A new year is upon us and although we all must remember to change that pesky five to a six in our date books, much besides that is still the same at Blackbird. We’re still hosting your favorite weekly events, good vibes reign supreme at the taproom, and the delicious beer you all love is still pouring strong through our drafts. The calendar has flipped, but as ever we’ve got a month full of entertaining happenings ready for you.
What’s Brewing This Month?
First and foremost, let’s talk beer! “Dry January” whispers can be heard far and wide in breweries everywhere. We’re prepped and ready this month for however you’re feeling: dry, damp, or maybe even juicy? Our fridge is stocked with a selection of non-alcoholic beers, cider, soft drinks, fruit sodas, and more for anyone taking a pause on consumption. I’m even sipping on a non-alcoholic Untitled Art Mango Dragonfruit Sour as I type this.
January is a month for resolutions and renewed intentionality and our Blackbird beers are nothing if not dripping with thoughtfulness. For those who’re committed to staying “wet” this month, we’ve already got a line-up of new beers for you pouring from our draft lines.
Juicy January – Hazy IPA – 7.4% ABV
Did you know that each year in December, breweries receive the new crop of hops from the pacific northwest, making January the most ideal month to drink IPA. Not that we’re trying to tempt you or anything. This one is brewed with the newest crop of Krush, known for its candied pineapple and overall potent character. It’s just as juicy as the name suggests.
Siglo – White Corn Mexican Vienna Lager – 4.9% ABV
This amber lager utilized our cereal mashing vessel, one of the unique customizations on our brewhouse. We can turn just about any starch into fermentable sugar without the need of malting or pre-gelatinization in a malthouse. 30% of this beer comes from the same white corn flour restaurants use to make their own tortillas. It ended up being extremely challenging to create and both our brewers relied on their years of experience to nail each target by the end of the 12 hour brewing process.
Tuxedo At A Pool Party – German Pilsner – 4.8% ABV
Although it’s not pool party season, we’re always ready to dive into a glass of this classic style. Returning to the taproom drafts, our pilsners are special to us and require extra steps and know-how in the brewhouse with extended maturation in the cellar. German malt is step-mashed, then hopped with Hallertau, Mittelfrüh, and Saphir hops. Naturally carbonated and lagered in our shiny horizontal tanks, the freshest-dressed beer has arrived to the party.
About Damn Time – Bourbon Barrel-Aged Stout – 13.5% ABV
Each team member at Blackbird gets a chance to choose a beer style, work with brewers on the recipe, and spend a day creating it themselves on the brewhouse! This one was Kenne’s turn! He wanted to create Blackbird’s first barrel-aged beer. We made an insanely dark and decadent imperial stout, aged it for 20 months pushing Kenne to the limits of his patience. We then balanced its aged complexity with a fresh pop of flavor by resting it on locally roasted Sunny Days coffee.
Sticky Nickels – Pale Ale – 5.55% ABV
I got five on it. Literally. Five nickels at a time because they’re stuck together. Duct tape doesn’t substitute as a coin wrapper, but you don’t know until you know. Want to find out? Ask your bartender. This sticky, icky Pale Ale was brewed the hard way with a long step mash and a single decoction to enhance the malt and help it stand up to the dankest, fresh Strata and Idaho #7 hops from the recent harvest. Also did you know a nickel weighs 5 grams? Whoa.
Upcoming Events
It’s a month full of all the exciting, classic Blackbird events to keep your January anything but boring, even if it is dry. Here’s a snapshot of what we’ve got scheduled in the upcoming weeks:
The Family Bee’s-ness Pop Up – January 10, 4:30pm-7:30pm
Our monthly, second Saturday market is moving inside for January and February. With the *sometimes* colder weather, our wonderful partners from The Family Bee’s-ness are moving their booth inside and the other vendors will be back come March. Until then, you can still pre-order or shop from the farm’s wares at their table inside our taproom.
Crokinole Night – January 14, 6pm-8pm
Hosted once a month at Blackbird, the Triangle Crokinole Club brings their boards, grabs some brews, and welcomes you to join and learn about this riveting tabletop game. This sport blends elements of shuffleboard and curling with precision and strategy. Open to all participants, no prior knowledge or experience is required. The organizers provide the board and all necessary game materials – just show up and enjoy! Crokinole Night is a fun opportunity to meet new people and enjoy a lesser known game with a delicious beverage in hand.
Tasting Event w/ Five Flowers – January 14, 6pm-8pm
Five Flowers creates THC and CBD coolers that you can often find on our shelves at Blackbird. They will have a table set on this Wednesday to bring some free samples to you. The event is open to the public. Stop by and discover some tasty beverages!
Opening Early for MLK Day – January 19, 1pm-10pm
We’re opening the taproom early this day for those who have the day off from work. We’ll be firing up the grill this day and periodically throwing on some free dogs for you to enjoy. Join us in commemorating this day together!
Weekly Events at Blackbird:
- Every Monday: Hammered Trivia 7pm-9pm
- Every Tuesday: Music Bingo 7pm-9pm
- Every Wednesday: Run Club 6pm, Wine Flight Wednesday with $20 wine flights
- Every Thursday: Live Music 6pm-9pm
Weekly Events at Bird’s Nest:
- Every Tuesday: Margarita Night – $1 off margaritas and margarita flights
- Every Wednesday: Classic Cocktail Night – $1 off classic cocktails on our menu
- Every Thursday: Martini Night – $1 off martinis and martini flights
- Every Thursday: Vinyl Night – bring your records and enjoy a cocktail!
Live Music
Our live music schedule for the month of January:
- Jason Adamo – Thursday, January 8, 6pm-9pm
- Sunday Jazz w/ Michael Jones & Ellis Merlin – Sunday, January 11, 3pm-6pm
- Chick & Danger – Thursday, January 15, 6pm-9pm
- Open Mic hosted by Adam Lee Decker – Sunday, January 18, 3pm-6pm
- JUST US – Thursday, January 22, 6pm-9pm
- JT Parrothead – Thursday, January 29, 6pm-9pm
- DJ Al-Ski Love – Friday, January 30, 6pm-9pm
A New Year with Blackbird
We can’t believe we’ve celebrated three whole years with all of you already. With each new year, our team is reminded how openly we were welcomed into all of your lives. In 2026, we aim to continue giving you the service you deserve, pouring the beers you love, and creating memories together. Our little slice of life in Wake Forest demonstrates what community can be. Much love to all of you and cheers to a new year!
