Born and Brewed
Born and Brewed: A new non-alcoholic beer brand debuts in WNC
Bright Barrel beer can be purchased online or in select regional locations.
A new brand of non-alcoholic beer has launched in Western North Carolina. Founder Caleb Drown first pitched the idea at Masthead Coworking’s Idea Expo in Wilkesboro, where he was given a prize of $1000. A Marine Corps veteran, Drown became sober after a difficult period in his life, and after tasting a particularly delicious non-alcoholic beer, he was inspired to create his own company. Eventually, Down met co-founder Brian Garrison, and the two have driven the business forward.
Although non-alcoholic beer is a great alternative for those avoiding alcohol, it has other benefits as well. “Beer itself would be good for you if it weren’t for the alcohol,” Drown explains. “Alcohol cancels a lot of the [positive] effects . . . if you take that alcohol out or don’t actually create the alcohol in the first place, a beer actually becomes a hydrating drink because it’s high in electrolytes and then certain types of salts as well.”
Bright Barrel’s flagship brew, which is available at select restaurants and breweries in Hickory, Wilkesboro, and Asheville, is an IPA that Garrison and Drown are calling an Appalachian Pale. They’ve also recently released a hop water, and in the coming months, will debut an amber ale, called the Alpenglow, to be available throughout Western North Carolina.
BRIGHT BARREL
For a list of businesses who sell Bright Barrel, wholesale buying opportunities, and more information about their products, visit bright-barrel.com.