State of Beer

Pretty good variety of beers on tap. I enjoyed their small food menu. And I got to sample the cutest beer ever! Unknown kitten snuggles. Is that not an adorable name for a beer??? This place has an awesome vibe inside and out. Definitely a great place to hang out and enjoy a beer.

Great service and selection of gluten free beers. Cheese plate and charcuterie were perfect.

Great little pub with multiple beers on tap and small plates. Staff was helpful. Pickled plate was delish!

If you’re searching for a classy but casual bottle shop with 10+ taps & serves delicious food, look no further! State of Beer has a little bit for everyone. Located on Hillsborough in DTR, they have 6 – 8 big picnic tables outside on their dog friendly patio (if the 10+ barstools are taken). There’s even a cozy nook to sit in near the windows. Parking is on the street & can be scarce on weekends, but don’t let that deter you from swinging by here!
The bartenders are extremely nice & knowledgeable about their products, and the place is always clean. When I drank beer, it seems like they always have something tapped for everyone (IPA, stout/​porter, pale ale, pilsner, hefe, etc) but they also have tons of bottles to choose from too. Their food was delicious– mostly sandwiches with fresh local bread & good deli meats. Great options to fill you up when drinking their tasty brews :)
I love that they carry Tribucha (locally made kombucha) & my favorite is Café con Bucha — a light coffee kombucha! Bottles are $ 5 and they’re well worth it for the non-​alcohol drinkers. I think they also have a few sodas too, but don’t quote me on that.
I have no complaints here & love that they accommodate everyone. Love everything that the Busy Bee /​Trophy Brewing /​State of Beer owners are doing — it’s all so consistent & the only thing I’d love to see here is kombucha on tap!

I loved this place! I’m not a beer fan, but the food was great. I went there for lunch and got the hummus platter. The hummus was garlicky and smooth. They get the bread locally from Yellow Dog (I think) bakery and it was hearty but soft. I got a salad that I can’t recall the name but it had goat cheese and the greens were really fresh. The inside has a lot of cool features such as stained concrete floors, a big comfortable bar with good stools, the taps are clean and straight out of the wall. Clean relaxing lines. The bartender was witty and he picked his conversations by the guest… I was watching and listening closely. Not to mention, the food came out almost immediately. I did not like the chick pea salad at all. There was too much mustard and too many red onions. Very small thing. I’d go back.

State of beer is a great hangout spot if you’re a Raleigh beer drinker. In addition to their varied list of taps, they offer well made sandwiches and snacks that pair well with your 12% abvs. We’ve also started buying some bottles here because they have offerings that I haven’t seen in other local shops, so it’s worth a visit if you’re looking to find some new breweries.
A sweet place to sit at the counter, gaze at industrial cans of cornichons, and and listen to vinyls of the beatles and such.

Sat at the bar for nearly 15 min and wasn’t acknowledged, then actually asked for assistance only to wait another 5 min. Left… hungry

Although not in the heart of DTR, State of Beer is one of my new favorite spots to grab a beer downtown.
I loved the little things about this place. The golden slats of wood above the constantly changing draft beers, the family of vinyls hanging out on the counter waiting to be played, and the chill vibe where you can actually have an audible conversation with the person next to you.
Besides being a bottle shop, they do offer a great selection of draft beers and a couple wines. I thoroughly enjoyed the New Belgium sour beer. Sandwiches, salads, soups, and charcuterie-​like options are also available. My friend got a sandwich, and it was huge! I think they use bread from the Yellow Dog Bakery.
One of my favorite things about this place was that I saw the chef making some soup. It showed that this place cares about their craft. That soup being made is probably going to be delicious and for sure not from a can.

Although not in the heart of DTR, State of Beer is one my new favorite spots to grab a beer downtown.
I loved the little things about this place. The golden slats of wood above the constantly changing draft beers, the family of vinyls hanging out on the counter waiting to be played, and the chill vibe where you can actually have an audible conversation with the person next to you.
Besides being a bottle shop, they do offer a great selection of draft beers and a couple wines. I thoroughly enjoyed the New Belgium sour beer. Sandwiches, salads, soups, and charcuterie-​like options are also available. My friend got a sandwich, and it was huge! I think they use bread from the Yellow Dog Bakery.
One of my favorite things about this place was that I saw the chef making some soup. It showed that this place cares about their craft. That soup being made is probably going to be delicious and for sure not from a can.

What a quaint, laid back, little bar. You can not only purchase beer here to take home, but they also have a nice bar and picnic tables you can sit at to drink as well.

They have a great selection of beers that rotate frequently. Many if their beers are somewhat hard to find elsewhere. Raleigh has several excellent bottle shops and one thing that makes State of Beer stand out is that they have food. It’s not run of the mill pub good either. They gave sandwiches and charcuterie plates that feature high quality meats and adventurous flavors. The ghost pepper salami is a must try! The other thing that makes them stand out is that the staff had excellent taste in music and they have a record player so that the tunes can be enjoyed on vinyl. The competition for best bottle shop in raleigh is tough and it’s hard for me to pick a favorite since they’re all so good but State of Beer is definitely a strong contender!

Digging it.
Was here on a weeknight with two other beer lovers and we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves.
Just know: it’s counter service only. The guy who busses tables and brings the food came around and asked «Are you guys doing ok here?» and I said «I’ll have another IPA please.» and he said «Oh we don’t have table service.» We all had a chuckle, and I think he realized his queston was a little misleading. And it *is* a little confusing. If you do choose to get food, you order at the counter, but they bring that to you. Beer you get right then and there and take it to the table yourself. (Really not that confusing, but the question he posed threw me for a loop.)
My friends and I shared a cheese plate. It was sooooo good. I liked the mustardy flavored cheese the best. And of course the manchego.
Certainly will be returning here. It’s close. It’s pretty cheap. And I love beer. That is all.

State of Beer is quickly becoming one of my favorite spots in Raleigh to go to!
My husband and I have been here twice and will be back many more times in the future, I’m sure. State of Beer is located right off of Hillsborough Street, not far from Flying Saucer. They have a long bar inside as well as a pretty good selection of beers that you can buy to take home. They also have outdoor seating which will be especially nice when the weather gets a little cooler.
One thing that sets this bottle shop apart from all of the other bottle shops in the area is the fact that they have food. And great food it is! On both of my visits we have been here for lunch and ordered a sandwich to go with our beers. Both times I got the prosciutto sandwich which is topped with whipped brie, arugula, spicy dijon mustard and pickled cherry peppers. I love this sandwich! It is the perfect combination of spicy and sweet. They have a variety of other unique sandwiches on their menu (my husband really liked the turkey wrap) and the bread the sandwiches are served on is so good! The sandwiches also come with a side — chips, mixed green salads (topped with goat cheese, walnuts, pickled beets– also so good!) or chickpea salad.
Their beer selection is solid and they often have beers that I have not seen on draft anywhere else. The people who work here are very knowledgable about beer and extremely friendly.
State of Beer, I am a huge fan and will recommend you to everyone!

Ended up here randomly on a Sunday afternoon. There were people around, but it wasn’t too crowded — got a seat at the bar easily! My friend and I each got a beer on tap and a sandwich. I got the Brie sandwich, which was amazing with the chickpea side, which was also quite tasty! Everyone that was working there seemed genuinely interested in how our beer and food was, which I really appreciated. I wanted to take some local beer home to my husband and they were able to suggest one that he ended up really enjoying. I loved the chill atmosphere as well as the fact there was both inside and outside seating — will definitely be back!

When it comes to sandwiches, I always think of places like Toast out in Durham. Taking a humble sammich and making it special isn’t as easy as it sounds. But thankfully, State of Beer is up to the challenge! Part bottle shop, part sandwich shop, State of Beer toes the line between the two really well.
Out front, State of Beer sports a large parking lot patio with plenty of tables. Inside they’ve got a large retail bottle area, good number of refrigerated cases and their beer/​sandwich counter. With 8 or so beers on tap along with 8 or so sandwiches, I went with an Italian for my first go. Put together with Yellow Dog baguette bread, my Italian is well-​stuffed with plenty of freshly cut sandwich meat, bibb lettuce, provolone and viniagrette. Very tasty and fresh. Paired with some chips and you’ve got yourself a good lunch.
So I’m happy to say that Raleigh’s latest bottle shop is doing things really well. The bar keeps on getting raised and State of Beer comfortably makes it over that bar with great beer and excellent sandwiches…

I really enjoy State of Beer. I’ve come here for both drinks and food and have yet to be disappointed. Tucked away near the Exploris Middle School down on Hillsborough Street, this bottle shop stands out from all the others because they serve delicious food! Not just charcuterie and cheese plates (which are delicious too!) but full sandwiches. The bar area is long and beautifully done, with rotating taps and a large collection of records. I haven’t gotten to sit outside yet — both times I’ve visited it has been raining! The seating inside is not huge so it can get crowded on a weekend night. The bottle selection is great, not as large as some other shop’s, but I can certainly find something interesting to take home with me! I’ll definitely be back to sit outside and enjoy a beer and a sandwich next time the temperature dips below 90 during the day!

The location is great and they do not have the distraction of the party crowds from Glenwood and Fayetteville street. They have a unique local and international beer selection and the prices are average. They offer interesting and tasty snacks, such as a cured meat and mustard plate or sandwiches, which I have not seen at other bottle shops. Another noticeable difference they have from the other nearby bottle shops is a lot of good seating inside and outside.

As a recent beer-​o-​phile (is that a thing that is ok to say? I feel like it is not.) I appreciate State of Beer not only for its wide variety of beers on tap, but because of the expansive selection in coolers and on shelves. Have a question about a beer? Want to try a flight or sample? The friendly bartenders are always open to discuss beer, brewing, and even how to advertise –your– own homebrew with you.
Their menu selection ranges from cheese plates, to salads and delicious sandwiches. My favorite is the one with the ghost pepper; watch out. It is SPICE.
The atmosphere is so lovely when they open the side door and its the middle of a spring rain storm or quiet summer sunset. Great outdoor seating and usually a record spinning some chill music in the background. They also have books about beer that you can browse, provided you don’t spill any bev on them!
I go running next door on Thursday nights and treat myself to a beer here after. Great place for a date, a friendly meet up, or if you want to drink by yourself but not feel by yourself. (Not that I encourage that kinda thing.) Anyway. State of Beer is wonderful.

The folks that opened Busy Bee and Trophy have done it again. Small beer bar with a good (not large) selection of bottles for sale. They also have some good appetizers and sandwiches. I’ve had the prosciutto sandwich and it is tasty, but be warned the spicy mustard lives up to it’s adjective.
The bar selection is good. Not the usual suspects you’d find at every other bar. The bottle selection also leans towards stuff you can’t find at just any old bottle shop. They have bottles of kombucha, etc. available as well as a couple wines by the glass for the gluten sensitive/​non-​beer folks.
The folks working there have all been friendly. They also get some extra points for the music selection. Want to expand your beer knowledge? They even have a few books you can purchase!
If you want something a little nicer than your typical bottle shop or neighborhood bar with a good selection, check out State of Beer.
Mrs. B falls in the gluten sensitive category so not the beer drinker in the family and even she suggested going here one Friday night. Win!

State of Beer is the latest restaurant in the Busy Bee Café’s family and a welcome addition to the previously inactive downtown section of Hillsborough Street. To bee honeyist, I’m a big fan of Trophy, so I BEE-​lieved that I would be a big fan of their bottle shop offering.
State of Beer is not only a bottle shop though, they also have sandwiches and salads available at lunch and dinner. The ghost pepper salami is deliciously spicy and one day I was lucky enough to catch their bahn mi special, which might be my favorite bahn mi in Raleigh (yes, topping Garland’s).
On nice days, they put picnic tables out in front of the store, which is the perfect place to get a nice buzz on a cool evening after work. The bar has a dozen drafts to pick from and there’s also a lot of options in their coolers.
The bottle shop isn’t quite on the level of Tasty Beverage, but it’s curated pretty well and there’s always something to try. My last pickup was Dogfish Head’s Aprihop American IPA. Cheers!

I just had a salad that gave me all kinds of life! The fresh green salad as this amazing balsamic dressing on it that made me sit there and eat very… slowly…savoring every bite. Staff is also great too, I like talking to them while I eat.
Luckily this is right around the corner from my job, so I can come often!

I love this place! Lots of beers to choose from & the food is great!

I think this is just what Raleigh needed, an awesome sandwich and bottle shop. Bottle shops these days are by far my favorite places to hang out, add some food and I’m a happy girl. It’s so nice to have really good food options while enjoying some tasty beers.
They have a nice outdoor patio and a large bar to sit at as well. I sat at the bar on my visit and was greeted by the friendly staff with a menu full of delicious eats. It was hard to decide what to eat I ended up ordering the turkey sandwich but definitely have my eye on that ghost pepper salami sandwich for my next visit. Yup I’m already planning my return to State of Beer.
My turkey sandwich was huge I actually took half of it home. DTR needed a sandwich shop bad and they are putting out some killer eats so definitely grab a beer and a bite when your here. Your sandwich comes with a side which I’m not sure but I imagine they must change them up every once in awhile. I really enjoyed the chickpea salad as my side today, you could also order chips or a side salad.
I have found a new favorite spot in town I’m looking forward to coming back soon.

A new trendy bottle shop… but this one serves food! It’s in a small and upcoming area of downtown with no parking lot (only street parking). My husband and I have been twice now, both positive experiences.
The first we sat at the bar and had a couple beers on a Friday night. Great beers, great bartenders, great personalities, great service. The second time we came later in the night and it was PACKED, we sat by the front window and had beer and then purchased a six pack because it was just too packed in the small space for comfort.
The bottle shop portion has more 6-pack’s than singles or bombers. They do have nicer beers on draft than I would have expected but they do poor slightly smaller pours. All in all, its a nice place, appeals to the eyes (lover the tile and lighting) and with great beer and service, you can’t go wrong.

My first impression of State of Beer was that it’s a place I’d happily return. While many locals might agree that the beer market in Raleigh is very «saturated», the uniqueness of SOB (should I say that?!) is recognized upon entry. With a sleek feel to the whole shop, exposed brick and beam and a wonderful open bar with silver tap handles, it feels classy (and a bit hipster with the expansive record collection and only the latest tunes playing).
SOB brings some unique beers to the shop as well, with help from the owners, fellow Busy Bee and Trophy partners. You’ll find limited editions but also Trophy collaborations you won’t find other places. Twelve beer tap, with prices in line with Trophy’s prices (a little high for the area) but a varied selection, and wine by the glass. There’s also a wall of coolers for bottles/​packs to take home and drink in shop by the bottle/​can (with up-​charge). But something you won’t find at the other walkable bottle shops (five currently!) is food in house: sandwiches, salads and several platters. While I can’t vouch for any of them, it’s a first for bottle shops in the area.
State of Beer was a first time four star experience (with a hopeful five star experience when tried and tested). I also have to say that the bartenders were awesome, they’ve been hired with good beer experience but also the ability to be molded into giving the customer a stellar experience (huge shout out to Rishi!) I look forward to returning and trying to food and am also so excited for the potential that State of Beer (and Runology next door) give to revamping Hillsborough Street.

So you can drink from the tap, pick a bottled beer, or ask them to can it for you (!)
Add is some good gourmet sandwiches and samplers, and it’s good for me.