Craft Draftcrawl

jamie Bartholomaus laughs thinking back to the days when few folks understood that a beer didn’t have to be watered-down or served ice-cold. “Back then, you had to sell people on the idea of craft beer,” says Bartholomaus, who opened Foothills, the city’s first craft brewery, in 2005

Today, downtown’s beer scene is hoppy and hopping, with nine unique craft breweries selling their own brews — all within an easy mile-and-a-half walk.

FIDDLIN’ FISH BREWING COMPANY

Opened in 2017 as the city’s craft brew scene was beginning to expand, Fiddlin’ Fish is a rollicking tap room that draws families, professionals, and sports fans to an industrial space that harkens to its roots as an early 1900s tobacco warehouse. A locals-favorite food truck, Tuning Fork Provisions, is on hand most days with tacos and burgers. fiddlinfish.com, 336.999.8945

Foothills Brewing

Foothills Brewing blazed the trail as the first craft brewery in the city, offering a taste for bold, flavorful brews. Styled like a ‘90s-era brew pub, the brewery is adorned with lots of wood and a vaulted ceiling. Foothills has a restaurant with a pub in the back that serves well-known favorites Hoppyum and Sexual Chocolate, a limited-release imperial stout. foothillsbrewing.com, 336.777.3348

HOOTS ROLLER BAR & BEER CO.

Set in a restored flour mill in the revitalized West End Mill Works complex, Hoots prides itself on offering “blue collar brews of unmatched character,” made with “love and magic.” The cheerful, eclectic tap room perfectly reflects the city’s industrial roots and creative spirit. Recommended brews? Try the Morning Stout, brewed with locally roasted coffee beans, or the best-selling GasHopper IPA. hootspublic.com, 336.608.6026

Incendiary Brewing Company

Innovation Quarter’s only brewery, Incendiary is located in one of the city’s coolest locations, the old coal-fired Bailey Power Plant that powered R.J. Reynolds Tobacco factories. Many folks grab a brew at Incendiary, a wood-fired pizza at neighboring Cugino Forno, and a seat at a picnic table in the 2,000-square foot patio. incendiarybrewing.com, 336.892.6714

Scan the QR code to download a map of Winston-Salem's tap rooms, bars, and pubs, all within an easy, 1.5-mile walk.

Joymongers Barrel Hall

Sitting across from Hanes Park, Joymongers is something of an outpost on a downtown craft draft crawl, but it’s worth the extra steps to enjoy a barrel-aged beer in the Historic West End. Joymongers boasts an adventurous selection of rotating and infused beers with flavors like key lime and guava. Plus, their flying Mighty Mouse is worth the photo opp. joymongers.com, 336.608.4290

LESSER-KNOWN BEER CO.

The latest brewery to open and the first in the West Salem neighborhood, Lesser-Known Beer Co. is a small, lager-focused brewery inspired by age-old German and Czech Republic brewing methods. Specializing in long lagering times and fresh tank pours, their malts hail from a small family farm in Moravia. This cozy spot is just a stone’s throw from the Moravian living history village, Old Salem Museums & Gardens. lesserknownbeer.com

Radar Brewing Company

In the Industry Hill neighborhood, Radar Brewing Company helps round out the city’s beer loop. “What we have is this great walking culture where people can start at one brewery, walk to five or six, and do a complete brewery loop,” says Eric Peck, one of the founders. Radar boasts a more contemporary, less industrial feel than some of the bigger tap rooms in the city. A large window in the taproom lets customers view their open-air beer fermenter. radarbrewingcompany.com, 336.999.8090

SMALL BATCH BEER CO.

A dimly lit yet cozy bar conveniently located at the corner of the Downtown Marriott, Benton Convention Center, and Embassy Suites, Small Batch skews more toward the younger crowd and doubles as a soccer bar, where fans of England’s Liverpool football club gather to watch matches. Popular beers include the Queen Cersei blonde ale, a nod to everyone’s favorite “Game of Thrones” villain. Food menu favorites include Brussels sprouts (yes, Brussels sprouts) and an array of burgers. smallbatchws.com, 336.893.6395

Wise Man Brewing

An anchor in downtown’s Industry Hill neighborhood, Wise Man opened in 2017 in a 1929 warehouse and quickly became a draw for families, young professionals, and dog owners. There’s plenty of room to gather indoors or out to play games, hear live music, and grab nibbles from one of their rotating food trucks. Favorite beers include Scoop Dogg Cream Ale, Body Electric Double IPA, and Mountain Calling IPA. wisemanbrewing.com, 336.725.0008

Cocktail Hour

After a day exploring the city, shake things up downtown with a fancy cocktail or delicious mocktail.

Inside the historic Flat Iron Building, Joyner’s is the quintessential neighborhood bar. Settle into cozy leather chairs surrounded by shelves of books, and order a Prohibition-era cocktail with a modern twist. joynersws.com

Across from Bailey Park, Fair Witness Fancy Drinks is an eclectic corner bar with indoor/ outdoor seating. The Innovation Quarter-area hangout is popular for an after-work cocktail, as well as late-night dance parties and karaoke. Wind down with a French 75 or perk up with the house espresso martini with Vietnamese coffee. facebook.com/fairwitnessfancydrinks

For an afternoon pick-me-up, head to The Powder Room, where cocktails and mocktails are as colorful as your surroundings. Non-drinkers also find plenty to satisfy, including citrus sparklers and gourmet coffee drinks. thepowderroomcafe.com

MOZELLE’S FRESH SOUTHERN BISTRO

A staple of Winston-Salem’s historic West End, Mozelle’s has been serving a Southern-inspired menu for brunch, lunch, and dinner since 2008. Locally sourced ingredients that inform the menu as well as the daily specials have made this gem a Camel City favorite. Classics like fried chicken, shrimp and grits, and tomato pie figure prominently, as well as starters of fried pickles and edamame hummus – and sides of creamy succotash. Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-friendly options are always available. Desserts are not to be ignored: Don’t pass up the scrumptious caramel peach shortcake or the indulgent coconut pie.

Mozelle’s offers a cozy, inviting ambience and weather-abetted outdoor dining; blankets and heaters in the cooler months and fans in the warmer months. Make sure to reserve ahead, tables go quickly. Their extensive wine list includes bottles by small producers from around the world. Wine, cocktails, and craft beer round out the selections. Mozelle’s is open Tuesday through Sunday, closed on Mondays.

mozelles.com • 336.703.5400 mozelles.bistro mozelles

QUANTO BASTA ITALIAN EATERY & WINE BAR

Seated in the heart of downtown, Quanto Basta (QB) evokes the classic Italian neighborhood restaurant and gathering place. Led by the same team behind the award-winning Spring House Restaurant, Kitchen & Bar, QB’s cuisine draws on the Italian heritage of chef/partner Timothy Grandinetti.

Menu highlights include rustic pastas and sauces from Grandinetti’s treasured family recipes, antipasti paired with wines, handcrafted pizzette, and classic Italian fare like Tagliatelle and Chicken Piccata Bucatini.

The wine bar boasts selections from Italy and other major wine-growing regions around the world. QB is open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday.

Quanto Basta Italian Eatery & Wine Bar has a second location in downtown Wilmington, NC. quantobastanc.com • 336.893.6144 quantobastanc

SPRING HOUSE RESTAURANT, KITCHEN & BAR

Whether it’s an intimate dinner, wedding celebration, business dinner, or special gathering of any type, Spring House is a choice destination. Award-winning chef/ partner Timothy Grandinetti and his team craft a creative menu using seasonally available regional ingredients. A must try is the nightly multicourse chef’s tasting menu (you can call ahead to see what’s being served).

Located in downtown Winston-Salem, Spring House is set in a restored, historic home with a variety of inviting rooms for dining and for socializing. The Library Bar offers top-shelf wines, craft beers, and a creative spin on handcrafted cocktails in an elegant setting. Open for dinner Wednesday through Saturday. springhousenc.com • 336.293.4797 springhouserestaurantkitchenbar docbrownstone springhousews