Breweries and Beer Fests

Beer and good times go hand in hand. Charlotte is home to several breweries, all worthy of a stop. This breakdown will tempt any beer fan into becoming a regular. Plus, beer-themed events throughout the year will keep you coming back for more.

Charlotte Breweries & Tours

Known to locals as OMB, The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is a favorite stop in South Charlotte. The Bratwurst Panini pairs perfectly with their full-flavored, German-inspired beers, which are distributed around the region.

For a beer crawl in the artsy NoDa neighborhood, start at NoDa Brewing Company, a local original with a 15-barrel brewery and tap room. Then walk next door to sip suds at Birdsong Brewing. Finish up just down the street at Heist Brewery. Newest to the NoDa beer scene, Heist opened in summer 2012.

Another anticipated opening is Triple C Brewing Company in South End. At least one local restaurant is providing a sneak peak of Triple C’s brews at a tasting dinner.

Kind Beers sticks to its motto of “Simple,” and their pure ingredients and processes have served them well since they opened in 2008. You can also find their beers throughout the region.

For a brewery tour, Four Friends Brewery provides one big open space for satisfying your curiosity of brewing process – and tasting the results. Charlotte NC Tours offers pub tours, or you can pedal through a pub crawl on a tour with Party Pedaler. It’s amazingly fun, definitely different and even eco-friendly.

Oktoberfest & Beyond

Beer fests are big here. Each year, Charlotte Oktoberfest draws brew heads to the Metrolina Tradeshow Expo near Uptown Charlotte. Considering the newcomers on the Charlotte beer scene, it’s a good bet there will be some additions to the list of at least 30 brewers featured in 2011. In the spring, Charlotte Craft Beer Week celebrates the glory of hops, barley and yeast. The 10-day event features menu pairings, special tastings and tours all around the city. For a little beer education, Growlers Pourhouse hosts “Beer Ed.” Part of an installment series, this course includes tastings – and it’s free.

You can always bring home some of Charlotte’s tasty brews. Most local breweries post a list of where to find their beers, from grocery stores and beer and wine shops to fine restaurants. The Common Market – an unbeatable combo of deli, convenience store and bar – offers a respectable selection as well as weekly tastings on Wednesday nights. Mac’s Speed Shop, beloved for BBQ, boasts a vast selection of the sudsy stuff and hosts events and specials throughout the week.