North Carolina
Top Taps: North Carolina breweries win big at U.S. beer championship
Breweries from all over America submitted their suds with the hopes of being named the best beer in the country, and North Carolina made a strong showing in 2025.
The U.S. Open Beer Championship was held in Oxford, Ohio, this week, and the championship medal winners were announced in over 100 different beer categories.
From IPAs and stouts to fruity beers (and even root beer) — North Carolina has some of the best. Breweries from the Tar Heel State were represented in the winners list of over 40 categories.
RELATED >> These Charlotte-area breweries take home World Beer Cup medals
Take a look at the categories featuring winners from North Carolina. (Breweries based in the Charlotte area are marked with an asterisk.)
3: American Strong Pale Ale
Gold: Green Envy – Fullsteam Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Lucid AF – Liquid Mechanics Brewing – Colorado
Bronze: Electri-Fly IPA – Wild Ride Brewing – Oregon
14: Session IPA
*Gold: Gentle Giant – Primal Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Sesh Coast Lager – Evans Brewing Co – California
Bronze: Corporate Estate – Celestial Beerworks – Texas
16: Fruit IPA
Gold: Mastiff – Boss Dog Brewing – Ohio
Silver: Regal Beagle – Boss Dog Brewing – Ohio
*Bronze: The Big O – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
19: New England/Juicy IPA
*Gold: Planet Pulp – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Uncurious – Druthers Brewing Co. – New York
Bronze: Meet Me at Doo Wops – Lost Shoe Brewing – Massachusetts
21: Experimental IPA
*Gold: Lil’ SLURP – NoDa Brewing Company – North Carolina
*Silver: EZ Baked – Replay Brewing – South Carolina
Bronze: Byclops – SDB Brewing Company – California
23 (A-B): Single Hop IPA
Gold: Gold Top – Brink Brewing – Ohio
*Silver: Island Hopper IPA – Pilot Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Bury Me In Strata – The Southern Growl Beer Company – South Carolina
28: Oatmeal Stout
Gold: Thunderball – Eudora Brewing Company – Ohio
Silver: Not a Cure for Baldness – Buck Bald Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Overnight Oats – Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery – Texas
37: English Summer Ale
Gold: Farmhouse – Crystal Lake Brewing- Illinois
Silver: Approachable Blonde – Municipal Brew Works – Ohio
*Bronze: Yarnburner – Neoteric Brewing Company – North Carolina
39: ESB
Gold: Pub Ale – Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Pale Ale – Boulevard Brewing Company – Missouri
Bronze: My Turn Katie ESB – Lakefront Brewery – Wisconsin
50 (A-B): Strong Scottish Ale
Gold: Hammer Throw – Lost Province Brewing Co – North Carolina
Silver: Wallace Tavern Scotch Ale – Market Garden Brewery – Ohio
Bronze: Mulligan – Grand Junction Brewing Company – Indiana
Bronze: Old Crank – Schoolcraft Brewery – Michigan
54: American Brown Ale
Gold: Throwback Brown – Hodad’s Brewing Company – California
Silver: Not a Planet – Site-1 Brewing Co – Nebraska
Bronze: Buster Brown Ale – Dingo Dog Brewing Company – North Carolina
56: German Altbier
Gold: Alternative Medicine – Lakeville Brewing Company – Minnesota
Silver: Waha Negra – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Rubber Chicken Red – Franklins Restaurant Brewery and General Store – Maryland
57: German Kolssch
Gold: Lake Hopp’r – Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. – Florida
Silver: Brandstafter – Incendiary Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Kolsch – Union Bear Brewing – plano – Texas
60: French and Belgian Saison
Gold: Le Saison – Vista Brewing – Texas
*Silver: New Slang Belgian Saison – Americana Beer Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Little Batteau – Braided River Brewing – Alabama
63: Belgian Dubbel
Gold: Dubbel Down – Braided River Brewing – Alabama
*Silver: Belgian Dubbel – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Coriolis Effect – Loose Ends Brewing – Ohio
Bronze: Chugboat Island – Buckstin Brewing Company – Texas
65: Belgian Quadrupel
*Gold: Belgian Quad – Sugar Creek Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Two Brewers are Better Than One – Silver Harbor Brewing – Michigan
Bronze: Nakatomi Nights – Flix Brewhouse-SAT – Texas
67 (A-E): Belgian Lambic
Gold: Squared Pants – 2 Silos Brewing Co – Virginia
Silver: Stupid Sexy Flanders – Sun King Brewery – Indiana
Bronze: Faithful Instruction – Monday Night Brewing – Georgia
Bronze: The Forever Echo of Your Laugh – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
70: Leipzig-Style Gose
Gold: The Dare – Druthers Brewing Co. – New York
Silver: Gose – Ponysaurus Brewing – North Carolina
72: Contemporary Gose
Gold: Aloha State of Mind – COVA Brewing Company – Virginia
*Silver: Huckleberry Cheesecake Gose Pilot Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Punk Fuzz – MachineHead Brewing Co. – California
74: Smoothie Sour
Gold: Reapers Eye – Atrium Brewing – Kentucky
Silver: Lovely Patrol: Double (POG Juice) – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
Bronze: Beach Vibes – Savage Craft Ale Works – South Carolina
78: American Amber
Gold: De Nada – Appalachian Mountain Brewery – North Carolina
Silver: Can I Pet Your Dog? – Ope Brewing Co – Wisconsin
Bronze: Elbow Bender – Wagon Wheel Brewing – California
79: California Common Beer
Gold: 1915 – Ivanhoe Park Brewing Co. – Florida
*Silver: Last Day at the Office – Neoteric Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: 1702 Steam Engine – Mountain Layers Brewing CO. – North Carolina
81: German-Style Pilsener
Gold: An Honest Man – New Berlin Brewing Company – Ohio
Silver: A Cold One – Reformation Brewery – Georgia
Bronze: Shimmer Pils – Discretion Brewing – California
Bronze: Pils – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
82 E: Rice Lager
Gold: Migoto Rice Lager – Big Island Brewhaus – Hawaii
Silver: Rice Lager – Ponysaurus Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Rice Lager – Central Machine Works Brewery – Texas
84: Munchner Helles
Gold: Helles Lager – Central Machine Works Brewery – Texas
Silver: High Point Helles – Wild Leap Brew Co – Georgia
Bronze: Haus Helles – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
85: Munchner Dunkel
Gold: Flannel Weather – The Bier Garden – North Carolina
Silver: Penn Dark – Penn Brewery – Pennsylvania
Bronze: Decrepify – Geisthaus Brewing Company – California
88: German-Style Schwarzbier
*Gold: Shrouded Reflections of Moonlight 760 Craft Works – North Carolina
Silver: Schwarzbier – Union Bear Brewing – Plano – Texas
Bronze: Black Lager – Frost Town Brewing – Texas
95 (A-B): Dark Lager
Gold: 13 Degrees – Confluence Brewing Company – Iowa
Silver: Rain Czech – Clouds Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: El Lauro Muro – Brink Brewing – Ohio
97: American-Style Wheat Beer
Gold: Float Trip – Piney River Brewing Co. – Missouri
*Silver: Uncle John’s – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: 5G – Saddle Mountain Brewing Company – Arizona
Bronze: Whoopty Whoop Hefeweizen – Wild Ride Brewing – Oregon
99 a: American-Style Fruit Beer – Raspberry
*Gold: Anniversary Stout – Model A Brewing – South Carolina
Silver: Fresh! Raspberry – Reuben’s Brews – Washington
Bronze: Razz Becky – Pondaseta Brewing Co. – Texas
99 C: American-Style Fruit Beer – Orange
Gold: Bell’s Oberon Light – Bell’s Brewery – Michigan
Silver: Anytime Wing Man – Flix Brewhouse Oklahoma City – Oklahoma
*Bronze: Zest A Peel – Triple C Brewing Company – North Carolina
99 J: American-Style Fruit Beer – Strawberry
*Gold: Strawberry Shandy – Southern Range Brewing – North Carolina
Silver: Belly Flop – Lucky Bucket Brewing Company – Nebraska
Bronze: Bella Brie – Inside the Five Brewing Company – Ohio
100 L: Fruit Wheat Beer – Mixed
Gold: POG Slammer – Wild Barley Kitchen and Brewery – Texas
Silver: Blender Bender – Berry – Ledgeview Brewing Company – Indiana
Bronze: Mebane Skyline – Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
100 M: Fruit Wheat Beer – General/Other
Gold: Banana Wheat – Whistle Hop Brewing Company – North Carolina
Silver: Blueberry Cobbler Payday – Side Hustle Brewing Company – South Carolina
Bronze: Pineapple Mana Wheat – Maui Brewing Co – Hawaii
108: Coffee Beer Light
Gold: Cowboy Coffee – Lost Province Brewing Co – North Carolina
Silver: Blue Boathouse – Fox River Brewing – Wisconsin
Bronze: Spill The Beans – Blue Heron Brewery – Ohio
115: Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter
Gold: GSO Barrel Select Stout 2024 – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
Silver: 3 year Barrel Aged Family Reserve Sleepy Bear – Werk Force Brewing – Illinois
Bronze: Eclipse – Frey Ranch – FiftyFifty Brewing Co. – California
117: Barrel-Aged Strong Stout/Porter Specialty
Gold: Maple Grenade – Silver Harbor Brewing – Michigan
Silver: BA Pumpkinhead – Pontoon Brewing – Georgia
Bronze: Ammo Can: Lima One – Forgotten Road Ales – North Carolina
120: Barrel-Aged Fruited Sour Beer
Gold: Daydreamer – Vista Brewing – Texas
Silver: The Virtue of Patience – Bold Monk Brewing Co – Georgia
Bronze: Angels in the Architecture – Bold Monk Brewing Co – Georgia
Bronze: Black Angel – Wicked Weed Brewing – North Carolina
135: Kellerbier or Zwickelbier
Gold: Kellermeister – Brink Brewing – Ohio
Silver: Bobby Beer – Oklawaha Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: Pleasing Gene – Little Brother Brewing – North Carolina
136 (128+137): Brett Beer
Gold: Free Range Farmhouse – Sun King Brewery – Indiana
Silver: All of the Positions – Forbidden Root Columbus – Ohio
Bronze: Coming To Fruition: Cherry – Oregon City Brewing – Oregon
Bronze: Beauty In The Cracks – Twin Leaf Brewery – North Carolina
141: Peanut/Peanut Butter Beer
Gold: Dark Aura – Third Eye Brewing Company (Hamilton) – Ohio
Silver: Not Sorry – Southern Ohio Brewing – Ohio
Bronze: D’s Nuts – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
142: Nut Beer
Gold: Scattered Castles – Project Halo Brewing – Texas
Silver: D’s Hazelnuts – Oklawaha Brewing Company – North Carolina
Bronze: Pistachio Cream Ale – Platt Park Brewing – Colorado
144: Historical Beer – C: Grodziskie
Gold: Smocze Pragnienie – Allusion Brewing Company – Pennsylvania
Silver: Grodziskie – Goldfinger Brewing Company – Illinois
Bronze: Smoke Over Lublin – Mountain Layers Brewing CO. – North Carolina
147: Root Beer: A – Kids
Gold: Marsh Water Low Tide Brewing – South Carolina
Silver: Bright Penny Root Beer Bright Penny Brewing – North Carolina
Bronze: No Label Root Beer No Label Brewing Co – Texas
151: Non-Alcoholic Malt Beverage: E – Wheat Ales
Gold: Yuzu Ginger Shandy – Best Day Brewing – Colorado
Silver: Gruvi Weekday Wit – Gruvi – Colorado
*Bronze: Wheat Without Worry – Primal Brewery – North Carolina
(VIDEO: Olde Mecklenburg Brewery opens second location)
North Carolina
A town in western North Carolina is returning land to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians
FRANKLIN, N.C. (AP) — An important cultural site is close to being returned to the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians after a city council in North Carolina voted unanimously Monday to return the land.
The Noquisiyi Mound in Franklin, North Carolina, was part of a Cherokee mother town hundreds of years before the founding of the United States, and it is a place of deep spiritual significance to the Cherokee people. But for about 200 years it was either in the hands of private owners or the town.
“When you think about the importance of not just our history but those cultural and traditional areas where we practice all the things we believe in, they should be in the hands of the tribe they belong to,” said Michell Hicks, principal chief of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. “It’s a decision that we’re very thankful to the town of Franklin for understanding.”
Noquisiyi is the largest unexcavated mound in the Southeast, said Elaine Eisenbraun, executive director of Noquisiyi Intitative, the nonprofit that has managed the site since 2019. Eisenbraun, who worked alongside the town’s mayor for several years on the return, said the next step is for the tribal council to agree to take control, which will initiate the legal process of transferring the title.
CHEROKEE CHIEF SIGNS ORDINANCE FOR FIRST OFFICIAL DEER SEASON ON TRIBAL LANDS
“It’s a big deal for Cherokees to get our piece of our ancestral territory back in general,” said Angelina Jumper, a citizen of the tribe and a Noquisiyi Initiative board member who spoke at Monday’s city council meeting. “But when you talk about a mound site like that, that has so much significance and is still standing as high as it was two or three hundred years ago when it was taken, that kind of just holds a level of gravity that I just have no words for.”
In the 1940s, the town of Franklin raised money to purchase the mound from a private owner. Hicks said the tribe started conversations with the town about transferring ownership in 2012, after a town employee sprayed herbicide on the mound, killing all the grass. In 2019, Franklin and the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians created a nonprofit to oversee the site, which today it is situated between two roads and several buildings.
“Talking about Land Back, it’s part of a living people. It’s not like it’s a historical artifact,” said Stacey Guffey, Franklin’s mayor, referencing the global movement to return Indigenous homelands through ownership or co-stewardship. “It’s part of a living culture, and if we can’t honor that then we lose the character of who we are as mountain people.”
LUMBEE TRIBE OF NORTH CAROLINA GAINS LONG-SOUGHT FULL FEDERAL RECOGNITION
Noquisiyi is part of a series of earthen mounds, many of which still exist, that were the heart of the Cherokee civilization. The Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians also owns the Cowee Mound a few miles away, and it is establishing a cultural corridor of important sites that stretches from Georgia to the tribe’s reservation, the Qualla Boundary.
Noquisiyi, which translates to “star place,” is an important religious site that has provided protection to generations of Cherokee people, said Jordan Oocumma, the groundskeeper of the mound. He said he is the first enrolled member of the tribe to caretake the mound since the forced removal.
“It’s also a place where when you need answers, or you want to know something, you can go there and you ask, and it’ll come to you,” he said. “It feels different from being anywhere else in the world when you’re out there.”
The mound will remain publicly accessible, and the tribe plans to open an interpretive center in a building it owns next to the site.
North Carolina
NC Foundation at center of I-Team Troubleshooter investigation could face contempt charge
DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) — New details in an I-Team investigation into a Durham foundation accused of not paying its employees.
The North Carolina Department of Labor filed a motion in court to try to force the Courtney Jordan Foundation, CJF America, to provide the pay records after the state agency received more than 30 complaints from former employees about not getting paid.
The ABC11 I-Team first told you about CJF and its problems paying employees in July. The foundation ran summer camps in Durham and Raleigh, and at the time, more than a dozen workers said they didn’t get paid, or they got paychecks that bounced. ABC11 also talked to The Chicken Hut, which didn’t get paid for providing meals to CJF Durham’s summer camps, but after Troubleshooter Diane Wilson’s involvement, The Chicken Hut did get paid.
The NC DOL launched their investigation, and according to this motion filed with the courts, since June thirty one former employees of CJF filed complaints with the agency involving pay issues. Court documents state that, despite repeated attempts from the wage and hour bureau requesting pay-related documents from CJF, and specifically Kristen Picot, the registered agent of CJF, CJF failed to comply.
According to this motion, in October, an investigator with NC DOL was contacted by Picot, and she requested that the Wage and Hour Bureau provide a letter stating that CJF was cooperating with the investigation and that repayment efforts were underway by CJF. Despite several extensions, the motion says Picot repeatedly exhibited a pattern of failing to comply with the Department of Labor’s investigation. The motion even references an ITEAM story on CJFand criminal charges filed against its executives.
The NC DOL has requested that if CJF and Picot fail to produce the requested documentation related to the agency’s investigation, the employer be held in civil contempt for failure to comply. Wilson asked the NC Department of Labor for further comment, and they said, “The motion to compel speaks for itself. As this is an ongoing investigation, we are unable to comment further at this time.”
ABC11 Troubleshooter reached out to Picot and CJF America, but no one has responded. At Picot’s last court appearance on criminal charges she faces for worthless checks, she had no comment then.
Out of all the CJF employees we heard from, only one says he has received partial payment.
Copyright © 2026 WTVD-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Murder charge filed in aftermath of altercation outside Detroit bar
San Francisco supervisors call for hearing into PG&E’s massive blackout
Brandon Williams’ game-winning 3-pointer tops Kings, breaks Mavericks’ road losing streak
Florida-based breakfast chain makes Boston debut with newest location
Sandwich shop owed more than $40,000 in taxes before seizure, city says
Florida High School Football Rankings: Top 25 teams – Oct. 21
Cleary's 21 help Le Moyne down Central Connecticut State 69-64 in OT
How old is Bo Nix? What to know about Oregon quarterback ahead of 2024 NFL Draft
99th annual Pony Swim held in Virginia
Video: ‘It Didn’t Have to Happen This Way:’ U.Va. Faculty Call for Review of Police Response to Protests
Wyoming Supreme Court rules laws restricting abortion violate state constitution
How strong are Latin America’s military forces, as they face US threats?
Trump says Venezuela will turn over 30 million to 50 million barrels of oil to US | CNN Business
Video: Nvidia Shows Off New A.I. Chip at CES
Pelosi heir-apparent calls Trump’s Venezuela move a ‘lawless coup,’ urges impeachment, slams Netanyahu
-
World1 week agoHamas builds new terror regime in Gaza, recruiting teens amid problematic election
-
News1 week agoFor those who help the poor, 2025 goes down as a year of chaos
-
Business1 week agoInstacart ends AI pricing test that charged shoppers different prices for the same items
-
Health1 week agoDid holiday stress wreak havoc on your gut? Doctors say 6 simple tips can help
-
Science1 week agoWe Asked for Environmental Fixes in Your State. You Sent In Thousands.
-
Technology1 week agoChatGPT’s GPT-5.2 is here, and it feels rushed
-
Business1 week agoA tale of two Ralphs — Lauren and the supermarket — shows the reality of a K-shaped economy
-
Politics1 week agoThe biggest losers of 2025: Who fell flat as the year closed