Deep River Brewing Debuts "Gregory's Ordinary American Lager" at Clayton's America 250 Heritage Festival
A limited-run American lager, Gregory's Ordinary, created by Deep River Brewing especially for Clayton’s America 250 festival will debut September 12.
There’s a little local history brewing in Clayton—and on September 12, you’ll be able to taste it.
Clayton’s Deep River Brewing Company, in partnership with the Clayton Historical Association, has created a limited-run commemorative American lager especially for the America 250 Heritage Festival: Celebrating Clayton’s Story.
And it will be unveiled and available for sale for the first time at the festival.
Its name?
GREGORY’S ORDINARY
And there’s quite a bit of Clayton history behind it.
The Story Behind Gregory’s Ordinary
Beginning in 1778, Etheldred Gregory operated an “ordinary”—a colonial-era inn or tavern—in the former Johnston County courthouse at Hinton’s Quarter, near the east end of present-day Front Street.
The courthouse had served Johnston County from 1759 until 1771. Several years later, Gregory began operating his ordinary in the former courthouse building. Gregory’s Ordinary remained there until the building burned in 1809.
Now, more than two centuries later, Gregory’s Ordinary is returning to Clayton—this time in a glass!
Deep River Brewing Has Clayton History, Too
The brewery behind the commemorative lager has its own place in Clayton’s story.
Since 2013, Deep River Brewing Company has operated at 700 W. Main Street in the former Liberty Cotton Mill, constructed around 1902 and later known as the Bartex Mill.
Deep River is known as Johnston County’s first legal brewery—an especially fitting distinction in a county with a colorful history of illegal moonshine production, particularly during Prohibition nearly a century ago.
Today, Deep River’s Tap Room features 24 beers on tap and has become a familiar part of Clayton’s modern Main Street story.
For this special collaboration, Clayton’s colonial tavern history, industrial heritage and modern craft-brewing tradition all come together in one commemorative beer.
Be Among the First to Try It September 12
“Gregory’s Ordinary” will make its debut at the America 250 Heritage Festival on Saturday, September 12. Festival-goers can visit the beer garden—appropriately named “The Ordinary”—where the limited-run lager will be available for sale.
America 250 Heritage Festival: Celebrating Clayton’s Story
Saturday, September 12 | 11 a.m.–3 p.m.
Clayton Town Square | 100 W. Main Street
Festival admission is FREE
Come for the history. Stay for the beer. And raise a glass to 250 years of American history—and a little Clayton history, too.
The America 250 Heritage Festival is sponsored by: Clayton Historical Association, Inc.- DukeEnergy - Hometowne Realty (HTR) and “Aila’s Journal” by Charles Clemmons
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