© Copyright 2023 BBM Approved LLC.
On a Dark Desert Highway
On a dark desert highway...nope that's not it! Oh yeah, it was a bright, sunny October morning. Magnificent
weather to travel a little under three hours to the beautiful city of Durham, North Carolina. You couldn't ask for
better weather. Not a cloud in the sky and highs in the 70's. Beerdedbeerman was fortunate enough to have
craft beer loving friends who live within five minutes of the World Beer Fest! Durham is a vibrant city with an
amazingly youthful feel. The downtown area seems to be going through a rejuvenation and is filled with people
from all walks of life. Durham offers a myriad of music, entertainment and tons of fun just a short trip south.
The wife and I were escorted around town to a few of the city’s breweries that are all top notch. Our tour
included Bull City Burgers & Brewery, Dirty Bull, Ponysauris and even a quaint little coffee shop to appease my
wife’s new-found obsession with iced coffee. Yes, she’s obsessed! She’ll even search Google for area coffee
shops when we are out of town! Insert eye-roll! Don’t tell her, but I think she may be addicted.
Our tour began at Bull City Burgers & Brewery. Bull City Burgers & Brewery is an awesome little spot on East
Parrish Street. Bull City features a wonderful menu with “farm to fork” pasture raised beef. They brew their own
beers on site throughout the year, rotating on an 18-month cycle, with 59 different types of “true-to-style” ales and
lagers. The food there is truly amazing. There’s nothing quite like a fresh burger with anything and everything to
garnish them with; including truffle mayonnaise. Oh, and did I mention the shoe string fries that were deep fried
in duck fat. I think I just gained 5 pounds writing this! Bull City was bustling that Friday with patrons coming in to
partake of their incredible food and latest brews.
They also have a full bar for those who prefer something other than beer. What?! Prefer something other than
beer? I know, it confuses me too. But, as luck would have it, we just happened to be sitting at the bar enjoying the
company, the food and the beer when a rep from a local distillery popped in and bought everyone at the bar a
round of drinks featuring a locally distilled rice-based vodka. Did someone say pickle martini? OMG! Don’t knock
it until you try it folks!
After the burgers, fries and beers (and pickle martinis), we headed to Ponysaurus Brewing located on Hood Street.
As Ponysaurus’ website touts, “The beer beer would drink if beer could drink beer.” Ponysaurus is located in an
industrial like area with a wonderful atmosphere and plenty of space inside and outside with an outdoor patio and
beer garden. You can partake from the local food truck and cool off under the misters on a steamy October afternoon.
Ponysaurus offers quite a selection on tap so a flight was in order. While seated outside under an umbrella chatting
with my long-time friend, Cheri, she came up with a fabulous idea. Why not construct a personalized flight tray made
specifically for Beerdedbeerman to take with me when I visit breweries! After much discussion and a few more beers,
it was determined that it would be aptly called “Flights in Motion.” More on this in the next issue!
Next it was on to Fullsteam Brewery on Rigsbee Avenue. Another fun and funky brewery in Durham that has a fun and
funky vibe to it. Fullsteam promotes “from plow to pint” by purchasing as much local ingredients as they can from North
Carolina farmers and food producers. It’s family friendly atmosphere and industrial but unique feel are much of the
reason it’s so popular in the area.
Last, but not least, Durty Bull Brewing Co. located on Broadway Street and within walking distance of our “home away
from home” for the weekend. Durty Bull is a 15-barrell production brewery located near downtown Durham. In 2016
Beer Advocate named it one of the 34 best new breweries in the United States. They specialize in barrel-aged and
sours. Durty Bull is a great spot for locals to hang out. #drinkdurty.
Saturday called for college football, pizza and beer. Then a quick trip to the local “bottle shop” to peruse the offerings
of North Carolina’s craft breweries and conveniently within walking distance of Duke’s campus. Lucky devils! With
purchases made, we headed back to get ready for the main event. Durham’s World Beer Fest. Of course, I had to
don my kilt and accoutrements – beer tastes better when you’re wearing a kilt. Try it some time. Our hosts, Mrs.
Beerdedbeerman and I were finally ready and patiently waited outside for our “lyft” to the festival. We arrived and were
all looking forward to partaking in the North Carolina breweries would be at the festival. While waiting in line to enter
the Durham Bull’s stadium, the wife looks at me and says, “You have your ID, right?” Oh no, I completely forgot it! No ID,
no entry. So, the ladies stayed in line and my wonderful friend, Steve, accompanied me, albeit frustrated, back to his
home to retrieve my driver’s license. Our driver was so entertained by my story of forgetting my driver’s license that he
actually gave us a free ride back to the festival. I finally returned and we began our tour around the ballpark. We even
had the pleasure of seeing local favorite, Parkway Brewing Company, in the house! Much fun was had by all and we
finally headed back to our friends’ home for some much-needed resting of the feet.
One thing I’ve learned in my numerous trips around the sun, life is much better spent with friends and family. I hope this
article finds you surrounded by those you love with beer to enjoy!
Who knows what new adventures the Beerdedbeerman will encounter next!?! Tune in the February/March issue for more
on Flights in Motion! Cheers!
Bull City Burger & Brewery
Cask-Conditioned Orange Vanilla Golden Ale – An orange nose with an orange/vanilla forward and smoothness all the
way through.
Hop Gauntlet – IPA
A traditional India Pale Ale with a grassy nose and citrus bitter.
Stierstadt Octoberfest Lager – A wonderfully traditional lager that has a slight sweetness and a slight dry finish.
Honeycutt Milk Stout – Roasted malt nose, lactose sweet and chocolate bitter.
Ponysaurus
Export Stout – Rich molasses nose, malt forward and slightly sweet with a coffee bitter finish.
Oyster Saison
Malty, floral nose. A very traditional saison.
Fullsteam Brewery
The Usual – Now that’s a great name for a beer, just sayin’! Hoppy American Wheat with a distinct wheat nose, slightly
sweet forward and finishes with a bit of bitter hops.
Working Man’s Lunch – Fullsteam’s tribute to the Southern man’s original lunch, an RC Cola and a MoonPie. Roasted
malt and nutty on the nose, with hints of chocolate and a bitter finish.
Durty Bull Brewing Co.
Cross Your Tea Dot Your IPA
Collaboration beer with Destihl. Fruity nose, slightly sweet, lemon tea infused.
weather to travel a little under three hours to the beautiful city of Durham, North Carolina. You couldn't ask for
better weather. Not a cloud in the sky and highs in the 70's. Beerdedbeerman was fortunate enough to have
craft beer loving friends who live within five minutes of the World Beer Fest! Durham is a vibrant city with an
amazingly youthful feel. The downtown area seems to be going through a rejuvenation and is filled with people
from all walks of life. Durham offers a myriad of music, entertainment and tons of fun just a short trip south.
The wife and I were escorted around town to a few of the city’s breweries that are all top notch. Our tour
included Bull City Burgers & Brewery, Dirty Bull, Ponysauris and even a quaint little coffee shop to appease my
wife’s new-found obsession with iced coffee. Yes, she’s obsessed! She’ll even search Google for area coffee
shops when we are out of town! Insert eye-roll! Don’t tell her, but I think she may be addicted.
Our tour began at Bull City Burgers & Brewery. Bull City Burgers & Brewery is an awesome little spot on East
Parrish Street. Bull City features a wonderful menu with “farm to fork” pasture raised beef. They brew their own
beers on site throughout the year, rotating on an 18-month cycle, with 59 different types of “true-to-style” ales and
lagers. The food there is truly amazing. There’s nothing quite like a fresh burger with anything and everything to
garnish them with; including truffle mayonnaise. Oh, and did I mention the shoe string fries that were deep fried
in duck fat. I think I just gained 5 pounds writing this! Bull City was bustling that Friday with patrons coming in to
partake of their incredible food and latest brews.
They also have a full bar for those who prefer something other than beer. What?! Prefer something other than
beer? I know, it confuses me too. But, as luck would have it, we just happened to be sitting at the bar enjoying the
company, the food and the beer when a rep from a local distillery popped in and bought everyone at the bar a
round of drinks featuring a locally distilled rice-based vodka. Did someone say pickle martini? OMG! Don’t knock
it until you try it folks!
After the burgers, fries and beers (and pickle martinis), we headed to Ponysaurus Brewing located on Hood Street.
As Ponysaurus’ website touts, “The beer beer would drink if beer could drink beer.” Ponysaurus is located in an
industrial like area with a wonderful atmosphere and plenty of space inside and outside with an outdoor patio and
beer garden. You can partake from the local food truck and cool off under the misters on a steamy October afternoon.
Ponysaurus offers quite a selection on tap so a flight was in order. While seated outside under an umbrella chatting
with my long-time friend, Cheri, she came up with a fabulous idea. Why not construct a personalized flight tray made
specifically for Beerdedbeerman to take with me when I visit breweries! After much discussion and a few more beers,
it was determined that it would be aptly called “Flights in Motion.” More on this in the next issue!
Next it was on to Fullsteam Brewery on Rigsbee Avenue. Another fun and funky brewery in Durham that has a fun and
funky vibe to it. Fullsteam promotes “from plow to pint” by purchasing as much local ingredients as they can from North
Carolina farmers and food producers. It’s family friendly atmosphere and industrial but unique feel are much of the
reason it’s so popular in the area.
Last, but not least, Durty Bull Brewing Co. located on Broadway Street and within walking distance of our “home away
from home” for the weekend. Durty Bull is a 15-barrell production brewery located near downtown Durham. In 2016
Beer Advocate named it one of the 34 best new breweries in the United States. They specialize in barrel-aged and
sours. Durty Bull is a great spot for locals to hang out. #drinkdurty.
Saturday called for college football, pizza and beer. Then a quick trip to the local “bottle shop” to peruse the offerings
of North Carolina’s craft breweries and conveniently within walking distance of Duke’s campus. Lucky devils! With
purchases made, we headed back to get ready for the main event. Durham’s World Beer Fest. Of course, I had to
don my kilt and accoutrements – beer tastes better when you’re wearing a kilt. Try it some time. Our hosts, Mrs.
Beerdedbeerman and I were finally ready and patiently waited outside for our “lyft” to the festival. We arrived and were
all looking forward to partaking in the North Carolina breweries would be at the festival. While waiting in line to enter
the Durham Bull’s stadium, the wife looks at me and says, “You have your ID, right?” Oh no, I completely forgot it! No ID,
no entry. So, the ladies stayed in line and my wonderful friend, Steve, accompanied me, albeit frustrated, back to his
home to retrieve my driver’s license. Our driver was so entertained by my story of forgetting my driver’s license that he
actually gave us a free ride back to the festival. I finally returned and we began our tour around the ballpark. We even
had the pleasure of seeing local favorite, Parkway Brewing Company, in the house! Much fun was had by all and we
finally headed back to our friends’ home for some much-needed resting of the feet.
One thing I’ve learned in my numerous trips around the sun, life is much better spent with friends and family. I hope this
article finds you surrounded by those you love with beer to enjoy!
Who knows what new adventures the Beerdedbeerman will encounter next!?! Tune in the February/March issue for more
on Flights in Motion! Cheers!
Bull City Burger & Brewery
Cask-Conditioned Orange Vanilla Golden Ale – An orange nose with an orange/vanilla forward and smoothness all the
way through.
Hop Gauntlet – IPA
A traditional India Pale Ale with a grassy nose and citrus bitter.
Stierstadt Octoberfest Lager – A wonderfully traditional lager that has a slight sweetness and a slight dry finish.
Honeycutt Milk Stout – Roasted malt nose, lactose sweet and chocolate bitter.
Ponysaurus
Export Stout – Rich molasses nose, malt forward and slightly sweet with a coffee bitter finish.
Oyster Saison
Malty, floral nose. A very traditional saison.
Fullsteam Brewery
The Usual – Now that’s a great name for a beer, just sayin’! Hoppy American Wheat with a distinct wheat nose, slightly
sweet forward and finishes with a bit of bitter hops.
Working Man’s Lunch – Fullsteam’s tribute to the Southern man’s original lunch, an RC Cola and a MoonPie. Roasted
malt and nutty on the nose, with hints of chocolate and a bitter finish.
Durty Bull Brewing Co.
Cross Your Tea Dot Your IPA
Collaboration beer with Destihl. Fruity nose, slightly sweet, lemon tea infused.