Well Travelled Beer to open today downtown
By Ethan Smith
Published in News on June 15, 2016 1:46 PM
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News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
John, left, and Sam Hodge pose for a photo behind a display of a variety of the beers available in their downtown business, Well Travelled Beer, that will open today.
Step away from the Bud Light. Drop the Pabst Blue Ribbon.
The long awaited, first-ever craft beer store in Goldsboro opens today at 3 p.m.
Well Travelled Beer, located at 201 S. Center St., carries a stock of more than 160 craft beers from all over the state, nation and world.
The price tag system in the store reflects where the beer is sourced from.
A green price tag with a bicycle on it means the beer is local; a blue tag with a truck means out of state; and a red tag with a boat means the beer came from overseas.
"We are starting modestly and feeling Goldsboro out," said one of the two owners, Sam Hodge, who co-owns the beer store with his brother, John. "We have room to expand."
The store's hours will be from Tuesday to Thursday, 3 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., Friday and Saturday from 3 p.m. until whenever crowds die down, and yet to be determined hours on Sunday. Well Travelled Beer will be closed on Mondays.
In addition to the store's hefty beer stock, it will also carry wine and serve beer on tap. There will be eight different rotating beer taps where shoppers can grab a cold one and shop the selection.
"We will always be cycling the beers on tap," Hodge said. "There will probably always be an IPA (India Pale Ale), a cider, a pilsner and one or two dark beers, but mainly we'll rotate the beers with the seasons."
The name of the craft beer store comes from the brothers' love of traveling, and their love of trying different beers wherever they may go.
The brothers originally hoped to open the store in February, but delays in getting the bar for the store built set back the opening date.
"We were under the impression it would take 10 days to build the bar," Hodge said. It ended up taking longer than we thought and we had to figure something else out."
Hodge said the store will start a beer membership program, where members will receive special benefits for signing up.
"They can come to the store to inquire about the membership, but beer members will get dibs on special releases, and will be able to have new releases held for them when it's a first come, first serve situation if they can't make it down the day of the release," Hodge said.
Hodge said those with a beer membership will get a new beer to try each month in the form of a six pack, four pack, bomber or otherwise. They will also get a plank to decorate for the pallet wall behind the bar.
The craft beer store is situated on the corner of South Center Street that intersects Chestnut Street. The building the business occupies was constructed in 1876. Since that time it has housed everything from a grocery store to a fine dining restaurant as well as several different appliance stores.
More information about the store can be found at www.welltravelledbeer.com.