As Blackbird Brewery raises a glass to another year of brewing, we’re leaning into what our fans love most—top sellers, fan favorites, and the styles we’ve worked tirelessly to perfect. This year’s anniversary lineup moves away from experimental brews and focuses on the beers that truly define who we are: approachable, flavorful, and full of crowd-pleasing style. From crisp lagers to hop-forward IPAs, every pour is a celebration of the hard work, creativity, and community that’s brought us to year two.
But these beers aren’t just familiar favorites—they are the result of countless hours spent refining recipes, perfecting techniques, and listening to what our community loves most. Each one tells a story of inspiration, challenge, and craft. Whether we were reimagining a best-selling IPA or perfecting a crushable lager, every drop has been brewed with intention and pride. Join us April 26th and 27th for our Anniversary Weekend Extravaganza and get ready to experience the release of these beers firsthand. Here’s a behind the scenes sneak peek at what’s pouring during our two-day celebration:
I-Ain-Gon-Lie West Coast IPA
A crisp, classic take on the West Coast IPA style with a modern edge. Built on the familiar backbone of Citra and Mosaic hops, we’ve taken it up a notch with a pop of Cryo Nelson hops for added depth. This batch is particularly exciting for us, as we’ve seen great success with this crop of Cryo Nelson hops in previous brews, and we’re thrilled to bring it to this IPA. The result is a balanced, approachable, and hop-forward brew with layers of citrus, tropical fruit, and a subtle piney undertone, all leading to that signature West Coast bite. The combination of Citra and Mosaic hops smooths out the experience while maintaining boldness, culminating in a refreshingly crisp finish. Perfect for those who love their IPAs with a bit of attitude!
Yellow Submarine – Hazy IPA
It’s back and quite possibly better than ever. This latest batch showcases an exceptional new lot of Citra hops that we’re genuinely thrilled about. After a long, twisty journey of chasing down consistent, top-quality Citra, we’ve finally found a supplier delivering that bold citrus character we’ve been craving—and the best part? We’ve locked it in for the rest of the year. This version is a true Citra showcase, bursting with juicy orange, mango, and soft tropical aromas that leap out of the glass. A pillowy base of oat malt and our signature London yeast gives it that lush, creamy texture and perfectly hazy glow. It’s the kind of IPA that reminds you why you fell in love with hazies in the first place—bright, soft, citrus-forward, and unmistakably fresh. We’re calling it now: this is one of the best Yellow Submarines we’ve brewed yet.
No Si – Mexican Lager with Lime and Sea Salt
Our most refreshing lager yet—and our biggest batch to date! We hand-zested and juiced over 400 limes to create a clean, bright flavor that bursts with margarita vibes and citrusy refreshment. Balanced with a touch of corn for a subtle tortilla chip flavor, No Si is made to pair perfectly with tacos and sunny days alike. Four team members spent seven hours processing limes by hand to avoid the bitterness of frozen puree and capture the fresh zest and juice that give No Si its signature brightness. It’s a painstaking process, but the result is a crisp, vibrant lager worth every squeeze. Grab it while you can—we made a bigger batch this time, but it still won’t last long.
Tuxedo at a Pool Party – German Pilsner
Back by popular demand and now officially part of our top-tier lineup, Tuxedo at a Pool Party is more than just a clever name—it’s the culmination of two years of dialing in our German pilsner program. We’ve fine-tuned this recipe to showcase everything we love about the style: a crisp, dry finish, a snappy hop bite, and a clean, refreshing profile that makes it endlessly crushable.
Unlike our Czech-style lagers, which lean more malt-forward and employ traditional decoction mashing, our German-style lagers—like Tuxedo—aim for a lighter body with a brighter hop presence. The last two batches have hit the mark perfectly, and we’re excited to finally present this beer in its ideal form: dry, hoppy, and elegant as hell.
Don’t Throw Rocks – Dry Hopped Pilsner
Another iteration of our take on a New Zealand style pilsner, the award-winning Don’t Throw Rocks is one of our first prize beers from our first year in business. This year, we’ve dry-hopped it with Riwaka hops instead of Nelson, creating a bright, citrusy lager that perfectly bridges traditional German roots with modern hop character. This hop lot of Riwaka has been a fantastic find for us-punchy, reliable, and offering a unique profile that enhances the beer’s vibrant hop punch.
We enjoy the depth of flavor that Riwaka provides, showing characteristics similar to a white wine with tropical, citrus, and stone fruit qualities, adding layers of complexity and nuance to this beautiful dry crisp lager. This is a must-try for those who appreciate a little extra hop intensity in their lager. Nelson hops have become harder to source, and Riwaka has proven to be a stellar alternative, and we’re excited to continue using it in the future.
Sunshine Sour – Ambrosia Salad Smoothie Sour
Our ambrosia-inspired smoothie sour returns just in time to bring a burst of nostalgic, fruity joy to your glass. Packed with lush flavors of pineapple, orange, apricot, and just the right touch of marshmallow, this beer strikes a beautiful balance between sweet and light tartness. The marshmallow isn’t just for fun—though it is an exciting ingredient. It softens the sour edge and adds a vanilla sweetness and creamy texture that rounds everything out with a pillowy finish.
Now exclusively available in 12 oz cans, this batch was designed with purpose. Our friends at another brewery tipped us off: fruit-forward beers like this tend to age better than hop-driven styles, and canning them helps preserve their integrity. Plus, it solves a practical issue—no more clogged draft lines from thick fruit sediment. Win-win!
Served in a tulip glass to highlight its juicy aroma and vibrant color, Sunshine Sour is equal parts refreshing and whimsical—a liquid version of your favorite summertime dessert. Whether you’re already a fan or trying it for the first time, this sweet and tangy treat is guaranteed to brighten your day.
Johann Sebastian Bock – Spring/Maibock
Not technically an anniversary beer, but a fan favorite making its return just in time for the celebration! This smooth, malty lager offers a perfect balance of rich flavors and drinkability. Single decoction mashed and brewed with 50% Pilsner malt, the remaining 50% is a blend of Maris Otter, Munich, Vienna, and a touch of dark crystal malt. Hopped with German Perle, fermented as dry as we could get it and naturally carbonated for 6 weeks in one of our horizontal tanks. It’s an excellent choice for the spring season, with its slightly sweet and robust profile that pairs perfectly with the warmer weather.
Hazy Riwa-a-a-ka – Hazy IPA
You might have to practice saying it, but once you taste it—you’ll get it. Built on our “Thicc Boi” base (thanks to oat malt and British yeast), this Hazy IPA is creamy, opaque, and full of smooth, pillowy texture. Dry-hopped with New Zealand Riwaka for bright lemon-lime, tropical funk, and that bold Kiwi terroir—aka the zesty, juicy magic only NZ hops deliver. Wild at heart, bold in flavor, and silky on the finish.
Pastry Stout (Collab with Corporate Ladder)
We decided to delve a little deeper into the world of Thicc Boi Pastry Stouts. Crafted in collaboration with the real deal top of the game dessert beer boi’s at Corporate Ladder Brewing Co., this luxurious 10.8% ABV Pastry Stout is an all-out celebration of flavor, balance, and decadent indulgence. Known nationwide for their mastery of smoothie and pastry-style beers, Corporate Ladder recently opened a new location in rural North Carolina and we couldn’t wait to work together on something unforgettable.
This beer is a velvety powerhouse, packed with layer after layer of rich, dessert-inspired flavor. This beer will bingo bong your taste buds with notes of roasted hazelnut coffee and dark chocolate, seamlessly melting and oozing into luscious waves of buttercream, vanilla bean, and peanut butter. A finishing touch of hazelnuts adds depth and layers of flavor reminiscent of Ferrero Rocher, rounding out each sip with a nutty, creamy richness that lingers long after your glass is empty. We brought the pastry stout base; Corporate Ladder guided us through the flavor firepower. Together, we created a liquid dessert in a glass—worthy of celebrating Blackbird making it another year around the sun and reflective of the good friends we’ve made in the industry. Plus it’s better than lame old birthday cake.
Let’s Raise a Glass to Two Years of Amazing Brews and Good Times
Get ready for a weekend like no other—an all-out celebration packed with flavor, fun, and community spirit. We’re rolling out brand-new Blackbird Brewery merch so you can rep your Blackbird pride in serious style. Saturday brings live music all day to keep you moving and grooving. There will be a large tent covering the biergarten so the party can keep going all weekend long—rain or shine. And for maximum convenience, we’re setting up a dedicated beer tent as an outdoor extension of the bar—perfect for quick pours and keeping your glass full without missing a moment of the action.
With the big turnout we’re expecting, just a friendly reminder: parking will be limited. We strongly encourage carpooling or ridesharing so everyone can roll in, relax, and focus on what matters—celebrating two amazing years of beer, community, and good times. And to top it all off, enjoy savory Seafood Boils from Fishin’ Shrimp – Saturday, 1–5 PM (preorder your meal).
Go behind the scenes with us on a brewery tour and see firsthand how the magic happens. Join our brewers, Ian and Mikey, for an intimate 45-minute tour of our brewery. You’ll explore the brewing process from mash tun to fermenter, gain insights into our unique techniques, and enjoy a guided tasting. Behind the Scenes Brewery Tours – Saturday, 1:00 PM and 3:00 PM (reserve your spot).
On Sunday, stick around for an exciting open mic session, hosted by the one and only Adam Lee Decker! Come cheer on the brave souls that take the stage from 3-6 PM!
Whether you’re here for the beer, the food, the friends, or the memories, this anniversary weekend is our way of saying thank you for being part of the journey. Come celebrate two incredible years—and help us kick off year three in style.
