Tap Handle #97: Carolina Beer/Foothills Brewing - Carolina Blonde

I like nautical collectibles like lobster traps and glass floats, so when I saw this lighthouse from Carolina Beer, I had to have it. I like it better than the Miller Lite lighthouse - it must be the black and white stripes.

Carolina Beer and Beverage was formed in 1997 by J. Michael Smith and John Stritch, brewing a dozen beers including the popular Carolina Blonde. In 2001 the company began to do contract packaging services, and evolved into a world-class packaging producer for both national and international brands of malted beverages, distilled spirits, energy drinks, and other beverages. The packaging service proved to be so lucrative that in 2011 Carolina Beer Company sold their beer division to Foothills Brewing Company, including all brands, brewing equipment, and trademarks.

Foothills Brewing, located in Winston-Salem, was founded in 2005 by Jaime Bartholomaus and the owners of Blue Ridge Brewery in Greenville. Bartholomaus was an anthropology student at the University of Georgia who volunteered at Blind Man Ales. After graduating with an anthropology degree, he did some archaeology before getting back into brewing. The brewery building was originally a car dealership and dates back to 1928. A couple of nightclubs had existed prior to the brewery and the building had to be extensively remodeled. At one point Bartholomaus was the only brewer, creating beers he had developed while home brewing during college. The company originally had seven core beers and at least one seasonal. In 2011, Foothills purchased Carolina Beer and also the Cottonwood Brewery, and in 2012 they built a new facility across town to brew and bottle the Carolina Beer and Cottonwood brands.

Carolina Blonde is a blond ale brewed with blond malts and a blend of special hops. Weighted average on ratebeer.com  is 2.47 out of 5.

Foothills Brewing Official Website