Field Trip! Edit Beer Co.
NC Beer Explorer enjoys the many beer styles and iterations of this award-winning brewery.
FIELD TRIP
Ben and Rebecca Marmaduke
9/19/20254 min read
Walking into Edit Beer Co., we were expecting to be surprised, if that makes any sense. Edit is known for its unique and constantly changing beer menu, and during our visit, we definitely learned that Owner/Master Brewer Brian Johnson brings a deep level of commitment to experimentation and constant improvement to his craft.
The Basics
Location: 1911 Sego Ct Suite 101, Raleigh, NC 27616
Website: editbeer.com
Social media: facebook.com/editbeerco, instagram.com/editbeer
Vibe/Atmosphere: Hideaway, spacious, chillaxed, mellow (we were there before opening on a Wednesday afternoon)
Beers We Tried: Capital City Hockey Lager, Light as a Feather Festbier, Daily Grind Blond Ale, Season 34 Session IPA, Cold Open WC IPA, Depth of Field Dark Lager
Parking: large lot
Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends!
What’s in a Name?
Brian and co-owner/wife Angela Johnson chose the name “Edit” because they were very intentional about not getting too attached to a particular beer – even if it is an excellent, award-winning beer (such as their recent medalists at the 2025 NC Brewers Cup).
Brian said that customers are always asking “What’s new?” For Edit, that is practically everything from month to month – or more precisely – from batch to batch. As a brewer, Brian has many “levers to pull,” and he can change the balance or type of multiple malts or hops and tinker with the yeast or processing options. When he does, the beer becomes an “Edit."
Plenty to Explore
You’d think that Edit’s penchant for exploring different beer styles and tastes would fit in well with our mission to try all kinds of NC craft beer — and you’d be right! Since Edit has a never-rest, continuous improvement philosophy, you won’t find a lot of what you would call “flagship” beers. An Edit beer you saw yesterday on Untappd.com may not be on today’s menu. The closest thing to flagships at Edit are Depth of Field Dark Lager and The Kernel Popcorn Cream Ale – both of which have just recently been brought back.
We were happy to try a wide range of beers, and we found each and every one expertly brewed, and we enjoyed savoring their interesting and layered flavor notes.
Embracing Change
This image has nothing to do with anything, except that we asked AI to create a picture of a German Shepherd drinking a dark lager. Note the second handle on the mug.
Vroom Room
As if Edit Beer Co. didn’t already have enough cachet from their award-winning beers, their taproom/brewery location also deserves a mention, having once been the home to Twin Specialities Custom Motorcycles. Scooter’s Grill & Bar is housed in the same building, and there is a related backstory.
According to Brian and a legacy YellowPages listing, Twin Specialties and Scooter’s Grill & Bar were established 1998 for the biking community in Raleigh, NC and surrounding areas. Joe Snow was the original owner, and his love of bikes inspired him to open a custom-built shop combined with Scooters Grill & Bar. The bike shop half closed in 2018 while Scooter’s remained open, and Brian and his wife Angela were able to acquire the shop half for the taproom and brewery.
Image of a custom bike from Twin Specialties YP listing
As Brian explained, the proximity to Scooter’s has been synergistic. Like most brewers, he recognizes his taproom customers want and expect food, but he is primarily in the brewery business, not necessarily the restaurant business. So, Edit has access to the Scooter’s order entry system and a special taproom menu, and any time customers crave wings or nachos, they can order them directly through Edit and have the food delivered. It’s like having your own kitchen without all the cooking and cleaning!
Final Edit
Our final take on Edit was that while experimentation is always on the menu, the beers themselves are less about wacky flavors and more about nuanced aromas and tastes that have been thoughtfully extracted from the grains, hops, and brewing process. When you visit Edit Beer Co., you will find beer that has been elevated and customized to its highest form – much like a well-maintained 1952 Vincent Black Lightning motorbike (nod to Richard Thompson’s classic song of the same name)
NCBE's Beer Notes - Edit Beer Co.
Capital City Hockey Lager
Style: Lager
ABV: 5%
Color: pale straw, clear
Aroma: bready, apple cider vinegar, citrus
Taste: green apple, citrus
Mouthfeel: light, crisp, effervescent
Aftertaste: malty
Light as a Feather*
Style: Festbier
ABV: 6.3%
Color: light gold
Aroma: malty
Taste: toffee, , subtle bitterness
Mouthfeel: fine, effervescent
Aftertaste: balanced
The Daily Grind*
Style: Blond Ale
ABV: 5.7%
Color: golden
Aroma: fresh ground coffee (and more coffee!)
Taste: latté, coffee w/cream
Mouthfeel: creamy, carbonated
Aftertaste: coffee beans
Season 34*
Style: Session IPA
ABV: 4.5%
Color: deep gold
Aroma: hoppy, caramel, autumn hayride
Taste: malty, grainy, oaty, leather
Mouthfeel: medium
Aftertaste: wheaty
Cold Open
Style: WC IPA
ABV: 7%
Color: yellow, mostly clear/not hazy
Aroma: floral, hops, tropical fruit
Taste: pineapple, orange, thyme, resinous
Mouthfeel: light
Aftertaste: crisp, dry, bitter
Depth of Field*
Style: Dark Lager
ABV: 5.5
Color: black-brown, beige head
Aroma: bittersweet chocolate, coffee
Taste: cocoa, caramel, wood smoke, cola
Aftertaste: clean, smooth
