A popular Wilmington brewery is adding a Downtown Raleigh taproom

A major brewery out of Wilmington’s influential beer scene is planning a new location in downtown Raleigh.

New Anthem Beer Project, a five year-old brewery with two locations in Wilmington, will open a new taproom in Raleigh’s Smoky Hollow development.

“Raleigh’s always been our home away from home market,” owner and head brewer Aaron Skiles said in a phone interview. “We’ve had some success in that market and have been trying since before COVID to get in and finally the timing was right.”

The move makes New Anthem the latest out-of-town beer maker to add a Triangle taproom, joining Asheville breweries like Burial and Hi-Wire and Charlotte’s NoDa, which announced a Chapel Hill taproom and restaurant in August.

New Anthem has emerged as one of North Carolina’s top breweries for hazy IPAs and its tallboy cans have been in Triangle bottle shops and stores for years. Skiles said the third taproom and second city will help showcase some of New Anthems saisons and stouts.

“Hops pay the bills, but our other offerings are really good and often underutilized,” Skiles said.

The New Anthem location will be a taproom only spot, with the brewery already having plenty of production space in its 14,000 square foot facility in Wilmington.

The Raleigh taproom will be 2,500 square feet with a smaller bar area, making room for more seating space, Skiles said. Look for four or five pinball machines, greenery and regular live music.

New Anthem expects to open the taproom before Spring 2023, perhaps as early as late January, Skiles said.

Along with New Anthem, Smoky Hollow is also adding fitness studio Heat Studios and hair salon HUSH.

Owned by North Hills developer Kane Realty, Smoky Hollow is anchored by a Publix grocery store and will add several new restaurant concepts to downtown Raleigh. J. Lights Market & Cafe, Spanish tapas bar Madre, Midwood Smokehouse and the Crunkleton bar will all open late this year or early next year.