10 Reasons to Visit Whistle Hop Brewing Company
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Whistle Hop Brewing Company is housed in a 1969 Northfolk & Wester Caboose and 1941 Southern Railway Boxcar.
Does the idea of delicious craft beer, yard games, and live music inside a vintage 1969 Northfolk & Western Caboose set your heart aflutter? Then, all aboard Whistle Hop Brewing Company!
Located in Fairview, North Carolina (population 3,463), Whistle Hop Brewing Company is worth the detour. A brightly lit railroad crossing sign will mark your turn on Charlotte Highway, but it's also hard to miss the bright cherry red caboose that houses the brewery and tap room.
Enjoy craft beer in the cupola of a vintage caboose.
1.You can drink beer in the cupola of a genuine caboose.
The cupola of the caboose is my husband and my favorite spot at Whistle Hop (we're frequent visitors here), but a large, covered deck bridges the caboose and a 1941 Southern Railway Boxcar, which offers guests a second bar and indoor seating options.
At this point in the article, I'm dying to tell you about the events, yard games, and food trucks, but you're probably even more curious about the beer, am I right?
Whistle Hop Brewing Company brews unusual beers and mead.
2. The beer is crazy (good).
Whistle Hop Brewing Company makes adventurous, surprising, and delightful beers, making each trip to the caboose a new and fun experience. (None of the same-old, same-old at this whimsical craft beer spot!)
Now, the taps rotate, but the Fruit Loops IPA, Blackberry Mojito Hydromel Mead, and Orange Blossom Belgian Tripel have lingered on the menu lately. Our other favorites from the current lineup are the Stein Puft Marshmallow and Brown Sugar Dunkel, Raspberry Cream Ale, and Venusian Gift Strawberry, Guava, and Passionfruit Sour Ale.
Whistle Hop Brewing Company specializes in fun and surprising craft brews.
3. In addition to what’s on tap, they have barrel-aged bottles to take home.
My husband’s on a bit of a barrel-aged everything craze (did you know there’s a such thing as barrel-aged maple syrup?), and the bottled options are worth perusing before you commit to a flight or pint!
The beer menu frequently changes at Whistle Hop Brewing Company.
4. They even have mead.
Beer not your thing? Or maybe you’re gluten-free? Whistle Hop Brewing Company has a mead (or two) for that. Their meads are delicious; try the Blackberry Mojito Hydromel Mead or award-winning Raspberry Chamomile Hydromel.
I highly recommend getting a flight at Whistle Hop Brewing Company.
5. Whistle Hop’s Flights come in tiny train cars.
Can't decide what to try? Not ready to commit to an entire pint of Fruit Loops-inspired beer? Grab a flight. It even comes in a tiny metal train car to stay on-brand.
6. Whistle Hop is kid and dog-friendly.
The beer and the venue are surely enough reasons to visit Whistle Hop but wait; there's more. The train-themed brewery rests on 3 acres of land, which houses additional seating, a large industrial-oil-drum-turned-fire-pit, a kids' area, and an expansive lawn for Fido. They’re also currently doing “Woof Wednesdays,” featuring a food truck for dogs.
Whistle Hop Brewing Company offers mini-golf, mini-bowling, and Disc Golf Connect 4.
7. The Whistle Hop lawn games are incredible.
The lawn games might be my husband’s favorite part about this brewery. Let your kids play on the miniature rock climbing wall or use the slide while you challenge your friends to a game of Disc Golf Connect 4 or bocci ball. There's also a half-sized bowling lane and a 6-hole mini golf course.
Whistle Hop Brewing Company has a beautifully curated lineup of food trucks.
8. They host amazing food trucks.
On top of ALL of that, Whistle Hop does a fantastic job of mixing it up with some of the area's best food trucks. We've Instagrammed fajitas served in a pineapple bowl, tucked into authentic Cuban sandwiches, polished off made-to-order pizzas, and even tried bubble tea for the first time (hard pass for me, y'all).
Hops grow around the grounds at Whistle Hop Brewing Company.
9. Whistle Hop Brewing features a great array of local musicians.
From Americana rock to jazz, you’ll find a fabulous array of local, talented musicians playing on the covered deck between the caboose and boxcar.
Keep an eye out for special events at Whistle Hop Brewing Company.
10. The events are tons of fun.
Last but certainly not least, keep an eye out for pop-up events. On top of their regular live music and food truck schedule, Whistle Hop also offers goat yoga, trivia, and the occasional festival.
Recent events include the Artisan August Market, the Mad Hatter Hookah Party, Pollinator Palooza, and Fairytales Farmhouse Ales. We rolled up to find grown men jousting in leather tunics one time; I kid you not.
Hands down, Whistle Hop Brewing Company is one of our favorite places to spend a relaxing yet engaging afternoon in the mountains.
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Have you been to Whistle Hop Brewing Company in Fairview, North Carolina? Drop your favorite beer or favorite memory in the comments below!