7pm. $50 a person.
RSVP: info@busybeeraleigh.com or 919.424.7817.

As many of you know, parts of Raleigh were devastated by tornadoes and storms yesterday. While our friends at the Busy Bee were spared any damage, they lost power on Saturday. As of noon on Sunday, they’re still without power.

No income on a Saturday night, and who knows about Sunday. That sucks for an independently-owned restaurant. Now I’ll tell you what: Woody, Chris, and Chef Jeremy are scrappy, can-do kind of guys, and we know they’ll be fine.

But here’s a way you can help, right now.

Join us TUESDAY MAY 3 for an amazing collaborative beer and bourbon dinner, featuring Fullsteam and Duck-Rabbit beers aged in Elijah Craig barrels. We’re bringing bourbon-barrel-aged Hogwash (a.k.a., “Pork Barrel”). Also on the menu: bourbon-barrel-aged Duck-Rabbit Milk Stout, bourbon cocktails, and amazing food. Brooks, Chris, Mary Beth and Sean will be there…Paul from The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery will be there…a distiller from Elijah Craig will be there.

You should be there too.

Support The Busy Bee and help them recover from a dark Saturday. Make your reservation by emailing info@busybeeraleigh.com or calling 919.424.7817. It’s $50 a person. Given the food, the bourbon, and the beer…that’s a great value. Even better: you’re helping a local treasure recover from a crappy weekend.

Help make a difference, and have a lot of fun in the process. We hope to see you there.

Food menu:
- NC Pork Rillette- green pickles, caper berry, apple butter, mustard.
- NC Softshell- miso caramel, ramps, sweet potato, anson mills grits.
- NC Lamb- rose H2O, black pepper, celery, hominy, radish.
- Duck- rabbit, oats, red kale, turnip.
- Banana Bread Pudding with maple and walnuts.

We decided to have some fun with our Hogwash shirts…we asked The Barbecue Joint in Chapel Hill if they’d be willing to smoke ‘em. And they did.

Here’s video proof.

The shirts turned out really swell.  Smoked 0r non-smoked, they’re soft and extraordinarily comfortable. And I’m not, er, blowing smoke up your…well, let’s just say I’m being truthful when I say that the smoked version is somehow very relaxing. It has a calming effect on me, which these days is a real bonus.

Plus, look at Sophie’s face. Peaceful. Serene. More than happy to spend a few dollars to help out a fledgling brewery. (Well, maybe not that last part).

Yes, I will stoop this low to sell t-shirts

Okay, sure…the wood infusion will go away after a few washes. But it doesn’t cost you any extra! And it’s a freakin’ smoked shirt! How cool is that?

SO…would you kindly consider ordering your very own hickory-smoked (or non-smoked) Hogwash shirt? I really need to get rid of some inventory. It smells so good here in the house, I’m constantly craving pancakes.

Visit the Fullsteam Paraphernalia Factory and Emporium!

NOTE: all the skinny kids are ordering Hogwash shirts. We’re currently out of Men’s medium and large, but have plenty of XL and 2XL. Ladies: please email first before placing an order…we have only a few women’s shirts left.

Many thanks to The Barbecue Joint. Give ‘em a visit!

We poured Fullsteam, Sweet Potato, and Hogwash! for a modest but enthusiastic crowd.

Takeaway #1 was that the smokiness of Hogwash! is pronounced on its own, but subdued when paired with Carolina barbecue.

Takeaway #2 is that our Sweet Potato beer pairs surprisingly well with naner puddin.

Many thanks to Gary Cole, Executive Director of the Theater of the American South, Barry Page of the Arts Council of Wilson, and to Sandra Homes of the Wilson Visitors Bureau, all of whom made our participation possible! And thanks to Amanda and her team at The Pit! You guys rock!

Here are a few more pictures of the evening, and a shoddily-produced video by yours truly.

(in case you can’t see the image, visit http://fullsteam.ag/I8)

Movie reference in the header! Who knows what movie?

Anyway, here’s the front for our new Hogwash! shirts! Many thanks to AdAm Peele of ahPeele design for his mad screenprinting skills. Once again, AdAm is a hero.

The back of the shirts include a small Fullsteam logo and a “beyond sweet tea” tagline.  This round we’re printing men’s and women’s shirts in both chocolate and natural off-white.

We’re not yet set-up to sell shirts online, but if you’re interested in a shirt, send me a quick hello! We printed these shirts for the Wilson event, but I’m thinking we’ll have leftovers.

32 and I are very excited to serve free samples of Hogwash (and Fullsteam and Sweet Potato) in the heart of eastern ‘cue country. Even more exciting that it’s in conjunction with native Wilson resident Ed Mitchell of The Pit (Wilsoner? Wilsoneer? Someone correct me on this!).

Not only is this weekend is a big premiere for us, it’s a great test case on whether our idea of beer beyond sweet tea resonates in markets outside of the usual craft beer norm.

Here’s a great article on our visit to Wilson. We hope to meet you there!