We’re in the thick of the celebration of the third annual North Carolina Craft Beer Month… Happy April!  Here at the Saxapahaw General Store we are welcoming a brand new beer buyer from within our staff.  Kevin Coble took on the position of beer buyer, and after six years of being a home brewer himself, brewing at Natty Greens, and working hard in the Saxapahaw General Store kitchen, we highly trust the opinions of our house Cicerone.

In celebration of NC beer month, we’ve asked Kevin to recommend some of his top picks.  Kevin’s first pick is Haw River Farmhouse Ales’ Beneath the Feet of Orion Saison.  Saison (French for ‘season’) is a beer typically brewed through the winter to be enjoyed in the warmer months of spring and summer.  This particular saison is brewed with fresh ginger root from Pittsboro and 200 pounds of fresh carrots.  It is a well-balanced, bright beer with just enough of a kick to make it perfect for drinking on warm spring and summer evenings.  Haw River Farmhouse Ales’ owner, Ben Woodward is dedicated to brewing classically flavored beers with local ingredients and always a little twist to achieve great tasting and pairing brews, this one is no exception. With the warm weather; first blossoms of tulips, daffodils, and Bradford pear trees; and bursts of bright green, we say, “Tis the Saison!”

Haw River Farmhouse Ales brewery is located right here in Saxapahaw, NC.  After four years of planning and preparation, brewmaster Ben Woodward opened his brewery in October 2014.  The tasting room is open on Thursday and Friday from 4-8pm, and on Saturday and Sunday from 2-8pm.  Make the trip out to Saxapahaw to try out Beneath the Feet of Orion, or one of the other great beers from Haw River Ales, like the Three Laws Black Saison, or their Oak-Aged Farmhouse on Persimmons.  Keep up with events and new brews from Haw River Farmhouse Ales by checking in with them on Facebook, twitter @HawRiverAles, or Instagram: hawriverales.