Tax Day won’t be all bad this year. The Durham Bulls kick-off their 2015 home season with an opener on Wednesday, April 15, 2015. When they do, fans will find two new companies on the concourse.
Durham Bulls Beer Co. Coming to Durham Bulls Athletic Park
First-of-its-Kind in Minor League Baseball, Brewery to Start Pouring in 2015
As it celebrates its 20th Anniversary in 2015, Durham Bulls Athletic Park continues to deliver new offerings for Bulls fans. This season, the Bull Durham Beer Co. will begin brewing and pouring at its location on the ballpark’s main concourse. The new craft brewery is the only beer company located at a Minor League Baseball stadium, and the DBAP will become one of just a few sports venues in the country to brew beer on-site.
Upon its opening, Bull Durham Beer Co. will begin brewing its two featured beers – Water Tower Wheat and Lollygagger, a Kolsch-style ale. Fans will have the ability to watch the initial creative process at games as the season starts, and then enjoy the fresh beers at the ballpark upon brewing completion. BDBC beers will also be made available to restaurants and events at the American Tobacco Campus all year long.
“The Durham Bulls have a lot to offer with fun, games and good food, and now we are taking refreshing beers to a totally new level,” said Sebastian Wolfrum, executive brewmaster. “Our one-of-a-kind craft brewery will redefine the game experience where fans can not only enjoy freshly brewed beverages, but be a part of the process as we create our two inaugural beers before their eyes.”
Wolfrum, a native of Germany, will manage the brewery with Head Brewer Tate Little. Together they bring a unique combination of experience and ingenuity to the brewhouse.
“We are thrilled to bring the fans an experience that joins two time-honored traditions of baseball and beer together at the ballpark,” Little adds. “With our state of the art brewery, we will craft the highest quality beer for Bulls fans. We plan to first offer our Lollygagger Kolsch and Water Tower Wheat early in the season, followed by a more diverse selection of seasonal beers as the year progresses.”
Growing up in a small Bavarian town, Wolfrum started his brewing career at the Ayinger Brewery where he became a classically trained brewer and maltster. He added to his experience while working for a VDP winery and distillery. Wolfrum moved to North Carolina in 2005 to become Director of Brewing Operations for the Natty Greene’s Brewing Co. In his tenure at Natty Greene’s, he established the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild and joined the Brewers Association’s Brewpub Committee.
Little began home brewing in 1996 after returning from a trip to Ireland where he discovered better quality beer than what was available back in the U.S. A third-generation home brewer, he steadily increased the quality of his beer, becoming an expert in the production of grain beer.
Fans can learn more about the brewery as it becomes available at BullDurhamBeer.com, and connect with the BDBC team on Facebook and Twitter.
East Coast Bat Company Joins DBAP’s Roster of Additions
Ballpark Corner Store Shoppers Can Watch Bat Making Process During Games
In an offseason full of additions to Durham Bulls Athletic Park, the Durham Bulls have announced the East Coast Bat Company will begin making their hand-crafted baseball bats on-site at the stadium. The Winston-Salem-based company will be selling its product in a new location adjoining the stadium’s Ballpark Corner Store.
Fans will have the opportunity to see the process of creating professional-grade baseball bats in-person, as East Coast Bat makers will be turning bats on a lathe during every Friday, Saturday and Sunday Bulls home game. Fans will also be able to purchase bats, choosing from different models or custom engraved bats.
“There’s no finer place to showcase our professional grade, custom-made bats than at Durham Bulls Athletic Park,” said East Coast Bats owner Derek Shoe. “We’re thrilled to share our creation process with Bulls fans and offer another unique experience during their visits to the ballpark.”
The announcement comes on the heels of an offseason which saw the DBAP, entering its 20th Anniversary season, add Bull City Hospitality as its food and beverage provider, and Bull Durham Beer Co., the first brewery located in a Minor League stadium.
The Durham Bulls return home to the DBAP for the ballpark’s 20th Anniversary season opener on Wednesday, April 15. Full season, Mini Plan, group and single game tickets for the 2015 season are available now. Tickets for the 2015 ACC Baseball Championship and USA Baseball games at the DBAP are also on sale now. For more information, visit durhambulls.com, the DBAP ticket office or call 919.956.BULL.
Thanks to DBBC’s Scott Carter Matthew Sutor for these capcom stories & graphics.
