A New Year's Appeal, From Our 115 Year-Old (Brew)House

A New Year’s Greeting, From Our House to Yours

Based on some of the cards my owners have taped to the wall in my Taproom over the years, I think you humans have a tradition of sending holiday or New Year’s greetings as a way of staying connected with loved ones. It seems like a great way to share updates, news (good and bad) and special milestones or goals for the coming year, along with well wishes for your family and friends. Since I’ll be turning 115 this year, I thought I’d give it a go!

Dear New Village Family and Friends,

Most of you know me as “the brewery” or “the pub”, or just that place at the corner of Broad St. and Church in Oriental, North Carolina, where folks can sit a spell on the front porch, grab something tasty from a visiting food truck, and hear free live music in the beer garden. I have been many different things in my lifetime: a rooming house, a haberdashery, a filling station, a pet grooming salon, a health food café, and an eclectic antique shop, to name a few.

But in 2016, my owners got the harebrained idea to turn me into a 1-barrel brewery and taproom. And since then, I’ve been the very BEST version of myself: a magical place in the heart of our village where the moment you step inside, it feels like a warm hug from an old friend. And did I mention there’s beer? Really great beer- made right here!

I have soooo many stories I could tell, especially from these past 8 years, but I bet you have a New Village story I haven’t heard. Maybe you met a new friend or significant other here or got to know a neighbor better. Maybe it’s where you learned to love N.C. craft beer, met up with friends for snacks after kayaking, yoga or sailing, or to swap fishing stories. Or maybe I’m the place that keeps a pint glass with your name (or your boat’s name?) on the shelf? Maybe one of my cozy rooms hosted your book club, birthday celebration, wedding party, painting class, pet adoption, or other special event. Or maybe it was my beer garden that hosted a fundraiser (or friendraiser) for your favorite local non-profit, or where your band played to a grateful and attentive crowd?

In these last 8 years, I have gleefully watched kids of all ages (from 9 months old to 90 years young) play games like Uno, Battleship, Tinker Toys, Rummikub, Jenga, Ping Pong, Pass the Pig and Shut the Box. And I’ve taken great delight in being the place your dog loves to come for treats, even on the days we’re closed. Perhaps you are with one of the many food trucks we’ve hosted, or the over 100 North Carolina breweries whose beers have been served in my Taproom?

Whatever your connection, THANK YOU for being part of MY story. In my century plus of being here, I have never felt the love like I have over these past 8 years. Over the threshold of my Taproom entryway hangs a very special sign that used to hang in the Truitt’s Ol’ Store. It says, “There are no strangers here, only friends we haven’t met.” At this festive holiday season, my 115-year old heart is brimming with the love you all have shown me. But to be honest, these are dark days for breweries, especially little ones like me, and I am lucky to be here.

Did you know that this year marked the first time since 2005 that more breweries closed than opened in the U.S.? Did you also know that a 1-barrel nanobrewery typically has a short lifespan, with very few staying in business for more than a few years? But thanks to you all, and our world-class staff, I am still here!

My owners (with your support) have kept the lights on and the beer flowing for nearly 8 years- through Hurricane Florence, the COVID-19 pandemic, and many other ups and downs. They even replaced my original shingle roof when it started to collapse! From my Taproom, we have filled your glasses with over 10,000 gallons of ales made right here in our beloved brewhouse! And about the same amount with brews from other breweries across North Carolina. Can you imagine how many kegs I have seen get filled and drained in that time? Thousands!!! But to tell you the truth, my age and the weight of all that beer has taken a toll.

Maybe you’ve even noticed, but my floors are sagging and uneven, particularly in the brewhouse where my walk-in coolers and fermenters have been holding all that beer. A recent inspection showed that my brewhouse sub-floor shows significant moisture-related condensation and degradation, affecting 10-15 of my floor joists.

Now to the GOALS part of my letter.

In 2025, I do have some big goals that -to be honest- will not be possible on my owners’ shoestring budget. This is where you come in!! Do you remember that warm embrace you feel when you walk through my threshold, and all those other happy memories over the years? Well, this New Year, I’m humbly asking you to return the love.

First, there are some “must-do” structural repairs:

Your help with these repairs will give me a strong foundation and floor system that will hopefully last another 100+ years!

But if I’m being completely honest, I don’t just want to stick around for another century, I want to keep being the best version of myself – a brewery & taproom!

And in order for me to survive AND thrive as a small, local brewpub (and beat those terrible odds I mentioned at the start), I’m gonna need a bigger brew system! In 2025, I aspire to grow from a 1-barrel to a 3-barrel brewery, so we can make and sell more of our own brews!

So if you have ever felt the love emanating from my 115 year-old soul, I hope you will be a part of my next chapter. Donate today to help give our beloved (brew)house a strong foundation. Nine years ago, when my owners launched a GoFundMe campaign to open this brewery, they set a fundraising goal of $10,000. You all raised nearly $15,000 in about 6 weeks and this brewery was born!

Together, if our village can match that $15,000 level raised in 2016, it will guarantee that I get the structural repairs I so badly need. But if y’all can raise 2x that amount?? I could house (and hold!) a 3-barrel brew system that will keep the beer and the love flowing for many, many years to come.

From the beating heart of my Taproom, I wish you all a healthy and prosperous 2025. Please help me continue to share your joys and ensure I can be a part of your future stories.

Here are 3 things YOU can do to help spread New Village love on this New Year:

1) Share a story here about what The New Village Brewery means to you.

2) Spread the word about this campaign on social media, or however you choose.

3) Donate what you can to be part of our next chapter.

It takes a VILLAGE!