Welcome to Tobacco Wood Brewing Company – the first woman-veteran owned brewery in North Carolina. U.S. Army vet Mara Shelton, known is the “CO” of the brewery and runs the place with her husband Paul.
Taking a nod from public beer houses in England, Tobacco Wood is less a bar and more of a gathering place. It is not unusual to see children playing oversized Connect Four and other board games while their parents finish their meal and have a casual glass of beer. Little league teams (some sponsored by the brewery) come in after games.
“We looked at a number of communities before selecting Oxford,” explains Mara, “We chose here because of the people and the beautiful downtown which has endless potential. Our mission is to not just to have a business, but to contribute to the charm and growth of Oxford.”
While the atmosphere is inviting, make no mistake, the food and brews are the draw. The aroma from the BBQ pit fills the downtown air and the brews fill the glasses. From citrus infused beers to more robust options such as the Kilted Eddie the options are wide and the popularity is growing. And not just with the patrons. Tobacco Wood recently returned from the Carolinas Championship of Beer after having SEVEN of its beers win awards, and The NC Brewer’s Cup, taking a silver in Amber Ales for the entire state.
Put it all together and you have a uniquely fun, award-winning brewery that has grown from a simple garage to what many now consider Oxford’s front porch. Tobacco Wood Brewing Co. 117 Wall Street Oxford, North Carolina 27565 tobaccowoodbrewing.com
