Charlotte Brewery Guide

Charlotte, North Carolina has an exploding beer scene. The first brewery opened their doors in 2009 and since then it just continues to grow. Popular breweries from around the country are choosing to put taprooms in CLT because they know the demand is here.

With so many breweries to choose from it can be tough to know where to go for a high quality beer. The focus here is to solve that, and rank every brewery in town, so you know where to go for the best beer in Charlotte.

This list includes every brewery in Charlotte-proper, also known as every brewery inside the Interstate 485 loop. There are also tons of great breweries in the Charlotte suburbs—check out my guide here!

I will add a disclaimer: I am a beer snob and I love (almost) every brewery in Charlotte, so I don’t create this blog to put anyone down, but rather to be a guide to help others enjoy fantastic beers!

In ranking order, here is the Charlotte beer guide:

Burial Beer Co.

Coming in at the number one spot is Burial, arguably the best brewery in the state and one of the best in the Southeast. They are based out of Asheville and opened their Charlotte taproom in June 2022. Burial makes some of the most consistently fantastic beers—you can order in confidence knowing that your brew is going to be delightful each and every time. Their Hazy IPAs, West Coast IPAs, Stouts, and Lagers are what they do best.

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood

Resident Culture Brewing Company

Resident Culture has been crushing the CLT beer game since 2017 and they expanded their reach with the addition of their South End taproom in 2022. Their flagship IPA Lightning Drops is always a best seller. Hazy IPAs, Stouts, and Lagers are what they do best!

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood and South End

HopFly Brewing

HopFly opened their Charlotte brewery and taproom in February 2022 after years of success in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. On top of their killer space, their beers are superb. It’s a difficult decision on what to order when you’re at their taproom because you know each beer is going to be great. Hazy IPAs, West Coast IPAs, Sours, and Lagers are what they do best.

Neighborhood: South End

Fonta Flora Brewery

Fonta Flora is known as one of the OG North Carolina breweries slinging Appalachian Wild Ales out of their tiny Morganton taproom. They opened at Optimist Hall in February 2020 and continue to make fantastic beers. Their Wild Ales and Lagers are what they do best, but they’ve also recently perfected the Hazy IPA game.

Neighborhood: Optimist Park

Edge City Brewing

Edge City is not in your typical brewery neighborhood so it is easy to overlook this fantastic spot, but that would be a mistake. They opened in the heart of the pandemic and have been making delicious beers since day one. Their Sours and IPAs are what they do best, but everything they make is great!

Neighborhood: MoRa

DivinE Barrel Brewing

Divine Barrel focuses more on West Coast IPAs and Lagers than most breweries in CLT and they are always superb. They also make great dark beers like Stouts, Porters, and Barleywines. Their taproom is just past the main buzz of the NoDa neighborhood but absolutely worth the extra steps.

Neighborhood: NoDa

Petty Thieves Brewing Company

Petty Thieves is an eclectic spot near Camp North End that also tends to fly under the radar. They make a wide variety of beers that are more unique than your typical tap list. Their Saisons, Sours and Lagers are what they do best!

Neighborhood: North End

Monday Night Brewing

Atlanta-based Monday Night Brewing expanded to Charlotte in 2023. Their Garden Co. space has a sprawling outdoor area, killer pizzas, and tasty cocktails alongside their line up of beers. Their tap list always has a wide variety of beers available.

Neighborhood: South End

Heist Brewery

Heist first opened back in 2012 as the only brewpub in town. Their releases used to be the type beer nerds would line up for, but new breweries in CLT have raised the bar. Their flagship Citraquench’l is what they are best known for, but in general they excel with Hazy IPAs, West Coast IPAs, and Sours.

Neighborhood: NoDa and North End

Suffolk Punch Brewing

Suffolk Punch has really grown their beer quality recently. They have become more than just a fun bar and restaurant, but now a great brewery as well! Lagers, Sours and Hazy IPAs are what they do best.

Neighborhood: South End and SouthPark

Free Range Brewing

Free Range normally has one of the most unique tap lists in town. They love to make beers that are unusual but tasty. You’ll probably encounter a style you’ve never heard of before, and that is definitely the beer you should order. Saisons and Wild Ales are what they do best.

Neighborhood: Villa Heights and Camp North End

Triple C Brewing Company

Triple C has been a consistent mainstay in the CLT beer scene since they opened in 2012. Their beers tend to be more approachable and less focused on the latest beer trends. Porters and Stouts are what they do best!

Neighborhood: South End

Alongside Brewing

Alongside is the Charlotte taproom of Cornelius-based Ass Clown Brewing. They serve up Ass Clown beers and a full cocktail menu in their cozy, dog-friendly space. The beers are solid all around, but their Stouts are what they do best.

Neighborhood: South End

Salud Cerveceria

Salud is best known for their beer shop downstairs, but the brewery upstairs is also a gem. Their Dairlynerweisse Sour series is absolutely phenomenal and they also make great Lagers. Snag a Del Patio ashtray style and live your best life.

Neighborhood: NoDa

Wooden Robot Brewery

Wooden Robot opened their doors into 2015 and took Charlotte by storm with their Blonde Coffee Ale Good Morning Vietnam. They make a wide variety of styles and tend to stick to things that are easy drinking for the masses that visit their taprooms.

Neighborhood: South End and NoDa

Pilot Brewing

Pilot focuses more on the classic and Belgian beer styles than most CLT breweries. Expect to see a Dubbel on the tap list alongside a Brown Ale. This is the type of spot where a flight is recommended so you can try a variety of their brews.

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood

Panzu Brewery

Panzú is a Caribbean brewery with solid beers and Hazys are what they do best. Their beer menu is a little simple but it works. They also have a tapas-focused food menu, a front patio, cocktails, and frequent specials.

Neighborhood: Mint Hill

Lower Left Brewing Company

Lower Left is one of Charlotte’s smallest breweries quietly putting out solid brews. Their Hazy IPAs are always tasty and their taproom exudes chill vibes only.

Neighborhood: LoSo

Legion Brewing

Ranking Legion number 18 in a city that runs on their flagship Juicy Jay is probably not going to go over super well, but here we are. Legion has 4 locations across the city where the atmosphere and delicious food keep bringing people back for more. Despite popular opinion around Juicy Jay, an IPA, Berliner Weisses and Lagers are what they do best here.

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood, SouthPark, Wesley Heights, South End (Trolley Barn)

Hippin Hops Brewstillery

Atlanta-based Hippin Hops Brewery opened two locations in Charlotte: They have Another Brewery in Villa Heights that strives to be a neighborhood bar with their own beers on tap alongside a small food menu. Hippin Hops Brewstillery is located in Uptown with their beers, cocktails, and hookah.

Neighborhood: Uptown and Villa Heights

Town Brewing

Town typically has a pretty standard tap list with solid beers. Broken Tarted, a Sour, is their best seller alongside several Hazy IPAs.

Neighborhood: Wesley Heights

NoDa Brewing Company

NoDa is one of Charlotte’s oldest and largest breweries. They opened in 2011 and their distribution in particular has grown wildly. Their West Coast IPAs and seasonal/holiday beers are always a good choice.

Neighborhood: NoDa and Villa Heights

Protagonist

Protagonist tends to have a pretty consistent menu of their mainstay beers but their special releases and collaborations are what they do best. They started on a tiny brew system in their original NoDa taproom (since closed) and then grew massively with their LoSo space that opened in 2020.

Neighborhood: LoSo

Lost Worlds Brewing

Lost World Brewing opened their CLT taproom in Metropolitan in spring 2024. Their original location is near Lake Norman in Cornelius. They have an adventure theme with solid beers. They also serve cocktails.

Neighborhood: Midtown

Hi-Wire Brewing

Asheville based Hi-Wire Brewing opened their colorful Charlotte taproom in July 2022. Their 10W-40 Stout series with rotating unique ingredients is always fun to try, but if Stouts aren’t your style they’ve always got a variety of beers on tap.

Neighborhood: South End

Lenny Boy Brewing Company

Lenny Boy is best known for their kombucha you can find across the city, but their beers are also solid. Their Sour program is well developed and they always have a beer on tap for any palate.

Neighborhood: South End

Armored Cow Brewing Company

Armored Cow is the only brewery in the University area of Charlotte. They specialize in gluten free beers and always have a good variety of beers available. Their Hazy IPAs and Stouts are what they do best!

Neighborhood: University

Birdsong Brewing Company

Birdsong is a great spot to sit outside on their patio and have a nice, easy-drinking beer. They tend to generally make lower ABV beers and their flagships are CLT classics.

Neighborhood: Belmont

Vaulted Oak Brewing

This brewery is housed in a converted bank and joined the scene in 2021. Their goal is approachable beers for any palate, and their tap list reflects that. Their West Coast IPAs and Sours are what they do best!

Neighborhood: MoRa

Sycamore Brewing

Oh Sycamore. A Charlotte mainstay that opened their doors in 2014 that has since transformed into an incredibly popular spot in South End. Their flagship IPA, Mountain Candy, is wildly popular and they tend to focus on the haze craze.

Neighborhood: South End

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Olde Meck is Charlotte’s oldest brewery—they opened in 2009 and paved the way for craft beer in Charlotte. They are a German-style brewery and beer garden so you’ll find classic German beers on tap.

Neighborhood: LoSo

Sugar Creek Brewing Company

Sugar Creek opened their doors in 2014. They focus on Belgian-style beers and more classic-style brews, but you’ll still find some of the trendier beers on their tap list.

Neighborhood: LoSo

Brewers at 4001 Yancey

This taproom is home to Southern Tier Brewing Company & Distilling, Sixpoint Brewery, Victory Brewing Company and Bold Rock Hard Cider. Due to having 3 breweries, a cidery and a distillery under one roof there is always something for everyone here. The beers from these breweries all tend to be pretty standard, but be sure to keep your eyes peeled for the ones brewed in Charlotte and try one of those small batches out.

Neighborhood: LoSo

Southern Strain Brewing

Concord, NC based Southern Strain opened a taproom in Plaza Midwood in 2022. Their beers are pretty standard but they do occasionally make fun one-offs that are quite unique!

Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood

Gilde

Gilde is a large German brewery with standard German beers. Expect to always see a Hefeweizen, Shandy, German Pilsner and Red Ale on tap. They were established in 1546 in Germany and opened in LoSo CLT in 2022.

Neighborhood: LoSo

*To note—some folks will refer to LaBARatory in the Urban District Market as a brewery—it is not. They are a soju distillery. Thanks for coming to my TedTalk.

The Best Breweries Within 1.5 Hours of Charlotte

The city of Charlotte has a ton of fantastic breweries, but sometimes you get sick of going to the same places all the time or you want to get out of town for a little adventure. Here are the best breweries within an hour and a half drive from Charlotte that are worth exploring:

Fonta Flora Whippoorwill Farm in Nebo, NC

Distance from Uptown Charlotte: 1 hour, 36 minutes

Okay yes, this is slightly further than an hour and a half but I promise you it’s worth those six extra minutes. Fonta Flora has been a powerhouse in the North Carolina brew scene since they opened in 2013. They are consistently pushing the boundaries with their Wild Ales and have absolutely nailed the Lager game. They recently dipped their toes into the Hazy IPA world as well with several collaboration brews and they have each been phenomenal.

In 2018 the Fonta Flora opened Whippoorwill Farm. This location is an expansive farmland with a plethora of outdoor seating and a small barn that houses the brewery and indoor seating. Singlewyde is their onsite food truck that makes incredibly delicious wood fired pizzas and other fantastic snacks. There is no better way to spend an afternoon than at on the grassy lawn of Whippoorwill Farm.

High Branch Brewing in Concord, NC

Distance from Uptown Charlotte: 30 minutes

High Branch is located in Gibson Mill, an old—you guessed it!—mill, with a food hall coming soon. They opened in 2015 and were originally in a smaller space in the mill. They make superb beers of all styles, but their Hazy IPAs and Fruited Sours are their best work.

Newgrass Brewing Company in Shelby, NC

Distance from Uptown Charlotte: 55 minutes

Newgrass is best known for their insanely flavored Fruited Sours, and for good reason, but don’t sleep on their Stouts either. A flight is definitely the best approach at their taproom to try a variety of their brews. They have a two story taproom with games and a small side patio space. They also offer a full farm-to-table food menu with delicious eats.

LESSER-KNOWN BEER CO. in Winston-Salem, NC

Distance from Uptown Charlotte: 1 hour, 15 minutes

Lesser-Known is the newest brewery in Winston-Salem and already the best brewery in town. They focus on underrepresented beer styles, the majority of which are Lagers. Lesser-Known is just south of downtown and has a nice patio space as well as a small indoor taproom. They have a small food menu when they don’t have a food truck onsite. They are quickly gaining notoriety and should not be missed. Inside their taproom The Walk In has guest taps and guest bottles as well.

Slow Play Brewing in Rock Hill, SC

Distance from Uptown Charlotte: 32 minutes

Slow Play is located right behind Winthrop University’s campus just across the border from Charlotte in South Carolina. They make great IPAs and Fruited Sours in particular, and you are bound to find a style you like on their large menu. They have frequent live music and other events to keep you entertained and a nice patio for relaxing outdoors.

Cibi Cibi is their onsite food truck serving up hot chicken sandwiches, smash burgers, and an array of other tasty dishes and sides. This is one of the best food trucks in the Charlotte area, so be sure to arrive hungry.

Percent Tap House in Harrisburg, NC

Distance from Uptown Charlotte: 26 minutes

Percent Tap House is the closest brewery to Charlotte on the list but it is still overlooked. Percent is a quaint little brewery in a shopping center in the CLT suburb of Harrisburg. They are part beer bar, serving up some killer guest taps. Their own beer is top notch as well—their IPAs, Fruited Sours, and Stouts have all been great. They have a small indoor taproom and a patio for enjoying your brews.

Royal Bliss Brewing in Denver, NC

Distance from Uptown Charlotte: 30 minutes

Royal Bliss is located in a shopping center in Denver, just northwest of CLT. Their IPAs, Pale Ales, and Pilsners are their strengths and there is always good vibes. They have a nice turf patio space, an upstairs deck, and spacious taproom overall. Their beers are great, but their grilled cheese sandwiches are next level. The Carolina Mac Melt with macaroni, muenster, and mozzarella (pictured above) is one of the best grilled cheese sandwiches I’ve ever had.

Incendiary Brewing Company in Winston-Salem, NC

Distance from Uptown Charlotte: 1 hour, 16 minutes

Incendiary in located in the Bailey Power Plant with industrial vibes and large outdoor space. They opened in 2018 with noteworthy IPAs and Lagers. Snag a pizza from Cugino Forno next door to enjoy with your brews! I also recommend checking out Fiddlin’ Fish while you’re in the Winston-Salem area!

What are your favorite breweries Worth the drive from Charlotte? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

The Best Brewery Food in Charlotte

I’ve done the excruciating work of eating and drinking at every brewery that has their own food in Charlotte and created a ranking of the absolute best food at breweries around the city. A lot of breweries have rotating food trucks, but these are places with a permanent onsite restaurant or food truck.

Brunch at Legion SouthPark

In ranking order, here is the best brewery food in Charlotte:

Monday Night Brewing

Monday Night’s pizza is wildly delicious. It simply cannot be beat. The Hot Honey is my personal recommendation that I have ordered far too many times, but it is a delight. Highly recommend!

Salud Cerveceria

Pizza is also what Salud does best, but their appetizers, salads and sandwiches reign supreme too. Order upstairs in the brewery or downstairs in the beer bar and bottle shop.

Livy’s Neapolitan Pizzeria at Heist Brewery and Barrel Arts

Coming in third place is Livy’s at Heist’s Barrel Arts location. Their Neapolitan pizza is extremely delicious and their appetizers are also fantastic. There is no shortage of pizza and beer in Charlotte.

Resident Culture South End

BBQ is the name of the game at Resident Culture’s South End taproom. Chef Edmar Simoes hails from Brazil and put together a menu of BBQ classics and fresh twists. It includes shareables, BBQ Plates, Sandwiches, Desserts, and even a breakfast menu in their café. Pro tip—don’t skip the mac & cheese. They’ve also got a food truck outpost at the Plaza Midwood location.

Legion Brewing

Legion has four taprooms in Charlotte and they all have kitchens, but the menus at each spot are very similar so I’ve lumped them together versus ranking each one individually. They are in Plaza Midwood, SouthPark, West Morehead and their Trolley Barn location is in South End. Expect apps, sandwiches, salads, entrees, and brunch. The Legion pretzel is always a favorite, and West Morehead and SouthPark also have pizza.

Lenny Boy Brewing Company

Lenny Boy’s menu has a variety of appetizers and sandwiches. Their pretzels are delicious and they offer several different varieties—the everything pretzel with beer cheese and house-pickled veggies is top notch. Lenny Boy’s charcuterie is also not to be missed!

Heist Brewery NoDa

The original Heist location in NoDa has a large menu with anything from an appetizer to a full entrée and even brunch.

The Suffolk Punch

Suffolk Punch specifically crushes the brunch game. They even have weekday brunch instead of just weekend brunch like most places. Their main menu is also delicious and quite large—there is something for every palate!

Katsu Kart at HopFly Brewing

Katsu Kart specializes in Japanese Katsu Sandos that are unique and phenomenal. They have a permanent truck parked on the side of HopFly and another truck that rotates around the city.

Brewers at 4001 Yancey

Yancey’s menu is consistently delicious. Whether it is a unique appetizer, a pizza or a beer dinner, everything is always done well. They have more of a restaurant vibe than a brewery so it is a great spot for a regular sit-down meal.

Brewers at 4001 Yancey

Other CLT breweries with food, in alphabetical order:

Burial Beer Company

Burial’s Charlotte taproom menu is simple with burgers, fries, wings and tacos.

Devil’s Logic Brewing Company

Devil’s Logic has a very small menu with a couple of snacks, two types of pizza, a cuban sandwich and pork carnitas tacos.

Frothy Beard Brewing Company

Frothy Beard makes pizza on the counter top without a kitchen, it’s a no from me.

Gilde Brewery

Gilde has a full menu of German classics such as pretzels, schnitzel, spaetzle and more. They also have brunch on the weekends.

The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Olde Meck has a full food menu with German fare, salads, appetizers, burgers and sandwiches. They also have brunch on the weekends.

Panzú Brewery

The Caribbean menu here includes tapas, soups, and a lunch-only menu with tacos, sandwiches and more.

Protagonist

Protagonist is best known for their massive pizza slices and whole pies. They also have appetizers and salads.

Sugar Creek Brewing Company

Sugar Creek has a bit of a unique menu with soups, salads, small plates, paninis and doner kebabs.

Sycamore Brewing

Sycamore’s menu includes typical bar foods like apps, burgers, pizzas, salads and spreads.

Town Brewing

Town’s menu includes appetizers, sandwiches, salads, flatbreads and weekend brunch specials.

Izzy’s at Triple C Brewing Company

Izzy’s menu includes pizzas, appetizers, wings and sandwiches. I expect some folks will be outraged with this not being included in the “best brewery food” list above, particularly with the hype around their burger, but I have found the food to be very underwhelming.

Wooden Robot South End

Wooden Robot’s food menu is based around appetizers and sandwiches. They also have their own coffee.

Fonta Flora x Papi Queso at Optimist Hall

Breweries at Food Halls:

Fonta Flora Brewing at Optimist Hall

Fonta Flora is a superb brewery and their location at Optimist Hall makes it easy to snag food from one of the vendors upstairs and bring it to the taproom or patio. My favorite tenants are The Dumpling Lady, Papi Queso and Suarez Bakery, but there is a huge variety to choose from. You can also order online and just pop up into the food hall to grab your goods when they are ready.

Free Range Brewing at Camp North End

Free Range opened a taproom at the fabulous Camp North End. This outdoor food hall and event space is full of different types of vendors. My favorite food stops are Babe and Butcher, Bleu Barn and La Caseta.

What do you think is the top brewery food in Charlotte? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

The Best Breweries in the Charlotte Suburbs

Charlotte has a lot of fantastic breweries and the Charlotte suburbs are packed with breweries as well. Some of these are better than others, so this guide will share the best breweries outside of the 485 loop in the Charlotte suburbs.

Want to stay within the city limits? Check out my Charlotte guide here. Looking for more breweries on the South Carolina side of the border? Check out my blog on the YoCo Brew Trail.

Here are the best breweries in the Charlotte suburbs, in no particular order:

Keepsake Brewery: Gastonia, NC

Keepsake is putting out delicious easy drinking beers in Gastonia. Their specialty is Lagers which they make extremely well. They have a cozy taproom and back patio space.

High Branch Brewing Co.: Concord, NC

High Branch is located at Gibson Mill in Concord and makes some stellar brews. Their IPAs and Stouts are what they do best but they always have a variety of beers on tap. The taproom vibes are chill, they have an outdoor space, and frequently host food trucks and events.

Slow Play Brewing: Rock Hill, SC

Slow Play is in Rock Hill! You can generally find almost any style of beer on their tap list, but their Sours are what they do best. They always have fun events happening such as live music, a disc golf league, and more!

King Canary Brewing: Mooresville, NC

This is a unique brewery in a converted house on Lake Norman. They have a nice outdoor space and seating upstairs and downstairs inside. There are some partial lake views from some areas of the brewery as well. King Canary specializes in IPAs and has great vibes.

Percent Tap House: Harrisburg, NC

Percent Tap House is a beer bar, bottle shop and brewery in a Harrisburg shopping center. They always have a large selection of guest taps available and their house made brews are delicious. They have a small indoor space and an outdoor patio with frequent food trucks. Their Sours are what they do best.

Replay Brewing: Fort Mill, SC

Replay is a game-themed brewery at Kingsley in Fort Mill. There are pinball machines, arcade games, video games and more. They always have a variety of beers on tap but their Sours and Lagers are what they do best. You can get food from the neighboring restaurants such as the delicious Taco Molino.

Royal Bliss Brewing Company: Denver, NC

Royal Bliss makes insanely delicious grilled cheese sandwiches and great IPAs. They have a lovely outdoor space with a turf patio area and an upper deck along with their indoor seating. Royal Bliss is a great spot to visit after a hike at Lake Norman!

What are your favorite breweries in the CLT suburbs? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

Exploring the YoCo Brew Trail

York County, South Carolina is Charlotte’s southern neighbor that is just a quick 25 minute drive from Uptown! York County includes the cities of Clover, Fort Mill, Lake Wylie, Rock Hill, Tega Cay, and York. The new YoCo Brew Trail has 13 stops that are super fun to explore, with lots of delicious beers, great food options, and relaxing patios. There are also several great walks and hikes in York County so you can pair your morning hike with an afternoon beer! Scroll down for all of my recommendations!

How To participate in the YoCo Brew Trail

1. Grab a passport at any participating stop on the YoCo Brew Trail!

2. Visit at least 10 listed YoCo Brew Trail locations and get a stamp at each location!

3. Visit the York County Visitor Center at 130 E. Main Street in Rock Hill, or visit the Anne Springs Close Greenway Gateway Canteen for your free swag! This year the swag is a fun pint glass! If you visit the Greenway Gateway Canteen you also get a fun bonus sticker.

4. Tag @visityorkcountysc and use the hashtag #YoCoBrewTrail

5. Drink responsibly! There are 13 spots on the YoCo Brew Trail which are a world of fun, but as always please drink responsibly.

Stops along the YoCo Brew Trail

1873 Brewing, Fort Mill

1873 has a small tap list and sandwiches and snacks on their food menu. They also have wine and non-alcoholic options. Their taproom has TVs for sports and a patio as well.

Amor Artis Brewing, Fort Mill

Located on the main strip of Fort Mill, Amor Artis is a local favorite. Their taproom is beautifully designed with plants everywhere, exposed brick, and large windows over looking Main Street. There is both a back patio and an upstairs rooftop bar. Amor Artis has a wide variety of beers but their Sours and West Coast IPAs are what have impressed me the most. They also have wine and non-alcoholic options.

Carolina Brew Supply, Rock Hill

Carolina Brew Supply started as a homebrew supply store and is now a brewery and winery. They also offer a food menu with shareables and sandwiches. They offer winemaking classes and have frequent events at their taproom.

Dust Off Brewing, Rock Hill

Dust Off is located in downtown Rock Hill with a beautiful mural on their side wall and outdoor seating. One of their owners is a veteran so their beers and overall theme are all related to the military. Their food menu offers shareables and sandwiches.

Lake Wylie Brewing, Fort Mill & Rock Hill

Lake Wylie Brewing has two locations—Fort Mill and Rock Hill. Fort Mill is their original location offering a full brewpub menu and large outdoor patio. Rock Hill also has a full food menu. Each location has similar tap lists and are both very family friendly.

Legal Remedy Brewing, Rock Hill and Legal Remedy Brewing Riverwalk

Legal Remedy is York County’s oldest brewery and opened their Old Town location in 2015. Their original taproom has a beautiful, large patio space and a full food menu. Their second taproom is near the Riverwalk and also has a large patio and full food menu, but tends to specialize more in cocktails.

Model A Brewing, Tega Cay

Model A is located in a strip mall in Tega Cay. They have a nice patio space, a full food menu, and frequent events such as live music. They are consistently changing up their tap list and have fun offerings like a dill pickle beer or your classics like Hazy IPAs.

Replay Brewing, Fort Mill

Replay is a game-focused brewery located in Kingsley Town Center. They have board games, video games, pinball and more, plus they are dog and kid friendly both inside and out. They always have a wide variety of beers on tap but their Sours and Lagers are what they do best. If you are hungry you can have neighboring Taco Molino delivered to your table.

Rock Hill Brewing, Rock Hill

Rock Hill Brewing has a small but varied tap list along with ciders, wine and non-alcoholic options. You can order Millstone Pizza directly to your table at the taproom if you are hungry. They have frequent live music and other events.

Slow Play Brewing, Rock Hill

Slow Play is one of the most popular breweries in York County, and for good reason. They have great beers, a beautiful patio space, and frequent events. Their tap list is always extensive, but their best beers are their IPAs and Sours. You must visit Slow Play while hungry as they have arguably the best food truck in the Charlotte area onsite—Cibi Cibi. They specialize in hot chicken sandwiches, burgers, and other handhelds.

Bonus Stop: Anne Springs Close Greenway Gateway Canteen, Fort Mill

Check out the Greenway Gateway Canteen for a drink before or after a lovely stroll in nature! If you complete your passport and have this bonus stop you will also receive a bonus sticker. They host a summer concert series on Thursdays in May and June and have frequent events. Entrance to the greenway is $12 or you can get a membership for reduced rates.

Morning Hikes, Afternoon Beers

The best way to experience the YoCo Brew Trail is by pairing it with some of the great hikes and walks in York County! Some of my favorites include:

• Anne Springs Close Greenway: There are several trails in this expansive area. My favorite is the Lake Haigler Loop. It is an easy, 3.5 loop that is mostly flat. The fall is a great time to soak in the colors of the greenway. Be sure to check out the swinging bridge and the Greenway Gateway Canteen for a snack or drink! Admission to the Greenway is $12 or you can get a membership for reduced rates.

• Piedmont Medical Center Trail: This is a 4.6 out and back trail, so you can do as much or as little as you’d like. It is paved the entire way and runs along the Catawba River. The Riverwalk where the trail starts and ends is home to several spots you can visit before or after as well—The Pump House, Legal Remedy Riverwalk, and Grapevine are solid options.

• Baxter Village Trail: This is a nice and easy 9 mile trail network right along the Catawba River. It is mostly shaded by tree cover as well which is a nice protection from the sun. The entrance to the trail is the Baxter subdivision neighborhood, but don’t fret, it is actually incredible peaceful and you’ll quickly forget that you parked next to someone’s house.

• Another option to get outside is to visit the Glencarin Garden! You can see azaleas, dogwoods, wisteria, crape myrtles, camellias, annuals, hardwood trees and more. The peak bloom period is typically the last week of March through mid-April, but it is always a beautiful place to visit. Admission is free.

Lake Wylie Brewing at Common Market

Bottle Shops in York County:

Common Market: Rock Hill

Grapevine: Fort Mill, Riverwalk, York

Main Street Bottle Shop: Rock Hill

The Vault: Clover

Tipsy Bottle: Fort Mill

Coming soon to the YoCo Brew Trail:

Off the Tracks Brewing: Rock Hill

The Print Shop by Amor Artis: Fort Mill

Middle James Brewing: Rock Hill

City Brew Tour Charlotte Experience

City Brew Tour Charlotte just launched in the summer of 2021, providing all-inclusive tours of breweries in Charlotte! They let us join a tour to see what it is all about and share our experience with you!

Your ride for the day!

What is City Brew Tour Charlotte?

“You drink…we drive, guide, and educate.” —sound pretty good to me! City Brew Tour Charlotte is a way to experience multiple breweries with a designated driver and learn more about both the brewing process and the breweries themselves in Charlotte. You get to go behind the scenes at breweries, learn about the history of beer on your journey, and taste a variety of local beers.

City Brew Tour Charlotte has both public and private tours for events such as bachelor/bachelorette parties, birthdays, and corporate functions. The tour starts and ends in front of The Westin in Uptown, Charlotte.

Things to know:

• You need to wear closed toed shoes, as you’ll be going into the brewing space at breweries.

• The breweries change for each tour, so what we experienced may be different than what you experience! City Brew Tour Charlotte partners with several breweries in the city so it’s not the same set stops each time.

• The van has a cooler in the back, so if you purchase any beer to-go you can keep it cold for the rest of the tour.

• The beers are selected for you by the guide, but if you want to try something different you’re welcome to buy it separately.

Overall we enjoyed our experience and it would be great for people visiting Charlotte or new to the CLT beer scene. My one critique would be that we did feel quite rushed at stops 2 & 3, but overall I would recommend it!

The brewery dog at Armored Cow

Stop 1: Armored Cow Brewing

Armored Cow Brewing was the first stop on our brew tour! They opened in 2019 in the University City neighborhood in North Charlotte. They have multiple gluten-free beers which is pretty unique for a brewery! We tried four beers at Armored Cow and got to go into the brewhouse to see where the magic happens. We also got to meet their adorable brewery dog and learn about the first half of the brewing process.

Delicious Juicy IPAs at Resident Culture

Stop 2: Resident Culture Brewing Company

Resident Culture was the second stop for us on City Brew Tour Charlotte! Resident Culture is my favorite brewery in Charlotte so I was super excited it was included on the tour. They opened in 2017 and are located in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte. Resident Culture is known for their IPAs, but their Lagers and Stouts are not to be overlooked either! At Resident Culture we went behind the scenes to see and learn about the second half of the brewing process and tried three beers.

Lunch flight at Midwood Smokehouse with local brews

Stop 3: Lunch at Midwood Smokehouse

Our third stop on the brew tour was Midwood Smokehouse for lunch. We visited the location in Park Road Shopping Center, and their original location is in Plaza Midwood. City Brew Tour Charlotte orders ahead for everyone, so be sure to mention on your reservation if you have any dietary restrictions. The menu included their famous BBQ and a few side dishes. There is also a preset beer flight of local brews. Our flight included beers from The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, Wooden Robot Brewery, NoDa Brewing Company, and Catawba Brewing Company.

Behind the scenes at Lower Left Brewing

Stop 4: Lower Left Brewing Co.

Our final stop of the tour was Lower Left Brewing Company. Lower Left opened in 2019 and they are located in the Lower Southend (LoSo) neighborhood of Charlotte. They always have a good variety of beers on tap and a nice patio. Here we sampled a few more beers and went behind the scenes to see their small brew space. From Lower Left we headed back to Uptown to be dropped off at City Brew Tour Charlotte’s hotel partner, The Westin.

Behind the scenes at Resident Culture

Want to check out City Brew Tour Charlotte? Book your Tour here!

Your Guide to Plaza Midwood, Charlotte

Charlotte has several distinctive neighborhood to explore, but Plaza Midwood is one of my favorites! It is full of great breweries, bars, and restaurants with a hipster-esque and local vibe. Plaza Midwood is just north of Uptown Charlotte with Central Avenue serving as the main launching off point. It is a very walkable neighborhood, taking about 25 minutes to get from one end of the neighborhood to the other.

Resident Culture Brewing Co.

Adventures & Ales Top Recommendations

Resident Culture Brewing Company: My favorite brewery in Charlotte! They have delicious beers, a fun atmosphere, and frequent food trucks.

Burial Beer: A fantastic taproom of the Asheville based brewery. They have a rooftop patio and some of the best beer in North Carolina.

Common Market: Deli, beer and wine shop, bar, and market—everything you need! Their breakfast sandwiches are particularly super delicious. It is a popular local hangout with laid-back vibes.

Legion Brewing: Another brewery option in Plaza with a nice patio and great bar snacks.

Workman’s Friend: Irish pub and restaurant with patio-style seating thanks to their garage door.

Whiskey Warehouse: A bar with a rooftop perfect when the weather is nice. On Sundays they’ve got great deals on mimosas and Bloody Marys!

Undercurrent Coffee: A cozy coffee shop with outdoor seating and a small food menu.

Charlotte Collective: Multiple small local vendors in one store.

Midwood Smokehouse: Award-winning BBQ! One of the most popular restaurants in the area.

Moo & Brew

Other Ideas: Food

Yafo Kitchen: Tasty Mediterranean counter-service restaurant, one of my favorite spots to grab food to-go from.

Moo & Brew: Burgers and beers with a nice patio. They’ve also got a Large Marge, a 20oz Bloody Mary that is essentially a meal in a glass.

Two Scoops Creamery: Local ice cream shop with a wide variety of flavors.

Soul Gastrolounge: Plaza’s fancier restaurant, be sure to make reservations! Downstairs they’ve also opened up Sister, an all-day cafe.

Snooze AM Eatery: The ever-popular brunch spot, expect a long wait but super tasty food! Pancake flights, multiple types of Benedicts, and creative twists on classic breakfast foods.

Fuel Pizza: A great spot for late night pizza! Quick, cheap, and tasty.

Zada Jane’s Corner Cafe: A homey spot for breakfast and brunch with a large menu to choose from and an outdoor patio. Eventually the space will also be a tasting room for Cavendish Brewing!

Cilantro Noodle: Vietnamese bowls!

Central Coffee: Your neighborhood coffee shop!

Legion Brewing

Other Ideas: Bars and Breweries

Pilot Brewing: A solid brewery with small-batch brews and a weekly Cask Ale.

Thirsty Beaver: A classic, tiny dive bar.

The Bohemian: A wine bar with cheese plates and sleek vibes.

Thomas Street Tavern: Another classic dive bar with a large outdoor patio and pool and ping-pong tables.

Stroke: A putt-putt and cocktail lounge.

Pour Taproom: A chain bar with pour your own beer and wine by the ounce.

Worth Noting

These two spots are technically in the Belmont neighborhood but they are still very close to Plaza Midwood and worth checking out!

Catawba Brewing: A wide variety of beers in a spacious taproom. They’ve also opened an in-house restaurant called Blue Fork!

White Duck Tacos: Super delicious tacos!

What are your favorite spots in Plaza Midwood?!