- EVER SINCE IT OPENED, LOVERS OF BEER, FOOD
AND GOOD TIMES HAVE FLOCKED TO GLENWOOD SOUTH'S
LATEST GATHERING SPOT, THE RALEIGH
BEER GARDEN, AND I WONDERED WHY?
IS IT THE 366 BEERS ON TAP, OR THE 144
NORTH CAROLINA CRAFT BREWS, OR MAYBE IT'S
THE TWO STORY, 8,500 SQUARE FOOT FACILITY
THAT HOUSES THIS BEHEMOTH OF BREW.
WELL, I HEARD YOU'LL ONLY KNOW IF YOU GO.
SO I INVITED MY COLLEAGUE MATTHEW ADDISON
TO SHOW ME AROUND AFTER DARK.
[BRIGHT MUSIC]
THE RALEIGH BEER GARDEN IS GLENWOOD SOUTH'S
BIG SHINY NEW ATTRACTION AND IT'S JUST SO HUGE
I THOUGHT I'D RECRUIT A LITTLE BIT OF ASSISTANCE
TO HELP ME NAVIGATE THE TERRITORY.
ENTER MATTHEW ADDISON, HEY!
- HEY, DEB.
- WHAT MAKES THIS YOUR FAVORITE GO TO IN RALEIGH?
- WELL, RALEIGH BEER GARDEN IS THE DESTINATION
IN RALEIGH AND IT'S MY GO TO WHENEVER
I HAVE FRIENDS OR FAMILY COME VISIT,
SO I'M EXCITED TO HAVE YOU COME.
I LOVE THIS PLACE, IT'S FAMILY FRIENDLY,
DOG FRIENDLY, EVEN DATE FRIENDLY.
- COOL, WELL LET'S GO CHECK IT OUT.
- LET'S DO IT.
- TAKE A WALK THROUGH THE RALEIGH BEER GARDEN
YOU'LL FIND IT LIVELY, WARM AND LARGE,
A REFLECTION REALLY OF OWNER NIALL HANLEY.
AND IF YOU HEARD ANY RUMORS ABOUT HIM
PERSONALLY DESIGNING THIS SPACE.
- I DID INDEED, YEAH, I DID INDEED.
SO I HAVE A LITTLE BIT OF A HORTICULTURAL BACKGROUND.
I LIKE BEER, FUNNY THAT, BEING IRISH.
SO THE MIX OF BEER AND PLANTS, I MEAN YOU SEE
A LOT OF BEER GARDENS THAT ARE NOT BEER GARDENS.
I TRULY WANTED PEOPLE TO WALK IN AND SAY,
THIS IS A GARDEN AND IT'S GOT BEER.
THERE'S A COUPLE OF QUIRKY LITTLE THINGS THAT WE DID HERE,
OUR COUNTERS BEHIND US ARE ACTUALLY BEAUTIFUL OLD
PECAN TREES THAT WE SALVAGED FROM THE PROPERTY.
AND THEN WE HAD THE LUCK OF FINDING A NICE MAN
IN CREEDMOOR, NORTH CAROLINA, WHO SOLD US A PIN OAK.
SO, IN THE FRONT AND I'M SURE YOU'LL DO A SHOT OF IT,
WE HAVE A BEAUTIFUL 45 FOOT DISASSEMBLED FROM A GUY'S
FRONT YARD REASSEMBLED PIN OAK IN OUR LIQUOR BAR.
THE VENUE HAS THE LUXURY OF HAVING TWO WORLD RECORDS,
FOR ONE THING THE LARGEST NUMBER OF TAPS IN THE WORLD,
AND THE LARGEST NUMBER OF BREWERIES,
SO WE'RE VERY PROUD OF THAT.
UPSTAIRS, WE HAVE THE INTERNATIONAL
BEER BAR AND U.S. BEER BAR, WHICH IS
OBVIOUSLY INTERNATIONAL IN U.S. DRIVES.
AND THEN OUR FRONT BAR WHICH IS KIND OF A SHOWPIECE
BY THAT BIG OLD TREE THAT'S IN THERE, IS THE LIQUOR BAR.
- THERE'S ALSO A ROOFTOP BAR, OVERLOOKING DOWNTOWN RALEIGH
AND FLOURISHED WITH HANLEY'S LIVING HERBS AND PLANTS.
DOWN BELOW, THERE'S OUTDOOR PATIO SEATING,
PERFECT FOR ENJOYING THE FINE NORTH CAROLINA WEATHER.
AND FINALLY, THE NORTH CAROLINA BAR,
FEATURING 144 LOCAL CRAFT BREWS ON TAP.
- WE HAVE A LITTLE SAMPLE FOR YOU HERE.
WE'VE GOT SOME LAGERS, WE'VE GOT SOME WHEAT BEERS,
WE'VE GOT SOME ALES AND WE'VE GOT SOME IPAS
AND THESE ARE ALL FROM LOCAL BREWERIES.
I THINK WHEN WE STARTED BUILDING THIS PLACE
WE WERE GOING TO HAVE A SMALLER TAP LIST.
BUT WE RAPIDLY DISCOVERED THAT THE AMOUNT
OF CRAFT BEERS THAT YOU CAN GET IN NORTH CAROLINA
THAT ARE TOP NOTCH BEERS TURNED THIS INTO
KIND OF AN HOMAGE TO NORTH CAROLINA BEER.
WE'RE GOING TO LOOK AT TWO WHEATS, OK?
SO THE WHEAT BEERS, THIS IS MOTHER EARTH,
THE WEEPING WILLOW, WANT TO TRY THAT?
THIS IS THE LONERIDER SHOTGUN BETTY,
ALL GREAT LOCAL WHEAT BEERS, VERY POPULAR
AND SOME OF OUR BIGGEST SELLERS HERE AT THE BEER GARDEN.
- THAT'S REALLY SMOOTH, EXTREMELY MILD.
BUT YOU KNOW, I THINK I LIKE THE HOPPY BETTER.
YOU'VE GOT ME PEGGED.
- IT REALLY CATCHES YOU, HUH?
- TO GO ALONG WITH THE VAST SELECTION OF BEER
IS A TRULY DIVERSE FOOD MENU, FEATURING ITEMS
MADE FRESH WITH LOCAL PRODUCE AND INGREDIENTS
AND ZERO HANGUPS ABOUT CALORIES.
- WELL TONIGHT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE
A SELECTION OF OUR LITTLE BAR BITES.
SO WE'VE GOT MARINATED OLIVES,
PICKLED VEGETABLE POTS, WE HAVE
CAPRESE VEGETABLE POTS, MAPLE BOURBON BACON.
SO IF YOU'RE TRYING TO LOSE WEIGHT,
I DON'T KNOW IF THIS IS THE CHOICE FOR YOU.
WE HAVE BEER BATTERED FRENCH FRIES
AND IT COMES WITH A CHOICE OF THREE DIPPING SAUCES,
THERE'S A CURRIED MAYO,
A SRIRACHA, AND A LEMON AIOLI MAYO.
WE'RE BRINGING OUT ONE OF OUR BIG PIZZAS
AND WE'VE GOT TWO OF THE BEAUTIFUL SALADS
WHICH IS A LOCAL CORN SALAD AND A KALE,
A LITTLE CHOPPED KALE SALAD, SO I HOPE YOU ENJOY.
- ALL RIGHT, HERE'S TO FIRST DOUBTS.
- CHEERS.
THERE WAS ALSO A SURPRISE FAVORITE OF MINE,
THEIR PHENOMENAL BEER BATTERED PRETZEL.
IT'S SORT OF LIKE A DOUGHNUT DIPPED IN
SOME SORT OF TEMPURA, IT'S SWEET, IT'S HOT,
SOFT IN THE MIDDLE, I'VE NEVER HAD ANYTHING LIKE IT.
- IT'S SINFUL, BUT IT FEELS SO GOOD.
- AT NIGHTTIME, THE ENERGY AT THE RALEIGH BEER GARDEN
COMES IN A DIFFERENT WAY, FROM THE BOTTOM OF EVERY GLASS
TO THE ATMOSPHERE ON THE ROOFTOP, COME OUT AND EXPERIENCE
FOR YOURSELF WHY THIS SPOT'S A GO TO
FOR MATTHEW AND LOTS OF OTHERS.
FOR NORTH CAROLINA WEEKEND, I'M DEBORAH HOLT NOEL.
THE RALEIGH BEER GARDEN IS LOCATED AT
614 GLENWOOD AVENUE IN RALEIGH.
FOR HOURS AND INFORMATION ON SPECIAL EVENTS
CALL 919-324-3415 OR VISIT THEM
ONLINE AT THERALEIGHBEERGARDEN.COM.