Pluck Farm at Steel String Brewery: Where Craft Beer, Nature, and Live Music Converge
From Downtown Taproom to 57-Acre Farm Paradise
When Eric Knight, Will Isley, and Andrew Scharfenberg (along with original partner Cody Maltais) opened Steel String Brewery in downtown Carrboro in May 2013, they created a local gathering space inspired by the free-spirited vibes of their hometown and the agricultural bounty of North Carolina's Piedmont. Knight, who grew up with two homebrewing uncles, always knew he wanted to create a community spot that was "welcoming, warm and casual."
Eight years later, in May 2021, they took that vision to an entirely new level with the opening of Pluck Farm—a 57-acre property just outside Carrboro that combines Steel String's production brewery, working farm growing fruits, herbs, and cut flowers, native plant gardens, seasonal blooms, walking trails through fields and woods, and a 22-hole disc golf course.
The Czars and Their Vision
The four original owners—who dubbed themselves "the Czars"—each brought unique skills: Will Isley (Brewing Czar), Eric Knight (Hoopla Czar), Andrew Scharfenberg (Logistics Czar), and Cody Maltais (Financial Czar). Maltais and Isley played bluegrass together in college and got their start when Isley received a homebrewing kit for Christmas one year.
When they announced plans for Pluck Farm in 2019, co-founder Will Isley explained: "The farm allows us to achieve our original vision. It also lets us focus on creating the beers that inspire us, those that are made with foraged, forgotten and unique ingredients, while giving us enough space to meet demand for our clean beers. It allows us to consider the business more holistically because we will be on the land in a small ecosystem, and have to think more consciously about how the brewery interacts with the land."
A Partnership with Conservation
Steel String worked in conjunction with Orange County, which purchased a portion of the land for the North Carolina Mountains-to-Sea Trail. "Working with the County really helped us crystalize our interest in pursuing the property," Eric Knight explained. "We will aim to be the ideal trail neighbor, a place to jump off, grab a beer and a bite from a food truck, or picnic with your friends and family. There is real value for us to further connect with people interested in nature, conservation and outdoor recreation."
This commitment to conservation extends beyond the trail partnership. Knight hatched the idea for "Beers From Here," a collaboration with the Triangle Land Conservancy and the Piedmont Picnic Project that brings brewers from across the region together for community foraging expeditions. His goal was to better connect beer makers and drinkers in the Triangle with the land around them.
Farm-to-Glass Brewing Philosophy
Inspired by the agriculture of the Piedmont and the free-spirited vibes of Carrboro, Steel String adapts modern brewery styles into a unique NC vernacular. Many of the ingredients grown at Pluck Farm—including fruits, herbs, and hops—end up in the beer.
At any one time, there are typically 15 beers available at the Carrboro taproom and 10 to 12 at the farm on tap or in cans. Since moving the brewing operations from Carrboro to the farm, Steel String produces 40 to 50 different brews throughout the course of the year.
Inspiration for new flavors often comes from local agriculture and products. "We do a beer called the Beachmania, and it's inspired by a dessert called the Atlantic Beach Pie that was invented by Bill Smith, who was the Crook's Corner chef for a long time," Eric says. The seasonal brews are just as popular, like their No Quarter Coffee Stout that features flavors from Carrboro Coffee Roasters coffee.
Using foraged native ingredients is a specialty. Will Isley appreciates the flavor of maypop, a native vine whose orange fruits taste "somewhere between lime and passion fruit." You'll also find beers featuring honeysuckle hand-gathered by the brewers, pawpaw, sumac, wild ginger, autumn olive, and calico asters.
Open Mic Night: Thursday at the Farm
Every Thursday evening means Open Mic Night at Pluck Farm! Sign up starts at 6pm, performances start at 6:15pm. Swing by and sign up for a 15-minute slot—play some tunes, read poetry, throw some jokes, the stage is yours! Or grab a seat and enjoy snippets of a wide range of local talents.
The open mic takes place in Pluck Farm's beer garden, surrounded by native plant gardens and flower fields, with the pastoral farmland as your backdrop. It's an intimate, supportive environment where musicians can test new material or simply enjoy performing in one of the most unique outdoor settings in the Triangle.
Musicians interested in playing future gigs at either Steel String Brewery's Taproom or at Pluck Farm are encouraged to add their email to the sign-up sheet so the brewery can get in touch.
Live Music Under Open Skies
Beyond open mics, Pluck Farm regularly hosts live music performances, typically on Friday and Saturday afternoons/evenings. The outdoor beer garden becomes a concert venue where you can enjoy everything from bluegrass and folk to funk and rock. Past performers have included:
- Beer & Banjos All-Stars - A group of talented local musicians who specialize in acoustic music featuring a wide variety of artists such as Doc Watson, The Grateful Dead, Bob Dylan, and Herbie Hancock, bringing tight vocals, nuanced compositions, and hot bluegrass pickin'
- Monometrics - A five-piece Triangle band playing original tunes, covering rootsy funk and soul staples, and putting a funky twist on well-loved country classics
- Five 4 Silver - Friday night live music favorites
- Taxicab Preacher - Local performers bringing energy to Saturday afternoons
The live music schedule changes frequently, so check their social media or website for the latest lineup.
Epic Festival Events
Pluck Farm has quickly become one of the area's premier festival destinations, hosting large-scale events that draw crowds from across the Triangle and beyond:
Oktoberfest Weekend
Held annually in early October, this two-day festival features live bands, stein hoisting competitions, a kinder bouncy castle, bratwurst, pretzels, and of course—beer! Festive attire is encouraged, so get your dirndl, lederhosen, and Bavarian hats ready! Get a commemorative Oktoberfest stein that includes your first fill-up of Steel String's Oktoberfest Lager with discounted pours when you get it refilled!
Fool's Faire Renaissance Festival
This annual Renaissance festival takes over the fields of Pluck Farm in November, creating a medieval celebration complete with period costumes, entertainment, and revelry.
The Barn Bash
An annual celebration of the most exciting Sour Brewers in North Carolina, along with friends from around the country. "It was a day to take in fantastic beer, food, and music in the serene setting of the Carolina Piedmont," stated Will Isley.
A Family-Friendly Outdoor Paradise
"I've found on an average Saturday, there's probably 25 children and 10 dogs," Eric says. "It's been a really great space for [people] to bring their kids to. Parents can enjoy a beer and food from a food truck, talk to the adults and let their kids play safely."
The farm offers something for everyone:
- 22-hole (some sources say 18-hole) disc golf course
- Walking trails through fields and woods
- Lawn games and playground
- Native plant gardens and seasonal flower displays
- Flower arrangements available throughout the growing season
- Open pastures perfect for picnics
- Dog-friendly throughout
Saturday Farmers Market & Community Connection
Each Saturday, Pluck Farm holds a farmers market, inviting local growers like Cane Creek Farm and Haw River Mushrooms to set up a booth. They also partner with hunger relief organizations like TABLE, PORCH, and Farmer Foodshare to give back to the community through profit-sharing nights. "We pride ourselves on being good neighbors to folks and trying to be as locally involved as possible," Eric says.
Food Trucks & Culinary Pop-Ups
Pluck Farm hosts a great mix of rotating food trucks! Food trucks like Pork in the Road and The Tasty Turkey-Cue are often parked at the farm, ensuring you have delicious food to pair with your craft beer. Check their social media for the weekly food truck schedule—offerings range from barbecue and tacos to international cuisine and everything in between.
The Vibe: Relaxing in a Beautiful Space
"We're definitely focusing on the everyday experience and want [Pluck Farm] to be a relaxing place where people know they can come and share a beer with a friend, get food truck food and just sit on a picnic table in a beautiful space," Eric says.
The atmosphere at Pluck Farm is unlike any other brewery in the Triangle. Picture yourself sitting at a picnic table under open skies, cold craft beer in hand, surrounded by native wildflowers and herb gardens. Kids run through the fields, dogs play in the open space, and the only sounds are live music drifting from the beer garden, conversation among friends, and the occasional disc golf disc hitting chains in the distance.
It's simultaneously laid-back and vibrant—a place where you can be productive in the afternoon (UNC grad students love it for this), catch live music in the evening, or spend a full Saturday enjoying the farmers market, playing disc golf, and lingering over multiple beers as food trucks rotate through.
The farm's location right before the Saxapahaw turnoff on Highway 54 means you're truly in the countryside, yet it's just 11 miles west of downtown Carrboro. It's far enough to feel like an escape, close enough to make it your regular spot.
Hours & Practical Information
Pluck Farm Hours:
- Wednesday-Thursday: 3-9pm
- Friday: 3-9pm
- Saturday: 12-9pm
- Sunday: 12-9pm
Winter Hours (typically October-March):
- Thursday-Friday: 3-8pm
- Saturday-Sunday: 12-8pm
Beer Garden Phone: (984) 215-1173
If you're coming from Carrboro, Pluck Farm is just before the Saxapahaw turnoff on Highway 54.
Two Locations, One Vision
While Pluck Farm handles production and outdoor events, Steel String's original Carrboro taproom at 106 S. Greensboro Street remains open and vibrant, hosting its own weekly events:
- Monday: Open Mic Night (6-11pm)
- Tuesday: Trivia Night (8-10pm)
- Wednesday: Stitch N' Bitch Craft Night (7-11pm)
- Thursday: Music Bingo (7pm)
Both locations embody Steel String's commitment to creating meaningful gathering spaces where community thrives.
Planning Your Visit
Whether you're a musician looking for a Thursday open mic stage with a view, a craft beer enthusiast seeking unique, locally-foraged brews, a disc golf player wanting to tackle a challenging course, or a family looking for a beautiful outdoor space to spend the day, Pluck Farm welcomes you.
The combination of working farm, production brewery, live music venue, outdoor recreation, and community gathering space makes Pluck Farm truly one-of-a-kind in North Carolina. Where else can you play disc golf through native plant gardens, enjoy a beer made with ingredients grown steps away from where you're sitting, and catch an open mic or live band under the stars?
For the latest schedule of open mics, live music, special events, and food truck lineups, follow them on Instagram @pluck.farm and @steelstringbrewery or visit steelstringbrewery.com