Flying Bull Beer Company, a veteran- and female-owned brewery in Durham, NC, has grown from its cozy Ninth Street taproom into a new Morris Street location offering craft beer, cocktails, and food — all while staying rooted in community events and local culture. Their expansion cements them as one of Durham’s most exciting destinations for craft and connection.
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Flying Bull Beer Company was founded in 2020 by Joel Miles and Anna Bloch, who bonded over a shared passion for craft beer and the vibrant North Carolina brewing community. Their vision was not just about making beer, but creating a gathering place — a “third space” — where people could enjoy fellowship over a social beverage. The brewery is proud to be veteran-, female-, and family-owned.
They launched their first location on historic Ninth Street in Durham (often called “9th St.”) in a quirky, community-centric neighborhood. From the beginning, Flying Bull positioned itself as more than just a beer producer: it hosts live music, trivia nights, and community events.
The original Ninth Street taproom is a nanobrewery with about 24 taps, many featuring their own small-batch beers along with guest beers and ciders from other Carolina craft breweries. The venue includes an outdoor beer garden nicknamed “Bullvaria,” where patrons can relax — and dogs are even welcome.
Customers can purchase crowlers, growlers, and packaged to-go beer in addition to enjoying pints in the taproom. Their menu also includes a selection of bites, wings, and other casual fare, often aligned with local tastes.
One highlight among their beer offerings is “Bull in a Bottle”, a flagship hazy IPA (6.8% ABV, ~28 IBU) that balances hop aroma with accessibility. They also feature a variety of styles, from New England / hazy IPAs to sours, West Coast styles, and more experimental releases.
As their popularity grew, Flying Bull announced a second location in Durham’s Innovation District (Durham ID). The new location, at 300 Morris Street, encompasses over 5,500 square feet of indoor space, including casual seating areas, a cocktail bar, an observation window into the active brewery, and outdoor seating zones.
Construction began in mid-2023, with a projected opening in December of that year. The concept at Morris Street also expands beyond beer — introducing craft food and cocktail options in addition to their core beer program. The move is part of a broader vision of integrating with the social fabric of downtown Durham — notably connecting to the newly approved Downtown Durham Social District.
This expansion allows Flying Bull to reach new audiences, increase their production and hospitality footprint, and offer a more complete food + drink experience alongside their brewing operations.
Flying Bull has earned local credibility: it was recognized as the 2023 Best Brewery in Durham by Durham Magazine. The brewery’s blend of community programming (live music, trivia nights) and local collaboration helps it stand out in the crowded craft-beer marketplace.
On beer rating platforms like Untappd, Flying Bull’s beers receive active engagement from local and regional craft lovers.
Like many small and medium craft breweries, Flying Bull must navigate challenges such as:
But with those challenges also come opportunities:
Flying Bull Beer Company is still relatively young, but it’s already making waves as a leader in Durham’s microbrewery and hospitality scene. Their model — combining craft beer, creative food and drink, and community programming — positions them to evolve from a beloved local taproom to a multifaceted destination in Durham’s urban core.
Mon - Thurs: 4 PM - 10 PM
Fri: 11:30 AM - 10 PM
Sat: 11 AM - 10 PM
Sun: 11 AM - 9 PM
Mon: Closed
Tues - Wed: 4 PM - 9 PM
Thurs: 4 PM - 10 PM
Fri: 4 PM - 1 AM
Sat: 12 PM - 12 PM
Sun: 12 PM - 8 PM
