GREENVILLE, NORTH CAROLINA

Open since 1925 (and a brewpub since 1998), HAM’S BREWHOUSE & RESTAURANT serves East Carolina University well. Situated in a red brick factory building with green-white awnings, its outdoor deck features a replica of E.C.U.’s football field. Railroad signs line the walls and a miniature choo choo train encircles large left side eating space and right side bar area. Brew tanks are in back near secondary bar and upstairs is a cigar lounge.

July ’06, washed down ribs, burgers, and chicken dishes with pallid yellow-fruited peppery-hopped Helles-styled Sunset Lager, Scotch malt-sweetened Charlie’s Barley Scotch Amber, soft lemony-hopped rye-wheat breaded Silver Lake Rye, and fleeting hop-toasted fig-dabbed caramel-teased TR’s Vienna Lager. Buttery caramel chocolate-y Mother’s Milk Cream Stout could’ve been heartier, but combustible dry-bodied Cascade-hopped Peg Leg Pale Ale proved indispensable with its floral red-fruited spicing, woody-bottomed brevity, and bitterly lemon rind finish.

www.hamsbrewhouse.com

If you like this, try:

1. MC KENZIE’S BREWHOUSE
2. STARR HILL RESTAURANT & BREWERY
3. BJ’S RESTAURANT & BREWHOUSE
4. CAROLINA BREWERY
5. TRAP ROCK RESTAURANT & BREWERY
6. DAVIDSON BROTHERS RESTAURANT & BREWERY
7. CALLY’S RESTAURANT & BREWERY
8. JOHN HARVARD’S BREWHOUSE – MANCHESTER
9. LA JOLLA BREWHOUSE
10. MARTHA’S EXCHANGE RESTAURANT & BREWERY