Spotlight on a Local: Local Time Brewing: A Community-Focused Taproom with Global Flavor
Award-winning brewery blends global flavors with hometown pride to create a welcoming beer and social hub in the heart of Holly Springs.
About the writer: Dae Reed is a sophomore at NC State studying journalism. He has lived in Holly Springs for 8 years and loves theater, photography, and writing. Dae is the first summer intern at Holly Springs Update.
Holly Springs, NC, Jun. 1, 2025 — Local Time Brewing (website) was founded in 2022 by husband-and-wife team Chris and Kelly Gallagher. Their vision was to create a community-oriented taproom that offered unique, internationally inspired beers.
Since opening, the brewery has become a key destination in downtown Holly Springs (location), earning recognition as the 2023 North Carolina New Brewery of the Year and the 2024 Holly Springs Business of the Year.
I sat down with Chris Gallagher to discuss the brewery’s creation, its goals, and connection to Holly Springs, as well as what’s ahead for the business as it grows.
The Inception
In early 2020, Gallagher was doing consulting work that had brought him interesting and engaging opportunities. But when COVID hit, “all of the cool projects and travel evaporated overnight, and the projects that remained just weren't fulfilling at all.”
When he spoke with his wife, Kelly, about finding a new consulting job, she was candid.
“You know, we've talked about opening up a brewery for years now. She’s like, ‘maybe now's the moment. Let's go do it,’” Gallagher recalled. “So she was really the catalyst, the last push that I needed to do this.”
Opening a brewery had long been a dream, rooted in a shared desire to build community.
“We looked around and said, we live here in town, right in Holly Springs, it makes sense to do it here. There's already two really established, good other breweries here. And so we say, well, if we're going to do it here, we really have to strike our own path.”
The couple’s love for travel and different cultures also influenced their decision. As Gallagher put it, they asked themselves, “Can we marry this interest in creating community and craft brewery with our interest and love of trying to see the world?”
The Brewery
Local Time Brewing emphasizes quality ingredients and processes while drawing inspiration from global styles. The goal is to create beer that not only appeals to a wide range of people but also incorporates unique international techniques and flavors that set them apart.
“We're trying to strike that balance between what it is that we want to cultivate from an ingredients, inspiration, and style standpoint, but also what Holly Springs and now the greater region is going to be interested in consuming,” Gallagher said.
Devin Singley, their Head Brewer, leads the creation of their beer lineup. Local Time features both year-round staples and seasonal selections. In addition to beer, they offer a robust wine selection so everyone can find something they enjoy.
The taproom itself is a spacious, industrial venue filled with natural light. Behind the bar, large brewing vats are visible, adding to the immersive experience. Cleanliness and ambiance are important to the Gallaghers, helping differentiate Local Time from a typical dive bar.
Weekly events include $5 pints on Mondays, half-off wine on Wednesdays, and music bingo on Thursdays—an event that, Gallagher noted, always results in a packed taproom.
Beyond aesthetics, Gallagher emphasized their goal of creating a space that feels welcoming and warm.
“We really try to cultivate a friendly environment, an environment where the smile comes first and hopefully that the product can speak for itself,” he said. “In our own small way we are trying to foster an environment that is an antidote to the fear and divisiveness that seems to be so prevalent.”
Community-Centric
Located right on Main Street, Local Time has woven itself into the fabric of Holly Springs.
“The community has really embraced us from day one,” Gallagher said. “We have felt that people who come here appreciate what we’re trying to do and the environment we’re trying to create.”
In return, the Local Time team has made giving back a core part of their mission. The taproom frequently opens its doors to public events and local groups, including the Chamber of Commerce.
“One of the things I talk about with our staff is: if we focus on the right things, and we focus on cultivating a quality environment, and we focus on being good to people, then the community will respond,” Gallagher said.
Their charitable efforts include participating in the Marine Corps toy drive, organizing a supply drive for Western North Carolina after Hurricane Helene, and serving as a drop-off site for the Holly Springs Food Cupboard.
“We can make a small difference for our neighbors, at a minimum. And if one neighbor is good to their neighbor, then hopefully there's a chain reaction of positivity there,” Gallagher said.
What’s Next?
This year, Local Time has been focused on expansion. Their beers are starting to appear in local golf courses, restaurants, and grocery stores like Lowes Foods and Harris Teeter. Gallagher said to expect wider availability in the months ahead.
But the biggest development is their upcoming second location—in Lillington, NC.
Gallagher said they began working on the new project in January. Like Holly Springs, the new taproom will be located in a small downtown, with plans to open this summer and launch beer production by the end of the year.
“It's only half an hour away, but there's something different to it,” Gallagher said. “We're excited for the next adventure down there.”
Reflecting on Local Time’s journey, Gallagher expressed gratitude for the community’s continued support—including recent initiatives like the Sip & Stroll social district—and emphasized that, beyond the awards and accolades, their true mission is to create a space where kindness, connection, and quality come together as a quiet counter to the fear and division so often seen in the world today.
You can follow updates on their Lillington location and upcoming events by visiting their website at localtimebrewing.com or following @localtimebrewing on Instagram and Facebook.
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