N.C. Beer Month hops into spring

  • Crowds gathered on March 28 to celebrate Buck Bald Brewing Murphy’s first year in its new location and enjoyed the new bar railing. Buck Bald has been in Murphy for the last four years, with its new location, the renovated former Wherehouse, providing more space in downtown nestled into the curve of Valley River Avenue. Attendees dined on food from BigHead’s Grub and listened to live music from Dead Bread and the Loafers as well as One Trick Pony. The brewery’s flagship location is in Copperhill, Tenn.
    Crowds gathered on March 28 to celebrate Buck Bald Brewing Murphy’s first year in its new location and enjoyed the new bar railing. Buck Bald has been in Murphy for the last four years, with its new location, the renovated former Wherehouse, providing more space in downtown nestled into the curve of Valley River Avenue. Attendees dined on food from BigHead’s Grub and listened to live music from Dead Bread and the Loafers as well as One Trick Pony. The brewery’s flagship location is in Copperhill, Tenn.

    Murphy – The N.C. Craft Brewers Guild is getting ready to “Hop into Spring” with a celebration of all the hoppiness that can be found at many breweries across the state.

    The official day of celebration for N.C. Pint Day is Sunday, when you can enjoy a day with a glass of your locally brewed goodness at Buck Bald Brewing. 

    The annual event kicks off its third year five days after National Beer Day, which is celebrated every April 7 – the day the Cullen-Harrison Act went into effect in 1933 repealing Prohibition following passage of the 21st Amendment to the Constitution. 

    The N.C. Craft Brewers Guild aims to spotlight local breweries around the state by having participating breweries offer collector’s edition pint glasses.

    A dollar from every pint glass purchase goes to the guild’s fund to promote the brand N.C. Beer with increased visibility, and protect the state’s brewing industry with legal advocacy and legislative lobbying. It also prepares the state’s craft beer industry by facilitating the exchange of knowledge and support among members.

    Pint glass prices will vary by location. The guild also offers low-cost educational opportunities for those entering the brewing industry.

    Only available at participating breweries, this year’s glasses were designed by Asheville-based artist Sadie Tynch and feature a distinctly western North Carolina influence with the state’s diverse wildlife including a black bear, brook trout, red fox and white squirrel. 

    Buck Bald Brewing Murphy is the only participating brewery in Cherokee County this year. Owner Patrick Keenan said this is the third year he has participate in the celebration.

    New this year to “Hopping into Spring” with N.C. Beer is the Untappd app, which allows customers to “check in” at their favorite breweries, pubs, restaurants, wineries and more. The app is offering a special “Hop into Spring” badge for participating in this year’s special brew day across the state. 

    Buck Bald Brewing Murphy has earned five medals from the app’s Untappd Community Awards, “with four beers, one medaled twice, that were among the most highly rated by Untappd users in 2025.”

    Details: Visit buckbaldbrewing.com and drinkncbeer.org/nc-pint-day.