Flying Bull Beer Company has shut down its Ninth Street taproom and the small coffee shop that shared the narrow storefront, taking one of the block’s late-night hangouts off the board. The brewery is now operating solely out of its larger Morris Street restaurant and production facility, a move owners say will free up staff, space and beer for the bigger spot while they push harder into packaged distribution.
Owners shift focus to Morris Street
Co-owners Joel Miles and Anna Bloch told The News & Observer they are concentrating operations at the Morris Street location and “channeling resources into growth.” According to the owners, the Ninth Street taproom and coffee shop poured their last drinks on Thursday, Feb. 26.
From tiny Ninth Street brews to a full-scale downtown operation
Flying Bull’s run started on Ninth Street in 2020 as a one-barrel nanobrewery, according to the brewery’s website. That modest setup has since evolved into a full restaurant and production brewery at 300 Morris Street. The downtown expansion, which WRAL covered when it was announced, brought a kitchen, cocktails and a larger brewhouse into the mix, giving the owners the capacity they say they need for the next phase.
Taprooms feeling the squeeze
The Ninth Street closure is landing at a tough time for small breweries. The Triangle’s craft beer scene has seen several taprooms close in recent months, from Cary to Pittsboro, a pattern noted in local coverage. Nationally, the Brewers Association’s “Year in Beer 2024” report flagged 2024 as the first year since 2005 when brewery closures outpaced openings, underscoring the pressure facing neighborhood spots like Flying Bull’s original bar.
Where to find Flying Bull beer now
Flying Bull says its beer will keep flowing at the Morris Street restaurant and will increasingly show up in grocery stores and other retail outlets as distribution grows, according to the brewery’s website. With the Ninth Street storefront closed, Morris Street remains the company’s main public-facing home base.
For now, the Morris Street brewpub is the center of Flying Bull’s local universe as the owners pivot hard toward production and retail growth. Fans and retailers can keep an eye on the brewery’s online channels for updates on release dates, operating hours and special events.
