USA Today names the best of the country’s beer scene, and the Charlotte area makes the cut
We all know Charlotte is tops when it comes to the craft beer scene, and USA Today is giving us our flowers once again. The national publication has released its annual best in the country’s beer scene, voted on by its readers.
Did you know there are 10,000 craft breweries in the country? Funny, I would have guessed there were 10,000 in Charlotte alone. I’m kidding, but it’s truly no surprise that our city made the list of best beer cities in the United States, as well as a couple of other nods.
Here’s what you’ll want to know:
Best beer city
No. 9: Charlotte, North Carolina
“There are plenty of breweries to explore in and around Charlotte, North Carolina,” wrote USA Today in its article about the country’s best beer cities. The craft beer scene is continually expanding, and Olde Mecklenburg Brewery has the largest biergarten in the Southeast. Charlotte also hosts its own Queen City Brewers Festival each February.”
Of course, those of us who live here know how much of a beer city this is, even if several of our favorite breweries did close last year.
Charlotte is also home to a Beer Mile World Classic winner. (She can run four miles and drink beer — fast.) A handful of years ago, breweries were touted as a way to create revitalization in our city, maybe even increase nearby home values.
And just this week, a new food hall for craft beer was announced in South End. If that’s not indicative of our city’s robust beer scene, we don’t know what is.
[THE DOORS ARE CLOSED: These are the Charlotte restaurants we’ve permanently lost in 2025. ]
Best beer garden
No. 7: The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten — Charlotte, North Carolina
Speaking of OMB: “Located in Charlotte, North Carolina, the Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten is the largest beer garden in the southeastern U.S. and is wrapped in 100-year-old hickory, pecan, and oak trees,” USA Today cited in its story about the country’s best beer gardens. “Arrive hungry and thirsty — the beers range from IPAs to hefeweizens, and the food options include German pretzels, sausages, and pork schnitzel.”
Best new brewery
No. 10: Keepsake Brewery — Gastonia, North Carolina
“Keepsake is a small family-run brewery and beer garden specializing in lagers, pils, and timely seasonals. Come for their Vesper black lager, which has the chocolate, coffee, and roasted malt character of a porter and the slenderness of a lager, or a Little Helper, a crisp and citrus-forward pale ale — every glass sold sends 5% of its price to a rotating nonprofit organization,” USA Today wrote in the story about the country’s best new breweries. “Occasional food truck nights and dogs being allowed in the beer garden are an added plus.”
In addition to these beer-centric celebrations, we’ll add Primal Brewery, with locations in Huntersville and Belmont, and Indian Land’s Lore Brewing Company as two to check out: CharlotteFive readers voted them as the two best breweries in the area in 2022.
Other North Carolina beer nods mentioned by USA Today include spots in Raleigh, Durham, Asheville and Bryson City. Cheers to our neighbors, too! ✨
[UNDERRATED RESTAURANTS — in Charlotte, and what to order at each.]
