denver

Denver, Colorado

Denver is an amazing city full of fantastic breweries, delicious eats, amazing hotels, and unique things to do!

Denver Tips: 

  • Be aware of the altitude! It's real! Stay hydrated and take things slow to avoid feeling sick, especially when you first arrive

  • If you are leaving the city back-ups on I-70 can be insane—so be sure to allow for extra time. My recommendations for Rocky Mountain National Park, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Frisco, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Greeley can be found at the link below:

CHECK OUT MY COLORADO GUIDE HERE
Cohesion Brewing

Denver Top Recommendations:

  • Cohesion Brewing Company: A great brewery focused on Lagers. They have a cozy taproom in an industrial area north of RiNo. They have 5 taps and some guest beers, usually one of which is from Primitive and worth trying!

  • Cerebral Brewing: This is a great brewery with 3 locations around Denver: Congress Park, Aurora Arts, and West Highland. Their Stouts and IPAs are what they do best in my opinion.

  • Finn’s Manor: A great beer and cocktail bar in the heart of RiNo. They have a great tap list, chill vibes, and a killer patio space.

  • New Image Brewing: New Image has two taprooms in the Denver suburbs: Arvada and Wheat Ridge. This is a top-notch brewery that I highly recommend. At Wheat Ridge their onsite food truck Social Dough Pizza is ridiculously good as well!

  • The River North (RiNo) neighborhood is full of art and breweries, what more do you need? 

    • Bierstadt Lagerhaus: This is the Mecca of Lager beers. Get a Slow Pour Pils and Giant Ass Pretzel and don’t look back

    • Our Mutual Friend Brewing: Lots of fantastic IPAs in particular. They also have rotating food trucks and an outside patio

    • Ratio Beerworks: Fantastic outdoor space with cornhole and a patio. They have a wide variety of beers and it’s an overall fun & funky spot

    • Odell Brewing: Another solid option in the RiNo neighborhood with a variety of beers

    • Central Market is a great food hall in the heart of the RiNo neighborhood

  • Stay at The Maven Hotel: This incredible hotel is located at the Dairy Block in downtown Denver right across from Coors Field. The rooms and balcony views are fantastic, and the unique setup of this area takes things to the next level! There are a ton of shops, restaurants and bars all housed within this block. My favorites:

    • Westbound & Down: A great brewery right behind the hotel

    • Kachina Restaurant: Delicious Mexican eats in the hotel lobby

    • Seven Grand: A cool whiskey bar that partners with the hotel for a very informative tasting 

    • Huckleberry Roasters: A cute coffee shop in the lobby—they also have a couple other locations around town as well.

    • The Dairy Block Food Hall has a ton of options right in the lobby as well!

  • Milieu Fermentation: A great brewery with a large tap list in Aurora. Definitely recommend!

  • Rosenberg Bagels: Incredible spot for bagels, highly recommend!

  • Voodoo Donuts: Creative and crazy donuts that are incredibly delicious!

  • Knotted Root Brewing Company: A solid brewery with locations in Nederland and Denver. Their beers used to be extremely good and have become a little more average with time and expansion, but it is still worth checking out. Pro-tip if you are heading to the Brainard Lake Recreation Area for a hike or to hang at the lake the Nederland taproom is right down the road.

  • Check out Red Rocks Park & Amphitheater: The amphitheater is touristy but worth checking out! They do concerts, yoga, and numerous activities in this space. Catching a concert here is amazing!

    • I would definitely recommend hiking in the park if you’re not visiting for a concert. I did a 4.3 mile trail that had diverse landscape and wasn’t too challenging.

    • Fairfield Inn Lakewood is a perfectly average hotel stay near Red Rocks

  • Novel Strand Brewing Company: A solid brewery and coffee shop in South Denver. Great neighborhood-y vibes.

  • Denver Biscuit Company: A phenomenal, albeit touristy, spot for breakfast! The biscuits are massive, flaky, soft, and amazing.

  • Monolith Brewing: A solid brewery in a beautiful space with games, snacks, and a brewery dog!

  • Middle State Coffee: This coffee shop has several locations in the Denver area and is great! The Highlands neighborhood spot is cute.

  • Wanderment Brewing: A solid brewery with a good variety of styles. Their focus is on Saisons which I found to be tasty, but did not love their IPA.

  • Explore the Littleton neighborhood: This is a cute little downtown area perfect for bopping around. My two favorite spots:

The Maven Hotel

Balcony view from The Maven Hotel

Great Hikes Near Denver:

  • Mount Flora Trail: This trail is 6.3 miles long with 1,788ft of elevation gain and takes about 3.5 hours to complete. There are nice views throughout the trail, and you can also add on different segments to make the trail longer if you’d like. It is a 13er with a very exposed trail so expect quite a bit of wind at times. Mount Flora is in the Arapaho National Forest and just one hour from Denver so it is a popular trail.

  • Lake Isabelle via Pawnee Pass Trail: This trail is 6.6 miles long with 672ft of elevation gain and takes a little over two hours to complete. It is pretty with three lakes: Brainard, Long, and Isabelle with mountain views throughout. The trail is mostly flat aside from one section at the end. You will need to reserve parking ahead of time for the Brainard Lake Recreation Area.

  • Herman Gulch Trail: This trail is 6.5 miles long with 1,755ft of elevation gain and takes about 3.5 hours to complete. It leads out to a chill lake and is a nice trail overall. It is in the Arapaho National Forest just an hour from Denver and right off I-70 so it is very popular.

See the rest of my Colorado recommendations here—there are great hikes all over the state!

Mount Flora Summit

Mount Flora Summit

Other Denver Ideas:

Colorado

colorado is a gorgeous state with amazing SCENERY and some of the best breweries in the countrY!

Colorado Tips: 

  • Be aware of the altitude! It's real! Stay hydrated and take things slow to avoid feeling sick, especially when you first arrive

  • I-70 is notorious for back-ups and slow downs. Plan for extra time if you’re going somewhere that includes this route, which is most places in Colorado.

Below are my recommendations for Rocky Mountain National Park, Aspen, Glenwood Springs, Frisco, Boulder, Colorado Springs, and Greeley. My Denver list is simply too long since I have been there so many times, so my full guide is below:

CHECK OUT MY DENVER GUIDE HERE
Sky Pond

Rocky Mountain National Park:

RMNP! I feel like this park gets a bad rap for being crowded, but I really enjoyed my time here. There are stunning views and a lot of wildlife. I saw moose, elk, and deer during my visit and I would recommend keeping your head on a swivel at all times.

The park also has a system for peak season entrance. You will need Timed Entry reservations and Bear Lake Road access permits if you are visiting essentially from May to October, depending on the year. Find the information on that system here.

Estes Park is right at the park entrance and makes for a great base for your adventure. The views from the town are great as well. It is of course a touristy area but it is still cute and has plenty of things to do. Grand Lake is also a cute town at the opposite end of the park but it is much further from trailheads. It makes for a great place to stop on your way into the park if you are traveling from that direction with lots of restaurants and of course the pretty lake.

  • Sky Pond Lakes Combo Trail: I hiked the Sky Pond, The Loch, and Timberline Falls via Glacier Gorge Loop Trail but also added on a detour to Emerald Lake. Overall this was 12.8 miles with 2,602ft of elevation gain and took about 7 hours with stops at each lake along the way. It will take you to Bear Lake, Nymph Lake, Dream Lake, Emerald Lake, Lake Haiyaha, The Loch, Sky Pond, and Alberta Falls. You can do any number of versions of this trail—most folks just explore the lakes closer to the trailhead such as the Four Lake Loop Trail.

    • No matter what you decide I would say my favorites of all the stops were Dream Lake, The Loch, and Sky Pond. At The Loch be sure to go all the way out to the edge for the best view. I would also recommend starting early no matter your destination before it gets crowded, the parking lot fills up, and afternoon storms roll in.

    • I would probably skip Lake Haiyaha if it’s not already on your chosen path—you climb across boulders to get to the lake and it is not as nice/reflective as the others.

    • Climbing to Sky Pond is no joke—it is incredibly steep the last half mile until then you reach a waterfall that you need to physically climb up and then continue to hike further after that. Overall this combo trail’s elevation is really not bad, but that last push to Sky Pond is a doozie.

  • Drive the scenic Trail Ridge Road: This road takes you from Grand Lake to Estes Park, or vice-versa, with beautiful views along the way. It climbs all the way up to 12,183ft of elevation! Some points of interest along the way:

    • Rainbow Curve Overlook 

    • Many Parks Overlook

    • Alpine Visitor Center and the Alpine Ridge Trail trail is here as well

    • Ute Trail: You can walk as far or as short as you’d like here

  • Bierstadt Lake Trail: This trail is 3.1 miles long with 620ft of elevation gain and takes about an hour and a half to complete. It can be pretty steep at times, but it’s not too bad overall. I would highly recommend this trail at sunrise for a beautiful glow on the surrounding mountains and a pretty reflection on the lake. There is a little bit of road noise because you are hiking right off Bear Lake Road, but it’s not bad. The parking lot is small, but you can also take the shuttle to this trail or you can hike to Bierstadt Lake from Bear Lake as well.

  • Stay at Colorado Cottages: There are a ton of lodging options in Estes Park, but I found these cottages to be affordable, though basic, but nice enough, and only three minutes from the park gate.

  • The Barrel: This beer bar has 64 taps in the summer months and great vibes. They also have cocktails and a rotating onsite food truck. Highly recommend!

  • Full Throttle Distillery & Grill: A solid spot with a large tap list, cocktails made with their own liquor, and a barbeque focused food menu. They have a nice covered patio space and are located right next to The Barrel.  

  • Avant Garde Aleworks: An average brewery with a small tap list and a nice patio.

Maroon Bells

ASPEN:

Aspen is a super boujie town where everything is a little over the top but it’s in a beautiful setting.

Maroon Bells-Snowmass Wilderness:

  • Buckskin Pass Trail + Crater Lake Trail: This combo trail is 11.3 miles long with 2,956ft of elevation gain and takes about 6 hours to complete. It starts at Maroon Lake, which is gorgeous. Most folks just head to Crater Lake from here which is about an hour out from the trailhead. This lake is pretty, though small and popular. The Buckskin Pass section of the trail is an absolute grind, but the views are remarkable throughout.

    • You will need to book either a shuttle from Aspen highlands in advance or a parking reservation for the small trailhead lot. The shuttle and parking at Aspen highlands is wildly expensive, so I would definitely try to get a parking reservation for the trailhead area.

  • Cathedral Lake Trail: This trail is 6.4 miles long with 2,060ft of elevation gain and takes just over 3.5 hours to complete. The trail is rated hard and is pretty tough at a few points, but not the entire way up. The lake itself is quite pretty and this is a nice trail—particularly because it is a bit further from town preventing too many folks from being there. The parking lot at the trailhead is quite small so I would recommend arriving early to secure a spot, and be aware the last half mile of the road to the parking area frankly sucks, but I made it in my little rental car.

Downtown Aspen:

Snowmass:

I stayed in Snowmass and it sucked. 0/10 recommendation on this area. I chose it because it was far more affordable than Aspen but I should’ve spent a little more for a better experience.

  • Wienerstube: This German-style beer bar has a nice patio space and chill vibes. Unfortunately the drafts were broken during my visit so I left.

  • New Belgium Ranger Station: Half the reason I booked the condo that I did was because New Belgium had a tap room in Snowmass, but unfortunately they decided to not open during their posted hours so I was not able to visit.

  • Skip Venga Venga: I had high hopes for this Mexican restaurant with a view, but my food was served ice cold and the service was absolutely terrible.

Hanging Lake

Glenwood Springs:

The Glenwood Canyon area is very cool with drastic views, and this leads to the cute little old school western-style town of Glenwood Springs.

Downtown parking can be a little tough during popular times, but it is small enough that once you park once you can walk everywhere from there.

  • Casey Brewing and Blending: This stellar brewery is one of the top in the world. 12/10 recommend a visit to their taproom in the heart of Glenwood Springs! They have a large tap list alongside cans and bottles as well. Their team is incredibly nice and the beers are wildly good.

  • Hanging Lake Trail: This trail is 3 miles long with 1,062ft of elevation gain and takes about two hours to complete. It is a brutally steep climb at times over manmade rock steps. The trail leads to an incredibly unique blue-green lake with waterfalls that is gorgeous. There are nice benches up top to enjoy the view as well. The trailhead is just 10 minutes from town.

  • Heads up you need to make a reservation in advance to access this area, so though this is a popular hike it is not crowded thanks to this system. Make sure to also be flash flood aware, they are common here and you can see the evidence of destruction along the trail.

  • Woody Creek Distillers: This distillery and bar in Basalt is worth going out of the way for. Their cocktails are delicious and their taproom is cute. Fun fact, William H. Macy is an investor and a spokesman for the distillery and has a house nearby so he frequents the bar!

  • Slope & Hatch: A cute little spot with tasty tacos. Pro-tip: Grab some to-go food from here and walk over to Casey to enjoy!

  • Cooper Wine & Spirits: A great can/bottle shop in town. Their selection is insane! I just wish they had more single cans available instead of having to commit to 4-packs.

Frisco, Colorado

FRISCO:

Frisco is just over an hour from Denver and definitely worth an adventure to!

  • Outer Range Brewing Co.: A great brewery focused on IPAs. The brewery has amazing mountain views from the taproom as well. There’s also a coffee shop and a “Thai-ish” fried chicken restaurant in the building that has absolutely delicious food.

  • Hike! The Frisco area is absolutely gorgeous. I did a moderate 3.4 mile hike to a small lake that was right near downtown and had amazing views!

  • Cabin Creek Brewing: Located in Georgetown, Cabin Creek is the perfect stop on your way back to Denver. It is right off of I-70 making it super convenient! Cabin Creek has a full food menu with delicious pizzas and is located right on the lake surrounded by mountains! I would just add that if they are busy the wait times can be obscene, so beware.

Wild Provisions by 4 Noses

BOULDer:

Boulder is only about 30 minutes outside of Denver and well worth a visit! 

Boulder is definitely a college town so be aware of football games and other big events that could hinder your transportation/plans

Hello Beer Co.

Fort Collins:

Fort Collins a cute college town with quite a few breweries. I stopped by 3:

  • Verboten Brewing & Barrel Project: A great brewery with locations in Fort Collins and Loveland. They have top-notch beers, Detroit-style pizzas, and incredible service.

  • Hello Brew Co: This brewery is adorable in a converted house space. Their taproom is mainly IPAs and Lagers and their beers are quite good!

  • Peculiar Ales: An average brewery with taprooms in Fort Collins and Windsor. They also have a small food menu.

Garden of the Gods

COLORADO SPRINGS:

Colorado Springs is not my favorite area. I mainly visited to check out Garden of the Gods, and would not recommend spending much time here personally. A day trip from Denver would have been a better choice than spending a couple of days here.

  • Explore Garden of the Gods: I hiked the Palmer, Cabin Canyon, Strausenbach, and Central Gardens Trail Loop trail which is 4.3 miles long with 610ft of elevation gain. The front section of the park has the best views but also can be wildly busy with people. I would recommend arriving early for that morning glow effect on the rocks and to beat the crowds.

  • Coaltrain Fine Wine, Craft Beer & Spirits: This bottle shop has an absolutely incredible selection. Highly recommend for snagging cans/bottles!

  • Cerberus Brewing: A solid brewery with a full food menu and a nice patio space.

    • They also have Seven Gates Taproom directly across the street with a handful of their beers and numerous guest taps.

  • Mount Cutler Trail: This hike is short and sweet at 1.9 miles long with 492ft of elevation gain. It is just 10 minutes from town located in North Cheyenne Cañon Park. The views are nice, and you can also spot the nearby Seven Falls from here. It is nothing special per say but served my purpose well of getting in a quick hike on my way into town. This park has lots of trails and is pretty overall.

  • Urban Animal Brewery: A brewery option downtown with average beers.

  • Pike’s Peak is another popular option in the area that you can drive up, hike up, or take a shuttle up to the summit for scenic views. Be sure to make reservations in advance. It seemed just a little too touristy and a little too inconvenient to me.

WeldWerks Brewing

Greeley:

Greeley, Colorado is not a “must-visit” city by any means, but if you are reading this you are probably a beer nerd wanting to visit WeldWerks. That is also what brought me to this smelly, industrial city.

  • WeldWerks Brewing Co: Is an awesome brewery with a great patio space, a tasty food menu, and a massive tap list. I really enjoyed getting to taste their taproom-only brews and soaking in the vibes on the patio.

  • Stay at the DoubleTree Greeley: This is a nice, new hotel overlooking Lincoln Park and is conveniently a 5 minute walk to WeldWerks.

  • Wiley Roots Brewing Company is also in Greeley and I had planned to visit, but the walk from WeldWerks to Wiley Roots looked a little sketchier than I wanted to do at night, and their tap list did not look very exciting so I was not too disappointed.

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The Best Cities for Beer Vacations

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I have explored the beer scene in a lot of cities both domestically and abroad, and it’s time to share the absolute best places for a craft beer vacation.

To make the list you have to have a high quantity of breweries, but also some fantastic breweries. There are a lot of cities with a ton of breweries that make average to mediocre beer. These cities all have folks absolutely crushing the game.

In no particular order, here are the best cities in the United States and abroad for beer vacations:

The Best US Cities for Beer Vacations:

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond has a ton of breweries and some that are truly fantastic. Scott’s Addition itself is jam packed with breweries but the rest of RVA has some great beers to offer as well. Highlights here include Triple Crossing, The Veil, The Answer and Tabol for breweries and Mekong for a great beer bar. Check out my Richmond beer and travel guide here.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville has long been deemed one of the best beer cities in the country, so it is no surprise that I would agree. This picturesque city is home to some huge breweries like Sierra Nevada, Highland, and New Belgium, but also more localized spots like Burial, Dssolvr, Zillicoah, and New Origin. Don’t miss The Whale for a great beer bar! Check out my Asheville beer and travel guide here.

Denver, Colorado

Of course Denver is on the list. With superb breweries like Cerebral, Bierstadt, Our Mutual Friend, and TRVE it’s hard to beat the brew scene here. Pair that with everything else the city has to offer and the surrounding scenery and you’re absolutely in for a good time. Check out my Colorado beer and travel guide here.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

As a Michigander this addition should be no surprise, but it’s not just me and my home state biases—Grand Rapids is constantly in the running for any “beer city” competition. Don’t miss Speciation Artisan Ales, Arvon, and City Built for breweries and for Seven Monks for a beer bar. The city is exploding with breweries to explore. Check out my Grand Rapids beer and travel guide here.

New York City, New York

I’m sure most “normal people” wouldn’t think of New York as a hub for craft beer, but the city that never sleeps is indeed a great spot for craft beer lovers. The beer bar scene here tends to shine brightest with spots like Torst, Beer Street, and Proletariat, while breweries such as Other Half, Fifth Hammer, and Evil Twin absolutely crush it. Check out my NYC beer and travel guide here.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has a wide array of breweries throughout their many neighborhoods and suburbs. Heavy hitters include Maplewood, More, Mikerphone and Revolution, plus don’t miss Phase Three in the northern suburb of Lake Zurich. Check out my Chicago beer and travel guide here.

The Twin Cities, Minnesota

The Twin Cities are exploding with breweries! Highlights include BlackStack, Barrel Theory, Fair State, Modist, and Falling Knife. The beer scene here tends to be somewhat IPA heavy, but the beers are superb and there are plenty of spots to explore. Check out my Minneapolis and St. Paul beer and travel guide here.

Portland, Maine

We all know New England is chock full of great breweries and particularly Hazy IPAs, but Portland’s beer scene is unmatched. With OG spots like Allagash, Maine Beer Company, and Oxbow alongside newer (and hazier) breweries like Mast Landing, Belleflower, and Bissell Brothers, you can find an absolutely superb beer of any style. Don’t miss the killer beer bar Novare Res Bier Cafe as well! Check out my Portland beer and travel guide here.

Los Angeles, California

LA might not seem like a great beer city at first glance but this sprawling metro is home to some of the country’s best breweries. LA’s southern neighbor San Diego gets all of the praise for craft beer, but LA’s scene is far superior. Monkish, Bottle Logic, Green Cheek, Homage, and Highland Park all call LA home, along with a ton of other great spots. Windsor Home Brew is a fantastic beer bar and bottle shop that is not to be missed either. Check out my LA beer and travel guide here.

Portland, Oregon

Portland’s beer scene has been exploding for decades. The city is overflowing with breweries and it seems a new one opens almost weekly at this point. There are some solid spots in PDX, and topping the list are Great Notion, Cascade, Ruse, and Wayfinder. Check out my Portland beer and travel guide here.

Charlotte, NC

I wouldn’t live in Charlotte if I didn’t think the beer scene here was superb! There are a ton of breweries in the city, but Resident Culture, Burial, HopFly, and Fonta Flora top the list. CLT is also home to some fantastic beer bars—Salud and Pop The Top should not be missed. Check out my Charlotte guide here.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa absolutely crushes the dark beer game. There are a lot of breweries that make great other styles of beer, but if your a Stout person Tampa is for you! Brewery highlights include Angry Chair, BarrieHaus, Woven Water, and Magnanimous. Check out my Tampa beer and travel guide here. Neighboring St. Pete is also full of great spots!

Notable Mentions:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—Check out my Philly beer and travel guide here! I am excited to be back in May 2024!

Burlington, Vermont—This is the one beer city that I believe will be stupendous that I have not yet visited, but I do think it is probably one of the best cities for a beer vacation. My plans to visit have been foiled numerous times now, but I will finally be there in June 2024!

The Best Cities Abroad for Beer Vacations:

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is a gorgeous city with a booming beer scene, especially for Oceania. Stomping Ground, Fixation, Mood Dog, and Mountain Goat are the best of the best here, but there are a ton of spots to visit. Check out my Melbourne beer and travel guide here.

Munich, Germany

Is it possible to think of “beer cities” and not think of Germany? Munich is home to some classic gems like Augustiner Keller, Lowenbrau, Hofbrauhaus, and Paulaner. Pair a cold mug from any of their breweries with a pretzel or sausage and it’s impossible to have a bad time. Check out my Munich beer and travel guide here.

Brussels, Belgium

Another classic beer city! Personally I think the not-so-classic Belgian beers here outperform the dubbels and tripels. Cantillon is obviously the top choice here, but Moeder Lambic and Delirium should not be missed either! Check out my Belgium beer and travel guide here.

Wellington, New Zealand

My beer expectations for New Zealand were low, but the country as a whole is making some killer beers. Wellington in particular has a stand out beer scene. It is home to Garage Project, the country’s best brewery hands down, but Parrotdog is also a must-visit. Check out my North Island beer and travel guide here.

What are your favorite cities in the world for beer travel? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

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

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 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

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

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