Probably one of the most recognizable breweries in the state as they are everywhere. Most decent pubs, restaurants, bars and watering holes will either have one or more of Lonerider's beer either on tap or in a bottle. No matter how they serve it you can bet it will be good. This writer has been a fan of Lonerider ever since I had my first Sweet Josie a few years ago after finding it at my local grocery store.
Started in early 2009 CEO/CDO (Chief Drinking Officer) & Founder Sumit Vohra has worked tirelessly to brew a quality beer and also get his beer into the mouths of as many people as he can. Now 4 years later they hold approximately 17% of the craft beer market in North Carolina. With close to 100 craft brewers in the state and with some long time names here this is truly an amazing accomplishment.
In a basic looking building in an area of Raleigh that looks more like you'd find a plant producing corrugated boxes sits the quaint little brewery that brews big beers. The only give a way that it's a brewery other than the name posted on the building is the very nice tap room attached to the front.
This writer lived in Texas for a number of years and the tap room here
at Lonerider has the feel of many of the bars I visited while living
there but mostly resembles a bar in Houston TX I visited frequently
called The Firehouse. Unlike many tap rooms that don't give the feel of
the brand Lonerider put some thought and effort in theirs and it shows
that not only do they care about the beer but they care about the experience of drinking their beer on location.
As you enter the tap room or what they call The Hideout you notice the laid back atmosphere where leashed dogs are allowed on the patio but your horse must remain outside.
As you enter the staff is friendly and very attentive almost immediately. They were fairly busy on my visit but I still was greeted as I walked up to the bar. Like most small craft brewers their beers are right in front of you proudly displayed. You will recognize the staples but will also see the ones you can't get anywhere else.
The menu board is nothing more than a dry erase board that tells me there is a constant change in the seasonal and limited releases.
You will find the flagships:
Shotgun Betty uses her sharpshooting skills to target those that show a weakness for wheat beer with a body that won’t quit. This German-style hefeweizen features a rich, banana-clove nose and refreshing dry finish. 5.8% ABV
Sweet Josie This American brown ale is a complex beer balancing a nice hop bitterness with a generous amount of chocolate and aromatic malts. 6.1% ABV
Peacemaker Pale This well-rounded west coast style pale ale uses several hop varieties and a special blend of malts for a unique and bountiful hop aroma with a balanced bitterness. 5.7% ABV
As of this writing there is:
True Britt Behind this well-mannered facade lies the heart of an outlaw. True Britt is
an English-style session ale that combines spicy hop flavors with a
bready, malt backbone. Always trying to stay one step ahead of the law,
True Britt is never one to stick around town too long. So enjoy this pub
favorite before it’s gone. 4.8% ABV
The Preacher This Belgian-style Saison is created with an American twist. A spicy,
fruity ale with a bright citrus hop kick.7.7% ABV
McComas Weissenhop The only way to describe this beer is to tell you to get one. For the longtime reader of this blog it is no secret that I am typically not a fan of Wheat in beer. Usually I don't even give it a thumbs up or down. However this one is truly a wheat I could find myself drinking. It's the brain child of Brewer David McComas and this beer matches his personality. I asked if this one would be distributed and was told probably not. Just another reason to get over to Raleigh to drink a pint or two of this one. With Peacemaker being my "go to" for this brewery if David has this one or another one it's well worth getting.
One other thing of note is I noticed the cleanliness. Now all breweries I've been in have been impeccably clean so this is not a jab at any of the others. However this one seemed a little cleaner and more organized than any of the others I've been in so far. If you're a home brewer or know anything about brewing cleanliness is key in producing a quality product. I've been in a large commercial brewery in the past and it wasn't as clean and neat as Lonerider.
I also can't say enough about the staff. These guys have helped other brewers in the Triangle area and they have no arrogance what so ever. They also do a program called "Brew It Forward" which is a home brew competition / charity event. Visit http://loneridershowdown.com/ for more information on this program.
A quote found on their website describes them perfectly:
“Effect change, don’t be an audience. Walk your own path, and instead of thinking outside the box imagine what if there was no box.”
Cheers partner!!!
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