On tap and on the market: New brewery opens in Southport

Yes, the Carolina Crab Brewing Company is still for sale, along with the expansive wooded property behind the brand-new facility in Southport.

But that doesn’t mean it’s not in business.

In fact, there was a soft opening at the brewery at 4810 Long Beach Road on May 22. Look for beer, wine and live music going forward with indoor and outdoor seating that includes a shady patio overlooking the aforementioned woods.

“We want it to be a comfortable space for the community,” said Frank Marchetti, who was one of the people behind the bar for the opening.

He's also one of the original partners for the project, which was announced in 2021. Construction was completed in 2023 for beer production facility and taproom with space for food trucks and parking. In fact, there are some T-shirts at Carolina Crab printed with a 2023 opening date.

Previous reporting: This Brunswick County brewery never opened. And now it's for sale.

But Marchetti said some of the partners and the brewmaster left the business almost a year ago.

“But, you just have to keep rolling,” he said.

So, they are continuing as planned for Carolina Crab. They are even continuing to search for a new brewmaster so they can brew onsite. Until then, the beer list includes selections from Colorado-based New Belgium Brewing Company, Highland Brewing Company in Asheville, Charlotte’s NoDa Brewing Company and Mother Earth Brewing in Kinston. There are also wines, hard seltzers, mass-market beers and snacks available.

While it’s difficult to say what will happen going forward, the plan is for the brewery to remain open. Marchetti also said the original permits included adding a pavilion and another taproom behind the brewery. There are no immediate plans to start construction, but it’s a possibility, he said.

And potential buyers have the option of buying the new brewery, which is listed at $2.25 million, and the choice of adding the 13 or so acres of land nearby.

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Allison Ballard is the food and dining reporter at the StarNews. You can reach her at aballard@gannett.com.

This article originally appeared on Wilmington StarNews: Carolina Crab Brewing Company opens in Southport, NC