Summer isn’t over just yet, and we’ve packed August with plenty more to look forward to this season. Still ahead, there’s warm weather, cold beer, late nights, and so many reasons to get together at Blackbird and Bird’s Nest. August is bringing a fresh lineup, from live music and community fundraisers to special events worth clearing a little room on your calendar for. Consider this our refusal to let summer wind down quietly. There’s still plenty of fun left on the schedule, and we plan on making the most of every last bit of it.
Hops for Hope Returns
Every pint poured during our Hops for Hope events serves a greater purpose. Throughout the rest of the summer, Blackbird Brewery is proud to partner with United Therapeutics for a series of fundraising events that support Children’s Flight of Hope, an organization that helps provide air transportation for children who must travel to receive life-changing medical care. By removing the burden of travel, Children’s Flight of Hope helps families focus on what matters most: healing. Whether you’re joining us for one of our special events or making a donation, every contribution to Hops for Hope helps support this incredible mission and the families who rely on it.
Hops for Hope Cornhole Tournament
Saturday | August 15 | 2pm-8pm
Bring your best teammate and your best toss for the 2nd Annual Hops for Hope Cornhole Tournament on August 15! This community favorite returns to Blackbird for an afternoon of friendly competition, cold beer, and fundraising in support of Children’s Flight of Hope. Teams of two can register for $30, with every dollar raised benefiting our Hops for Hope campaign. Whether you’re chasing the championship or just looking for a fun way to give back, players of all ages and skill levels are welcome. The winning team will take home a $100 Blackbird Brewery gift card, a championship trophy, and, of course, yearlong bragging rights. Throughout the day, guests can also browse our Silent Auction, featuring premium wines, sought-after bourbon, and tickets to unforgettable local experiences, with every winning bid helping support the campaign. Between matches, enjoy live music from Chick & Danger from 2pm-5pm, raise a pint with fellow competitors, and be part of a day where every bag thrown, every bid placed, and every dollar raised helps make a difference. Register your team through our Eventbrite to claim your spot in the tournament.
Pints for Hope
Thursday | September 3 | 5pm-8pm
We’re taking Hops for Hope on the road to The Glass Jug Beer Lab in RTP. Join Blackbird Brewery and United Therapeutics on September 3 from 5pm-8pm as we come together in support of Children’s Flight of Hope, turning a night out into an opportunity to make a meaningful impact. Enjoy beers from both Blackbird Brewery and The Glass Jug Beer Lab, along with a special cheese and beer pairing flight featuring selections from each brewery. $1 from every draft poured and $2 from every beer flight sold will be donated to the cause. Throughout the evening, Raleigh Rishi and Grace Stephenson will bring live performances to the stage before King Akira closes out the celebration with a high-energy DJ set. Whether you’re stopping in for a pint, sampling the pairing flight, or staying for the music, every beer poured and every show of support helps move our Hops for Hope campaign one step closer to its goal of helping Children’s Flight of Hope connect families with life-changing medical care.
Still Soaking Up Summer
Tropical Vibes Cabaret Night w/ Miss Candice
Friday | August 15 | 8pm-10pm
Step into an evening of timeless elegance as Miss Candice graces the stage at Bird’s Nest at Blackbird. A celebrated jazz chanteuse and cabaret performer, Miss Candice brings the golden age of jazz to life with an exquisite repertoire spanning the 1920s to the 1960s. Her enchanting vocals, paired with a visually captivating cabaret experience, create an unforgettable night of music, glamour, and sophistication. This exclusive Tropical Vibes performance perfectly matches the tone of the season and our delicious $10 Summer Cocktail menu. Seats are extremely limited and we highly suggest making a reservation for this event.
Wine Tasting with Grape Republic
Wednesday | August 19 | 6pm-8pm
Slow down with us for a summer evening of discovering something new at our Grape Republic Wine Tasting. We’ll be pouring a curated selection of small-batch wines from Japan’s Yamagata Prefecture, showcasing the innovative craftsmanship that has made Grape Republic one of the country’s most exciting wineries. Sample distinctive pours like Bailey A, Rosso, Anfora Arancione, and Bianco while learning about the region, the winery, and the stories behind each bottle. Whether you’re a seasoned wine enthusiast or simply looking to expand your palate, this tasting is the perfect excuse to sip something unexpected and savor another evening at Blackbird.
Tuxedo at a Pool Party Pool Party
Saturday | August 29 | 12pm-11pm
If there’s one party to circle on the calendar before summer calls it a season, this is it. Our 21+ Tuxedo at a Pool Party Pool Party is the ultimate adults-only summer bash, celebrating the return of our beloved Tuxedo at a Pool Party German Pilsner with an afternoon and evening of cold beer, live music, and unapologetically ridiculous fun. The brewery transforms into a grown-up playground complete with kiddie pools, water balloons, water guns, and everything you need to embrace your inner kid, just with a craft beer in hand. King Akira kicks off the party with a DJ set from 3pm-6pm before Peak City Band takes over from 7pm-10pm, keeping the celebration going well into the night. Raleigh Rub Co will be on site dishing out some delicious barbeque plates throughout the day. Whether you show up in a swimsuit, a tuxedo, or somewhere in between, this is your invitation to soak up every last drop of summer at Blackbird’s biggest and most unforgettable party of the season.
Cold Pints & Live Sets
Live music keeps the energy going at Blackbird all month long. Grab a beverage, settle in, and catch a rotating lineup of local musicians bringing everything from laid-back afternoon sets to lively nights at the brewery. Check out the full lineup below and find your next night out at Blackbird:
Sterling Scott | August 6 | 6pm-9pm
Sunday Jazz w/ Janna Badalian | August 9 | 3pm-6pm
Grace Stephenson | August 13 | 6pm-9pm
Chick & Danger | August 15 | 2pm-5pm
Open Mic hosted by Adam Lee Decker | August 16 | 3pm-6pm
Steve & Chris | August 20 | 6pm-9pm
Raleigh Rishi | August 27 | 6pm-9pm
King Akira – DJ Set | August 29 | 3pm-6pm
Peak City Band | August 29 | 7pm-10pm
JT Parrothead | September 3 | 6pm-9pm
Fresh From the Brewhouse
We’ve been keeping the taps busy, and there are plenty of fresh pours to discover at Blackbird. From brand-new releases to returning favorites, our latest lineup gives you a few more reasons to grab a pint and try something different before the season changes. Here’s what’s fresh, what’s flowing, and what you’ll want to have on your radar:
Everybody Calls Me Giorgio | Italian Pilsner
When I was eighteen, nineteen, when I really started to drink beer, I definitely wanted to become a brewer. It was almost impossible because it was— The dream was so big that I didn’t see any chance because I was living in a little town, was studying. And when I finally broke away from school and became a brewer, I thought, “Well, now, I may have a little bit of a chance.” Because all I really wanted to do is beer and not only drink beer but compose beer. I wanted to do a menu with the sounds of the ‘80s, the sounds of the ‘90s, of the ‘00s, and then have a sound of the future. And I didn’t have any idea what to do but I knew I needed some malt. So, we put some local Epiphany malt in the mash tun, lagered it, and dry hopped it with US Saaz. I knew that it could be a sound of the future but I didn’t realize how much the impact would be. My name is Giovanni Giorgio, but everybody calls me Giorgio. 5.0% ABV
Gnar Gnar | West Coast IPA
You’ll want to take some cans of Gnar Gnar to whatever gnarly plans you’ve got this summer. This easy-going clear and dry modern IPA is brewed with NZ Waimea, Citra, and Vic Secret terpenes. Drink the Gnar! 7.0% ABV
VistaVision | Hazy IPA
Hazy IPA featuring Vista hops, one of the new public variety hops from Yakima Valley. A public variety is a non-patented, open-access hop bred by universities, or, in this case, a USDA breeding program, which any grower can now use. More varieties like this can help keep costs down for brewers and help the hop-growing industry at the same time. Vista brings a nice freshness and a little lemon citrus, improving drinkability in everything we’ve used it in! 7.8% ABV
The Mangover | Sour Ale
As exciting as a jungle cat in the bathroom, this tropical-flavored sour has a subtle acidity that simply mimics the fruit. This lightly wheated ale gets loads of mango and pineapple puree with a little extra tropical pop from mango and yuzu terpenes. Tigers love mango. 5.5% ABV
Strawberry Fields Forever | Sour Ale
Living is easy with eyes closed, misunderstanding all you see… but it all works out. It doesn’t matter much to me. Sour ale brewed with strawberry, lime, and pineapple. 5.3% ABV
See You at Blackbird
Summer may be heading toward the finish line, but we’re making sure there’s plenty worth sticking around for. With new beers hitting the taps, live music filling the calendar, Hops for Hope bringing our community together, and one seriously big pool party waiting at the end of it all, there’s still a lot of fun left to pack into the season. Let’s raise a glass to a summer worth celebrating!
