Neighborhood Guide: Breweries of South End
Craft beer is in South End’s DNA, and the brewery culture is thriving. Each brewery’s unique story is an inspiring example of the adventurous and entrepreneurial spirit of the neighborhood.
On your “build-your-own” brewery tour, you can also get a great meal, walk along the Rail Trail, take in the public art and walk from one brewery to the next. If you’re big on quality craft beer, want to support local and are ready for a tasty adventure, hop to it and start exploring South End’s brewery scene. It's as easy as 1-2-3:
1) Choose your vibe.
2) Grab a friend, a seat and a pint.
3) Sip your way through South End.
ALWAYS HOPPIN’
Sycamore Brewing
Since opening in 2013 in a former auto garage, Sycamore Brewing has been one of South End’s top beer destinations to see and be seen. Located on the Rail Trail, the popular taproom and spacious beer garden brings people together over delicious, high-quality and easy-to-enjoy beer crafted to perfection by husband-and-wife owners Justin and Sarah Brigham and their team. From Sycamore’s creative flavors and colorful can designs to its vibrant and welcoming atmosphere, it’s the go-to brewery for socialites who thrive in a buzzing atmosphere as well as beer drinkers who appreciate a hoppy, fruit-forward IPA (the Mountain Candy IPA is a fan favorite). The Sycamore team also produces craft cider and hard seltzer.
SYCAMORE IS MOVING TO THE LINE IN SOUTH END IN EARLY 2023! THEIR CURRENT TAPROOM IS CLOSED, BUT YOU CAN FIND SYCAMORE'S SIGNATURE BREWS AT MOST SOUTH END SPOTS.
Learn more about sycamore brewing
Hi-Wire Brewing
Hi-Wire Brewing has brought some of Asheville's favorite brews to Charlotte. With 20 beers, wine, and ciders on tap and a huge beer garden, Hi-Wire is the perfect place to kick back and relax. The brewery specializes in lagers and ales, and be sure to play a game of giant pool, foosball, or ping pong while you're there. The walls are adorned with local art, and if you re hungry Benny Ferrovia's is whipping up giant slices to go next door.
learn more about hi-wire brewing
LOW KEY & CHILL
Triple C Brewing Co.
One of South End’s first breweries, Triple C opened in 2012 with the mission of perfecting its craft, giving back to the community and committing to the environment (the three c’s). Triple C owner Chris Harker was born in Zimbabwe and spent time living in England and Belgium before moving to North Carolina, bringing with him a taste for great beer and a philosophy of giving back to the community whenever he can. Featuring original brick walls and rustic wooden decor, the taproom has a cozy and inviting vibe. For a laid-back, no pressure environment with award-winning beers on tap (like the Baby Maker Double IPA and 3C West Coast IPA), Triple C is the place to go. The brewery also has an outdoor patio with picnic tables, an on-site pizza trailer (Izzy’s) and a 4,400-square-foot event space (The Barrel Room).
Learn more about triple c brewing
HopFly Brewing Co.
Although the size of HopFly Brewing is pretty large (25,000 square feet), the vibe is airy, inviting and homey. Upon opening the new space, owner Cam Schulz told the Charlotte Business Journal, “At the heart of every design decision we made was what is this going to do for the customer who wants to come experience our brand, our product,” he says. “We want everyone to walk through these doors and have a good time.” HopFly got its start in a small 750-square-foot space in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, in 2017 as part of a brewery incubator program at Rocky Mount Mills. Within three years, it expanded operations to an 8,000-square-foot facility and then opened its location in Charlotte in 2022. HopFly is known for its hoppy beers and lagers, but the team is always experimenting with new things, so expect three to four new beer releases a week. Katsu Kart food truck, which serves transitional Japanese-style katsu sandwiches, is on-site every week from Thursday through Sunday.
learn more about hopfly brewing co.
Bhramari Brewing Company
Bhramari Brewing Company originated in Asheville, making its way to South End during the summer of 2022. The brewery features a large patio and plenty of indoor seating. Walk to the back of the brewery and find cozy couch areas overlooking their brewing room. Just a few blocks from the Bank of America stadium, Bhramari is the perfect pre-game hang out.
LEARN MORE ABOUT BHRAMARI BREWING
TRENDY YET TRADITIONAL
Suffolk Punch Brewing
Suffolk Punch Brewing is housed within The Suffolk Punch, a brewery/taphouse, restaurant, and coffee bar in one. Much like the entire concept itself, the brewery is innovative and experimental in its style and craft while still honoring tradition. Seth Stidham, co-owner of Suffolk Punch, said the name comes from the Suffolk horse, an English breed commonly referred to as the “Suffolk Punch” due its strength and solid appearance. Located directly on the Rail Trail near the New Bern Station, the unique space features both a refined yet rustic indoor area (think greenery everywhere) and an expansive patio and outdoor bar. From lagers and IPAs to stouts and sours, you won’t regret having a taste—better yet, get a flight to try them all.
learn more about suffolk punch brewing
Wooden Robot Brewery
Like the name, the brewery is inspired by tradition (wooden) and innovation (robot) in its production process and atmosphere (think clean lines with wood and brick elements plus an outdoor patio). Dan Wade and Josh Patton, best friends since middle school, dubbed the brewery’s style as urban farmhouse brewing. They are committed to using local, artisanal ingredients whenever possible while still adding an inventive twist to their creations. Patton says there are three brews that were first made at the brewery and will always be available: Good Morning Vietnam, Overachiever Pale Ale and the What He’s Having IPA. The Good Morning Vietnam is the brewery’s best-known and top-selling beer.
ADVENTUROUS & EXPERIMENTAL
Resident Culture South End
Resident Culture Brewing is a destination for high-quality, unique, approachable, deliciously weird and unique beer, culture, community and art in Charlotte. Its flagship brewery opened in 2017 in Plaza Midwood, garnering a loyal following of funky beer lovers. The community-centric brewery expanded to South End in 2022 with its second taproom, which is located inside a transformed 17,000-square-foot, two-story warehouse built in the 1920s that originally served as the city’s first bus maintenance facility. The space features tacos from chef Hector Gonzalez’s El Toro Bruto (formerly the popular pop-up Chilito), a gourmet coffee bar serving Mostra Coffee, a 1,000-square-foot outdoor patio, a DJ booth above the full bar, custom-made furniture from Mooresville-based Forged Timber Company, unexpected art and decor from staff artist Maryssa Pickett and others, and a 6,800-square-foot event space. “This space, the artwork, the decor, the lighting — it’s a fully immersive experience into the world of Resident Culture’s funky, weird brand personality while also honoring the space’s history,” co-owner Amanda McLamb explains. “While the South End taproom has a similar vibe to our flagship location, this space takes our brand to another level.” Resident Culture is known for its hoppy IPAs, lagers and mixed-fermentation beers. They are also the first brewery in Charlotte to use a coolship, an open air fermentation tank that allows wild yeast and bacteria (or “culture” an ode to their name) into the beer to impart funky and sour flavors.
learn more about resident culture brewing
Trolley Barn Fermentory & Food Hall
From the creators of Legion Brewing, Trolly Barn Fermentory & Food Hall is an 11,400-square-foot space housing an experimental small-batch beer program, creative cocktail menu and three distinct food stalls, including Green Works, Daily Shift Food Co. and Brand & Steel. Don’t worry, you can still get Legion’s most popular beers like the Juicy Jay IPA, but the experience at this location is meant to be different than Legion’s other breweries. Trolley Barn owner Phil Buchy says it’s a whole new take on how to explore craft beer and hospitality. The name and decor is a nod to electric trolleys that operated in Charlotte in the late 1800s and the building’s history as a repair facility for the trolley cars. The innovative space is located next to the Rail Trail in Atherton Mill.
NEARBY NEIGHBORS
South End is overflowing with craft beer. While these other beer-centric businesses may not produce their own, they carry hundreds of beers from the region and across the country: Bulldog Beer & Wine, Charlotte Beer Garden, The Eagle Food & Beer Hall, Craft Tasting Room & Growler Shop, Hoppin’, QC Pour House, and Pop The Top.
Which South End brewery is your go-to? Share pictures of your South End beer adventures with us at @SouthEndCLT with the hashtag #SouthEndCLT.
Check out all the South End bites and brews.