Charlotte has more than 30 breweries — and more continue to open despite a pandemic. Here’s a list of 10 breweries that plan to open this year, with two bonus breweries for 2022.
[Catch up: Complete list and map of Charlotte’s 30+ local breweries, plus the most popular beer at each]
(1) D9 The Pavilion – Uptown
✔️ Open: At 650 East Stonewall St.
Quick background: Two engineers and a doctor opened D9 Brewing Company near Lake Norman in 2014, and it quickly gained a reputation for its sour beers.
New concept: The new outdoor brewery with a beer garden and concert pavilion will be next to Savoy apartments in Uptown. D9 Uptown will also have a 900-square-foot “indoor craft lounge” serving specialty beers, pastries, and tasty coffee through a partnership with Javesca Coffee Roasters, which was founded in Charlotte and has a mission of giving back.
Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
(2) Burial Beer Co. – Plaza Midwood
Coming soon: Their taproom on 1214-1216 Thomas Ave won’t open until 2022. Until then, the brewery is offering weekly release pickups every Wednesday – Friday from 4-8pm and Saturday – Sunday from 1-8pm, according to their website.
What to expect: The taproom will have an indoor bar area, outdoor beer garden and a rooftop deck. Beer enthusiasts can expect a wide selection on tap including barrel-aged sours, stouts, wild ales and rustic lagers. Co-owner and Burial COO Doug Reiser describes his vision of the bottle shop as being a “farmer’s market of beer.”
- For drinks, there will also be weekly beer releases, wine, cider and vermouth, as well as Forestry Camp and Burial wares.
- Food-wise, guests can expect light bites like sandwiches and charcuterie.
(3) Legion Brewing – Ashley Park
Coming soon: The taproom is now slated to open in early 2022 at 2001 West Morehead St.
What to expect: This will be Legion’s third and largest location so far after opening its original Plaza Midwood location in 2015 and a second at Capitol Towers in SouthPark. The space will include expanded production space, a taproom, a biergarten, a courtyard and a full food menu.
Legion Brewing’s planned location on West Morehead
(4) Trolley Barn Fermentory – South End
✔️ Open: Late summer 2021 in South End’s Atherton Mill next to the light rail trail.
Overview: The concept along the rail trail comes from the team behind Legion Brewing. Expect indoor and outdoor seating, a second-floor mezzanine, and patio with unobstructed views of Uptown.
“I love South End, and to be able to bring the Trolley Barn Fermentory to this hip vibrant area of Charlotte is so exciting,” said Legion Brewing owner Phil Buchy.
Name: The name comes from our city’s electric trolleys that began operating in 1891 and ran to neighborhoods like Dilworth, Myers Park, and Elizabeth.
Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
The food stands in Trolley Barn Fermentory. Photo: Symphony Webber/Axios
(5) Midnight Mulligan Brewing – Wesley Heights
Coming soon: Early December 2021 at 2215 Thrift Rd., Unit A.
What to expect: The 10,000-square-foot brewery and restaurant will have an expansive 3,000-square-foot patio with skyline views and string lights. The taproom will connect directly to next-door neighbor Summit Seltzer so you can bring your seltzer into Midnight Mulligan and vice versa with your beer.
The beer: Midnight Mulligan will launch this fall with six beers brewed in-house, plus some collaborations. In addition to IPAs, it’ll offer lagers, sours, stouts and a variety of seasonal beers.
[Read more: Brewery and restaurant with skyline views opening next to Summit Seltzer]
A temporary sign is up outside Midnight Mulligan Brewing. Photo: Emma Way/Axios
(6) HopFly Brewing – South End
Coming soon: Founder and CEO Cam Schultz tells Axios’ Laura Barrero they’re looking at opening the first quarter of 2022 at 1327 South Mint St.
Catch up: Unknown Brewing announced in June it would be phasing out operations in all business lines except its widely distributed ginger ale and be taken over by Rocky Mount-based HopFly Brewing.
What’s next: Unknown’s taproom might be closed but you can still grab their beers at Community Brewing Ventures.
What to expect: The space will be HopFly’s production facility and taproom.
On tap: Known for its IPAs and lagers, HopFly will have the choice to carry on the Unknown brands,
[Read more: Rocky Mount brewery acquires Unknown in South End]
(7) Gilde Brewery – Lower South End
Coming soon: Mid-December 2021 at 3530 Dewitt Ln.
Concept: The idea is to provide an authentic German brewery experience to Charlotte’s extensive beer scene. Gilde will be bringing a brewmaster and chef from Germany to build the most authentic German brewery experience for the Charlotte community.
On tap: Pilsener is Gilde’s flagship beer, but the selection includes wheat beers, a lemon radler, and other authentic German beers.
[Go deeper: Renderings: Huge German brewer details plans for LoSo facility]
Courtesy of Gensler
(8) Resident Culture Brewing Co. – South End
Opening: Late 2021 at 332 West Bland St. near Lost & Found, Ruby Sunshine and Slingshot.
What to expect: This new location will have multiple levels, a patio and event space. In this new venture, Resident Culture will be partnering with the popular breakfast taco pop-up Chilito Taco and Mostra Coffee.
Resident Culture’s taproom in Plaza Midwood.
(9) Sycamore Brewing – South End
Coming soon: Summer 2022 at 2151 Hawkins St.
What to expect: Sycamore Brewing has plans to relocate from its current location at 2161 Hawkins St. to a new 16-story development, called The Line, directly across the street. While Sycamore is the only tenant to sign to the project, the complex will also be occupied by restaurants and retail, office spaces, and multiple rooftop terraces.
[Read more: The 16-story South End tower that’ll house Sycamore Brewing has a new name: The Line]
Rendering of the new mixed-use office tower in South End that will house Sycamore Brewing (courtesy of Portman Holdings)
(10) Southern Strain Brewing – Plaza Midwood
Coming soon: Early 2022 at the new 1800 Central building next door to Harris Teeter.
What to expect: It’ll have a variety of styles of beer, including a few light, fruity options. There’s no food menu, but expect regular pop-ups from food trucks like Hot Box Kitchen, the street food concept owned by Michael Bowling, which has a permanent location inside Southern Strain’s Concord brewery.
[Related story: Plaza Midwood Concord brewery Southern Strain to open taproom in Plaza Midwood]
BONUS 2 IN 2022:
(11) Saucy Brew Works – Dilworth
Opening: 2022 in Dilworth.
What to expect: The two-story brewpub will have an enclosed penthouse space, plus a nearly 10,000-square-foot rooftop deck.
On tap: There will be at least 20 beers on tap, plus coffee and a full food menu centered around Saucy’s New Haven-style pizzas (thin-crust, coal-fired).
Drink this: The most popular beers at Saucy Brew Works are “Juicy ASAP” and “Love You, Bye,” a hazy Imperial IPA, according to Untappd.
[Read more: Ohio’s Saucy Brew Works to expand in Charlotte with a huge brewpub and Airbnb]
Rendering by Maison Design, courtesy of Saucy Brew Works
(12) Olde Mecklenburg Brewery Cornelius
Opening: Late 2022, early 2023. This one will be big.
What to expect: It’s a brewery community. Since OMB owner John Marrino purchased the land three years ago, he’s partnered with Northwood Ravin to include a mixed-use community that will surround the brewery and biergarten.
[Related story: OMB’s plans for Cornelius just got much bigger]
Rendering by Risden McElroy.
Related: Looking for upcoming restaurant openings? Here’s a list of the top restaurants opening soon in Charlotte. Here are the 25 best new restaurants in Charlotte, right now and 14 best new bars in Charlotte. View all Axios food and drink guides here.
