February 7, 2024
As the calendar inches closer to February 14, many of Cabarrus County’s small businesses pair up to bring us lovely new ways to celebrate the heart-filled holiday. And some of the coolest local collaborations here extend beyond Valentine’s Day!
Merging their strengths to form bold new endeavors, these partnerships are so ideal, it’s as though they were made for each other.
Eat Cakes Bakery + Old Armor Beer Company
The two-legged set no doubt enjoy the brews at Old Armor Beer Company, which range from hazy IPAs to Belgian tripels. And humans definitely savor sweet treats such as decadent cupcakes, brownies and cheesecakes at Eat Cakes Bakery. But when these two Kannapolis businesses join forces, our furry best friends win.
That’s because Old Armor shares gallons of spent grain with Eat Cakes’ owner Donna Taylor, who then transforms the grain into tasty dog treats.
Old Armor came up with the idea as a way to reduce waste and keep their carbon footprint small, but the partnership has since blossomed into a shining example of how local Kannapolis businesses lift each other up. Now that’s something to raise a toast — or a scone — to.
73 & Main + The Bakery at Mount Pleasant
Speaking of sweets, a local favorite Mount Pleasant restaurant teams up with the bakery across Main Street to bring diners a popular dessert item. Made by The Bakery at Mount Pleasant, the Bourbon Pecan and Brown Sugar Bread Pudding at 73 & Main is a must-try after your main course. And the bourbon? It’s locally produced by Southern Grace Distilleries just minutes down the road.
The bread pudding isn’t the only offering on 73 & Main’s menu made with this small batch spirit. Savory dishes including the Baby Back Ribs and Hand Breaded Boneless Chicken Wings get a boost of flavor from this bourbon, too.
For another sweet pairing, 73 & Main also teams up with Concord’s DOUGH New York Style Bakery to offer specialty items like a Salted Caramel Brownie.
Angel’s Share BBQ Sauce + Southern Grace Distilleries
A tangy barbecue sauce goes with everything, but its soulmate might just be a small-batch bourbon.
Thank goodness the folks at Angel’s Share BBQ Sauce see it that way, too. The Midland company offers a range of award-winning sauces, several of them part of their Meat Liquor line, a stellar collaboration with Southern Grace Distilleries in Mt. Pleasant.
Tucked inside a former prison, Southern Grace Distilleries crafts whiskeys, bourbons and moonshine, each bottle hand-labeled. And since the family-owned Angel’s Share also brings a personal touch to every bottle of barbecue sauce, it was a no-brainer for the Cabarrus makers to pair up. Among the boozy blends are Cabarrus Gold, a mustard-based sauce featuring Sun Dog 130 corn whiskey; Half Acre, a hot sauce touched with Conviction White Dog corn whiskey; and The O.G., a sweet-heat balance of honey chipotle bourbon. Pick up a variety of flavors right here at the Cabarrus County Visitor Center!
For another delicious hometown offering from Angel’s Share, try “Fancy Coffee Sauce,” a BBQ sauce infused with the local bourbon and local coffee. Read on to learn more about Local Patriot Roasting Co.
Local Patriot Roasting Co. + NASCAR Driver Daniel Hemric
When you buy a bag of the coffee blend Head Down, Fin Up from Local Patriot Roasting Co. in Kannapolis, you’re getting more than just a solid cup of coffee. The coffee is a result of a partnership between Kate Falconer, owner of the Kannapolis-based roastery, and Daniel Hemric, a Kannapolis native and the NASCAR 2021 Xfinity Series Champion.
Their goal: Produce a delicious coffee that also supports a good — and local — cause.
To that end, Falconer, Hemric and Hemric’s wife selected a blend of Colombian and Nicaraguan beans to make Head Down, Fin Up, and deemed that for every bag sold, a portion of the proceeds would benefit the Daniel Hemric ‘Be the Change’ scholarship awarded annually to two students at Rowan-Cabarrus Community College.
Charlotte Motor Speedway + Cabarrus Brewing Company
Fans of Cabarrus Brewing Company enjoy the brewery’s year-round offerings like the Sour Drop Sour Ale, Rocky River IPA, Cotton Blonde or Vanilla Coffee Blonde. But when race weekend rolls around, it’s time to reach for the limited release collabs with Charlotte Motor Speedway.
600 Salute is a crisp and citrusy wheat ale in a keepsake can that’s released to mark the kickoff of the NASCAR Coca-Cola 600 weekend. To celebrate the Bank of America ROVAL 400, there’s the ROVAL Rumble Beer, a Helles-style German wheat served up in a race-themed can.
Plan Your Trip
Along with these collaborations, there are so many more great partnerships to experience in Cabarrus County and we’re here to help you check them out.
Packed with everything you need to know from where to stay to what to eat, the Cabarrus County Destination Guide is your source for one-stop-shop trip planning. Get your copy today.
