Crank Arm Brewing: Crafting Community and Culture in Downtown Raleigh

If you’re feeling thirsty after a long bike ride, then you might want to peddle on down to Crank Arm Brewing in the Warehouse District.

Like the spokes on the wheel, Crank Arm draws people from all around the city of Raleigh to its downtown venue, where you can surround yourself with craft beer enthusiasts and cycling memorabilia.

It’s a long-standing institution and stands as a testament to the city’s burgeoning craft beer scene, as well as supports the local community through both networking events and through charity.

It’s not just a brewery, it’s part of the fabric of Raleigh. And if you’re looking for your neighborhood brewery that’s all about good vibes, and gathering the community, then get on down to Crank Arm Brewing Company.

Here’s everything you need to know about it…

The Story Behind the Crank Arm Brewery

Crank Arm Brewing was founded in July 2013 by three passionate beer enthusiasts: Adam Eckhardt, Mike Morris, and Dylan Selinger.

Their combined love for cycling and brewing, and mission for providing Raleigh with better beer, laid the foundation for what would become one of Raleigh’s best breweries.

The name “Crank Arm” is a nod to their cycling roots, symbolizing both the mechanical part of a bicycle and the effort it takes to craft exceptional beer. Crank Arm = Beer Love + Bike Love.

Crank Arm is not just about craft beer, but also giving back to the community. They work closely with Oaks & Spokes, an organization that promotes bicycling culture in Raleigh, as well as the charity Triangle Spokes Group, who raise money to buy bikes for children in need in the Triangle.

Crank Arm has garnered a loyal following for the exceptional quality and variety of their award-winning beers, their knowledgeable and friendly staff, their commitment to cultivating community, and their magnetic passion for beer, Raleigh, and active living!

Crank Arm Brewing also has a location in Durham, but for this guide, we’ll be focusing on the Raleigh location. It’s one of the reasons Raleigh landed in our best craft brew areas in North Carolina.

Things we love about Crank Arm Brewing

An all-inclusive ambiance and personality

Crank Arm clutches the threads of Old Raleigh by welcoming you in with an unpretentious attitude. Just show up true to yourself and you have a place here.

We love it, not just for its innovative and delicious brews, but the strong sense of community among locals and visitors that it fosters.

Crank Arm LIVES up to the city’s catchphrase that y’all are truly welcome. And we mean y’all.

It’s dog-friendly

And you don’t have to come alone. Dogs and kids are welcome into the Crank Arm Family – there’s dog biscuits and water bowls.

Here are more dog-friendly places in Raleigh

It’s kid-friendly

For families with kids, there’s a selection of board games and Jenga – and you’re literally steps away from Videri Chocolate Factory, a popular place to visit in Raleigh with kids and more kid-friendly breweries in Raleigh.

The cycling-themed decor

The brewery’s interior is a blend of industrial chic and rustic charm, with exposed brick walls, wooden accents, vibrant wall murals (that match their website and to-go can labels) and cycling paraphernalia on the walls.

And in keeping with the cycling theme, even the bottom of their tables are anchored with a bike crank, and their bike racks out front are designed with their logo!

The patio

They have a patio out the front with plenty of seating and tables, including extra-large for your bigger group of friends. Plus, they have cozy gas fires to gather around during the colder months. 

The drink selection

Craig has sampled many beers, not only across Wake County but across the United States in popular craft beer drinking destinations such as Portland, Denver, San Diego, and Asheville, and he has always said some of his favorite beers and breweries are right here in the Triangle, and Crank Arm is a firm favorite.

They don’t just offer beer! They also serve liquor and have six craft cocktails on the menu, they have a seltzer, they have wine including red, white, rose and sparkling.

Plus, a non-alcoholic slushie, a non-alcoholic beer, and kombucha – so don’t forget to bring all your non-beer drinking buddies!

We even held one of our monthly This Is Raleigh meetups at Crank Arm because enjoy their varied drink selection, the vibes, the friendly service, and the central location in downtown!

A Taste of Crank Arm Brewing: The Brews

Crank Arm Brewing is known for its ever-evolving selection of exceptional unfiltered craft beers – with fun cycling-related names and vibrant labels.

In the past, they’ve created beers with fun names like Strawberry Wheels Forever, Holy Spokes, and Whitewall Wheat, which was a Belgian style witbier which won the 2023 Great American Beer Festival® GABF silver medal.

From hoppy IPAs to rich stouts and refreshing lagers, Crank Arm’s diverse lineup ensures that every beer lover can find their perfect match.

Every year in September/October, they release their Sprocktoberfest beer, a 6.2% marzen beer created to celebrate the German Octokberfest festival.

Some of the beers on tap in Raleigh include:

• Rolling on Sunshine (4.7%) – a fruity peach wheat craft beer, perfect for summer days
• Unicycle (4.8%) – a refreshing American-style pale ale with Citra hops for bittering, flavor, aroma, and dry hopping.
• Low Gear (3.9%) – an Irish dry stout on nitro, low in alcohol content for those who want to take it easy.
• Peloton (6.5%) – a strong, American IPA

In addition to these staples, Crank Arm regularly experiments with seasonal and limited-edition brews, ensuring there’s always something new and exciting on tap. See their full list of beers.

Beyond the Brew: Exploring Tasty Alternatives to Beer

Don’t like beer? As mentioned, you have other drink options and y’all truly are welcome in the Crank Arm Family.

I (Caroline) am a disgruntled gluten-free drinker. Beer is the only thing I miss, and every time Craig cranks open a Hazy IPA from Crank Arm I seethe with jealousy!

Gosh, I’ve even snuck a sip or two sometimes, and am willing to pay the price for it.

But you don’t have to do that because Crank Arm has options. They have a lovely Tropical Tour Seltzer made with pineapple and mango, a selection of red, white, rose, and sparkling wines, and slushies.

They also have a liquor license, so ask for your favorite tipple or craft cocktail – it’s hard for me to say no to my favorite, Aperol Spritz.

For cider fans, there are a couple of options for you too, though be warned the ciders are high in alcohol percentage. There’s a 1911 Black Cherry Hard Cider, which is 6.9%, and the Botanist & Barrel Farmhouse Cider, a dry cider which is the strongest on tap at 7.0%.

And for non-drinkers, they have a non-alcoholic slushie, non-alcoholic beer, and kombucha (I love the ginger and flavor). 

What about Food?

Tell that anxious stomach to settle down, it can be fed at Crank Arm. 

While they don’t have their own kitchen, they have a rotating line up of food trucks on weekends and for special events.

You can also bring in your own food, and nearby Raleigh restaurants can even deliver right to your table!

Cultivating Community through Events

As mentioned, Crank Arm is a hub for community gathering and engagement.

The brewery hosts a variety of events, almost daily, that draw people from all walks of life, fostering connections and camaraderie. (see event schedule here).

It’s all about having a balanced lifestyle at Crank Arm, enjoying a refreshing pint AFTER a 15-mile bike ride, a Sunday morning yoga session, or a dog walk with friends and neighbors.

Here are some of their regular and seasonal events:

Cycle Rides

True to their roots, Crank Arm Brewing hosts various cycling events and group rides, promoting an active lifestyle and a love for biking.

They even have a race team that competes in a wide variety of disciplines including XC Mountain Biking, Enduro/Downhill, Cyclocross, Gravel, Road, Fat Bikes as well as BMX.

• On Sunday, they have a Sunday Ride where cyclists ride about 20-miles together. The group ride starts at The Morning Times pub, and finishes at Crank Arm Brewing, and you can hang out and enjoy a beer (or other drink) after.
• Wednesday is a much loved 10–15 mile night ride starting at 6.30pm. Don’t show up without any lights on your bike!

Crank Arm does have bike pumps for tires and tools on hand if you need them for your bike.

They have bike racks out the front, and plenty of branded merch to buy!

We recently biked 9 miles from Lake Johnson, past Lake Raleigh and into Downtown Raleigh, stopping at Crank Arm before catching the bus back to the car at Lake Johnson. It was a really fun Raleigh adventure. We shared more in our guide to riding the bus in Raleigh. There is a bus stop around the corner from Crank Arm and buses carry bikes for free!

Game Night

Monday’s are for games night at the Raleigh location, where you can enjoy friendly competition and drinks.

Games Night starts at 7pm, and encourages people to play with one of their board games – they have a huge selection to choose from, including classics like Battleship and Scrabble to group game favorites like Cards Against Humanity (for the grown-ups) and giant Connect 4.

Monday Dog Walk

Bring your well-behaved pooch on a leash and enjoy a walk with fellow dog owners!

What a fun way for people to get to know fellow pet lovers in the neighborhood. And why not continue the conversations with a pint after.

They do have other dog related events like puppy yoga and the upcoming Pup Pong with prizes and goody bags.

Crunk Run Club

Ready to hit the pavement and get your steps in? The Crunk Club at their venue in Durham gathers on Mondays at 6pm for a social run covering about 3-5 miles.

Don’t feel pressured to run at anything other than your own pace. 

Music Bingo & Trivia Nights

Craig and I had an enjoyable evening playing Music Bingo (Hammered Trivia) at Crank Arm.

It’s a great idea for a date night. The first two rounds were hits from the 80s and 90s, so it was a fun trip down memory lane with the opportunity to sing some of our favorite songs.

Crank Arm also holds trivia nights where you can test your knowledge and compete for prizes in a fun and relaxed atmosphere.

These events usually take place on Tuesday and Thursday evenings are a great way to meet new people and enjoy some friendly competition.

Speed Puzzling

We’ve all heard of Speed Dating, but have you heard of Speed Puzzling?

Every Sunday at 6pm, puzzle enthusiasts are welcomed to attend this unique event where you have 90-minutes to assemble a 300 piece puzzle.

The first team to complete the puzzle wins a prize!

Craft and draft

Every Tuesday in the Autumn season, spend an evening crafting while sipping craft beer!

Whether you’re a crocheter, knitter, embroiderer or simply enjoy doing adult coloring books, come down at 6.30pm to enjoy crafting around other craft enthusiasts.

Special Event Block Parties

Crank Arm has regular free street parties throughout the year for special events like:

• Hopscotch Day Parties in September during Hopscotch Music Festival, come by Crank Arm Brewing to catch live music and day parties
• Sproktoberfest celebrating Oktoberfest with German food and music, seasonal Oktoberfest beer, the opportunity to wear lederhosen or dirndl, and a stein hoisting contest. 
• Christmas Paws & Claus photo event.
• See full list of events here, and follow them on Instagram for updates!

Pre-Concert Drinks

While not an event specifically, it’s worth mentioning that Crank Arm is a prime gathering spot before (or after) a concert at Red Hat Amphitheater, Raleigh’s downtown music venue.

Why pay double the price for a beer (probably not craft or local) at Red Hat while you wait for your favorite band to start when you can just fill up on quality at Crank Arm?

And you’re only a 6-minute walk to Red Hat so you can easily get to the concert on time! No matter who is playing and when, Crank Arm will be open before it, and sometimes after!

And since Red Hat and Crank Arm are part of Raleigh’s Sip and Stroll district, you can take another one to finish as you walk over and wait on the lines! (sadly, you won’t be able to take your drink inside).

Charity Fundraisers

Crank Arm frequently partners with local charities and organizations to host fundraisers and benefit events like a ride to raise money for ALS, or hosting a build a bike-a-thon.

They’re also actively involved in Oaks & Spokes, which works to promote bicycling culture in Raleigh, and Triangle Spokes Group, which raises money to deliver new bikes to needy children throughout the Triangle area, and the NC Craft Brewers Guild, which is a non-profit organization that promotes North Carolina beer. 

Where is Crank Arm Brewery?

Located in one of our favorite districts, the Warehouse District at 319 W Davie St, you’re never too far away no matter where you are in downtown, or Wake County!

Walk times and distances from prominent locations include:

• Red Hat Amphitheater: 6-minute walk / 0.3 miles (directions)
• Raleigh Convention Center: 7-minute walk / 0.3 miles (directions)
• Sheraton Hotel: 7-minute walk / 0.3 miles (directions)
• PNC Plaza: 9-minute walk / 0.4 miles (directions)
• Pendo: 8-minute walk / 0.3 miles (directions)

Drive times and distances from prominatnt locations:

• NC State University: 5-minute drive / 1.7 miles (directions)
• Lenovo Center: 14-minute drive / 6.3 miles (directions)
• RDU Airport: 20-minute drive / 15 miles (directions)

Parking near Crank Arm Brewing

We get it, the thought of parking in downtown Raleigh can be enough stress to get in the way of people leaving their front door. 

No need to miss the fun though as there are plenty of parking options near Crank Arm – paid and free. Keep in mind that downtown Raleigh has free street parking on weekends, and it’s not overly expensive during the week.

If you can’t find available street parking, there are paid parking lots surrounding Crank Arm, and several parking decks.

Even if you find a spot a couple of blocks away, it will be safe, and it’s not too far to walk. The more steps you do the more beer you’re allowed to have, am I right – please drink responsibly, if you plan to overindulge, get an Uber or Lyft!

The Passport App is an easy way to pay for your parking in metered spaces and monitor it while at Crank Arm. It alerts you when your time is up, so you don’t forget and end up with a fine for outstaying your parking welcome! And through the app you can even add more time (as long as there are no time limit restrictions.)

We often park a block away on W Cabarrus St or S Harrington Street (5 minute walk) which has free parking. Not many people know about it, so you have a high chance of getting free parking even when it is busy. See the full list of parking decks here.

A Raleigh Brewery to Love

As you can see, we believe Crank Arm Brewing is a shining example of what makes Raleigh’s craft beer scene so special. 

Its founders’ passion, the brewery’s unique personality, and its unwavering commitment to quality and community make it a must-visit destination to sample a few brews in downtown Raleigh. 

Whether you’re a local or just passing through, a visit promises not only exceptional beverages but also a warm, welcoming atmosphere that will leave you eager to return.

So, grab a pint, join in the fun, and experience the vibrant community spirit that defines Crank Arm Brewing. Cheers!

• Address: 319 W Davie St, Raleigh, NC
• Website: CrankArmBrewing.com