Natty Greene’s Pub and Brewing Now Open

TriangleExplorer
03/08 11:40 PM

This is awesome. The beer scene in Raleigh keeps getting better and better. I am looking forward to trying all of their new beers. This will be a great addition to the downtown scene. Can’t wait to check it out!

Michelle
03/09 11:52 AM

The more Brewery options the better. Thanks for the info.

Collins
03/09 12:18 PM

I had a chance to go there Saturday night for some free beer and food.  I tried all of the seasonal beers and a few of the year-round brews.  The Dark Munich Lager and Abbey Dubbel were my favorites but they were all good. Great to have another local brewery in the area.

Carver
03/09 01:10 PM

I enjoyed my chicken sandwich and even better the “Delicious - Commoner Kolsch” I had! Welcome to Raleigh, NC Natty Greene’s Brewing Co.

chris
03/09 01:25 PM

What about a gluten-free beer?

james
03/09 02:56 PM

“What about a gluten-free beer?”

They exist…and they aren’t very good. Using sorghum in beer is like using tofu in food, and you don’t see chefs using tofu in their restaurants (not good ones at least). I’m sure it sucks for people with gluten intolerance, but it’s essentially an impossible mission for a brewer to make a good gluten free beer. Now it might be nice for them to carry some bottles behind the shelf (from another brewery—Bards for example), but no brewer really wants to put their name on a beer that taste like crap.

ben
03/09 04:47 PM

james, thank you for speaking so eloquently on behalf of all good chefs and brewers of the world.

klute
03/09 06:53 PM

Somebody gonna be mad about that tofu comment.

abbsouth
03/09 08:37 PM

getting mad about tofu cracks would be like trying to take the corn syrup out of american food… why bother? more to the point, all the more tofu prepared brilliantly by the many excellent chefs who do use it. and i can’t wait to try the hoppiest beer Natty Greene’s has to offer! liking tofu don’t mean you don’t love flavor.

james
03/09 10:54 PM

“james, thank you for speaking so eloquently on behalf of all good chefs and brewers of the world.”

I’ll embrace the sarcasm and ask if you’ve ever had any gluten-free beer? I’ll leave the tofu comment alone (and yes I’ve had a lot of tofu in my day…but I’m honest about it’s limitations). All I’m trying to say is that asking if a brewer will make beer with sorghum is like asking if a chef will make dishes with tofu (as the main course). Chefs can make vegetarian dishes in other innovative ways…brewers don’t have that luxury.

tc
03/10 12:08 AM

“I’ll embrace the sarcasm and ask if you’ve ever had any gluten-free beer?”

Actually, Left Hand makes a pretty good gluten-free beer.

james
03/10 12:53 AM

“Actually, Left Hand makes a pretty good gluten-free beer.”
What’s it called? I’m (honestly) interested in trying. I’ve also failed to mention that I’m very excited about Natty Greene’s coming to Raleigh, as every beer of their’s that I’ve tried has been really good. It’ll be nice to see some fun experimenting. Hell I’d try a gluten-free beer…I’m just saying that I wouldn’t count on it.

Tom from Raleigh
03/10 02:06 PM

I brought a gluten-free beer to the Raleigh Homebrewed event based on the request posted here on New Raleigh.  For the most part, I agree with James in that most gluten free beers will put off the normal beer drinker.  For a brewpub to brew a batch of beer, they have to know they can sell through that beer quickly.  If people taste GF beer made from sorghum, they’re likely to think that the brewer brews bad beer, b/c sorghum tastes like ass.  That’s why you’re more likely to find GF beer in bottles under a different brand name.  I won’t brew another gluten-free beer b/c I thought it tasted terrible.

tc
03/10 02:31 PM

“What’s it called? I’m (honestly) interested in trying.”

I got it mixed up, not Left Hand, but Lakefront New Grist Beer.  It’s pretty easy to find.

Now I don’t seek this beer out, but I’d take it over PBR, Fat Tire, or anything from BuschMillerCoors.

JT
03/10 03:07 PM

@james
They exist…and they aren’t very good. Using sorghum in beer is like using tofu in food, and you don’t see chefs using tofu in their restaurants (not good ones at least).

As someone who has dined in Tokyo, San Francisco and NY you do see tofu in lots of dishes.  It’s usually incredible when at the good places and not at all like the stuff you get at Harris Teeter.  They have several beaneries in San Francisco that have great tofu and fresh soy milk.  It hasn’t trickled to NC to my knowledge yet…

Tom from Raleigh
03/10 03:50 PM

I like tofu and I’m far from a vegetarian.  James can certainly defend himself, but my read on his post was not as a slam on tofu but rather as an analogy that expecting a gluten free beverage to taste like beer* is as flawed an exercise as expecting a vegan BLT where tempeh is used in place of bacon, to taste like the real thing.  Both gluten free and vegan ingredients can taste good, but shouldn’t they stand on their own merit and not as a pale imitation of that which they replace?  After all, if you can’t be with the one you love, shouldn’t you love the one you’re with?

Jim
03/10 07:03 PM

@at the gluten-free beer comments: I’ve only been a celiac for a couple years so I know what good (real) beer tastes like and then what GF beer tastes like. While I agree that most GF beers are poor examples of what beer should be, if Natty Greene’s could produce something as acceptable as the Redbridge or Green’s (naming coincidence) GF beers that you find at Whole Foods, then they wouldn’t have a problem putting it into their rotation and selling it to everyone, not just celiacs. Think of it as a challenge to make a good local GF beer. It can be done.

sp
03/11 11:01 AM

maybe my expectations were too high but natty greene’s was a disappointment. the food was mediocre at best and the beer seemed to lack sophistication- none had a standout taste or texture. they have several beers to choose from but they’re all equally uninspiring. the staff was pleasant and extremely attentive but our waitress, when explaining the beers, compared them to bud light, miller light, and blue moon. these comparisons shocked me when spoken but after tasting some beers, unfortunately the comparisons were not too far from the truth. basically this place was like a giant boylan bridge brew pub: cool space with food and beer lagging far behind.

MC
03/11 03:23 PM

How much were the pints?

miamiblue
03/11 05:02 PM

Pints are $4 and tasters (about a 1/4 pint, I’d guess) are $1.50.

I didn’t try all the beers when I went on Monday, but I was pleased with the ones I did try. We tried the Golden, Amber and Abbey Dubbel, with the Dubbel being the favorite of the three and the Amber a close second. I’m not usually a big fan of lighter beers in general, but the Golden was refreshing and had a decent flavor nonetheless. I certainly wouldn’t compare any of the ones I tried to bud light, miller light, etc. I look forward to trying the other varieties as well.

As for food, two of us shared the pork dinner, and while we weren’t huge fans of the slaw, the pork was really tasty with a bit of a nice kick. The portion was huge, and even after we both had our fill there was plenty leftover for lunch the next day.

The space is huge, and I always thought it should be two businesses instead of one giant one. But I hope that they do well.

mkst
03/12 01:42 PM

I’ve been looking forward to the opening of Natty Greene’s in Raleigh. We went for the first time last night, and we were pleased. Not sure I understand the criticism of the food… this is not a fine dining establishment, but it’s way better than average bar food (with even more than ONE veggie option, TYVM). And I liked the Old Town Brown Ale.

What I don’t get is WHAT’S UP with the parking deck?! A $5 pre-pay charge at night?! Geez. I don’t recall that being the case when Southend Brewery was there. I’ve heard that the Natty Greene’s folks were caught off-guard by that. Apparently, Progress Energy owns that deck, and has decided to make some money on it. Not very supportive of the tenant in their space, particularly in this economic climate.

arthurb3
03/12 02:14 PM

Welcome to the City. Most citys charge for parking. I don’t understand why people in Raleigh think the parking should be free?

Andrew
03/12 07:29 PM

Actually Arthur, parking at most if not all city decks in Raleigh are free after 7pm on weeknights and all day on weekends.  So while most cities may charge for parking, as you say, Raleigh doesn’t, at least at certain times.

Welcome to the city.

mkst
03/12 07:59 PM

Andrew: thanks.

arthurb3: I’ve lived in a city most of my life, so please don’t assume I just hitchhiked to RAW-lee from Mayberry.

I want Natty Greene’s to succeed. I’m looking at the market they’re in… there are VERY few restaurants in Raleigh where you would have to pay $5 to park at night. If they were, in fact, told by Progress Energy that the parking in the deck would be free, then that kinda sucks.

smitty
03/13 02:00 AM

Who the hell parks in that deck anyway?  I have been going out downtown since before that deck was there and I’ve never paid to park.

bt
03/13 02:28 AM

all of the beers at natty greene’s are gluten free with the exception of the wildflower wit. try the smoky mountain porter, it’s awesome.

Anton
03/13 05:25 PM

On 03/13 at 12:28 AM, bt said:
“all of the beers at natty greene’s are gluten free with the exception of the wildflower wit. try the smoky mountain porter, it’s awesome. “

Say what? I’m 100% certain that all of their beers are not gluten free. Producing a gluten free beer means you have to use sorghum or some such grist. Natty Greene’s uses barley and/or wheat malt, so there’ll be plenty of gluten in that.

DPK
03/14 12:11 PM

The solution is simple - don’t park in that parking deck.  There’s tons of free parking around the area.  Park over by Boylan and walk a few blocks to get some exercise.  Don’t be lazy.