Navigating Charlotte Craft Beer Week

A full list can be found here but if you don’t have the time/energy to sort through nearly 40 events, here are a few highlights.

Friday, March 11

The Craft Freedom organization, a team-up between NoDa and OMB, has its official launch party today. Both breweries are spearheading an effort to raise the self-distribution cap imposed on them by the state. Other Charlotte breweries allied with this effort will be pouring their beers as well.

Hosted by Olde Mecklenburg, from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Rice Rice Baby returns! Birdsong and Free Range teamed up for this re-brewing of Charlotte’s first collaborative beer. This sweet stout was last seen in late 2012, so don’t miss out on giving it a second shot.

Birdsong’s taproom opens at 4:30 p.m., Free Range at 5 p.m.

Saturday, March 12

Prepare yourself to see some South End, as Craft Crawl 2016 takes you all over the place. Free trollies run a 30-minute circuit, with stops at a dozen area breweries and bars. Special beer tappings, live music, somebody else driving? Sold.

Full list here, from noon until late.

If a single-stop beer festival is more your speed, head south to Fort Mill for BeerTopia. By the numbers: 50 breweries, over 150 beers, 8th annual, one guaranteed sold-out event.

Tickets here, VIP entry at 1 p.m., main event from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m.

Sunday, March 13. 

Enjoy a day of rest.

Monday, March 14

#CLTBEER takes over the taps at Flying Saucer for you University folks. Participating breweries include Birdsong, D9, NoDa, OMB, Sugar Creek, and more. This event moves over the next few days, so no matter where you live in town there should be one close-by.

Tuesday, March 15

Salud’s tapping some real treats from Founders. I almost don’t want to say anything further about this, because I don’t want the competition. Founders makes some amazing beers, and Jason at Salud knows how to pick them, so if you don’t mind winding your way through the geekiest of the beer geeks, come say hello.

Salud Beer Shop hosts, special beers are tapped at 7 p.m., open until 11 p.m.

#CLTBEER tap takeover moves to Vintner Wine Market, so you southern folks should stop by. Vintner’s gone total tap takeover the last few years, making for an impressive event. My personal favorite of the three options.

Wednesday, March 16

Common Market in Plaza Midwood throws its annual Rumble in the Alley event. For the first hour or so, it’s a blind tasting, meaning attendees won’t even know what they’re sipping. Vote for your favorite without preconceived ideas, it’s so simple! Things normalize a bit after the paper bags are removed from the tap handles, and you get to see what you preferred. Killer selection always.

Tickets are $30, you get unlimited samples from 15+ breweries.

Hop on over to Growlers Pour House in NoDa for Humulus Lupulus, an all-IPA tap takeover that will leave you anything but bitter. Run through the taps, and differentiate between 14 varying takes on the definitive craft beer style.

#CLTBEER hits Uptown tonight at Queen City Q. The Q is a huge proponent of locally-made beer and outspokenly supports the Craft Freedom movement, so show some love!

Thursday, March 17

Common Market’s South End location gets freaky once again, with Last Call For Freakfest. Sadly, CM will be moving between now and next year’s event. Enjoy a freak show with fire-eaters and more, listen to three bands and sip some tasty beer. Years past have seen this event on their spacious back patio; this year, enjoy event more space as they set up in the front parking lot.

Event runs from 6 p.m. to 11 p.m.

Friday, March 18

Folks up Concord way should head to Lil’ Roberts Place for their Brewery Royal Rumble. Limited beers from heavy-hitting breweries will be featured.

No matter where you live, there’s a tap takeover going on tonight. Birdsong hits Matthews, Southern Tier pours in Pineville, White Street does NoDa.

Saturday, March 19

Duckworth’s Park Road location plays host to their 6th annual cask festival. Eight breweries each bring their best “real ale,” and you get to enjoy a 6-ounce pour of each while voting for your favorite offering. I’ve been to four of the last five, and the selection is consistently solid. Still kicking myself for missing that first year…

Tickets are $25 (call 704-527-5783 to purchase). Tends to sell out, so don’t dawdle.

Sunday, March 20

Craft Chicks Hustle Harder returns to Unknown Brewing. Let’s face it, the craft beer scene can be a bit male-centric. This event, a joint effort between Unknown and the Charlotte Beer Babes, is dedicated to all women, no matter their craft. Come listen to music from female-fronted bands, feast from offerings by women-owned food trucks, peruse craft booths of wares by from local ladies, and drink a special collaboration beer by Alexa Long, Charlotte’s first female head brewer.

Entry is $10, which gets you admission and a free pint, with proceeds going to Safe Alliance.