About us
In 2010, husband and wife, Chris and Tara Goulet were ready for a change. Chris was tired of the corporate grind and Tara needed a break from managing a local bakery. A friend and co-worker at the bakery, Conor Robinson, was learning how to home-brew. Chris and Tara thought Charlotte was missing a small neighborhood brewery where folks could stop in for a pint or take home a growler of super-fresh, unfiltered, American-style ale. They invited a handful of close friends over to pitch a business plan and serve Conor’s beer, and Birdsong Brewing Company was born.
History
In 2010, husband and wife, Chris and Tara Goulet were ready for a change. Chris was tired of the corporate grind and Tara needed a break from managing a local bakery. A friend and co-worker at the bakery, Conor Robinson, was learning how to home-brew. Chris and Tara thought Charlotte was missing a small neighborhood brewery where folks could stop in for a pint or take home a growler of super-fresh, unfiltered, American-style ale. They invited a handful of close friends over to pitch a business plan and serve Conor’s beer, and Birdsong Brewing Company was born.
Charitable Contributions
Empowering Local Causes for a Better Tomorrow
We love getting involved with great causes and events! Priority is given to events and organizations based in Charlotte – because we live here! We're invested in supporting local nonprofits and community organizations with a focus on sustainability, arts and culture, community development, water conservation and preservation, environmental causes, and animal rescue.
Co-founder Michelle LeBeau
Without the drive of our founding partners, Birdsong Brewing wouldn’t be what it is today. It required patience, capital and, most of all, a lot of backbone. When Michelle asked Chris “So, are you gonna include me in this business, or what?!” it was a clear indication of her strength, tenacity and overall commitment to achieving something larger than herself.
Throughout her life, Michelle LeBeau made a tremendous impact on those who met her. She was intelligent, fearless, thoughtful and tough as hell. Her encouragement challenged everyone around her to become kinder and better. In 2011, Michelle founded the REACT Thyroid Foundation to raise awareness and research funding for this rare form of cancer. Michelle’s own battle with Medullary Thyroid Carcinoma lasted five years, ending in June 2015, but her legacy lives on.
It’s hard to put into words what she meant, when she achieved so much in such a short period of time. To those she knew and loved, the memories shared will last a lifetime. To those who never met her and might be reading this today, we hope that you’ll be inspired by her story: that of someone who never gave up, even in the face of adversity. We hope that throughout your day, you’ll bring some unfiltered joy into the lives around you. Michelle would want that.
Sourcing Local
We are a Charlotte brewery, and have been involved in the craft beer scene and the community here since the beginning. We brew by a simple philosophy: let’s do our part for the environment and run our business conscientiously. 100% of our spent grain (and our peanut shells!) is utilized by a local cattle farm.
We recycle all of our cardboard, glass and aluminum. We do our best to conserve water, as we know it’s a precious resource. The industry average is approximately 8 gallons of water to brew one gallon of beer–our ratio is 4:1.
Birdsong Goes Solar Powered
Over here at Birdsong we’re big fans of the environment. From cleaning up creeks to working with local farmers, our aim is to grow our sustainable efforts each year so we can continue to make a positive impact on our community. Thanks to our rooftop solar array, we’re able to do just that. By harnessing the sun’s energy, our 75-watt 220-panel solar setup allows us to rely less on non-renewable fossil fuels, reducing our contribution to carbon emissions and coal ash that can harm the earth.