Blackbird Brewery and Bird’s Nest are alive with patio season energy. The beer is ice cold, the sunsets are showing off, and the brewery is buzzing with the kind of warm-weather chaos we wait all year for. Think golden hour pints, crowded picnic tables, breezy cocktail nights, live music drifting through the plaza, and that first sip after being outside just a little too long.
We’ve got a line-up of activities and exciting events waiting for you this month at Blackbird and Bird’s Nest. May is shaping up to be a month worth savoring, one sip at a time. We can’t wait to enjoy the season with you!
Your Next Favorite Pours
Girl You Know Wit’s True | Belgian Witbier | 4.5% ABV
So, what are you doing back at Blackbird? Well, I sat back and thought about the things we used to do, the beer I drank with you, the cheers, and many brews. I’m so in love, Girl You Know Wit’s True. We are channeling Milli Vanilli with this classic crushable Belgian Witbier brewed with wheat, coriander, and orange peel. Order a pint and know my love is for you.
No Si | Mexican Style Lager with Lime & Sea Salt | 5.0% ABV
Our most refreshing lager is back for Cinco de Mayo! 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. Team members spent 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.
Yuzu You | Experimental West Coast IPA | 6.6% ABV
Yuzu you and I’ll zu me. A year has passed since we first started playing with terpenes and the development of these concentrated flavors hasn’t slowed down. Terpenes have been discovered to be a natural part of many things we taste with a significant contribution to hop and fruit flavors. We blended citrusy Yuzu terpenes from Abstrax with loads of citrus forward NZ Wakatu and Taiheke hops and fermented it with lager yeast for refreshing results. This was originally made for our successful, first ever Beer Pairing Dinner with Cape Fear Seafood Company!
Melody | Hazy IPA | 7.3% ABV
A melody is the pleasing, orderly combination of parts signifying agreement, concord and peaceful coexistence. As is this Hazy IPA recipe. Oh wait, that’s the definition of harmony? Then what is a melody? Shit, we already named this beer. Anyways, on top of a wallop of Citra Cryo we included a ‘melodic harmony’ (yeah, that’s the ticket) of NZ Paradisi, Waimea, and US Sabro.
15th Street Del Mar | West Coast IPA | 7.1% ABV
This March, to celebrate the NCAA basketball tournament, we held our Blackbird Beer Madness. The winner of the bracket style competition voted on by all of you was 15th Street Del Mar!
When you’re looking for good swells for surfing in San Diego, look no further than 15th Street. We modeled this IPA after those in the area. Clean and dry with solid bitterness. We got some fresh Strata, Idaho 7, and Citra for this one.
Mark Your Calendars
From live music and lively trivia nights to tastings, markets, and gatherings that stretch long past sunset, May at Blackbird Brewery and Bird’s Nest is built for making the most of warmer days and even better company. Whether you’re stopping in for your weekly favorites or discovering something new on the schedule, there’s no shortage of reasons to grab a drink, pull up a chair, and stay awhile.
Cinco de Mayo | May 5
Enjoy the holiday with delicious drink specials! We brewed our beloved No Si Mexican Style Lager for the occasion and are serving up $6 pints at the Blackbird taproom for Cinco de Mayo! At Bird’s Nest, we’ve got $10 margaritas and $9 palomas to keep the party going. Let’s kick off May with some celebration and a little salt on the rim!
Baseball Shuffle Intro Night | May 6 | 6:30pm-8:30pm
Flick dice, score runs, and enjoy a new local game! Come out to Blackbird Brewery and learn about a fun tabletop game, Baseball Shuffle! The boards will be provided, instruction given, just show up ready to play and make new friends! This event is hosted by the same wonderful folks who lead Crokinole Night at Blackbird
House Music in Wake Forest | May 9 | 3pm-9pm
Step into the rhythm at Bird’s Nest with a Day Party bringing Soulful House music vibes to Wake Forest. Expect smooth grooves, uplifting beats, and a welcoming dance-floor energy as a lineup of talented DJs keeps the atmosphere flowing from start to finish. Featuring sets from DJ Jamie, DJ Mindormatter, and DJ BossLady, each spinning soulful house selections designed to move the crowd while keeping the mood relaxed and vibrant. Sip on delicious cocktails, enjoy your favorite pours, and settle into an afternoon built around good music, great company, and easygoing energy. House of Sticks will also be on-site showcasing their premium cigars to elevate the experience. Whether you come ready to dance or just want to soak in the vibe, this is your invitation to spend the day immersed in music, flavor, and community.
Farmers Market | May 9 | 4:30pm-7:30pm
Hosted every second Saturday of the month by The Family Bee’s-ness, in our Blackbird Biergarten, our Farmers Market is the perfect opportunity to support local farmers, small businesses, and unique artisans while enjoying fantastic beer! This is a perfect sip and shop opportunity with a vendor list that rotates month to month.
Mother’s Day | May 10
Join us as we celebrate the mothers, grandmothers, chosen family, and remarkable women who deserve a little extra appreciation. Spend the afternoon at Blackbird surrounded by live jazz from Rony Thomas from 3pm-6pm or relax in the cocktail lounge at Bird’s Nest with a cocktail made thoughtfully for you. To make the day even sweeter, enjoy 20% off all bottles of wine for on-site consumption or to take home with you!
Mahjong Beginner Class | May 12 | 6pm-9pm
Join Megan, founder of Mahj with Megan, at Bird’s Nest for a fun, beginner-friendly 3-hour lesson where you’ll learn the basics of mahjong gameplay, get a clear introduction to the NMJL card, and play one to two rounds of guided Mahj with step-by-step coaching. $55 per guest. All supplies included. No experience needed, just come ready to learn, laugh, and leave confident enough to join a table!
Open Mic | May 17 | 3pm-6pm
Once a month at Blackbird, Adam Lee Decker hosts Open Mic! This event is a wonderful way to enjoy a Sunday with a variety of tunes, a beverage in hand, and good vibes all around. Any artist is welcome to perform a couple of songs, no prior sign-ups necessary.
Mahjong Level 2 Class | May 19 | 6pm-9pm
Mahjong 102 is an intermediate American Mahjong class at Bird’s Nest designed for graduates of Mahjong 101 or players with basic knowledge looking to increase their speed, confidence, and strategy. It focuses on mastering the Charleston, reading the National Mah Jong League (NMJL) card efficiently, and defensive and strategic play. All supplies included. No experience needed, just come ready to learn, laugh, and leave confident enough to join a table!
Elephants Corner Wine Tasting | May 21 | 6pm-8pm
Join us at Bird’s Nest for a special guided tasting featuring Elephants Corner Wines. Explore a curated lineup of small-production bottles from the renowned regions of South Africa, known for expressive wines and distinctive terroir.
Phillips Farms of Cary
Spring is in full bloom over at Phillips Farms of Cary, and we’re excited to once again be part of the season’s lineup of festivals, markets, and family fun. As the exclusive beer vendor for the farm’s major events, Blackbird Brewery will be pouring throughout the festivities while guests explore everything from strawberry fields and flower blooms to live entertainment, local vendors, and classic farm traditions. Grab a beer, soak in the sunshine, and make a day of it at one of the Triangle’s favorite spring destinations.
Strawberryfest | May 9 – May 10
The annual celebration is back! Join us at the farmer’s market and fun park for strawberry treats, eating contests, giveaways, and more! The first 50 children to visit the Modern Woodmen pop up each day will receive a free cup of strawberries.
Scream for Ice Cream | May 16 – May 17
The haunted houses and fun park will be open together during the day! Haunted houses are recommended for children ages 12+, must be accompanied by an adult to enter. Be one of the first 50 children to visit concessions to win a free scoop of ice cream! Visit the market area to donate blood to the Blood Connection and help us fundraise for our friends combatting child sex trafficking at the Invictus Project.
See You Soon!
May is looking wonderfully stacked at Blackbird Brewery and Bird’s Nest. The taps are rotating, the cocktail shakers are working overtime, and the calendar somehow keeps finding room for one more reason to stop by. This month is shaping up exactly how we like it: lively, loud, and full of good company. So call the group chat, clear a little room on your schedule, and come see what’s pouring.
