The Hot Box Next Level Kitchen will kick off Southern Strain Brewing’s opening weekend as a food truck. The popular food truck, owned by Michael Bowling and Chris and Jennifer Young, will eventually have a full kitchen inside of the brewery. However, construction delays now mean the kitchen won’t be complete until mid-October.

The brewery opens with a ribbon cutting ceremony on Friday, Sept. 6, and Hot Box will be on hand throughout the weekend serving their beloved Reuben and Cuban sandwiches, smoked chicken wings, risotto fritters, and beef sliders, among other dishes. There will be other food trucks parked at the brewery for opening weekend, including 225 Street Food on Friday and Sunday nights and OooWee BBQ on Saturday night.

Bowling and the Youngs rented the food truck for the weekend. Starting next week, cold items prepared at a commissary kitchen will be available for purchase at the bar. These dishes include hummus, a charcuterie plate, whipped feta dip, an Italian hero, and spicy sesame noodles. You can purchase them directly from the bartending staff.

When the kitchen opens in October, the chefs will begin serving their full menu during the brewery’s operating hours, including many of the items debuting this weekend on the food truck. Read more about The Hot Box from our earlier interview with Bowling here. —Kristen Wile