Salty Turtle
Craft brewing has a home in Surf City
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urf City is your typical small beach town. There are miles of beautiful sandy beach, fishing piers and a handful of locally owned restaurants. There has been one void that locals and visitors were hoping to be filled for the longest time — a brewery. That’s where the guys at Salty Turtle came into the picture. In December 2017, they opened the doors to Salty Turtle Beer Company, Pender County’s first brewery and taproom. Salty Turtle Beer Company made its home along the commercial Highway 210 corridor in Surf City, a few miles before the historic Swingbridge on the south side of Topsail Island. “The name Salty Turtle came from our knowledge on the importance of sea turtles in the area and to represent the dedication that Karen Beasley has committed to her Sea Turtle Hospital and Rehabilitation Center,” said Dan Callender. Although the brewery sits on a major road, there are gorgeous grassy and outdoor areas for customers to enjoy their product. The taproom is a vibrant mix of beach colors, with vibrant turquoise accents — and of course, it’s turtle-themed. The entire brewery was organized and built by three owners, and they joke that Dean Kelley did most of the work.
By Nicole Schmidt
“He has the biggest can-do attitude and ability,” Zack White said They rotate local artists’ work on the taproom walls every two months for constant visual change and they even have a window in the taproom to view the brewers hard at work. It’s the VIP treatment we all love to receive. It is obvious they are no strangers to the small beach town state of mind, and that shows with their amazing service and staff. So who are these mysterious deliverers of joy? Zack, Dan and Dean make up the Salty Turtle trifecta of ownership. They each play a role in running Salty Turtle like a welloiled machine. Both Dan and Dean are
50 | Carolina Brew Scene | Summer 2018
U.S. Marines, with Dan still being on active duty. “I’ve had a few years to adjust from being in the military. Being your own boss is not a bad thing — there is still a lot of responsibility in other forms,” Dean said. Both Dean and Dan have a passion for brewing that is apparent in every palatestimulating ounce of beer. Dan can be seen around the brewery, welcoming you with an infectious smile and pouring the perfect beer, while Dean is busy behind the scenes as their head brewer. Zack is a North Carolina native, currently living in fabulous Las Vegas. He has a heart for brewing and the management skills that run along with it, and he is very excited to be working on a brewery project in his home state. “We did a lot of research prior to opening Salty Turtle Beer Company. I think all of us were shocked at how underserved the area was as far as craft beer goes — especially considering the rapid popularity and growth of craft breweries just a few miles short in Wilmington,” he said. “We are certainly proud to be the first ones here. Also, the best ones here! I think STBC will give locals and visitors alike one more thing to look forward to while enjoying time on the island.” The crew at Salty Turtle is proud of being the pioneer brewing establishment
