Charlotte is a bustling city, home to many cultural communities, and the craft beer scene here is booming. As someone born in Charlotte, I can attest to just how the city has come in its quest to become a beer mecca. It now can boast over 30 breweries!
Beer drinkers really have their work cut out for them to explore hop-filled haven. If you’re looking to check off brews on your beer bucket list, this is the place. The Queen City is awash in diverse brews, surroundings, food trucks, gardens, and events. As delicious as they are distinct, these drafts have put Charlotte on Carolina’s brewery map.
For your pleasure and palette, here are the 12 most beloved and best Charlotte breweries!
Best Charlotte Breweries
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
- Address: 4150 Yancey Rd (GPS)
- Style: German Beer Garden
- Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (11:00 p.m. Friday & Saturday)
- Website: Link
An institution in Queen City, OMB is the OG of the Charlotte craft scene. It’s the first brewery I can recall visiting in the Charlotte area. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is an expansive and energetic German-style brewhouse (Brauhaus).
It boasts the urban oasis of the area, with an eight-acre beer garden (Biergarten), often full of families, friends, and dogs enjoying the sunny space with a cold pint. Located in the hip LoSo District, the selection here satisfies every preference if you’re a fan of German-style beers, even better.
The Copper Altbier and Captain Jack Pilsner are among the most popular in the robust roster. They take a purist stance on brewing called Reinheitsgebot, which stipulates that beer can only have four ingredients: water, malt, hops, and yeast. Come hungry as they serve up favorite German pub fares, including bratwurst, Bavarian pretzels, and beer cheese, to pair perfectly with your fresh draft of choice.
Wooden Robot Brewery
- Address: 1440 S Tryon St (GPS)
- Style: Creative Loft Taproom
- Hours: 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. (Tues – Thursday) 3:00 – 11:00 p.m. (Friday) 12:00 – 11:00 p.m. (Saturday) 12:00 – 8:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
Located in South End Charlotte, Wooden Robot is a laid-back treasure of the area. The atmosphere is warm and quaint, inviting visitors to cozy up in a corner or share some laughs at a long communal table. They’ve cultivated many regulars who give the space a neighborhood feel and are dedicated to the drafts on tap.
Their Good Morning Vietnam Coffee Vanilla Blonde Ale has become quite the crowd-pleaser. We also love their light and citrusy What’s He Having IPA. Twisted Eats provides bites to go with your beers. They do have an array of diverse drafts that they are always changing up. All are gluten-reduced due to a special enzyme used in the brewing process.
They love to explore the balance between tradition and innovation in their techniques. Their second location in NoDa has a stunning rooftop we highly recommend checking out.
NoDa Brewing Company
- Address: 2921 N Tryon St (GPS)
- Style: Inventive Warehouse (Beer Garden)
- Hours: 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Tues – Thursday) 12:00 – 10:00 p.m. (Friday & Saturday) 12:00 – 8:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
A long-standing star of the craft community in Charlotte, NoDa Brewing brings the flavor every time. The taproom is bright and vibrant; think exposed brick adorned with local art.
The patio is spacious and shaded, perfect for an afternoon of fun. Everything feels easy-going, and they love to host events for charities, live music, trivia, and more. The Tin Kitchen food truck lives on-site to serve up delicious Mexican dishes.
Their award-winning track record makes them one of the best Charlotte breweries. Take a free tour of their facilities to learn all about how the magic happens. If you’re not a fan of a frothy hoppy beverage, try out Brizo craft spiked seltzers for a refreshing departure from the norm.
The current cult classic is the Coco Loco Porter, but don’t sleep on the old standby the Hop Drop N’ Roll IPA. Be sure to stop by to see what creative seasonal or specialty brews they’re coming up with these days.
Birdsong Brewing Company
- Address: 1016 N Davidson St (GPS)
- Style: American Taproom
- Hours: 3:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Monday – Thursday) 12:00 – 11:00 p.m. (Friday & Saturday) 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
Birdsong offers a relaxed and artsy vibe that we can’t get enough of. Locally-made metal signage and custom tables compliment the aesthetic of the area outside and the vintage vinyl wall inside. The fact that it was the first brewery to go solar-powered in 2017 makes us swoon even more.
This 30 barrel brewhouse uses four times less water than the average brewery and loves supporting local community efforts, whether environmental, social, or cultural.
Birdsong offers many fun collaborations on their taps as well, and their brewing process uses local ingredients. They are known for their American-style ales, and the Jalapeno Pale Ale has made believers out of every skeptic.
The Higher Ground IPA is a flagship favorite, and the Mexicali Stout is a sought-after seasonal that’s guaranteed to make smiles. Their rotating roster of food trucks is just as good of a reason to stop by as their craft drafts. The patio provides a welcoming space to meet new friends or catch up with old ones.
Resident Culture Brewing Company
- Address: 2101 Central Ave (GPS)
- Style: Taproom
- Hours: 3:00 – 10:00 p.m. (Monday – Thursday) 3:00 – 11:00 p.m. (Friday) 12:00 p.m. -11:00 p.m. (Saturday) 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
Cartoon murals deck the walls of this industrial loft taproom for a fun setting. Their menu is constantly changing, making for a fun surprise every time you enter. Food trucks are a regular fixture, especially on Fridays when several gathers at the beer garden to sling all of Charlotte’s favorite fares. Located in Plaza Midwood is a refurbished family warehouse. They both fit in and stand out amongst their carefully curated neighbors.
The foundation of their warm and friendly feel is built upon inclusivity and community-based culture. We would go for the artwork on the beers alone, but luckily, each draft is more delicious than the next. Illegal Smile Sour and God Complex DIPA are some of the all-time heralded heavyweights, but we must admit the Pajama Party Pilsner has stolen our hearts.
Brewers at 4001 Yancey
- Address: 4001-A, Yancey Rd (GPS)
- Style: Brewlab / Restaurant
- Hours: 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Monday – Saturday) 11:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
This space is a pint powerhouse palace, with 120 taps and 40 beers on rotation. This is the Artisanal Brewing Ventures headquarters, and the large renovated space gives a minimal and industrial feel. Ever heard of them? Perhaps you know their subsidiaries, Six Point Brewery, Southern Tier Brewing Company, or Victory Brewing Company.
The 4001 Yancey houses the innovation lab, where talented brewmasters try out their inspired beer creations. If they then please the palates, one of the three breweries will release them. They pull all the fan favorites, such as Crisp Pilsner, Cloud Walker IPA, and Golden Monkey Belgian Tripel. The diverse variety of drafts here is sure to entice your taste buds.
There is a full menu and table service, so pull up a patio adirondack chair or a seat in the beer garden and get ready for a one-of-a-kind beer venture.
Sycamore Brewing
- Address: 2161 Hawkins St (GPS)
- Style: Taproom and Beer Garden
- Hours: 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Monday – Wednesday) 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. (Thursday – Friday) 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Saturday) 12:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
Sycamore Brewing is a young and fresh hangout for beer lovers in Uptown Charlotte in a hip and always happening setting. They love to host large-scale festivals surrounding music, beer, or food—sometimes all three! Keep your eyes out for Lobster and Beerfest, Spring Oyster Roast, Front Porch Sundays, BBQ and Bluegrass, and many more.
Often packed with a post-work crowd and their pups, this venue slings pints at high volumes, and it’s easy to see why. It’s a fun and friendly atmosphere with drinkable beers always flowing. The Southern Girl Blonde Ale is a popular pick, along with the Mountain Candy IPA. The Paloma Gose steals the Summer show while the Vanilla Affogato Coffee Cream Ale wins the Winter.
They also make their own hard seltzers and roast their own coffee, both available to buy. Be ready for a rollicking good time if stopping in at Sycamore.
Divine Barrel Brewing
- Address: 3701 N Davidson St (GPS)
- Style: Stylish Taproom
- Hours: 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Monday – Wednesday) 12:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Thursday) 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Friday & Saturday) 12:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
A newcomer to the brewery scene, they’ve certainly made a splash with the taproom’s modern and dreamy decor. The space is sure to give you design envy, with airy open beams, exposed brick, and plenty of greenery to go around. The patio is pup-friendly, and they use a lot of wood-aged techniques in their process. It’s such a relaxing and serene setting. Many come to kick back with a good book or some work on their laptop.
Since they host community events, such as yoga, there’s nothing like a delicious draft to go with your downward dog. They are most well-known for their West Coast IPAs, like Forty Dollar Bill, but their sours, like Zest Intentions, deserve mention as well. They love to experiment with different flavors and styles, so there’s always something fun (and most likely fruity) brewing on the Divine Barrel homefront.
Triple C Brewing
- Address: 2900 Griffith St (GPS)
- Style: Taproom
- Hours: 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Monday – Thursday) 2:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Friday) 12:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Saturday) 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
Settled in the South End since 2012, Triple C is a jewel of Queen City and a top contender of all the best Charlotte breweries. They’ve created an active community space by hosting clubs, yoga classes, and neighborhood bike rides. They also host many environmental events, such as river clean-ups, recycling drives, and grain-waste programs. This is the brewery for all fitness aficionados, conservation warriors, and craft beer lovers.
The Rainbow Sherbert Fruited Sour is truly something special, and the Golden Boy Blonde Ale is a mouthwatering masterpiece. Of course, the main claim to fame of Triple C is the Babymaker. Aptly named with an ABV of 9%, this Double IPA has quite the reputation for procreation.
Their food truck lineup includes Blue Barn Bistro, New Wrap Order, and The Dumpling Lady, all coveted Charlotte cuisines. Take a peek into their process by peering through the taproom windows at the 15 barrel brewhouse.
the Unknown Brewing Co.
- Address: 1327 S Mint St (GPS)
- Style: Industrial Taproom
- Hours: 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. (Wednesday – Thursday) 3:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Friday) 12:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Saturday) 12:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
A spacious favorite of the South End, this brewery is known both for its solid staples and its creative concoctions. The rooftop bar and its sweeping skyline panoramas are enough reason to visit Unknown. The ambiance is sleek and soft, making for a relaxing space to enjoy a cold one.
There are 24 taps to choose from. Come for the flagships, such as Pre-Game Session Ale or Over The Edge IPA, and stay for the swell seasonals like Bright Ass Tank Top or Raisin the Roof, a Belgian Quadrupel flavored with cognac-simmered raisins and cinnamon.
A permanent pizza truck called Passport Dough & Co. serves up slice after slice to quell your hunger as you quench your thirst. Their motto is life without boundaries, and this bountiful passion for life and beer sure seeps into the experience. Join the Unknown Cycling crew for a Bike and Brew on the weekends, which helps raise money for local charities.
Lenny Boy Brewing Co.
- Address:3000 S Tryon St (GPS)
- Style: Organic Craft Beer Taproom
- Hours: 4:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Tuesday – Thursday) 3:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Friday) 11:00 a.m. – 11:00 p.m. (Saturday) 11:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
Lenny Boy, named after a loved and loyal pup, brews up wild ales, sours, and kombucha with style. It’s come a long way since its inception, from one 200-gallon tank to a booming and beloved Carolina classic. The industrial space is flooded with warm natural light and greenery as far as the eye can see, and as you might have guessed, they’ve created an expansive fenced yard for a dog-friendly space. This is a great place to get a flight and try a bit of everything from their 29 taps.
The kitchen offers many snacks and sandwiches to go with the beautiful brews, beer, and kombucha. We can’t get enough of their crown and glory Citraphilia IPA or the creamy Burn Down Brown Ale.
They promote health and high quality with everything they make and create a community space with fun and festive cultural events each week. You can tell Lenny Boy has a real passion for fermentation and has promised never to stop making all your funky favorites. They also are home to an indoor tropical plant shop to help all of your plant parent dreams come true.
Pilot Brewing Company
- Address: 1331 Central Ave (GPS)
- Style: Taproom
- Hours: 2:00 – 9:00 p.m. (Monday – Wednesday) 2:00 p.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Thursday & Friday) 11:00 a.m. – 10:00 p.m. (Saturday) 11:00 a.m. – 9:00 p.m. (Sunday)
- Website: Link
This intimate nano-brewery commits itself to all that is small. The small space is quaint and cozy, great for conversations over deliciously crafted beers. They make only small-batch brews so that you won’t find a flagship insight here. The tap list is ever-changing, with new and exciting offerings. They’ve become a haven for beer lovers and have made quite a name for themselves in the craft scene since 2018.
Every month Pilot invites a local homebrewer to come in and work with their brewmasters. They have an advanced cicerone on staff, a high accolade in the brewery world with only 120 in existence. The Dunkel Bock has gotten a lot of traction, and their Island Hopper IPA is a craft connoisseur’s dream. They aim to expand the beer realm as we know it through traditional and experimental styles that always keep you guessing, one batch at a time.
