The second in our series of exploring Charlotte’s best beer neighborhoods, up next is South End. Check out our guide to NoDa here. South End is the perfect neighborhood in Charlotte for a self-guided beer tour. Walk along the Rail Trail while you take in South End’s public art and installations and make your way from brewery to brewery while you sip and eat your way through one of Charlotte’s coolest neighborhoods. Here’s a guide to all 8 of South End’s unique breweries.
1. Hi-Wire Brewing
The newest brewery to hit South End, Hi-Wire Brewing is an Asheville favorite that’s finally made its way to Charlotte. A brewery that focuses on traditional brewing but doesn’t shy away from experimentation that’s so popular in American brewing, they do everything from lager to IPAs to wild ales. Hi-Wire’s got a colorful space with murals, spacious indoor seating, and outdoor seating alongside bar games like Paddle Ball and a huge version of Pool where your legs are in place of the pool stick. Head in to catch what’s on their menu–a mix of flagships, rotating seasonals and weeklys, and rare releases.
Where: 340 W Tremont Ave, STE 140
2. Hopfly Brewing Co.
First thing you see upon stepping into Hopyfly is how big and bright it is. One of the largest on this list with 25,000 square feet of space that includes communal picnic tables, yellow flowers painted on the white walls, and dozens of plants hanging from banisters. Plus, the patio has a great view of Charlotte’s epic skyline. Their original location was in Rocky Mount but they since expanded in Charlotte, serving beers like their Czech-style Pilsner, Summer, their Vienna lager, High Time, and their West Coast IPA, Ghost. Katsu Kart, a Japanese food truck, is on-site every week from Thursday to Sunday.
Where: 1327 S Mint St, Charlotte, NC 28203
3. Resident Culture Brewing
Resident Culture is an old family warehouse turned brewery (though the original Resident Culture started in Plaza Midwood) with a style that’s assertive and hop-forward. They just opened in South End at the beginning of the year and there’s been news buzzing about them recently because of their new full-service coffee shop that’s opened in South End. You’ll probably want to keep up with their social media for all the news about weekly events, like their Drag Brunch events on Sundays. Don’t leave without trying one of the options served by El Toro Bruto. This is definitely a brewery that’s always got something up their sleeve.
Where: 332 W Bland St Suite C, Charlotte, NC 28203
4. Suffolk Punch Brewing
Suffolk Punch Brewing is one of South End’s trendiest breweries and is part of a larger family under the name Suffolk Punch which is a brewery, Culinary Café & Taphouse, and coffee bar. Opened since 2017 and focused on experimental brewing, Suffolk Punch offers unique flavor profiles with a creative combination of science and art. They’ve got a whole variety of sours from traditional to bottled to smoothie versions, hoppy IPAs and darker varieties, like their Nut Up or Shut Up, a peanut butter imperial stout. Suffolk Punch is conveniently located directly on the Rail Trail near the New Bern Station and is a can’t miss on the beer trail.
Where: 2911 Griffith St, Charlotte, NC 28203
5. Sycamore Brewing
One of the first breweries in South End, Sycamore Brewing opened in 2012 and has expanded to become the largest Charlotte-born brewery as well as a top 3 craft brewery in North Carolina. They’ve recently expanded into the Charlotte Douglas International Airport in Terminal E. They’ve got year round beer, like their Mountain Candy Indian Pale Ale and Seasonal offerings like a gose called Brazilian Lemonade, all unique and delicious.
Where: 2161 Hawkins St, Charlotte, NC 28203
6. Triple C Brewing Company
Original brick walls and beer hall tables give Triple C a historic South End feel and across the way, they’ve got a stunning venue called the Barrel Room, perfect for events. Aside from their amazing beer, like their Noir and Blanc (two Brett beers) and they’re 3CIPA, they’re also doing wood-fired pizzas by Chef Austin Crum in a concept designated “Izzy’s.” If you’re curious what the C stands for in Triple C, it’s Craft, Community, and, of course, Charlotte
Where: 2900 Griffith St, Charlotte, NC 28203
7. Trolley Barn Fermentation & Food Hall
From the creator of Legion’s Brewing comes this innovative beer, cocktail, and food space unlike any of the other options on this list. The brewery gets its name from the building’s history as a repair facility for the trolley cars popular in Charlotte in the late 1800s. Cap off the evening here where you can order a fancy cocktail alongside dishes like Tequila Marinated Carne Asada Skewers from Brand & Steel or Trolley French Dips from Daily Shift Food Co.
Where: 2104 South Blvd, Charlotte, NC 28203
8. Wooden Robot Brewery
The owners consider this brewery’s style to be an Urban Farmhouse Brewery. The three original brews that are considered classics and are always on tap are their Good Morning Vietnam, Overachiever Pale Ale and the What He’s Having IPA, with the former being Wooden Robot’s most popular beer. You can also check out interesting beers like Strawberry Swirl It!, a Strawberry Vanilla Sour Ale and This New World, an Oak Foeder-Aged.
Where: 1440 S Tryon St #110, Charlotte, NC 28203