Durham Drinks: Explore Craft Beverages in the Bull City

Love to drink booze, coffee, or other craft beverages? Enjoy exploring Durham’s local distillery and meadery scene? Then you’ll love the new Durham Drinks craft beverage guide, curated and printed by Discover Durham. This handy pocket guide highlights the myriad of local businesses catering to different drink palates in over 60, color-printed pages. Many folks are familiar with Durham’s brewery scene, but this guide can introduce residents and visitors alike to the full range of swanky swill. From liquor to cider, coffee to mead, Durham’s got it all and below I’ll feature some of my faves.

As a way to kick off this celebration of craft bevvies in Durham, let me invite you to participate in the first (hopefully of many?!) Durham Mocktail Trail presented by Chrysti & Co. On Wed, July 19th from 7-9pm, join Chrysti and other avid (or casual) non-alcohol drinkers as we sample our way through five downtown establishments serving mocktails for our crew. Each of these locations is featured in the Durham Drinks guide and the $35 ticket price goes toward your “zero proof” drinks. No need to worry about a DD, unless you want to stay late and enjoy some of the alcohol-included beverages Durham’s downtown spots offer. Pro tip: Arrive early to the first location to grab dinner!

Now, onto my favorite features from the Durham Drinks guide…

Distillery

Top Spot: Top in my book for locally crafted spirits in Durham is Durham Distillery (711 Washington St, 27701) and their adjoining cocktail bar, Corpse Reviver (715 Washington St, Ste B, 27701). One of my favorite activities to do with friends and family that visit Durham is take them on a behind-the-scenes tour of Durham Distillery. This unassuming spot always impresses guests with their art and science-based guide to the crafting of their award winning gin, vodka, and liqueurs. For $15, you get to taste some of each and explore the in-house shop at the end. Their $50 monthly cocktail classes are currently sold out through December, but keep an eye out for 2024 dates!

On top of an exciting tour, you can also take guests to Corpse Reviver Bar & Lounge, owned by the Durham Distillery makers and just behind it in the same building. They offer signature cocktails featuring their own spirits, plus beer, wine, and snacks purveyed from local businesses. On Sundays, Corpse Reviver runs Sunday Funday with specialty brunch cocktails (like a bubbles and juice flight!) and small bites. Speaking of flights, every Wed in July, they’re offering cocktail and dessert flights with local sweets! Additionally, most of their cocktails can be made as mocktails, so what’s not to love? Pro tip: Use the Durham Drinks guide to score a free behind-the-scenes tour at Durham Distillery.

Most Innovative: Mystic Farm and Distillery (1413 Stallings Rd, 27703). Not only a beautiful, countryside spot in East Durham, but Mystic is also the world’s largest solar-powered bourbon distillery. AND they are pioneering space-aged bourbon with their Mystic Galactic. Pro tip: Use the Durham Drinks guide to score a free tasting.

Brewery

Top Spot: The Glass Jug Beer Lab (5410 Hwy 55, 27713; and 545 Foster St, 27701) comes from humble beginnings as a bottle shop in a strip mall in South Durham. That location moved to a much larger space with an in-house brewery, indoor event space, and outdoor patio that hosts frequent food trucks and fun events. They even opened a second location in the midst of COVID in the heart of downtown Durham, adjacent to Durham Central Park. Between their ongoing weekly events (like Monday Board Game Night, Wednesday Night Trivia both downtown and at RTP, and Thursday Night Live Music) and their awesome special events (like Durham Field Day, a fundraiser for DCP and this April’s Beer Mile), it’s no surprise The Glass Jug has become a staple brewery on the Durham scene.

One of my personal favorite aspects of The Glass Jug is that they offer something for everyone. Their in-house brews provide a literal taste of Durham, while their bottle shop provides ample selection of local, national, and international beers, wines, meads, and non-alcoholic drinks. Their offering of daytime and evening activities gives options for parents to bring kids to family-friendly events or adult-only excursions to watch local comedians or musicians. Plus, their commitment to inclusivity and community make them quintessential Durhamites, representing and supporting the best of us.

Best Space: Hi-Wire Brewing at Golden Belt (800 Taylor St, 27701) While not born of Durham, Asheville’s Hi-Wire Brewing expanded into the Bull City in 2018 and has been hosting large and small-scale events ever since. Their indoor warehouse-like space has ample seating, plus bar games, and the outdoor space leads to Golden Belt’s lawn adjacent to Two Roosters Ice Cream, Cugino Forno Pizzeria, and around the corner from improve at Mettlesome Theater. If you’re a Swiftie and/or enjoy dancing, check out their Silent Disco on August 19th!

Non-Traditional Brews

Top Spot: Bull City Ciderworks (305 S Roxboro St, 27701) is yet another tale of humble beginnings in Durham: what started out essentially in a garage on Hood Street has expanded to a foundational space downtown (in the midst of tons of construction) and five locations across NC. Their mixed indoor/outdoor space is both kid- and pet-friendly, hosting food trucks almost daily for lunch/dinner. Try all their gluten-free ciders or enjoy taps from other local breweries, wineries, and cocktails. Flights are a popular way to try out the greatest variety during your visit.

The frequent events hosted at Ciderworks range from recurring trivia (such as the upcoming Harry Potter Trivia on Aug. 8th) and comedy nights to more community-focused events like dog adoption partnerships, drag brunch, fun workshops like flower arranging, and seasonal cupcake/cider pairings. Not to mention the regular cider releases and cocktail offerings that will knock your socks off. Bull City Ciderworks is also a usual presence at community events, like Durham Central Park’s Food Truck Rodeos, plus it’s part of Durham’s Bullpen Social District, so you can take your beverage to-go and walk around downtown. Definitely give these tasty ciders a try and enjoy all the offerings provided by Bull City Ciderworks.

Chill Vibes: Moon Dog Meadery (1104 Broad St, 27705) A relative newcomer to Durham, Moon Dog Meadery opened in 2021 and has become a quietly cool spot. Their regular events include weekly open mics, game nights, dancing, comedy, and concerts. Plus they offer seven of their own meads as well as a whole bottle shop of craft beers, meads, ciders, seltzers, etc. Pro tip: Use the Durham Drinks guide to get a free Moon Dog tshirt when you buy three bottles of their mead.

Non-Alcoholic Brews

Top Spot: Beyu Caffé (341 West Main St, 27701) is far more than a simple coffee shop. Since 2009, Beyu has been an institution in downtown Durham known for connecting, uplifting, and inspiring the community. This Black-owned business offers not only their signature coffee blends, but also delicious food for breakfast and lunch. On some Saturday evenings, the dining space transforms into a performance venue as they host musical artists, like THRIO coming up on Sat, July 22nd and Dreamroot on Sat, Aug. 26th.

In addition to their downtown spot, Beyu has three other locations: the public-facing Boxyard RTP coffee shop and two satellite locations at Duke University, one at the Law School and the other at the Bryan Center. There are also plans to open a new location at RDU Airport and, as of Juneteenth this year, Beyu Coffee is now being sold at Food Lion locations across NC. Add this impressive and delicious spot to your list next time you’re looking for a tasty lunch or a locally brewed cup of joe.

Up-and-Coming East Durham Scene: Homebucha (304 S Driver St, 27703) From a closet brew to a downtown kitchen to a new brick-and-mortar location in East Durham, Homebucha will be your new hot spot for traditionally fermented kombucha. The new location will open in August and bring in a new era of shops to East Durham, including Mike D’s BBQ and Congress Bar & Café, which are building on the success of fellow East Durham businesses like Rofhiwa Book Café, Bull City Sweet Shoppe, and Little Homestead Farm.

This is but a mere sampling of the incredible craft beverage spots Durham has to offer. Be sure to pick up your Durham Drinks Craft Beverage Guide at the Discover Durham Visitor Information Center (212 W Main St, #101) or request a free copy via mail here. Check out the 35+ locations around town that are sure to tickle your taste buds and provide that unique Bull City beverage experience.