Steel String Brewery - Carrboro

Brewery · Carrboro

Steel String Brewery - Carrboro

Brewery · Carrboro

2

106A S Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC 27510

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Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by infatuation.com
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null
Steel String Brewery - Carrboro by null

Highlights

Industrial-chic taproom with house craft brews, outdoor seating, and events.  

Featured in The Infatuation
Featured in Eater

106A S Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC 27510 Get directions

steelstringbrewery.com
@steelstringbrewery

$$

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106A S Greensboro St, Carrboro, NC 27510 Get directions

+1 919 240 7215
steelstringbrewery.com
@steelstringbrewery
𝕏
@SteelStringBrew

$$

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Aug 20, 2025

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@eater

North Carolina’s Steel String Brewery Now Sells Pre-Rolled Joints - Eater Carolinas

"Steel String Brewery announced last week that it’s now selling “pre-rolled CBD joints” at the business’ relatively new Pluck Farm. The farm, just west of Chapel Hill and Carrboro, grows flowers, hops, native fruit varieties, and more, and boasts a beer garden as well." - Eric Ginsburg

https://carolinas.eater.com/2021/7/28/22596637/cbd-joints-north-carolina
View Postcard for Steel String Brewery Carrboro
@infatuation

Steel String Brewery - Review - Carrboro - North Carolina - The Infatuation

"If you’re in the mood for a beer but not in the mood for excited “21-year-olds” who look suspiciously young, head to Steel String Brewery. On the western side of downtown Carrboro, it’s just about walkable from downtown Chapel Hill, but further than undergrads tend to go. Compared to other warehouse-style breweries in the area, this one is relatively small, with a dozen or so tables inside an exposed brick interior, plus a handful more under string lights out front. There’s often a food truck parked nearby for when you go in the early afternoon and “accidentally” find yourself still there at dinner time." - Christine Byrne

https://www.theinfatuation.com/north-carolina/reviews/steel-string-brewery
View Postcard for Steel String Brewery Carrboro

Todd Willis

Google
Good brews especially the stouts, watermelon wheat, and raspberry kombucha. Service is excellent. Good place to stop in, chill, and have a couple brews. There is outside seating and live music certain days.

Chris Chism

Google
One of the best places to hang out in the Triangle. The beer is excellent. The staff are so friendly. They host one of the best open mics I’ve ever been to. It’s really become a hub for a lot of amazing art and friends to gather every week. Love Steel String.

Kate Tackett

Google
One of my absolute favorite spots! We recently reserved the tap room for a private party and had an amazing time. The team was incredibly welcoming and accommodating, making sure everything ran smoothly. Our celebration truly wouldn’t have been the same without the experience we had at Steel String!

Laura Brechtelsbauer

Google
The drinks are nice, yes, and -- it's impossible to overstate how much this place changed my life while I lived in CH/Carrboro. I'm a musician, and met 85% of my friends here. It's SUCH a lovely and welcoming place. Especially for creatives. Matt's open mic is super special. It's the only one like it that I've ever experienced. I've moved away, but don't know that I'll find another one like it. The comedy nights are also top notch. Josh and Rosie run it, and they're great. They have a lot of other events as well, but I personally stuck to mostly music and comedy. Definitely check it out :) I really don't see how you could regret it. Cheers :)

Neha Patel

Google
Loved Latin dance night, super inviting crowd and organizers. Thanks to Florence for getting this solo rider on the dance floor for a couple hours. Eventually everyone was dancing. Music was authentic mixed with some club tunes. I enjoyed myself and made new friends. Very open and welcoming group. Look forward to the next time. Got a stout which was quite sweet for my preference ($8).

Angela Roberts

Google
This place was so cute! I was there for an event, Pork in the Road’s shrimp boil -delicious, and the atmosphere was great. Pretty large patio with a clean and spacious inside. The 2 guys behind the bar were both happy to be there and the whole vibe was cool from the decorations & exposed brick to the beer selection, well-hosted event, and clientele. Some of my favorite uncommon songs played too so pretty stoked about that. Clean bathrooms & very easy parking across the street in a public parking lot.

Audrey Shore

Google
Great beer and a great place for an event. I've hosted several work-related happy hours here, and they always accommodating and communicative.

RobertsMom NC

Google
Fun spot for an afternoon beer or flight of beers. We had a couple of flights & one of the beers I had selected wasn’t available & I let the staff choose & that one ended up being my favorite. Gotta trust the experts. :p
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Annie W.

Yelp
Went on a Thursday evening, during which they had music bingo. Lots of fun and great that there were multiple rounds with different categories - plus the winners get a free drink! For parking, there is a lot to the left of the building (super helpful because street parking can be very difficult to find). They have multiple board games to play inside and a small outdoor patio in the front which was perfect to enjoy the nice weather. There was a nice selection of beers, and they allowed us to enjoy outside food from another restaurant with our drinks which was appreciated. Staff were super friendly. They frequently host events including trivia and open mic nights which is great if you're looking for an activity to go with a beer!
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Caitlyn B.

Yelp
Such a fun outdoor bar! Beer and ciders on the menu! Also food trucks were there as well as live music- such a fun Saturday night.
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Jennifer D.

Yelp
Gave it a 4 because there is no inside seating! All outdoors at picnic tables but cute setup and lots of space! Beer list was extensive but nothing that really stood out. They have beer to take home, along with souvenirs. They had a food truck as well which was a nice touch! Service was mid, no recommendations but friendly enough.

Ashley B.

Yelp
Andrew-in your response to my comment, no we weren't... so actually she said oh y'all were at the game? If you were at the game and had ANY we can't serve you... which is BULLSHIT. We obviously wouldn't lie and said we did... and she said then I can't... which again is shit. Thanks for the well wishes. We have steered 10ish people for now from you... more futuristically and went elsewhere. Alcohol consumption is definitely something a business should watch... but when you're responsible and don't drink after second quarter (and reasonably) during a college game, it's inexcusable! Edit - hi. You lost a lot of business and I'll continue to share what shitty staff you have. So no worries here! You take care too.
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Daniel V.

Yelp
This is a cool local brewery. They had a good selection of beer on draft and in cans. I ordered the French Freakness stout and the Cryin' Holy IPA. The stout is a bit sweet so I could only drink one. Both the beers were delicious. Out of their control is the parking and traffic which can be tricky here. Just a heads up.
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Byron Ethan A.

Yelp
Tl;dr: Strong brewery but no substantial food in-house :( Went here on a Friday around 6:30pm and pulled into their private (but shared) parking lot surprised to find several parking spaces! The outdoor space looked busy so I thought that we didn't have a chance but the lot can fit a lot of cars AND at that time the other businesses on that block were closed so it was mainly for the restaurant and brewery. Inside rang true to typical breweries: exposed wood, taps, beer fridges, community outreach, and buzzing people. The beer was great! I tried a few and settled on the Peach Tea which was a perfect end-of-day beer. Flavorful, nice body, and refreshing through and through. We had more people come throughout the night so we moved outside to a bigger table and didn't have to fight at all. There were intermittent stretches of completely open tables so it was an amazing place for a casual evening drink meet up. Was disappointed that there was no substantial in-house food but we just walked down the block and got some food from there!
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Janet C.

Yelp
Tried the brewery experience for two Groupon which included 2 flights and pint glasses. We really enjoyed our time here and found some brew that we liked a lot. Vohammie - plum spiced grissette, Poor Laurie - saison aged in oak, Coco Freakness - double chocolate stout (SO much chocolaty awesomeness), and Shady Grove - sour with nice berry flavor (not available in a flight, just get it if you like sours.) We received excellent service during our stay and enjoyed checking out Carrboro for an evening!
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Cole M.

Yelp
They have a great selection of yummy beers here. The seating outside is a nice vibe whether it is daylight or in the evening. However, the traffic at peak times isn't my favorite. I wish they would have a little bit more information about the beers, since you're ordering blind without knowing what you're getting. I will be going back.
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Brandon R.

Yelp
These guys do some really interesting things with beer. I still remember them showing up at the Carrboro Farmer's Market with a saison that they were pushing through fresh tomatoes. Go for any of their seasonal stouts. Yum! Such a fun place to hang out and such friendly staff. Everyone driving through Carrboro will look at you with jealousy as they drive by.
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Allison P.

Yelp
Let me start by saying it's a cool spot. We had really great conversations with strangers! Their only seating is outside and it's limited, and not controlled by the brewery. Also-they automatically include 18% service charge on each tab. When we asked questions inside about how everything works, we weren't necessarily met with a friendly vibe. The beer was truly 3 out of 5 stars.
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Katie S.

Yelp
Great selection of beer. Can't go wrong with what you pick. Nice outdoor area too, which is always a plus!! PS - they were very responsible with spacing customers out and sanitizing due to Covid.
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Carlos S.

Yelp
Great service and friendly staff. I will definitely come back again. The beer was excellent
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Matt H.

Yelp
Very friendly people, absurdly good beer for such a young brewery, and a nice space to have a couple pints and flights in. Try the orange creamsicle!
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Andrew D.

Yelp
I've been twice - the first time, I had a Farmhouse Ale, which was in the style of the Belgian Saison Ale, and very good and true to form. The second time I went I had a few beers that kind of blended into each other... but were quite good. One knock is that the outdoor "patio" is really some wobbly tables in some reclaimed parking spaces.

Nik M.

Yelp
The absolute best brewery in the area with great atmosphere, incredible staff which will always answer all of your questions regarding beers, and events for almost every occasion!

Charlie B.

Yelp
Place on 54 is garbage! I dont even know what to say beer sucks atmosphere sucks. Seating is garbage just not a good place. I came from the micro brew capital of beer and never been forced to sit outside in sweltering heat. The owner wants something constructive put an air conditioned tap room up And I still wouldn't be back worst brewery I have ever been to and I have been to a lot!
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Mike S.

Yelp
Was in town for the weekend with a large group of friends. We were waiting for our table at a nearby restaurant so we came over here for a drink. It is a solid little brewery with a nice vibe, but I was a little disappointed with their offerings. All but maybe two of their beers were either stouts or IPAs neither of which I was in the mood for. I did find a lager I enjoyed and I tried my friend's sour which was also good. Cool place but I usually prefer to hang out at breweries that offer more variety.
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Shawn M.

Yelp
Excellent little brewery with a great beer selection. Industrial on the inside which I love. With many choices in the Chapel hill/Carborro area this one was a stand out. The "Big Mon IPA" was excellent along with the David Bowie inspired "Serious Moonlight". A great little spot with a knowledgeable and very friendly staff. No food available but I'm guessing you could bring some in they had a nice patio area out front but we were day drinking and it was so hot even with umbrellas we choose to sit at the bar. Must try if you're in the Chapel Hill area.
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Katharine B.

Yelp
We stopped in on a Sunday afternoon and I love the vibe and atmosphere of Steel String. They have a patio and many people were sitting outside and taking, enjoying beer and catching up on work. Between Steel String and Open Eye, I think I found the place for students doing their studying and work in downtown Carrboro on a sunny afternoon. They have a beautiful yellow retro metal couch and chair against a crate-like wall strewn with patio lights. You can bring your dogs too and I saw a few sitting obediently outside. Inside, there was a good music group named Honey Magpie with a cello, guitar and vocals. The bar has a bright orange mural of the logo and theme. In case you want to watch tv , there is one right above the bar. Now to the main attraction, the beer. The names of Steel String beer are listed in the chalk boards on the wall and the beer names are clever. I also noticed a guest tap and cider listed. Daniel has the Big Mon IPA and described it as a solid beer. You can see the production barrels in the taproom. The atmosphere is great, the beer is solid and I would cone here just to hang out and enjoy Carrboro.
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Dave W.

Yelp
Nice room with 6 beers on tap. The sour ale they had was very good. I am a big fan of sours and have had many. IPA and other options too.
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Nate H.

Yelp
Steel String is a really cool place to grab a beer. I'm kind of torn between 3 and 4 stars. None of the beers really blew me away hence the 3 rating. That doesn't mean that you shouldn't go and give this place a try if you are in the Carrboro/Chapel Hill area. I ventured in here on a trip to Chapel Hill to visit a friend. I had some time to kill before my friend got out of class, so I figured I'd try out this newish brewery. I sat down at the bar and was promptly greeted by the bartender. I wish I could remember her name, because she was fantastic. Knew her stuff in regards to the beer, positive attitude, and chatted up every customer that came in. This was part of why the experience was so great. I also talked with a couple of the other patrons there and they were all very friendly. Now to the beer. As I said before, none of the beers blew me away. I think the Big Mon IPA was my favorite. It was slightly above average. They also had a good sour on tap that was a Grissette. The cool thing about this one is that it was inspired by a track from the new Mipso album. For those of you that don't know, Mipso is a local Chapel Hill Folk/Americana band that has been blowing up recently. A couple local brewers all brewed a different beer that was inspired by a track on the album. I thought this was kind of cool. The bartender also told me that Mipso would come and just do surprise concerts there sometimes. I would love to see that. The brewery has a cool vibe. It is very clean and they have a couple of games that you can play with your drinking buddies. They also have a nice patio out front that is perfect for watching all of the interesting people in Carrboro walk up and down the streets. I also liked their flights that were shaped like guitars. All of this kind of goes along with the music theme. You won't find any groundbreaking beer here, but they do have a cool atmosphere and plenty of nice patrons and workers alike. If you are in Carrboro it is worth grabbing a flight or a pint from this little brewery.
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Stephanie J.

Yelp
Chill spot to grab a few beers. I was able to sample all of the Steel String beers that were currently on tap: Big Mon IPA, Rubber Room, Sound City, Bustle in your Hedgerow, Thickfrenchtoast and Der Schneid. Steel String's beers are good but none of them screamed order a pint of me. Shockingly my favorite was the Der Schneid which is a Berliner Weisse, it was smooth and tasty. I think I was most disappointed with the Thickfrenchtoast, I expected more bold flavors. The service was also slow which made for a long wait for my next beer.
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Sarah G.

Yelp
Great little brewery in Carrboro! This spot may compete with some of my other local favorites, because damn is that some good beer. There's plenty of seating inside, TVs for the sports people and live music for everyone else. Plus beers are relatively cheap!
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Yvonne J.

Yelp
My beer loving BF and I first visited this place when we lived in Carrboro about 2 years ago and whenever we're in the area again we usually stop by! They're a quaint little brewery that delivers some pretty tasty beer. They have good variety in their brews and have a style of beer for everyone. Their drinkware is super adorable and has changed throughtout the years, but I'm loving their current designs! My BF and I even bought a pint glass and a flight glass! The place overall is super casual and chill, a good place to just hang out!
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Tin W.

Yelp
Always more than awesome beer. They just need to not have complete amateurs play music there. The last time I was there the beer was excellent and then the band showed up for their 1-2-3-1-2-3. I'm pretty sure we fled the place on the second 2. Again, I'm all for local bands but you can't invite someone who doesn't even know how to work a mike. But let me reiterate: the beer is excellent! .
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Yikhwan D.

Yelp
Good beer, decently priced. I tried their beer flight and i can honestly say, there wasn't one that i didn't like. The bartender was very friendly. They have a plenty of seats outside, and inside has a good good vibe. I saw a few people working with a pint of beer next to their laptop.
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Christina G.

Yelp
I'm certainly a proponent of any new craft brewery in the Triangle. I celebrate the growing tradition of local beer, and community brew-houses. And Steel String is putting their best foot forward in a lot of ways... nightly activities (trivia, the Tuesday I dropped in), wonderful space (with surprisingly wonderful bathroom facilities!), fun and memorable branding (I particularly loved the wood-cut guitar my flight was served in... Lifting each glass out uncovered a pog-sized illustration featuring the name of the beer. It's like drinking an advent calendar!). So the downside? Er... I didn't like the beer. The first of the four was good -- and I'd definitely order it again. The Manzanita black IPA was too bitter, and the Big Mon IPA too hoppy, and not citrusy enough, for my personal taste. When I visited, they were out of a few brews that had piqued my interest from their website -- honeysuckle saison? I believe I'll have to return for that.
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Peadar N.

Yelp
This awesome local brew pub has kept us going through the awful past year. They've pivoted as much as possible to keep their customers. Wine offerings. Great brews (try the bohemian rhapsody). Outside seating. Heaters. Touchless pay. Highly recommended for a relaxing afternoon or evening drink. And now they're opening a farm brewery out the road. Great stuff!
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John L.

Yelp
Steel String Craft Brewery brings something to Carrboro that it surprisingly it has not had to this point: a craft brewery! Durham has a bunch of these (Fullsteam, Triangle, etc.), Chapel Hill has TopO and Carolina Brewery, Pittsboro has another Carolina Brewery, and Hillsborough has Mystery Brewing. Carrboro, the cool city (to borrow from Richard Florida) mecca of the South, has not had a single craft brewery to my knowledge. Steel String changes this, and they succeed overwhelmingly. Once you enter the bar, you are immediately hit with how well the space is used: there are multiple big tables, as well as a nice bar area. They also have games at the ready for people who are looking to play games. Furthermore, these are not the games you usually expect at a bar (Jenga, Apples to Apples, and I once saw Operation at a bar). No, they've got Settlers of Catan (Sheep!) and Munchkin (Also I'd assume sheep, which you can use to attack people I'd imagine). These are both games that take awhile, so it's a brilliant plan: get people in, get them playing for awhile, and they keep drinking and trying to defeat their friends with hilarious weapons (and sheep). But really you're wondering about the beer. It is a brewery after all. The beer is excellent. I tried the saison and the Farmhouse Ale. Both were worth their $5 cost, with flavors that are perfect for a nice late Spring day. They also have many other beers on tap, both their own and other local breweries (I saw Fullsteam and Mystery both on tap, similar to Fullsteam's special guest taps). The bartenders are also incredibly knowledgeable about the beer and the general beer-making process, and are also really good at what they do. They have both indoor and outdoor seating, and do offer sandwiches from Merritt's as well if you're hungry. Basically this is the exact place Carrboro has needed, and now that it's here, you should go. So go. Because I said so. And we all know that usually works (usually being the operative word here).
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Kristen H.

Yelp
I really wanted to love this place, but the staff left a bad taste in my mouth. The beer was pretty good, but they were so slow tonight and it still took a long time before the bartender acknowledged us. She was telling her friend what to go get her for supper, in great detail, as we stood and waited. When she finally got around to serving us, she was very short and seemed annoyed that we were there. While we were there, a keg kicked and splattered beer all over me..... which is fine, I understand, but she never said, "whoops, sorry about that!" or anything of that nature. She never thanked us as we were leaving, nothing. Maybe I've just grown accustomed to the southern hospitality NC breweries typically have, but this place was cold and rude. We won't be back, and it's a shame.
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Stacy T.

Yelp
Very chillaxing place to grab a beer, especially since its $1 off beers Monday night. The seating inside is plentiful and the picnic-like tables encourage friend-making and friend-bringing. The patio had several choices of tables and chairs. They have a large selection of beers, and you can ask to sample some if you are having a hard time deciding. Note, they do not serve food, but they welcome you to bring your own =). I tried the Turn Table, which was a light, a little bitter, and pretty easy to drink. I also tried the Little Sadie, which is was smooth and a little sweeter. Made out with just a $7 tab + tip.
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John R.

Yelp
Having come from the Rocky Mountain West, specifically the beer Mecca known as "Utah", I clearly know a thing or two about beer (or cerveza, as our Mexican comrades call it). The beer here was fantastic, and moderately priced! I had a "dark" beer (it was black, like my heart, oh true love why do you evade me at each turn), but was also delightfully tangy as an "IPA" is most usually. It reminded me of making love under the shade of a mountain peaks, as Eagles and Falcons dove around me. Oh how I miss my muse, why did you leave me for a Patrician??? Likewise, I was amazed at the variety of peanut and other tree nut products available for purchase. Not only could I have peanuts, but also pistachios! What a delightful selection. In Utah we have to still raid our neighbors and local "Tough Guy" squirrel tribes for our nuts. If one wants to eat peanut butter their is a blood price to be paid. Overall I find the craft beer at Steel String to be made with love, more love, and an extra dose of love. I heard that Luke Kelly's Brooklyn Style Pool Ribs will soon be opening, only enhancing the selection of food products. I highly recommend this place, and give it 5 stars of Utah approval!

Becca V.

Yelp
Not a great selection and the staff was really rude to me. The table I sat at was in the outside area but it was so slanted that it was uncomfortable.

Tyler H.

Yelp
This is my favorite brewery in NC - they used to have a beer called "table" which was my favorite - they may still have it from time to time. The beer has a unique and special flavor that you won't find elsewhere. The atmosphere is awesome too. A MUST TRY for any craft brew lover - you'll be glad you did...!
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Chelsea J.

Yelp
The cute exterior and hearing about this place from a friend drew me in. I was pleasantly surprised to see the variety of their offerings. I am a dry cider fan and was excited to see they offered Citizen Cider, an awesome Vermont creation. I like the original flagship cider as well as the Lake Hopper, a dry cider with a hoppy aroma. I am not at all an IPA fan but the hops in the LH are wonderful and really add to the flavor. Probably more of what is important though is how their House beer is. They had a great range that they did well, showing a lot of potential for this young brewery. We got the flight and were not disappointed. The only disappointing thing is that some beers were excluded from the flights. All in all, get a flight. Sit out on the grey porch. Get a citizen cider if you aren't a huge beer fan, or even if you are and want to try a really amazing cider.
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Kate M.

Yelp
I'm from Asheville- beer city. I think this beer actually beats out any I've ever had. Smooth and very drinkable!
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Britney W.

Yelp
Beer is pretty good. Nice outdoor area. They offer wine if you aren't a huge fan of beer. Friendly staff. Kind of bare on the inside with furnishings but it does the job.
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Josh S.

Yelp
Probably the worst way I've been treated in 10 years! I brought my wife and her best friend. The bartender was extremely rude when we first walked in. We asked about the different brews, specifically IPAs, her crappy response, "they all are either hoppy, light, and bitter....". Really!? And offered not one sample. We were willing to spend our night here. I never write reviews, and after feel like we were treated like crap, I emailed the owners too, no response. I'm a local, will never go back again!!!!
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Christine A.

Yelp
Unfriendly and uninformative bartender. Really??? Can't even list drafts? Not worth the beautiful patio I .am afraid until Ms Bartender gets some hospitality going
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Samuel H.

Yelp
First and foremost, they make as good beer as anyone else in ch/carrboro (carolina brewery, top of the hill, yesteryears, to my knowledge). And they're maybe a little more creative than the rest. The space is nice--stacks of beer making products casually lie around, they have bands sometimes, the patio is good and allows dogs, the restrooms are gender neutral, they serve pizza now (I haven't had it--I don't they make it themselves, because then I don't think you'd be legally allowed to bring your own food). And as suggested in the last parentheses, you can bring your own food, which is a nice thing about non-restaurant breweries. Trivia here is pretty good, a little easier than most other places around. One thing I'll note is that beer here is pretty expensive. I'm used to places having at least some kind of special, and $5 is usually the most I'll pay for beer and I definitely would rather pay less. Here $5 is the cheapest beer and many cost more. BUT I'm willing to support it for the reason that this is a small space and there's a lot of upkeep to brewing. Having to pay that cost without relying on selling their beer elsewhere (grocery stores, other bars) is a lot of debt for a small business, and I frankly don't understand how it's viable. TLDR--Casual atmosphere, good beer, a little pricey. Recs--neutral milk porter and the German Amber (don't remember the name)
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Jaehee Y.

Yelp
If you're looking for some good beer with a quiet-ish environment, Steel Strings is the place! Well at least for me, it was. I always go after dinner and there's not a lot of people there. You can try a wide selection with the flight, and will often find people doing work on their computers! It's a good place to wind down or just get some work done.
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Anthony M.

Yelp
I'm conflicted with Steel String. A friend and I bought a sour beer of theirs from a bottle shop and were really impressed. We were going to Chapel Hill/Carrboro a couple days later and let it be known that Steel String brewery was a must. Once we arrived I even ordered two flights as I wanted to try every single thing they had on tap. Imagine my disappointment when I wasn't really impressed with any of them. How is that possible? How could a brewery make such a sophisticated sour and then mediocre offerings for all their normal styles? I still enjoyed my time there. As many others have mentioned it was a cool place to hang out and the bartenders were all very friendly. Just sadly disappointed in the beer when I had high hopes. Oh well.
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Richie K.

Yelp
This past weekend I found myself in Carrboro. An anomaly for sure. As much as I wanted to avoid the patchouli-scented hippies, I had to stop by the Arts Center for a bit of holiday shopping. The wife and I figured if we were stuck in Carrboro, we might as well do something we enjoy. That thing, if you couldn't guess, is paying a visit to a local brewery. We each grabbed a flight of four beers including the Secular, Non-Demoninational Holiday Ale, Neutral Milk Porter, Bustle in Your Hedgerow and, since it is both delicious and on tap (!!!), Southern Tier Choklat. Of the Steel String brews, the SNDHA was by far my favorite. Warm, inviting, and a little spicy. Just right for the day's rainy weather. 6 bucks was more than fair for the flight and the barkeep was a delight.
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Ashley S.

Yelp
Love the location and space that Steel String has. Their patio is a great spot to people watch, & there's plenty of seating inside. The bartenders are always really friendly every time I've been there. I wish they had a larger beer selection, or at least rotate new ones in every now & then. Their flagship IPA is really good, and the Rubber Room session ale has enough hop flavor for me to still enjoy it, even though it's an ale :)
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Lucky 1 3.

Yelp
My first time here after passing by this place many times on Greensboro and seeing all the check-in's on my Yelp app. I'm glad I made the point to finally go and check it out on a warm Tuesday afternoon. We were the first people there as they were just opening but soon more people starting showing up. Some were socializing and others were actually studying/doing homework. All of us took advantage of the weather and sat outside where we could sit and watch the world go by. The inside is pretty austere but functional. Lots of butcher block tables, benches and chairs. The service was friendly though I at first got the wrong beer poured. Wish he would have just given it to us and not have poured it out but we were offered a taste of it beforehand. Where the four stars comes from is the beer itself. I only tried two but both were winners and that can be a feat in itself. I really liked the hefeweizen and the Farm House Ale. Both were a slam dunk and I would go back again especially for a pint of the Farm House. I think Carrboro's first brewery is a big win for the area. Definitely no slouch here!
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Danielle B.

Yelp
We stumbled on a flyer for Steel String while picking up some dinner before a show. They are apparently the new guys on the Carrboro brewery block and I can certainly say that our stop was a quality way to spend a Sunday afternoon. As of when I was there they had 5 house brews and a few other locals to fill out the taps. Their Soundcity Alt and Maggie's Farmhouse were definitely my favorites (in that order). They also had a hefeweizen, an IPA, and session ale. While the latter three didn't knock my socks off like the alt or farmhouse, they were all good, solid beers. Since these guys are new they are not yest on the allowable parking sign for their building's lot but do not fear you are good. They have some tables out front which should be nice during the summer, but they make navigating your way in and out a bit difficult. One of the brewers mentioned that they were working on getting some more outside space in the future. If you are a glass hoarder like my husband you will have to wait a little while. They have branded mason jars for sale, but not their (really awesome) actual branded glassware. I look forward to seeing how Steel String grows and will definitely be stopping back again.
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Jeff H.

Yelp
Great patio where you can bring your own food. After a long week and a long trip, our experience at Steel String was a welcome delight. Their easy, no-nonsense style exemplifies the Carrboro vibe. They have a delightful assortment of beers with flavors for the craft-beer aficionado and the newly initiated alike. The flavors range from the more standard (fruit infusions - does every craft beer place get their ideas from the same place?) to the more eclectic (coffee-flavored - at least more coffee taste than I've ever had in a beer before). And they have your seasonal varieties too, e.g., I saw a pumpkin-flavored beer on the menu. What I loved is that they had a simple menu with only a handful of beers, and they were all different and described in detail. You can tell they put a lot of care and work into designing the menu. At the same time, there was a chalkboard with a few more beers if you happen to be a regular. For my first time, I appreciated this catering to newcomers. With reasonable prices ($5-6 for a pint) and nice overall presentation (i.e., they tell you the alcoholic of each beer, and each has a little bit of a story), you can't ask for much more from a craft brewery. The beers themselves were similar to a lot of other breweries, so I can't really say that the tastes were that fantastic. There's a lot of interesting flavors (again, try the coffee one just for its uniqueness), but I think I also would've appreciated something more traditional too as an option (although maybe I have boring tastes). All in all, it's the best experience you can get at a Craft Brewery, and a perfect way to wind down the day or week. Very Carrboro!

Andrew H.

Yelp
Asked for 3 different beers on the menu (menu was like 7 beers total hahaha) that he said they were out of. At 8pm on Saturday night. And then asked for a bottle of a different beer on the menu, he said they were out of singles even though there were 12 six packs in a to go fridge right next to the bar. Asked if he could crack one of the six packs to sell individually and he said it would mess up his inventory and he'd get in trouble. So I asked to buy a six pack and he said I couldn't drink it on premise. Big waste of time, major divas at the bar. Also couldn't find my card when I closed even though there were like 8 people there. Downloaded yelp just for this review hahahaha don't come here.
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Tanner A.

Yelp
Great beer selection, all of which tasted great. Bartender was attentive and knowledgeable. One turnoff was the large mural on the wall that was quite certainly made to represent a Communist propaganda poster. Somewhat of a turnoff drinking beer made through capitalistic means while having to look at some college students artistic persuasion of a "good" economic model... Wonder how many good successful microbreweries they have in Venezuela or Cuba........