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Campaign on Course to Spotlight Region’s Robust Beer Landscape

The Cape Fear Craft Beer Alliance (CFCBA) has launched a campaign to promote the area’s growing brewing scene to hop’s fans outside the area. Craft on the Coast is a branded initiative that will toast the dozens of beer-based businesses that call Southeastern N.C. home.

“We want to let people beyond our city limits know exactly the type of beer culture we’re building here in the greater Wilmington region,” said Jeremy Tomlinson, president of CFCBA. “To date, there really hasn’t been a unified push focused on encouraging out-of-towners and day trippers to experience our craft community. This Craft on the Coast campaign will allow us to do just that.”

In building the consumer-facing brand, The Cape Fear Craft Beer Alliance hired Bon’s Eye Marketing to develop the name, logo, website, social media campaign and other marketing assets.

CraftOnTheCoast.com is now live and in the weeks ahead the initiative will begin running social media ad spots in markets like Richmond, Raleigh, Charlotte and Myrtle Beach. Other plans include an online store where visitors can buy merchandise to show their support of Craft on the Coast and the local brewing industry.

Why Launch a Craft Beer Initiative?

“Beer-based businesses have become an economic driver around here,” Tomlinson said. “At the same time, craft is a national movement strong enough to get enthusiasts hopping from city to city to try different tastes. Locally, we’ve got enough going on at this point that we can leverage the draw of both our beer innovation and coastal lifestyle.”

After another successful Cape Fear Craft Beer Week earlier this year in March, the alliance believes now’s the perfect time to position the Port City and surrounding areas as a prime destination for hops adventurists.

“We’re looking to tap into beer tourism, which is a proven revenue generator in other places,” Tomlinson said. “Who wouldn’t want to come to our historic downtown or beach communities and throw back some one-of-a-kind beers… It’s an experience that’s uniquely ours.”

Competition pours on praise for more than dozen ILM craft beers

The 2019 N.C. Brewers Cup competition recently served up awards to 14 local breweries, further reinforcing the Cape Fear region’s reputation as a thriving craft beer destination. This latest recognition comes just weeks after the launch of Craft on the Coast – a consumer-facing campaign designed to draw out-of-town beer enthusiasts to the region to taste and enjoy ILM craft beers.

More than 100 craft breweries from around the state entered some 710 hops-infused creations across 31 different style categories. When all was said and done, judges tapped 14 breweries, with locations stretching from Surf City to Ocean Isle. This is double the number of local breweries from 2018.

The Brewer’s Cup – in its eighth year – represents the largest commercial craft beer competition in the state. The event draws hundreds of beer aficionados from around the Southeast and is administered by the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild.

According to the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild website, the NC Brewers Cup trophy and all category medals will be presented to winners at the annual NC Industry Awards Banquet held on Nov. 6 at the NC Craft Brewers Conference.

ILM CRAFT BEERS & BREWERIES THAT PLACED

1. Wilmington Brewing Co. – Honorable Mention for Best in Show – Beer Name: Moon Dance Blonde Ale
2. Flying Machine Brewing Company – Bronze – Category: American Lager – Beer Name: Neo-Bohemia
3. Wilmington Brewing Company – Gold – Category: Light American Hybrid – Beer Name: Moon Dance Blonde Ale
4. Makai Brewing Company – Silver – Category: Light American Hybrid – Beer Name: Island Falls Cream Ale
5. Makai Brewing Company – Gold – Category: Scottish & Irish Beer – Beer Name: It’s Not A Skirt! Scottish Ale
6. Waterline Brewing Co Wee Heavy – Silver – Category: Scottish & Irish Beer – Beer Name: Wee Heavy
7. Wilmington Brewing Company – Gold – Category: American Pale Ale – Beer Name: Beach Time
8. Waterline Brewing Co – Silver – Category: Specialty IPA – Beer Name: Black IPA
9. Wilmington Brewing Company – Bronze – Category: New England IPA – Beer Name: Jason, Stop Texting Your Mom
10. Wrightsville Beach Brewery – Bronze – Category:  Brett, Mixed, & Wild Ale – Beer Name: Raspberry Berlinerweisse
11. Edward Teach Brewing – Gold – Category:   Fruit Beer – Beer Name: Peach Wheat
12. Front Street Brewery – Gold – Category: Wood-Aged Beer – Beer Name: Tomb Rocker Soured Hungarian Oak
13. Red Hare Brewing Company – Bronze – Category: Wood-Aged Beer – Beer Name: Nothing But Flowers…..for Algernon
14. Bill’s Brewing Company – Silver Category: European Lager – Beer Name: Merganser