Brewery
Unclaimed profilePonysaurus Brewing Co.
Durham, NC · $$
Inebrious
Beverage Program Score
The editorial take
Ponysaurus Brewing Co. Runs taprooms Raleigh, and Wilmington, and the drink program extends well past its own draft beer. Cocktails use house beers as ingredients, including a Pilsner-topped Spaghett and a Gosé Margarita. The Wilmington list adds a deep spirits selection with bourbon, rye, tequila, and mezcal singles, while wine is available by the glass and bottle. Beer remains the core: pilsner, stout, IPA, saison, gosé, Scottish ale, and Bière de Garde across draft, cans, and a 22 oz Reserve Ale bottle.
- What should I order?
- Start with the Spaghett, Aperol and lemon juice topped with Pilsner, or the Gosé Margarita with lime, triple sec, and tequila. For beer, the core Pilsner, Export Stout, and India Pale Ale are all $7 pints, with the Don't Be Mean To People: A Golden Rule Saison benefiting EqualityNC and QORDS. The Rosè Ale is a $10 small-batch tulip pour.
- Who will enjoy this place?
- Anyone who wants a brewery taproom with more than beer: cocktails built on house ales, a serious bourbon and mezcal shelf in Wilmington, and a nonalcoholic list that includes Athletic Brewing beers and High Horse cannabis-infused sparkling drinks. Wine drinkers get by-the-glass and bottle options, including Prosecco on tap.
- When should I go?
- Oktoberfest runs September 19–October 4 with special beer and food menus at all locations. Hosts Music Bingo Wednesdays, Pony Run Thursdays, Trivia Night Mondays, and live music in the beer garden, including the Bull Blues Dance Band returning September 12.
- What should I expect to spend?
- Draft beers are $6–$10, core and specialty cans $10–$12, and the 22 oz Reserve Ale $24. Cocktails are $10 and $10–$16 in Wilmington, with frozen slushies $13–$17. Wine by the glass runs $7–$10, bottles $25–$35. Spirits singles range $7–$75.
- What makes the beverage program distinctive?
- The brewery uses its own beers as cocktail ingredients across multiple drinks, from Pilsner and India Pale Ale to Golden Rule Saison, Gosé, Mango Guava Wit, and Kolsch. Wilmington adds two End of Days collaboration cocktails, Bloomin' Bramble and Final Gambit, alongside a spirits list with multiple Bardstown Bourbon Co. Expressions, Horse Soldier bourbons, Whistle Pig ryes, and a range of tequilas and mezcals.
Beverage categories
We only score what a venue sets out to do. Categories a venue doesn't attempt are left unscored rather than penalized.
Cocktails
The cocktail list is built around the brewery's own beers, which show up as toppers and ingredients across multiple drinks. Lists five house cocktails at $10 each, while Wilmington runs a larger section with classics, frozen drinks, and collaborations. Two End of Days collaboration cocktails, Bloomin' Bramble and Final Gambit, anchor the Wilmington list.
Menu strengths
- — House beers including Pilsner, India Pale Ale, Golden Rule Saison, Gosé, Mango Guava Wit, and Kolsch are used as cocktail ingredients.
- — Lists five house cocktails at $10 each, and Wilmington expands to a larger cocktail and slushie section.
- — Wilmington includes two End of Days collaboration cocktails: Bloomin' Bramble and Final Gambit.
Standout selections
- — Spaghett — Aperol and lemon juice topped with Pilsner, $10.
- — Gosé Margarita — lime juice, triple sec, and tequila topped with Gosé, $10.
- — Golden Rule Saison Mai Tai — orgeat, triple sec, lime juice, and white rum topped with Don't Be Mean To People: A Golden Rule Saison and a splash of dark rum, $10.
- — Bloomin' Bramble — End Of Days Luna Bloom Gin, Chambord, blackberry, and lemon, $15.
Pricing: Cocktails $10 each; Wilmington cocktails $10–$16 and frozen slushies $13–$17.
Wine
Wine is a straightforward by-the-glass program across red, white, and sparkling styles, with eight wines listed at $8–$9. Wilmington adds bottles at $25–$35 and two wines on tap, Prosecco and Rosé. The list covers recognizable producers and varietal styles without chasing rare bottles.
Menu strengths
- — Lists eight wines by the glass at $8–$9, and Wilmington lists glasses at $7–$10 and bottles at $25–$35.
- — Both locations offer multiple wines by the glass across red, white, and sparkling styles.
- — Wilmington pours Prosecco and Rosé on tap, with Zardetto Prosecco at $7 a glass.
Standout selections
- — Prosecco on Tap - Zardetto — Prosecco served on tap, $7 glass.
- — Pinot Noir – Vinum Cellars — ripe black cherry, earthy, clove, cinnamon, $10 glass or $35 bottle.
- — Sauvignon Blanc - Villa Maria — grapefruit, tropical fruit, grass, $8 glass.
- — Blend - Duffour Cotes de Gascogne Rouge — black cherry, chocolate, pepper, leather, $8 glass.
Pricing: Glasses $8–$9; Wilmington glasses $7–$10 and bottles $25–$35.
Beer
This is the center of the program: core, seasonal, and small-batch drafts and core, seasonal, and Oktoberfest drafts in Wilmington. The brewery produces pilsner, stout, IPA, saison, gosé, Scottish ale, and Bière de Garde, and packages core and specialty cans plus a 22 oz Reserve Ale bottle for home. Oktoberfest runs September 19–October 4 with special beer and food menus at all locations.
Menu strengths
- — Draft beer spans core, seasonal, and small-batch offerings priced $6–$10 and $7–$10 in Wilmington.
- — Beer-to-go includes core and specialty cans at $10–$14 and a 22 oz Reserve Ale bottle at $18–$24.
- — The brewery produces pilsner, stout, IPA, saison, gosé, Scottish ale, and Bière de Garde, served on draft, in cans, and in the Reserve Ale bottle.
Standout selections
- — Pilsner — bread, crackers, herbal, 5.5% ABV, $7 pint.
- — Export Stout — espresso, burnt toffee, chocolate, 6.2% ABV, $7 pint.
- — India Pale Ale — citrus rind, cedar, tangerine, 6.3% ABV, $7 pint.
- — Don't Be Mean To People: A Golden Rule Saison — tangerine, white pepper, banana, 6.8% ABV, $7 pint, benefiting EqualityNC and QORDS.
Pricing: Draft $6–$10; Wilmington draft $7–$10; core and specialty cans $10–$14; 22 oz Reserve Ale $18–$24.
Nonalcoholic
The nonalcoholic list goes beyond soda and juice. Athletic Brewing's Upside Dawn Golden Ale, Run Wild IPA, and Athletic Lite are poured alongside High Horse cannabis-infused sparkling beverages in Pineapple Hibiscus, Blood Orange Yuzu, and Limeade, with 5mg and 10mg options and six-packs to go. Kombucha comes from ELIXER or Panacea in Wilmington, and the Lemon Blossom mixes lemon, elderflower, lavender, and soda water.
Menu strengths
- — Both locations offer non-alcoholic beer, soda, kombucha, and juice options.
- — High Horse cannabis-infused sparkling beverages come in three flavors with 5mg and 10mg dosages and six-packs to go.
- — Kombucha rotates from ELIXER Kombucha or Panacea Brewing in Wilmington, priced $5–$6.
Standout selections
- — N/A Beer — Upside Dawn Golden Ale and Run Wild IPA from Athletic Brewing Co., $7.
- — High Horse Blood Orange Yuzu — cannabis-infused sparkling beverage, 10mg, $9.
- — Lemon Blossom — lemon juice, elderflower syrup, lavender syrup, and soda water, $8.
- — Kombucha — rotating flavors from ELIXER Kombucha or Panacea Brewing, $5–$6.
Pricing: N/A beer $6–$7; High Horse $7–$9; N/A Strawberry Lemonade $8; Lemon Blossom $8; kombucha $5–$6.
Spirits
Wilmington lists extensive bourbon, rye, tequila, mezcal, vodka, gin, rum, and liqueur selections as singles priced $7–$75.
Menu strengths
- — Wilmington lists extensive bourbon, rye, tequila, mezcal, vodka, gin, rum, and liqueur selections as singles priced $7–$75.
- — The spirits list includes multiple Bardstown Bourbon Co. Expressions, Horse Soldier bourbons, Old Forester expressions, Whistle Pig ryes, and a range of tequilas and mezcals.
- — Keeps a liquors section with vodka, gin, rum, tequila, bourbon, Scotch, Hennessy, Campari, Fernet, Aperol, and Rumplemintz.
Standout selections
- — Horse Soldier Barrel Strength Bourbon — single pour, $21.
- — Whistle Pig Rye 10yr — rye whiskey, single pour, $21.
- — Del Maguey Vida Mezcal — mezcal, single pour, $14.
- — Fernet - On Tap — Fernet served on tap, $11 single.
Pricing: Wilmington spirits singles $7–$75; Fernet on tap $11.
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