After much anticipation, Durham's first Black-owned brewery opened on South Driver Street in late 2023. Proximity's owner, Mike Potter, has made a name for himself in Durham by organizing and hosting Blacktoberfest, an annual festival celebrating beer, barbecue, music, entertainment and culture. At the brewery, you'll find a range of beers with a focus on IPAs, plus collaborations with other local companies.
FANTASTIC, my favorite brewery in town. It's one of those hidden gems. Several reasons:
1. Their beers are really really good, super high quality, super tasty
2. The space is really nice. I love the interior vibe and the backyard, especially when they have live music and events, but on a regular day is pretty nice too.
3. Also, if you have dogs, the backyard is great. I wish they allowed dogs inside, I'd be there all day if they did...though it is probably good for my kidneys that they don't. Dog owners will understand this ;-)
4. It's a little off the beaten path in a cool area of Durham with other business around (Ideals, Sophia's, Dame's Chichen and Waffles, etc) which to me makes it even more special
Kimberly France
Jul 28, 2025
5
A special thank you to the bartender that worked Saturday afternoon as I and 30 of my friends stopped by due to the power being out at ZincHouse Winery. Thank you for accommodating us, kind professionalism, and a great experience to wrap up my bday month! I highly recommend you stop by Proximity Brewing Company!
Neha Patel
Jun 15, 2025
3
Went Saturday for a quick stop, grabbed a few bears among the group. The peach sour wasn't sour, the nonalcoholic choice tasted weirdly like bubble gum. We were eating as well some sandwiches we brought, and there were gnat flies all over the place. The staff were very nice. New shop, good seating and ambience otherwise.
Matt Forsberg
Feb 8, 2025
5
Nice modern looking location with sneaky good beer. Really liked the look of the brewery and the music being played, the general vibe was "chill". Some good looking patio space out back but didn't explore it. Would come back for the IPAs alone, better than the average brew in the Raleigh Durham region.
Jazmin Lucky
Jan 4, 2025
5
This bar is a hidden gem! Great vibes, an awesome wine and beer selection, fun games, and the friendliest owner and bartenders. Perfect spot to relax and have a great time!
