I recently made my way to Aviator Brewery, located in Fuquay-Varina, south of Raleigh, NC, for a brewery tour and a few pints. The brewery and tap house are located in an airport hanger. It shares the space with a kit plane built and flown by the owner, Mark Doble. Wooden casks, bags of grain, airplane gear, and a make-shift stage fill the space not occupied by the brewing equipment. Patrons can either stand around the bar or grab a seat at one of the tables. A theater style pop-corn machine churns away in the corner if anyone wants a snack. On the day I went, those looking for a more satisfying meal could get beer-boiled, grilled bratwursts. Weather permitting, the hanger doors are opened, filling the interior with light and a welcome breeze. As the afternoon progresses, local musicians take to the stage to entertain the crowd.
Aviator Brewing Company
The range and quality of available beers points to Mark’s love of the liquid. He has traveled across the world and sampled beers at each stop, picking and choosing the best bits of each. His fondness and knowledge of beer can be seen in the variety he brews. The beers currently offered range from an Irish Red and an ESB to a Belgian Ale and an IPA. A few more unique brews (like a Berliner Weisse) are scheduled to premier at local bars and restaurants.
Aviator Brewery intends to keep their tanks (and employees) busy with full brew schedule, eventually producing at least twelve different beers. Seven will be regular fixtures and five more will be rotating seasonal beers. The beers are currently only available at the brewery or at local bars. Plans for bottling are moving along and the first few cases should be available shortly. Until then, you can stop by the tap house to fill up a growler. For those not down with the lingo, a growler is a half gallon glass jug filled directly from the tap. It will generally keep a couple days, but obviously is best consumed ASAP. Which beer should fill that growler? Well, click through to read about the beers themselves.
Aviator Brewing Company
I haven’t sampled all their beers yet, but I can happily say that I have thoroughly enjoyed each one I did try. Below is a brief description of the beers I have tried. You can read the brewer’s descriptions at their website. If you have tried any of the other beers or have a different opinion, leave a comment!
Currently on the top of my list of favorites is the Old BullDog ESB. This “Extra Special Bitter” is described as a “pale ale on steroids”. It’s a smooth, refreshing beer whose malty taste is rounded out by the flavor hops. Makes you want to drink it from an English pint glass while pretending to be in a pub and starting an all night session with friends.
The Devils Tramping Ground is a Belgian Triple named after an infamous North Carolina landmark. This bourbon barrel conditioned beer is served cool, not ice cold, and has a mild natural carbonation. If you happen to stop by and this beer is available, be sure to try it.
Bourbon cask to age the Triple.
They also have two versions of the HogWild IPA available at the tap house. One regular and one dry hopped. Both were great takes on an IPA (India Pale Ale), but the dry hopped version had an extra punch of flavor that was much appreciated. The dry hops add extra flavor without contributing to the bitterness of the beer.
Fans of stout beers will feel at home with a glass of Kraken Stout in their hands. This dark beer is served via nitrogen at the brewery to enhance the smooth, creamy texture. Don’t be afraid that much light doesn’t pass through this beer; it’s very drinkable and has a great roasted, nutty flavor.
Keep an eye out for these beers in bars if you are in the Raleigh area-or swing by the brewery for the full experience (details at their website). Small, local breweries like this one are ideal places to experience different flavors and you just may end up with a new favorite. Cheers.
Aviator Brewing Company
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