Americana experience: Johnston County's Beer, Wine and Shine Trail showcases local spirit makers

Johnston County's Beer, Wine and Shine Trail features seven vineyards, breweries and distilleries open to visitors.

The trail first started as the Muscadine Heritage Trail, before beginning to incorporate local breweries starting around 2014.

"Whether you were making wine, beer, moonshine, rum, whatever, you were going to be looped into that [trail,]" explained Ashby Brame, the marketing and public relations manager for Johnston County Visitors Bureau.

Those who decide to venture on the trail can even win prizes for completing stops at each location. When you stop at a location on the trail, be sure to collect a stamp from the business. If you collect four stamps, you will receive a prize from the Johnston County Visitors Bureau. If you collect a stamp from all seven locations, you can pick out a prize from one of the businesses such as a hat or T-shirt.

"That encourages people along the trail to do more," added Brame.

Brame said that while it is possible to do the trail in one day, she also recommends picking an area or a product.

"If you want to do it, beer’s your thing, you can visit all three breweries in a day," she said. "If you want to experience a little bit of everything, then pick the Benson area and do Broadslab Distillery, Fainting Goat Brewery and Gregory Vineyards."

For those looking to experience rural and city, Johnston County's location helps offer both, according to Brame.

"I think that visitors, more so now than ever, crave that sort of Americana experience, and there is something to be said for urban travel and there's something to be said for rural travel. Johnston County benefits from being right next to Raleigh, because it's the best of both worlds," said Brame.

She added that while people might not be necessarily traveling to Johnston County, people are often still searching for hidden gems to visit while traveling through the county.

"You're out in the country, and you're taking these gorgeous two-lane back country roads through what's essentially farm land. Johnston County is historically, and still is, super agrarian which I think really benefits us. You feel like you're still discovering something. You're out of the city, you're off the highway and I think people still really crave that," said Brame.

She added that if you are traveling through the county, stopping at a location on the trail won't take up too much time on your trip.

"We tried to make something like the Beer, Wine and Shine Trail easily accessible ... something that adds to your vacation," said Brame. "There are things that you can discover on your way."

Learn more about the locations on the Beer, Wine and Shine Trail:

The brewing company features five year-round beers, while also featuring seasonal beers including Double D's Watermelon Lager and Crumble To The Core, an American Blonde Ale brewed with apples and spices.

If you're hoping to have a snack while sipping on a Abby's Amber Ale or Touche IPA, you're in luck. The brewery often has food trucks visit its location.

The vineyard offers daily tastings, which includes a souvenir glass to take home and -- before the coronavirus pandemic -- tours of the family-owned vineyard. Another option for visitors is to pick their own Muscadine grapes during the harvest season. Visitors can pick up a bucket and head to the vineyard or purchase a pre-picked bucket.

The final stop on the trail is Instill Distill Co., a veteran-owned distillery that creates award-winning white rum, spiced rum and AEVA aged rum.

The Beer, Wine and Shine Trail isn't done expanding yet, either.

Brame said additional locations are about to open and would be soon added to the trail.