Blowing Rock Brewing – Ale House
A few years ago, Blowing Rock Brewing Company began with a single idea—to create a beer that captures the finest qualities of the High Country. We adopted this same ambition as one of our goals when their team approached us about renovationating The Ale House, located in the heart of Blowing Rock, North Carolina.
The original structure of this building was built in 1920 and in 2020—100 years later—we had the honor of renovating the space while protecting the history and character of this local landmark.
The Ale House is known in our community as being warm, intimate, and a great spot to connect with friends. However, the small size of the old bar area and layout made the flow of service tight and sometimes challenging. In order to open up the space without compromising the intimate nature of the atmosphere, our team installed a custom U shaped copper bar wrapped around a 12-line tap, allowing guests to remain connected to each other while also maximizing seating. Additionally, a custom open-air window was added behind the bar, bringing fresh mountain air in and doubling guest capacity.
It was very important to our Clients that we incorporate warm textures and elements to maintain the “Old Blowing Rock” feel, so the renovation featured warm lighting, natural stone, bark, and stained wood textures. We incorporated existing bark wall cladding through the rest of the building and were able to provide digital interior renderings (see in gallery below) to allow the client to see what those elements would look like in the design, before committing to purchase and install.
The main challenge of this project was to improve the space without compromising the history and authenticity of the building. The floors were pivotal to this because they still remain from the building's original structure and are over 100 years old. As our team reworked the layout of the building, they were able to protect the original flooring and it’s incredible character.
Finally, our team also renovated the back of the house to add additional space, storage, and lighting for Ale House team members.
The original timbers of this space have seen a lot of memories, a lot of people, and a lot of community—which are all some of our favorite qualities of the High Country. Now, the Ale House has an updated space to continue their legacy as a part of our Blowing Rock Community. Cheers to you, Ale House team!
Custom Builder: 4 Forty Four
Architect: Sketchline Architecture
Before/During the Renovation
After the Renovation
