15 Best Breweries in Charlotte
Though some might immediately associate Charlotte with banking or NASCAR, the Queen City is quickly becoming known for its craft beer culture. Charlotte has dozens and dozens of breweries, with new arrivals opening almost every month. Charlotte breweries have evolved into community gathering places with diverse crowds, and packed schedules of weekly events to go along with your favorite pour. If you’re looking for something hoppy and a yoga class beforehand, you’ll find it. If you want a sour and a trivia night, it’s yours. If you’re just hoping for a sprawling patio and a lager to enjoy on it, no problem. For your drinking pleasure, here are 15 of Charlotte’s best breweries.
Courtesy NODA Brewing CompanyactivityNoDa Brewing Company
NoDa Brewing Company is one of the original forces in Charlotte's beer scene. Its North Tryon Street location is an ideal gathering spot, with a large, colorful taproom outfitted with local art and ample seating. The exposed brick walls, natural light, and wood-paneled bar give the space an unfussy, approachable feel, regardless of your beer knowledge. Outside you’ll find a spacious, shaded patio area where you can challenge your companions to a game of cornhole.
Andrew Hoffman/Courtesy Brewers at 4001 YanceyactivityBrewers at 4001 Yancey
Brewers at 4001 Yancey is the headquarters for Artisanal Brewing Ventures, which owns Victory Brewing, Sixpoint Brewing, and Southern Tier Brewing. It’s also home to an innovation lab, where brewers experiment with new creations that, if successful, come out under one of the brand's three distinct breweries. Because you’ve got three brands in one, plus a line of Charlotte-only brews, you’ll find a wide variety of styles here. Popular picks include Cloud Walker, a hazy IPA, and 8 Days a Week, a Blonde Ale. Other favorites include Golden Monkey, a Belgian Tripel.
activityThe Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is an expansive, bustling, German-inspired brewhouse with an eight-acre biergarten. The festive, family-friendly space, situated in the LoSo (Lower South End) district, is within walking district to other breweries and hot spots, making it the perfect focal point for an afternoon adventure. The offerings are almost exclusively German-style beers—no West Coast-style IPAs here. Fan favorites from the tap list include the Copper Altbier and the Captain Jack Pilsner and bratwurst from the food menu.
Dhanraj EmanuelactivityDivine Barrel Brewing
Since it opened in 2018, Divine Barrel has been making noise in the artsy NoDa neighborhood with its West Coast IPAs and fruity Berliner Weisses. And it’s not often that you find yourself getting home decor inspiration at a brewery, but this is certainly the case here; the space is ethereal and airy, with greenery and modern light fixtures that complement the exposed brick. Oh, and the patio is dog-friendly, so feel free to bring your pup along.
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Lydia Emil/Courtesy Catawba Brewing Co.activityCatawba Brewing Co.
The Charlotte location of this 20-year-old Asheville institution opened in 2017 in a 10,000-square-foot building in the up-and-coming Belmont neighborhood, right near Plaza Midwood and NoDa. Catawba is part of Hub 933, a strip of local businesses that includes includes an ax-throwing bar, a co-working space, and Trade and Lore coffee shop. As if the beer wasn't enough, the brewery offers a rewards program with access to exclusive tastings and releases.
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Resident Culture Brewing Company
Resident Culture joined Charlotte's booming beer scene in 2017 when it opened in a building that’s been in owner Philip McLamb’s family since 1982, when McLamb’s father ran his printing company out of it. Now McLamb and his wife Amanda have converted the space into a taproom with an outdoor patio, beer garden, and a private event space. The beer—hazy IPAs and funky farmhouse brews—is great, but the cartoonish murals on the walls, done by full-time staff member and local illustrator Maryssa Pickett will stick with you.
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Courtesy Lenny Boy Brewing CompanyactivityLenny Boy Brewing Co.
Lenny Boy Brewing, which celebrates its seventh anniversary this year, blossomed from just one 200-gallon kombucha tank in a 2,000-square-foot space into a 31,000-square-foot facility with a booming kombucha business and, now, a highly regarded beer business as well. In that time, the South End neighborhood that Lenny Boy calls home has evolved into a dense area filled with bars, breweries, and trendy restaurants that attract locals and tourists alike.
Courtesy Triple C BrewingactivityTriple C Brewing Company
Triple C Brewing was founded in 2012 by Chris Harker, alongside his friends (and fellow "C" names) Chris and Christina Murphy. The Murphys have moved onto other adventures, but the brewery is still going strong, with a focus on craft, community, and the environment through programs like Catawba River clean-up, strict recycling procedures, and grain-waste reuse. Triple C has developed several beers that have become well known around Charlotte, including the Golden Boy Blonde Ale, the adorably named Baby Maker IPA, and 3C IPA and Zest-a-Peel, which both won bronze medal medals at the Great American Beer Festival.
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Sycamore Brewing
Located in the trendy, walkable South End neighborhood, Sycamore Brewing is the go-to Charlotte hangout for ambitious professionals in their 20s and early 30s and for their dogs. Beyond just slinging pints, the brewery hosts several large-scale beer and music festivals a year, each attracting thousands of people. Depending on when you visit, you might find Food Truck Friday, an oyster roast, or the Lobster and Beer Fest, which has garnered interest from nearly 10,000 people on Facebook.
Courtesy The Unknown Brewing CompanyactivityThe Unknown Brewing Co.
Committed beer fans flock to The Unknown Brewing Co.'s new rooftop bar and revamped taproom (now with double the taps!). The brewery is known for its year-round staples like Feather Light, a refreshing, low-alcohol Berliner Weisse. Other favorites include Over The Edge IPA, Pre Game session ale, and Scratch N Sniff, a light-bodied IPA. The brewery gets creative with its seasonal releases; Raisin The Roof, for instance, is a Belgian Quadrupel featuring cognac-simmered raisins and cinnamon.
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Justin Driscoll/Courtesy Wooden Robot BreweryactivityWooden Robot Brewery
Located in South End, a neighborhood filled with active young professionals, Wooden Robot is a low-key, welcoming space with couches, cozy nooks, and long, banquet-style tables. This is a great place to take a group—the vibe is lively and energetic, and a diverse beer list means that everyone will find something to drink, whether they're craving an IPA, a sour, a saison, or a Belgian. Although the beers aren’t technically certified gluten-free, they are gluten-reduced thanks to an enzyme that brings down the gluten content.
Courtesy Pilot Brewing CompanyactivityPilot Brewing Company
Pilot Brewing, a beloved and experimental nano-brewery, doesn’t have flagship beers; instead, it brews in small batches and offers an ever-changing menu, so don't expect to drink the same thing twice. Although it just opened in August 2018, Pilot has already established itself in the industry, and within the Charlotte craft beer scene, bringing home two silver medals at the North Carolina Brewers Cup. As for the name, it honors co-owner Jeff Hudson’s career as a pilot, as well as the three-barrel Pilot system that actually brews the beer.
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Legion Brewing Company
After the success of Legion’s original location in Plaza Midwood, the brewery’s second opening earlier this year made perfect sense. Although Charlotte at large has a well-developed beer culture, SouthPark had been late to the party, making this an especially welcome addition. The new spot is stunning, with a circular bar, high ceilings, and lots of natural light. You’ll find seating upstairs, too, plus a patio and a private event space. The best beers on tap come in the styles most reliably ordered at American craft breweries: IPAs and sours.
Courtesy Heist BreweryactivityHeist Brewery
Located in the heart of the NoDa arts district, Heist has a little something for everyone. CitraQuench’l, the signature IPA, owes its bright character to its all-Citra hop bill. Hive Fives, a popular American Blonde Ale made using local honey, is only 5.5 percent ABV and less hoppy than other offerings. Cataclysm III is a 13.9 percent ABV, barrel-aged Russian Imperial Stout made with Ugandan vanilla beans. Anticipation before its release was so high that people lined up to get it the night before.
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Brittany Little/Courtesy Birdsong Brewing CompanyactivityBirdsong Brewing Company
Located in the artsy NoDa neighborhood, Birdsong Brewing is the ultimate come-as-you-are neighborhood hangout. The brewery incorporates local flavor into its aesthetic, and when you walk in you’ll notice an eye-catching Birdsong metal sign and custom tables, all made by local artisans. Head out to the patio area and you’ll find plenty of seating—just the place to lounge and catch up with friends.
