19 Local Raleigh Breweries for a Great Pint (and good vibes)

If you’re on the hunt for the best craft beer in the City of Oaks, then it’s high time you start checking out a few local Raleigh breweries, to which there are many!

Raleigh is home to over 40 breweries (there are many more when you consider the whole of Wake County and surrounding towns), so it’s not hard to find a cool glass of lager or a refreshing IPA.

Raleigh’s thriving craft beer scene is noted as one of the best in North Carolina. Not only can you enjoy fresh, locally produced craft beers, but it’s often paired with tasty pub food, a buzzing atmosphere, friendly locals, and often at times, live music and festivals.

We’ve tried and tested most of the breweries in and around the Wake County, so if you’re on the hunt for the best breweries in Raleigh, we think we’ve found them.

In this guide, we share our absolute favs based on our own experience visiting them! If you need a Raleigh brewery map, click here for a PDF of the Raleigh Beer Trail.

1. Crank Arm Brewing

• Address: 319 W Davie St, Raleigh
• Hours: 2:00 pm – 10:00 pm Monday – Tuesday, 2:00 pm – 12:00 am Wednesday – Thursday, 12:00 pm – 12:00 am Friday – Saturday, 12:00 pm – 10:00 pm Sunday
• Website: CrankArmBrewing.com

Crank Arm started in 2013 with the dream of combining their two passions: bikes and beer. That dream became a reality at their brewery in the heart of the Warehouse District in downtown. 

This locally owned craft brewery offers a popular array of amazing brews, and all Crank Arm’s beers are unfiltered, including a dynamite double hazy.

They are big into cultivating an active lifestyle in the community – they do a run club on Sundays and a cycling club on Wednesdays, and many other events such as trivia nights and craft nights through the week.

They also take part in annual events like Mardi Gras, where they host a street party, as well as Oktoberfest, Hopscotch Festival, and many more.

Here you’ll find a relaxed and friendly vibe for all ages, TVs for those into sports, free popcorn, lots of games including giant Jenga, as well as ample indoor and outdoor seating with a large fire pit in winter.

Got kids? They’re a couple of doors down from the popular Videri Chocolate Factory for great chocolates and soft-serve ice cream.

Style of beers: Ales, IPAs, Lager, Stout, Porter, Sour, Seltzer.

More details: 

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: no
• Food trucks: no
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: yes
• Live music: no

2. Brewery Bhavana

• Address: 218 S Blount St, Raleigh
• Hours: 11:30am – 10:00pm Sunday – Thursday, 11:30am – 11:00pm Friday – Saturday
• Website: BreweryBhvana.com

Probably the most unique breweries in downtown Raleigh considering it’s a four-in-one concept; beer + dim sum + flower shop + bookstore = one unprecedented space.

On paper it sounds like a misfit, but whoever said a microbrewery and fine dining can’t coexist, were wrong. This place has an amazingly stylish interior with great modern lighting and decor, an interesting bookstore and flower shop, and a great marble bar. All this backed up with award-winning beer and amazing food (especially their dim sum). Over a dozen beers on tap, plus rotating selections, and beers to go. 

Style of beers: Ales, IPA’s, Pale Ales, Stout, Pilsner, Sours, Saisons

More details:

• Outdoor seating: no
• On-site kitchen: yes
• Food trucks: no
• Kid-friendly: no
• Dog-friendly: no
• Games: no
• Live music: no

3. Burial Beer Co – The Exhibit

• Address: 500 E Davie St #170, Raleigh
• Hours: 12:00pm – 10:00pm Monday – Thursday, 12:00pm – 11:00pm Friday and Saturday, 12:00pm – 9:00pm Sunday
• Website: BurialBeer.com

No, not local to Raleigh, but because they are local to North Carolina (Asheville) and they have such fantastic beers in their downtown Raleigh taproom, they are being added to this list.

The name Burial is inspired by the city of New Orleans, where the founders were once living, and their Raleigh space is affectionately referred to as “The Exhibit”, a unique exploration of the Burial art world located in Downtown Raleigh’s Transfer Co. Food Hall.

Many beer enthusiasts regard Burial as having the best beer in Raleigh for IPAs, stouts, and sours, and if you know the reputation of Asheville breweries it’s hard to argue. 24 taps serve their latest small-batch beers and knowledgeable staff.

It has cool and interesting artwork on the wall inside with ample seating but can get cramped when busy, and a few seats on the sidewalk.

Relaxed neighborhood environment, and you have all the food you could ever want next door at Transfer Co. Food Hall. Bottle shop connected to take the Burial experience with you!

Although it doesn’t have live music at the Raleigh location, it often has trivia nights and other events, as well as weekly deals. If you happen to be in Asheville in October, check out it’s annual beer and music festival, Burnpile Beer & Music Festival.

Style of beers: IPAs, Ales, Sour, Stouts, Porter, Saison, Cider, Barleywine.

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: no (food hall attached)
• Food trucks: no
• Kid-friendly: (somewhat)
• Dog-friendly: yes (outdoors)
• Games: no
• Live music: no

4. Clouds Brewing Taproom

• Taproom: 1233 Front St. Raleigh, Raleigh
• Hours: 4:30pm – 11:30pm Thursday, 3:00pm – 10:00pm Friday, 1:00pm – 10:00pm Saturday, 12pm – 1pm for yoga and 2:00pm – 9:00pm Sunday, Closed Monday – Wednesday
• Website: CloudsBrewing.com

Clouds Brewing has a brewhouse in North Raleigh just inside the beltline. Originally founded in 2016 as “German Inspired, American Made” beer, at their taproom, Clouds keeps its roots with a focus on European inspired lagers and ales, including seasonal releases to their year-round varieties. They have a big Oktoberfest party every year and then a similar one mid-year.

There are 18 beers on tap and wine/ciders available as well, and they also have weekly specials such as half off mimosas on Sunday and $1 off drafts on Fridays.

Style of beers: Pilsner, Hefeweizen, Amber Lager, Amber Ale, German-American lager, Doppelbock, Belgian Dark, Belgian Golden, Porters, Sour, Milk Stout Nitro, and seasonal offerings. 

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: at their downtown location
• Food trucks: yes (taproom)
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: yes
• Live music: yes

5. Compass Rose Brewery

• Address: 3201 Northside Dr #101, Raleigh
• Hours: 3:00 pm – 9:00 pm Monday – Tuesday, 3:00 pm – 10:00 pm Wednesday, 3:00 pm – 11:00 pm Thursday 12:00pm – 12:00am Friday and Saturday, 12:00pm – 9:00 pm Sunday
• Website: CompassRoseBrewery.com

This independently owned Raleigh brewery was founded in 2015 with a passion for exploration and a love of fresh craft beer and is the first brewery to be in Northeast Raleigh. Their beers are influenced by the international travels of the owners, and currently offer more than 10 different styles.

Their extremely large 5,500 sq ft taproom features reclaimed wood and industrial design details, a mix of high-top tables and normal tables, plus multiple picnic tables outside. Weekly events include Trivia, live music, and a rotation of food trucks, along with games for the kids 

Style of beers: West Coast IPA, NE Hazy, Lager, Pilsner, Pale wheat, Stouts, Porter, Sours

More info:

• Outdoor seating: Yes
• On-site kitchen: No
• Food trucks: Yes
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Dog-friendly: Yes
• Games: Yes
• Live music: Yes

6. Gizmo Brew Works – Brewery & Taproom

• Address: 5907 Triangle Dr, Raleigh
• Hours: 12:00pm – 9:00pm Monday – Saturday, 12:00pm – 8:00pm Sunday
• Website: GizMoBrewworks.com

Founded in 2013, Gizmo Brew Works is the smallest production brewery in Wake County and serves up 20 beers on tap of different varieties and some innovative beers (try one of their flights) and 19 cans. Their stouts are popular, and each month they release a new beer.

It has ample indoor seating, a large outdoor seating area, TVs to watch the game, live music including open mic sessions and food trucks on Saturdays, board games, and non-alcoholic drink options for those that don’t like beer.

The fun atmosphere is very welcoming, and kid and dog friendly in their outdoor-patio area. It’s tucked away in an industrial park with limited parking, so it might be hard to find, especially at night, but you’ll be glad you looked for it!

Style of beers: Pilsner, Ales, NEIPA, Honey wheat, Stout, Strawberry Gose. 

More details:

• Outdoor seating: Yes
• On-site kitchen: No
• Food trucks: Yes
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Dog-friendly: Yes
• Games: Yes
• Live music: Yes

7. Heyday Brewing

• Address: 5301 Tin Roof Way, Raleigh
• Hours: 4:00 pm – 9:00 pm Tuesday – Wednesday, 4:00 pm – 10:00 pm Thursday, 12:00 pm – 11:00 pm Friday and Saturday, 12:00 pm – 8:00 pm Sunday
• Website: HeydayBrewing.com

Located a 15-minute drive north-east of downtown, Heyday is a brewery and restaurant with a distinctly southern accent and equal parts North Carolina and Louisiana and believe deeply in southern hospitality and in brewing beer that’s accessible to everyone. 

Good variety of beer with plenty of indoor and outdoor seating right within a community providing for a nice atmosphere. Check their website for live music and trivia nights. Their kitchen offers great food including pizzas, burgers, fish & chips and a kid’s menu.

Style of beers: Vienna lager, IPAs, Ales, Witbier, Stout, Zwickelbier, Sours

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: yes
• Food trucks: no
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: yes
• Live music: yes

Related Post – Best sports bars in Raleigh

8. Lonerider Brewing Company

• Address: 8816 Gulf Ct #100, Raleigh
• Hours: 3:00pm – 9:00pm Monday – Thursday, 3:00pm – 10:00pm Friday, 12:00pm – 10:00pm Saturday, 12:00pm – 8:00pm Sunday
• Website: LoneRiderBeer.com

Lonerider opened its doors in 2009 with a beer and a dream, and today Lonerider is distributed in nine states and considered amongst the top 150 breweries in the USA and a mainstay of the breweries in Raleigh.

The “hideout” taproom offers a wide selection of different styles of beer to choose from, plus cider, seltzer and wine options for non-beer drinkers.

Whilst there’s limited seating inside with a mix of high top and regular tables, there’s lots of space outdoors in their beer garden area with covered seating making it pet and kid friendly. There’s no kitchen, but they often have a food truck onsite on weekends, and occasionally have live music.

Style of beers: Pilsner, Kolsch, German Hefeweizen, Vienna lager, Sour Pale Ale, Blonde Ale, IPAs, Brown ale, Porter

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: no
• Food trucks: yes
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: 
• Live music: yes

9. Lynnwood Brewing Concern

• Address: 1053 E Whitaker Mill Rd, Raleigh
• Hours: 4:00pm – 11:00pm Monday – Thursday, 3:00pm – 1:00am Friday, 12:00pm – 1:00am Saturday, 12:00pm – 10:00pm Sunday
• Website: LynwoodBrewing

Lynnwood Grill is regarded as one of the best local breweries in the city with a loyal following. We would also regard it as one of the most kid friendly breweries in Raleigh as well, and you can also bring your pooch along with you!

Located close to downtown and North Hills, this is just a great spot to hang out with a true neighborhood feel. Inside is an industrial feel and good amount of space and seating, whilst their large outdoor beer garden space is very inviting with plenty of tables and seating options and perfect for families and pets.

The beer is top notch and award-winning (both year-round and seasonal) and there’s a restaurant attached across the parking lot, Wilson’s Eatery who offer fantastic burgers, fries and other bites and deliver right to your table.

Style of beers: Ales, Pilsner, Amber, Belgian blonde, English brown, IPA, Stout

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: yes
• Food trucks: no
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes (on leashes)
• Games: yes
• Live music: no

10. Mordecai Beverage Co.

• Address: 2425 Crabtree Blvd, Raleigh
• Hours: 3:00pm – 9:00pm Tuesday – Thursday, 2:00pm – 9:00pm Friday, 12:00pm – 9:00pm Saturday, 12:00pm – 8:00pm Sunday
• Website: Mordecaibev.co

Located in the Gateway Plaza a short drive north-east of downtown Raleigh, you’ll find a small but comfortable industrial indoor space with ample outdoor seating, a nice, relaxed atmosphere and good selection of beer (plus guest taps) and ciders too. Games for all ages and often have live music in the parking lot on the weekends.

Style of beers: IPAs, Cream ales, Sour, Saison, Ale, Porter, Brown ale, Stout

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: no
• Food trucks: yes
• Kid-friendly: outdoors
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: yes
• Live music: yes

11. Neuse River Brewing & Brasserie

• Address: 518 Pershing Rd, Raleigh
• Hours: 5:00pm – 8:30pm Wednesday – Thursday, 4:00pm – 9:00pm Friday, 12:00pm – 9:00pm Saturday, 11.00am – 8:30pm Sunday, Closed Monday and Tuesday
• Website: NeuseRiverBrewing.com

Located near the awesome Five Points neighborhood, Neuse River Brewing Company focuses on Belgian ales and IPAs but also experiments with contemporary and experimental beers, offering a wide selection and something for everyone. 

There’s a nice outdoor patio area (uncovered), and a more formal indoor seating area and kitchen. The beer is good, the ambiance is nice, and the food is upscale for a brewery (a popular brunch spot). They also serve wine and cocktails and are dog friendly! 

Style of beers: Belgian Witbier, Belgian brown, Hazy IPAs, Sours, Saison

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: yes
• Food trucks: no
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: no
• Live music: yes

12. Nickelpoint Brewing Co.

• Address: 506 Pershing Rd, Raleigh
• Hours: 5:00pm – 10:00pm Wednesday – Thursday, 5:00pm – 11:00pm Friday, 12:00pm – 11:00pm Saturday, 12:00pm – 8:00pm Sunday
• Website: NickelPointBrewing.com

This brewery located in the Five Points neighborhood just north of downtown was founded by two home-brewing brothers with a dedication to craft and high-quality and a reverence for historical styles and a nice selection of beers.

Nickelpoint is a laid-back brewery with a small but cozy and climate-controlled brewery tap room, but a big and unique shaded patio area and covered indoor space complete with a big red double decker bus.

Welcoming, pet friendly, and they often have live music (fri and sat). They have lots of games like foosball, ping pong and cornhole in their biergarten space, all while playing sports on a huge projector screen. 

Style of beers: Vienna Lager, Czech Pilsner, Ales (Blonde, Belgian), IPAs (English & West Coast), Nut brown, Stout, Saison

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: no
• Food trucks: yes
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: yes
• Live music: yes

13. Raleigh Brewing Company

• Address: 3709 Neil St, Raleigh
• Hours: 3:00pm – 10:00pm Monday – Tuesday, 12:00pm – 10:00pm Wednesday, 12:00pm – 11:00pm Thursday – Friday, 12:00pm – 10:00pm Saturday, 12:00pm – 7:00pm Sunday
• Website: RaleighBrewing.com

Raleigh Brewing’s mission with every beer brewed is to embrace the City of Oaks (Raleigh), and from the murals of the capital city on the taproom walls, to their beer names and their involvement with local community organizations and nonprofits, this is what they do.

There’s 32+ beers on tap with a wide selection of styles (including the famous Hell Yes Ma’am).

This brewery is very spacious, with a large outdoor patio area (often with a food truck), and a nice casual atmosphere and pet friendly. It also hosts a ton of events and there’s always something on. It also has daily specials such as $5 pint nights and Taco Tuesday.

Style of beers: Ales (Belgian, Scottish, Pale, Wheat,, Czech Pilsner, IPAs, Stout, American Lager plus seasonal beers.

More details:

• Outdoor seating: Yes
• On-site kitchen: No
• Food trucks: Yes
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Dog-friendly: Yes
• Games: no
• Live music: check their website

14. Raleigh Beer Garden

• Address: 614 Glenwood Ave, Raleigh
• Hours: 11:00am – 2:00am Saturday and Sunday
• Website: TheRaleighBeerGarden.com

Whilst not a brewery so to speak, this blog post is about beer in Raleigh and I can’t not mention the famous Raleigh Beer Garden in the popular Glenwood South neighborhood.

With 386+ beers on tap, at time of opening they became the world record-holder for largest selection of draft beer (verified by the folks at Guinness World Records).

As mentioned, the craft beer scene in Raleigh is unlike any other in the Southeast and at the Raleigh Beer Garden you can sample many local NC brews, plus beers from other states and internationally. 

This is a massive 8,500-square-foot venue with 3 levels, tons of outdoor space, a back beer garden patio (family-friendly), a rooftop bar, mini golf course, and ever-changing selection of beers!

Style of beers: Anything and everything!

More details:

• Outdoor seating: Yes
• On-site kitchen: Yes
• Food trucks: No
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Dog-friendly: Yes
• Games: Yes
• Live music: check their website

15. Standard Beer + Food

• Address: 205 E Franklin St, Raleigh
• Hours: 4:00pm -10:00pm Monday – Thursday, 11:30am – 11:00pm Friday, 11:00am – 11:00pm Saturday, 11:00am – 9:00pm Sunday
• Website: StandardBeerAndFood.com

A fantastic neighborhood brewery located in the excellent North Person Street adjacent to the downtown Raleigh neighborhoods of Oakwood and Mordecai.

Standard Beer + Food offers unique beers plus wine and cocktails, tasty food, and a friendly and casual atmosphere close to downtown Raleigh.  There’s comfortable inside seating and a large and pleasant outdoor space that’s dog friendly and for the kids to move around.

On the food menu are tasty tacos, wings, and salads, and it’s only a couple of doors down from the popular and local Two Roosters Ice Cream so the kids can grab a treat whilst you drink. 

Style of beers: Lager, Ale, Coffee stout, WCIPA, Juicy IPA, Rose Biere, Gose. Plus cider & wines.

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: yes
• Food trucks:
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: no
• Live music: no

16. Tobacco Road Sports Cafe & Brewery

• Address: 505 W Jones St, Raleigh
• Hours: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm Sunday – Thursday, 11:00 am – Midnight Friday and Saturday
• Website: TobaccoRoadSportsCafe.com/raleigh

Tobacco Road Brewing opened in the historic powerhouse building one block from the busy Glenwood South District and close to downtown Raleigh in 2016, and features a brewery, restaurant, game room and patio.

It’s a large space with good in-house beers and as the name says, a huge bar with multiple bartenders and ample TVs to watch the game whilst enjoying scratch-made food paired with their Tobacco Road beers brewed on-site.

There’s also a small games room in the back, and a second-floor events space.

Style of beers: Pale Ale’s, Pilsner, Kolsch, Belgian wheat, IPAs, Stouts, Gose, Wassail beer, Saison

Details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: yes
• Food trucks: no
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: no
• Games: yes
• Live music: no

17. Trophy Brewing & Taproom

• Address: 656 Maywood Ave, Raleigh
• Hours: 3:00pm – 12:00am Monday – Thursday, 12:00pm – 12:00am Friday and Saturday, 12:00pm – 10:00pm Sunday
• Website: TrophyBrewing.com

Trophy Brewing is one of the most popular breweries for beer enthusiasts because it has frequently rotating taps in their taproom on Maywood Avenue, a short drive south of downtown Raleigh.

Their beers are highly regarded with a nice variety of styles on offer, and whilst their taproom is quite small, their beers can be found in seven locations across Raleigh – Trophy Brewing and Pizza on West Morgan Street and State of Beer (a bottle and sandwich shop), and Bend Bar.

We prefer the taproom on Maywood Ave as it has a large outdoor seating area that is dog and kid friendly. No food is served here (check out their Trophy Brewing + Pizza location), but at this taproom they usually have a food truck, as well as pop-up markets, and overall, this is a good neighborhood brewery with a chill crowd.

There is also a bus stop located right outside Trophy. We recently caught it into Downtown Raleigh – which meant we could have a couple of drinks withouht driving worries. Read more in our guide to riding the bus in Raleigh.

Style of beers: IPAs, Witbier, Lagers, Stout, Sours, Saison

More details:

• Outdoor seating: Yes
• On-site kitchen: No
• Food trucks: Yes
• Kid-friendly: Yes
• Dog-friendly: Yes
• Games: No
• Live music: check their website

18. Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing

• Address: 201 S Boylan Ave, Raleigh
• Hours: 11:00 am – 10:00 pm Monday – Thursday, 11:00 am – 11:00pm Friday, 10:00am – 11:00pm Saturday, 10:00am – 9:00pm Sunday
• Website: WyeHill.com

This small batch craft brewery combines refreshing and flavorful beers with the best view of downtown Raleigh from their famous patio – as they say, come for the brews, stay for the views!

They have a nice rotation of beer styles throughout the year, and whilst Wye Hill is a Brewpub, there are some great signature cocktails and wine on the menu too! There’s plenty of outdoor seating on the best patio in Raleigh, plus indoor seating.

And, if you like breweries with kitchens that serve quality food, they have the best food at a brewery bar none with chef driven bar food and a focus on NC ingredients and unique twists on the familiar. Perfect for grabbing some drinks with friends, or a date night.

Style of beers:Cream Ale, Pale Ale, Kolsch-Style-Ale, Sour AleI, PAs, Belgian Wit, Vienna Lager, Stout, Saison.

More details:

• Outdoor seating: yes
• On-site kitchen: yes
• Food trucks: no
• Kid-friendly: yes
• Dog-friendly: yes
• Games: no
• Live music: no

Raleigh Breweries Podcast Episode

You can learn more about these breweries by listening to our podcast episode below.

For those who may prefer watching a video of us podcasting, we filmed that for you too, which you’ll find on YouTube each week.

Final thoughts

Through my extensive travels of the USA, I have personally tasted beers in the top ranked beer cities across the country, and in my opinion, some of these breweries in Raleigh are rivaling the likes of those in Portland, San Diego, Seattle, Denver, and Asheville. 

There is a brewery here for everyone, with all styles of beer catered for! And whether you are looking for a brewery in Raleigh with outdoor seating, live music, food trucks, are dog and kid friendly, have on-site kitchens, trivia nights, run weekly clubs, then I think you’ll find this list has you covered.

We also have exciting beer festivals in Raleigh too. Brewgaloo in downtown is the 2nd largest craft beer festival in the country. I’ll drink to that!

I think it’s fair to say you won’t go thirsty in Raleigh anytime soon. If you have kids, don’t miss these family friendly breweries in Raleigh and here are some favorite places to drink in Raleigh this year as voted by locals.