With table-top shuffleboard and a unique line of gluten-free beers, the Beer Study opened its doors to Chapel Hill beer lovers this weekend.
But for JD Schlick and Rhonda Coleman, co-owners of the Beer Study, located at 106 N. Graham St., opening the establishment’s doors felt like just another day of business.
Rather than using the typical fanfare, Schlick and Coleman chose an approach more fitting of the Beer Study’s casual atmosphere, welcoming new patrons like they were old regulars.
“For our grand opening, we had five different drafts from two draft breweries in Charlotte,” Coleman said. “We sold out of two of them this weekend. We had to replace them [on Sunday].”
Inspired by their visits to Bottlecraft in San Diego and Top Hops in New York — which are both tasting lounges for craft beers — Schlick and Coleman opened their local business as a place devoted to beer connoisseurs.
“North Carolina has a pretty good brewing scene,” said Schlick.
According to the North Carolina Brewers Guild, a non-profit organization that promotes North Carolina brewing, there are 61 breweries and brewpubs in the state.
Despite how early it may be, Schlick and Coleman are already thinking about expansion — though not beyond the Beer Study’s doors.
Schlick said he wants to add to his selection of beers, and hopes to eventually establish an on-site brewing system to make high quality drafts in Chapel Hill.
Every month, Schlick said he will designate a different beer as the lounge’s “charity draft.”
He will use customer feedback to choose the draft.
In December, proceeds from the watermelon draft will go to E3, a Raleigh-based non-profit that works to fight childhood obesity.
But for now, Coleman and Schlick are happy with the mix of people they saw on opening weekend.
“It was awesome,” Coleman said. “We had people wall to wall.”
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