Raleigh, NC
One of my main goals for RV Livin' was to remain off the cord for as long as possible. I love a nice KOA campsite now and then, but if I really want to see all this country has to offer, I'll need to upgrade Frankie the Third to her fullest potential.
Enter Raleigh. State capital of North Carolina and The City of Oaks. Seriously, this place has so many trees. Exit ramps are lush triangles of forestry and all imaginable negative space is planted full of pines. It's quite remarkable.
My old FUMA buddy Matt Downing (and owner of Craftsman Reclaimed) was raised here and keeps a storage unit full of parts, tools and found objects for any project. If anyone could help me upgrade the rig, it would be Matt.
Job Ticket: Custom Install
Qnty. 1 - 200W Flexible Mono Crystalline Solar Kit
Qnty. 1 - 75 Amp 4-Stage Converter/Battery Charger
Qnty. 1 - 3000 Watt Pure Sine Wave Inverter
Qnty. 1 - 30 Amp Automatic Transfer Switch
Qnty. 1 - Wifiranger Sky Wifi Signal Booster
Qnty. 1 - 4G-M Cell Phone Booster Kit
Qnty. 6 - Deep Cycle Battery Bank
The job would take a week and I had one of my favorite clients an hour down the road in High Point and needed to pick up my hydraulic tow kit (for Frankie the First) from Acme Tow Dolly. I'd make a work/play adventure out of it and explore this new city.
I'd love to cover every restaurant I sampled, or obnoxiously large shot (Bison Bomb) I was bought, but there was really only one place I experienced worth writing more than a Yelp review for. Friends treated me to one of Northwest Raleigh's finest and most pet friendly breweries, House of Hops.
My host was Gabriella, bartender and step daughter of one of the co-owners.
Hidden on the corner of a 70's style brick shopping strip as the flagship lessee and surrounded by pines, a courtyard gazebo and an oddly placed storage unit. They offer growlers, 24 rotating taps, 600 different bottles with food trucks outside when you get the munchies.
What was expected are the floor to ceiling industrial shelves covered in every beer you've never heard of, lively patrons and an enthusiastic regular scene. All those commonalities of brewers and beer snobs. Right after you enter the front door, a pleasant surprise was all the four legged friends on leashes, under the tables and wrapped around the feet of couples sitting in leather couches. Taking a 30 yard walk to the back patio led to even more beautiful animals, a ping pong table and dog park themed play area.
Starting the night with Sweet baby Jesus, then Victory Prima Pilsner and finishing with a 22oz bottle of Japanese green tea IPA.
The energy in the room from laughing, playing a non competitive round of ping pong and playing with strangers dogs was the perfect start to a tour de force of Raleigh's beer and food scene. But from all the appetizers, entrees and hot wings I sampled (even the deep friend french fry & cheese wrap at Ba-Da Wings), the House of Hops is where I felt at home amongst my own.
If you show up, ask for Gabriella. She's your instant best friend and can help you find the perfect beer with a only a few adjectives.
5 stars.