I made a visit to Benford Brewing Co., a locally owned producer of craft beers last week. Bryan Benford, owner and brewmaster, built the operation from scratch about seven years ago, and soon after his products were showing up in stores and taverns all over the Carolinas.

Benford’s success is no accident. This man knows how to make great beer. I have personally sampled several varieties, each one absolutely great, and there are some interesting stories behind them. For instance “World’s Problem Solver” is named for Bryan’s beer buddy (coincidentally named Buddy). The two men quaffed a few brews together while solving the problems of the world. Buddy passed away in 2008, and Bryan named a beer in his honor.

And Bryan’s grandfather started his Navy service at Pearl Harbor in 1943 and was a seaman for 16 years. Bryan found an old certificate greeting his grandfather to Hawaii and it became the label for my favorite Benford beer, Senior Chief Lager.

An hour spent with Bryan Benford is a real pleasure. And we are going to enjoy a whole day there on September 14, 2019 providing the music for a family-friendly barbecue cookoff and weekend campout. It’s open to the public, hope to see you there! I will be the one with a Benford beer in one hand, and a guitar in the other.


— Tom