Owner: Dale Overbee
By Ann Marie Byrd, Feature Writer
The new Bootleggers & Barrels located at 417-B South Front Street in the lineup next to Pirates Cove and Blackbeards, is offering a spectacular 44 beers and ciders on tap—all from North Carolina! If that wasn’t enough, owner Dale Overbee is also brewing his own beer, as well as starting up a distillery.
“I wanted a brewery and a distillery that was so special that people from other areas would come to visit, for the beer selection and my personal creations,” says Dale. “We have a really nice town and I wanted to give people yet another reason to come here.”
The interior of Bootleggers & Barrels is warm and inviting—with wood walls that Dale distressed with a torch by hand, and a softly curving ceiling that make it feel as if you are literally inside a barrel. In the rear of the building are the massive steel casks, surrounded by glass so visitors can get a peek at the brewing and distilling process. The rear door exits onto a patio and bar setup for live performances and dancing outdoors.
“Our live entertainment on a huge covered outdoor patio sets us apart from other downtown bars, with bands from 7:30-11:00pm every Friday and Saturday. We’re been entertaining with bands for over 17 years, and that’s what people come out to see, as well as our sports entertainment and games,” says Dale.
In addition to the extensive beer selection, the bar offers craft cocktails using local fresh ingredients, including fresh fruit and herbs, and off-the-charts delicious coffee drinks that can be made either with or without alcohol.
Some of the favorite beer selections are the Shortway Lookout Blonde Ale, which is a light and refreshing porch beer; the Deep River Waffles & Syzrup, a brown ale that truly tastes like waffles and syrup with a hint of coffee; and Bold Rock watermelon hard cider, which is like a watermelon jolly rancher with bubbles. Definitely, there is something for everyone.
Dale, who was raised in New Bern and attended New Bern High School, owns Bootleggers, Pirates and Blackbeards, as well as the Oasis at the Coastal Carolina Regional Airport, and Dale’s Heating, Air Conditioning and Plumbing.