A new brewery is opening its doors in North Raleigh this month.
Sneaking in just in time to close out summer is Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company, the latest brewery to join Raleigh’s ever-growing list of sudsy sip spots. A brew-tiful thing, really.
Slated to open its doors this month in North Raleigh’s Celebration at Six Forks Shopping Center, Sneaky Penguin is the brainchild of born-and-bred Connecticuter Christopher Nadeau, who has brewing in his blood. He learned the trade growing up from his father, who brewed as a hobby, but it wasn’t until about 15 years ago when his father bought him a homebrewing system upon moving to Raleigh that his knack for turning hops and malts into flavorful bevs really came through.
“From that point on, my passion for beer and brewing grew, and I got more into creating recipes and learning about all the ingredients and flavor profiles and how to make better beer,” says Nadeau.
While he’s loved sharing his liquid works of art with friends, family and neighbors over the years, the idea to open his own brewery always lingered in his mind. In 2019, driving home from Connecticut, he decided to take the plunge.
Now, his unique creations—like his milk stout (made without lactose!) or cream ale with notes of strawberry and melon—will be flowing from Sneaky Penguin’s 12 taps. Wines, ciders and gluten-free options will also be available.
“I’m going to let the consumers drive what beers stay on draft and what beers become rotating,” he adds. “My goal is to keep the beer on tap as fresh as possible and have something new for people that come in to always try.”
In addition to the drink selections, Nadeau has also put a lot of thought into the brewing company’s atmosphere. By knocking down a few walls and adding in a bar and taproom, he’s managed to create a modern warehouse feel in a neighborhood setting.
“It’s going to be a community place to hang out,” he maintains. “It’s very walkable. There’s a greenway trail not too far, so it connects a lot of people in North Raleigh to make it accessible—and, hopefully, people can meet new neighbors and build new friendships.”
Speaking of neighbors, Nadeau plans to partner with local businesses in the area to host community events. “There’s a gym next door to the brewery, so we’ll do beers and yoga or some type of running club associated with that as well,” he says.
Oh, and another cool thing to look out for? The bar will be a live-edge cedar slab made by his neighbor Stacy Lynn. “I have a lot of neighbors helping and friends coming over and helping get the place ready,” says Nadeau. “We’re going to have a lot of fun.” Now that’s how you brew community. Cheers! sneakypenguinbrewing.com
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