This Scandanavian-style brewer paves the way for booming beer scene near Charlotte
Mount Holly is becoming a hopping place. Traust Brewing Co., has found a new home inside South Main Kitchen and Tavern in the Gaston County town that’s drawing attention from other area breweries, as well.
Traust re-opened the restaurant Wednesday, after buying the spot last week, and will renovate the entire space while working to move its brewhouse operation there over the coming months, the brewery’s Guinevere Bell said.
Craft brews from other Charlotte-area breweries will join Traust’s Scandanavian-style beers in the restaurant’s bar. Starting out on draft will be a Traust lineup of SAGA, VÁLI, HÜMÜLØ and KØLADA, along with selections from Lost Worlds Brewing, Duck-Rabbit and Amor Artis.
Guests can expect a revamped menu to grab a bite along with their brews and cocktails, including salads, burgers and sandwiches.
“We’re excited to be Mount Holly’s first brewery and really excited to finally have a home,” Bell said. Bell is joined by her partner and founder of Traust, Eric Stevens, as well as, their close friends Aldo and Lori Brozzetti, who will lead the culinary program. Head chef James Wheeler is planning an expanded and elevated menu.
Previous plans to move into Charlotte’s Wesley Heights fell through amid COVID-19, and Midnight Mulligan is now taking over the space at 2215 Thrift Road that Traust had originally eyed. “We’ve been homeless for a while,” Bell said with a laugh.
While pausing to re-evaluate its next move, Traust had moved into the former Thirsty Nomad Brewing space at 4402 Stuart Andrew Blvd. in Charlotte, bringing in a three-barrel brewhouse and fermentors to refine its Scandanavian brews for smaller releases and pop-up events.
Now, Traust will join the growing beer scene in Mount Holly, where The Summit Beer Shop has been supporting craft brews since 2018. Now, Summit will have some craft brew neighbors: Old Mecklenburg Brewery has plans to add a third location, Charlotte Business Journal recently reported. Plans for its second location in Cornelius are underway, as well.
Also on its way to Mount Holly is a new brewpub called Firehawk, moving into the former fire station at 309 N. Main St.
“We worked so hard to bring the craft beer scene to Mount Holly — and it’s not always easy being the black sheep in a small town,” The Summit Beer Shop owner Jonathan Todd told CharlotteFive on Wednesday evening. “Our customer base and the support we receive on the daily is just unreal. I have always had a small doubt in my mind about bringing a beer shop to my hometown, but now we have the support of not one or 2 — but THREE new craft beer and food ventures that validate everything myself and our staff have worked so hard to create.”
Traust Brewing at South Main Kitchen and Tavern
Location: 128 S. Main St., Mt. Holly, NC 28120
Hours: Noon to 9 p.m., closed Monday
Cuisine: American
Instagram: @traustbrewing
This story was originally published July 14, 2021 at 5:13 PM.
