Surf City Brewing Company showed off its stellar brews and tapped its first keg of Beachtoberfest beer at its second annual Oktoberfest weekend on September 27 and 28.
With a few taps of the Surf City Brewing Company (SCBC) official mallet (and an assist from burly Assistant Brewer Jason Acord), Mayor Teresa Batts opened the Surf City Brewing Company’s 2025 edition of Oktoberfest in Surf City on September 27.
The youthful-looking mayor’s precise strokes, amid cries of “O’ Zapft ist!” (It is tapped!) began the brewery’s two-day celebration of the marriage of Crown Prince Ludwig and the mayor’s own namesake, Princess Therese, in 1810.
The couple invited nearly all of Bavaria to their wedding, and the annual Oktoberfest celebration in Munich has been going on ever since, sometimes seeing more than seven million fest-goers descend on Munich.
Last year, more than seven million liters were served at the days-long München celebration in tents where the seating capacity can be more than 12,000.
There were not that many liters served at SCBC on September 27, and there certainly weren’t that many seats.
But despite the inclement weather, many came out to the two-year-old brewery to join in the celebration,
SCBC made a big statement when it opened in 2023, the result of efforts by the three owners — Brian Hemenway, Reynaldo Gomez and Clint Smith.
Thanks to its airy “beer hall,” ample outdoor area and, of course, superlative beers created by Head Brewer Clint Smith and Assistant Brewer Jason Acord, the brewery has become of a favorite of the locals and many from much farther away.
Both retired Marines, Smith and Acord have tweaked their beers to near perfection.
The flagship beer, an amber 1908 Prohibition Ale, wowed my PubScout team when we first visited back in 2024.
But it’s even better now, and markedly so. A bumped-up ABV made quite a difference.
The Beachtober Fest (brewed in July as opposed to March), already a solid during our first visit, was tweaked, and it’s like a different — better — beer.
That’s what Mayor Teresa Batts was trying to coax out of the keg when the festivities began.
One of the best offerings we tasted was a collab called Peak Tide Lager, a nod to two favorite local beer emporia — Even Tide and Peak Kitchen; it’s exceptionally well-crafted and delicious.
As aforementioned, the weather could have been more cooperative, but as the day went on, more and more folks bellied up to the bar to enjoy SCBC’s substantial repertoire.
Even Gator, a four-legged beer nut, found a welcoming audience.
Manager Hillary, she of the amazingly colored eyes, bustled about the room engaging everyone with a smile and both dimples.
Hemenway and his wife, Kristy, resplendent in their Bavarian togs, reprised their roles as official host and hostess, while affable Katie plied her serving craft behind the bar.
Acord moved about the room sharing excellent tidbits of the brewing process and its ingredients with the partiers.
My crew — the Missus, Father Dave, Keith and Christa — even got to meet the peripatetic, charming Justin Williams, publisher and owner of Carolina Marketing Company, who has probably forgotten more people than most folks will ever know.
The weather had no effect on the fun vibe throughout the room, as a stein holding contest was held and prizes were awarded for best costumes.
The presence of a BBQ food truck —complete with homemade bratwurst — kept bellies full.
During a quiet moment, I asked Acord how he came to be involved in his current role as assistant brewer.
He allowed that he and Smith served in the same unit, with Smith a 1st Sergeant and Acord a Master Sergeant, Normally, he said, the two ranks don’t see eye to eye.
“But,” he added, “we spoke beer.” And apparently that was all that was necessary to bridge any gap.
They have been working closely together ever since, with beer their common language.
“I don’t do this for the money,” Acord said. “I do it because I love to do it.”
That brought to my mind the sage words of my own Army veteran dad: “Do what you love, and you’ll never work a day in your life.”
It’s no secret that the PubScout loves beer and writing about it. But if you’re reading, Boss, I still appreciate that check.
Want to go?
Surf City Brewing Company
402 Alston Boulevard Ext., Hampstead
(910) 900-7468
surfcitybrewingcompany.com
