My Brew Heaven: 50 Best Places to Drink Craft Beer in Charlotte

My Brew Heaven: 50 Best Places to Drink Craft Beer in Charlotte 




Info. provided by Charlotte Magazine:

 Ten of my favorites from the list:



Bad Daddy's Burger Bar
You're forgiven if you think of Bad Daddy's as, you know, a burger joint. But it also boasts a surprisingly impressive beer list. You won't find any boring brews among the 20 or so drafts (varies by location) — the Bell's Two Hearted Ale goes great with a burger. Of about 40 bottles, half are craft brews, including a rare gluten-free beer. On Wednesdays, bring mugs up to 40 ounces and fill 'er up for $4-$6, depending on the brew. 1626 East Blvd., 704-714-4888; 15105-A John J. Delaney Dr., 704-919-2700; 8625-A Lindholm Dr. (Birkdale Village), 704-237-4055.

Birdsong Brewing Co.
Birdsong is a must-stop when you’re in the NoDa district. The brewery’s selections include mainstays such as Free Will Pale Ale and Lazy Bird Brown Ale, but the intriguing brew here is the Jalapeño Pale Ale, which uses fresh jalapeños to put a little heat on your beer. The tasting room is open Tuesday-Sunday to enjoy a pint or two or fill a growler to go. Birdsong also features live entertainment on certain weekends. 2315 N. Davidson St., 704-332-1810 (The brewery is currently prepping its new location at 1016 North Davidson St.)

Brawley's Beverage
If you want to put your finger on the pulse of what's happening in beer culture, then you need to speak to Charlotte's godfather of beer, Michael Brawley. His store reflects a connoisseur's love, stocked with more than 800 different beers, and there's not a dog in the mix (but plenty of Dogfish Head). Brawley also ages beers in his walk-in cooler, and he sells kegs of Sierra Nevada, Spaten, Foothills, and Dogfish, just to name a few. There are even meads, ciders, and gluten-free beers. Brawley will also offer recommendations, and the store is open daily. 4620 Park Rd., 704-521-1300


The Common Market
Among the items in this hip little store are more than 200 of the best cutting-edge craft beers: Lagunitas, He’brew, Green Flash, Stone, Great Divide, Hitachino Nest from Japan, Highland, Pisgah, French Broad, Thomas Creek, Catawba Valley, Duck Rabbit, and Mother Earth. There are free beer tastings and $3 drafts most Wednesdays, and you can shop for selections available in bottles, cans and growlers. Grab a pint from one of the taps while relaxing at the informal indoor seating or on the patio. 2007 Commonwealth Ave., 704-334-6209



Crêpe Cellar Kitchen and Pub
Crêpe Cellar in NoDa serves excellent savory and sweet crêpes and has eight beer taps: seven rotating beers and one seasonal. Chimay White is a regular on tap, but also look for selections from Belhaven (a terrific Twisted Thistle IPA), Catawba Valley Brewing Company and Foothills. Finds on the bottle list include intriguing Belgian beer Rodenbach Grand Cru and Wells & Young’s Banana Bread Beer, which tastes as good as it sounds. 3116 N. Davidson St., 704-910-6543

Dandelion Market
This is a bit of a restaurant industry anomaly, where the kitchen and bar come together in philosophical harmony. Dandelion Market — heralded for bringing the local and organic to a glitzy uptown nightlife — has 24 beers on draft, with usually six from in-state breweries. While you'll notice a couple Belgians like Klokke Roeland on the list, this is the place to find brews from homeboys like Big Boss and Highland.
118 W. 5th St., 704-333-7989

Davidson Beverage Company
Every college or university needs a good beer shop. Enter Davidson Beverage Co., which opened its doors to students and craft beer lovers in the small town in May 2012. Grab a pint from one of the six taps (and they’re usually stellar brews from the likes of Delirium, Lagunitas, French Broad and Ballast Point) while shopping over a selection of more than 300 bottles. Growlers are available for sale, while Davidson Beverage Company also has tastings from time to time. 442 S. Main St., Suite 100, Davidson, 704-255-6232

Dilworth Neighborhood Grille
Several alumni clubs meet here for football and basketball games, and for good reason. Dilworth usually devotes at least four of its 12 taps to beer brewed in Charlotte, and patrons can also enjoy starting the weekend on Friday Pint Night, where all draft beer is half off. Come in on Wednesdays for “Think While You Drink” trivia, where teams have a chance to win gift cards. And if you’re not big into tailgating or traffic during Panthers games, Dilworth offers a free shuttle to and from the stadium on Sundays. 911 E. Morehead St. Suite 200, 704-377-3808

Duckworth's Grill and Taphouse
Duckworth’s started with the 46-tap Mooresville Mecca for beer, expanded with another location near Myers Park featuring 60 taps and went even further with 80 taps at its newest location in Ballantyne (there’s also a future Duckworth’s scheduled to open this spring in Huntersville). While that might sound intimidating, the draft list is super accessible, with Beeradvocate.com ratings and taste guides to help you pick your poison. Plus, with $3 drafts on select nights (Tuesdays and Thursdays at the Park Road location, Mondays and Wednesdays at the Ballantyne location and Mondays and Tuesdays at the one in Mooresville) you have plenty of room for sampling. 560 River Hwy., Mooresville, 704-799-2881; 4435 Park Rd., 704-527-5783; 14015 Conlan Circle, 704-752-7284

Ed's Tavern
This longtime Dilworth favorite (and Homeland filming spot) carries 26 drafts and around 50 bottles, featuring local suppliers such as Olde Mecklenburg along with the likes of Highland, Duck Rabbit, Breckenridge and Smuttynose. And since the list is already wallet friendly (you likely won't find a draft here for more than $5), you'll definitely want to stop in on Monday night for $1 off nights. 2200 Park Rd., 704-335-0033