the installation of a garage door that opens onto a new patio, a boon for the restaurant during the pandemic. “Our customers have really enjoyed having the outdoor space,” Robert says. There are plans to expand a second patio out back with an additional bar and another new garage door.
The Costero Mexican Lager – a 4.5% alcohol-by-volume brew that was inspired by coastal summertime drinking – has been so popular it will be offered year-round.
With anticipated development in Chatham, Robert and his team broadened their catering operations, including a mobile beer van complete with taps on the side, to serve events like weddings. They continue to partner with local organizations like Chatham Animal Rescue & Education for monthly dog-friendly “Yappy Hour,” and they brought back the annual oyster roast this past November. As Robert says, “We’re excited about the Pittsboro growth around us.”
