On the road again… and our travels in North Carolina this month produced a lot of good times and good food… and good brews.
We took part in the North Carolina Transportation Museum’s Wind & Wings event on March 20-22, sitting next to its Douglas DC-3 restoration project and getting to know the kind folks at the museum. But what would a visit to the Salisbury/Spencer area be without a trial of the local craft scene, and Lexington-style BBQ? And Cheerwine? What is Cheerwine, anyway?
To S’s disappointment, Cheerwine is not wine at all, and decidedly G-rated. Folks growing up in the 70s and 80s will recognize the allusion when I say it is flavored “red” like Kool-Aid, but carbonated and sweet. We tried ours during our dinner at Hendrix BBQ, at its Spencer location, since most BBQ joints in the South tend to lack a liquor permit. It went perfectly with the pulled pork plate and the Lexington “dip,” which is vinegar-based with a tomato-ey twist. Tangy! Sides of green beans, red slaw (minced finely), and hush puppies completed the ensemble.
To whet our whistles a bit more, we cruised over to Salisbury’s quaintly historic main street, and learned of its spicy past with a stop at the Bottle & Can. The craft bar and bottle shop sits on a side street just a short walk to the city park, and Salisbury’s local ordinances allow for the cash & carry of a beverage in a special “social district” cup to picnic or simply promenade along the streets. From the women at Bottle & Can we learned that the town had a reputation for its brothels and saloons back in the day, fitting for the railroad company town it has been for the last ~150 years.
I tried a taster of the Black IPA on tap, but needed something a bit more refreshing, so I opted first for the Messorem 9 Pieds Sous Terre Xtrm Turbo double hazy IPA, a lively version that wore its 9 percent abv lightly, with guava and citrusy pine notes.
Next, I went for the Westbrook Maximum Florida Imperial Berliner Weisse with tropical fruits, a smooth blend that evoked passionfruit and coconut sunscreen. Yum. We learned from the (woman) owner that she stocked beers from outside a 25-mile radius, with the logic that one would visit the local taproom for beer crafted within that circle. A fine concept. I selected a quartet of 16-ouncers to go, and we walked out into the spring evening.
