My name is Dustin Canestorp and I am the Founder and General of the Beer Army. I am a beer judge, home brewer and avid beer enthusiast. I am also an active duty Marine.

During my last deployment in 2007 to Iraq, I, along with a small group of Marines served as combat advisors to the 1st Iraqi Army Division. The stress and hardship was immense. Early on during this tour, a fellow Marine and friend was killed in action. His sacrifice left a permanent mark on me. A couple of days later we were conducting a mission and my Iraqi interpreter struck up a conversation with me about how he hopes to go to the States one day, to pursue the American dream. By the end of that conversation I knew what I wanted to do after the Marine Corps. I wanted to pursue my American dream, a dream that involved beer.

I have always been a big fan of beer and I swore to myself on that day I would finally learn the art of brewing when I got home. The friendships that were forged on the advisor team were stronger than most families. After our tour, we would get together monthly to play poker and to drink my homebrew. I knew that they would be brutally honest on what they liked and disliked about my beer. That honesty made me a better brewer and I started calling us, the Beer Army.

My family and I love Eastern North Carolina with its long stretches of sandy beaches, friendly people and good old fashion southern hospitality. We decided this is where we wanted to stay after the Corps. The only problem for me is the lack of beer culture, accessibility and availability of craft beer. We needed to do something about this and the Beer Army found its first mission.

Beer Army’s goal is simple; establish a robust craft beer scene and community in Eastern North Carolina. We felt the best way to do this was to educate beer drinkers by hosting premiere beer tasting festivals. In the past few years we have held multiple successful festivals that have helped the recession depressed communities of Eastern North Carolina by providing over a half million dollars of economic impact. Beer Army is a philanthropist organization and has donated tens-of-thousands of dollars to local charities during this same period.

While our festivals are focused on giving back to our communities, they have created a demand for craft beer. The accessibility and variety of beer we could purchase was extremely limited. Like other parts of the state and country, we felt our area needs the equivalent of what a farmer is to a farmers market, a micro craft brewery is to a craft beer store. We need a craft beer shop that offers hundreds of different ales and lagers both in bottles and on draft. We need to support our local and regional brewers who are all small business owners working a trade and developing a craft by providing them a store to showcase their products, a store that we call, the Beer Army Outpost.

The Beer Army Outpost is 3000 square feet and houses the largest selection of beer in New Bern and the surrounding areas. It features the Beer Army Draft Depot and the Beer Army Bottle Armory.

Beer Army is now engaged in phase three of this ENC beer revolution. We are in planning to open the first brewery in New Bern, North Carolina, a brewery we are planning to call, Beer Army Combat Brewery.

It is time for a BeeRevolution! Join the ranks of the Beer Army. Take a stand and let the world know your position. Drink local, drink craft, drink BEER! 

Poto Cervesia,
Dustin Canestorp