When it comes to things to do in Raleigh, one of the most popular activities in the area is visiting the Raleigh breweries. People come from all over to sample flights from the local breweries here and it’s simply because Raleigh has some of the best home-brewed beer there is on the east coast. There are over 120 breweries in North Carolina and a little over 25 of them are right here in Raleigh! If you’re planning a trip to the City of Oaks and looking for the best breweries in Raleigh, we’ve put together our top 15 favorite Raleigh brewing companies for you to stop in and try.
- Big Boss Brewing Company
- Bond Brothers Beer Company
- Brewery Bhavana
- Clouds Brewing
- Cotton House Craft Brewers
- Crank Arm Brewing Company
- Fainting Goat Brewing Company
- Little City Brewing & Provisions Co.
- The Mason Jar Lager Company
- Neuse River Brewing Company
- Nickelpoint Brewing Co.
- Oak City Brewing Company
- Raleigh Brewing Company
- Trophy Brewing & Taproom
- White Street Brewing Company
1 | Big Boss Brewing Company | 1249-A Wicker Drive
This laid back brewing company offers a warehouse-style set-up and hosts events throughout the year in addition to their taproom hours. Here you can sample any of their lagers, IPAs, pale ales on tap like their signature Blood Orange High Roller IPA, Big Boss Lager, or Bad Penny English Brown Ale. Big Boss Brewing Company is located in northeast Raleigh and their taproom hours are Monday-Thursday, from 3-12 PM, Friday, from 2 PM – 2 AM, Saturday, from 12 PM – 2 AM, and Sunday, from 12 PM – 12 AM.
2 | Bond Brothers Beer Company | 202 East Cedar Street
Bond Brothers started their company by competing in local homebrew competitions but have now set up shop as one of the resident breweries in Raleigh. What makes Bond Brothers Beer Company unique is, not only do they offer homebrews, but they also have beer that’s been aged in their barrel room. Try one of the Disenchantment barrel beers or sample a flight from their draft list comprised of IPAs, pilsner, American wild ales, and more! The taproom is open Monday-Wednesday, from 2-10 PM, Thursday, from 2-11 PM, Friday-Saturday, from 12 PM – 12 AM, and Sunday, from 12-10 PM.
3 | Brewery Bhavana | 218 S Blount Street
Modern and chic, Brewery Bhavana is its own little paradise with a brewery, restaurant, bookshop, and flower shop, all in one. This is easily one of our favorite picks when it comes to Raleigh breweries because of its unique look and offerings. They offer core and provisional beers for you to sample and order with unusual flavorings like the Glean (Mango Peppercorn Saison) or the Wilt (Cherrywood Smoked Quad). Brewery Bhavana’s hours of operation are Tuesday, from 5-10 PM, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday, from 11:30 AM – 10 PM, and Friday-Saturday, from 11:30 AM – 12 AM.
4 | Clouds Brewing | 126 N West Street
Great name and even better beer! Clouds Brewing was started by two Chicago natives who wanted to bring a great beer and experience to the east coast. They have a restaurant and taproom that offer their 8 core beers: Wolkenbräu, Precipitation, El Hefe, Clouds 9, Hop J.A.M., Accumulation, One Eye Pale Ale, and Midnight Delight. Their Raleigh location is open Sunday-Tuesday, from 11 AM – 10 PM, Wednesday-Thursday, from 11 AM – 11 PM, and Friday-Saturday 11-12 AM.
5 | Cotton House Craft Brewers | 307 S Academy Street
A taphouse and brewery that grows their own hops, now we’re talking! Cotton House Craft Brewers is not your average brewery with a little farmhouse that serves as their taproom. You can sit on the front porch and take it easy while sipping one of their delicious local beers like the Eli’s Amber Ale or the Cherry Limeade Gose. The Cotton House is open Monday-Thursday, from 2-10 PM, Friday-Saturday, from 12 PM – 12 AM, and Sunday from 12-9 PM.
6 | Crank Arm Brewing Company | 319 W Davie Street
Born from the love of beer and bicycling, Crank Arm Brewing Company offers a relaxing and laid back setting in downtown Raleigh. You can grab a pint, pull up a chair and play a board game with friends as you enjoy your brew. They have 3 year-round beers they keep on tap, Rickshaw Rye IPA, Unicycle Featuring Cascade Single Hop Pale Ale, and Whitewall Wheat Belgian-Style Wit, as well as a slew of other seasonal beers. You can stop in at Crank Arm Monday-Thursday, from 4 PM – 12 AM, Friday, from 2 PM – 2 AM, Saturday, from 12 PM – 2 AM, and Sunday, from 12-10 PM.
7 | Fainting Goat Brewing Company | 330 S Main Street
Fainting Goat Brewing Company was literally started in the kitchen of a Raleigh local and has grown into the high-quality home-brew taproom that it is today. They offer 4 core beers and rotate seasonal beers throughout the year that include Pomegranate Witbier, What the Buck American Pale Ale, Pecan Maple Porter, and Not So Pale Chocolate Ale. Fainting Goat Brewing Company taproom is open Wednesday-Thursday, from 4:30-10 PM, Friday, from 4:30-11 PM, Saturday, from 1-11 PM, and Sunday, from 1-6 PM.
8 | Little City Brewing & Provisions Co. | 400 W North Street
This quaint little brewery and cocktail bar is a modern space with great lighting and beer like no other. Little City Brewing & Provisions Co. offers IPAs, stouts and more by the glass or growler. And for those beer tour buddies who aren’t a big fan of beer, they also have hand-crafted cocktails like the Rosemary Me made with honeysuckle vodka, rosemary, simple syrup, fresh squeezed lemon juice and bubbles to top it off. Stop on in Monday-Thursday, from 3 PM – 12 AM, Friday, from 3 PM – 2 AM, Saturday, from 12 PM – 2 AM, or Sunday, from 12 PM – 12 AM.
9 | The Mason Jar Lager Company | 341 Broad Street #151
This brewery keeps it simple and serves up their beer southern-style, ice-cold and in mason jars! The Mason Jar Lager Company brews and serves three core beers: Happy Place Golden Lager, Pull Tab Pilsner, and Luchador Mexican Lager. They also host a myriad of events throughout the year, so be sure to check out their upcoming events. Grab a bite and pint from the Mason Jar Tavern Wednesday, from 5-9 PM, Thursday, from 4-11 PM, Friday, from 3-12 PM, Saturday, from 12 PM – 12 AM, or Sunday, from 1-8 PM.
10 | Neuse River Brewing Company | 518 Pershing Road
This downtown brewery has a lot of character in not only its taproom but in the brews too! Their motto is “Belgian inspired, Carolina crafted,” and they put their focus into perfecting their Belgian ales and IPAs for beer enthusiasts all around. Neuse River Brewing Company offers several beers on tap including their Forte Blonde, Deux Dope Boyz, Two Banks, and Magnifique. Their taproom hours are Wednesday-Thursday, from 5-10 PM, Friday, from 4-11 PM, Saturday, from 12-11 PM, and Sunday, from 12-9 PM.
11 | Nickelpoint Brewing Co. | 506 Pershing Road
Nickelpoint Brewing Co. takes their brewing seriously, not only offering a taproom for you to sample and enjoy their beer but also offering kegs and growlers of their home-brews too. They pride themselves on their innovation and flavor profiles offering IPAs, Belgian-styles, and more including their Pecan Nutbrown, Blue-Blooded Blonde, and Pacific Plunge. Their taproom hours are Tuesday-Thursday, from 5-10 PM, Friday, from 4-11 PM, Saturday, from 12-11 PM, and Sunday from 12-8 PM.
12 | Oak City Brewing Company | 616 N Firest Avenue
This little beer bungalow doesn’t brew their own beer, however, they rotate beers on tap from breweries across the state and nation. You can sample beers on tap like hard ciders, IPAs, pumpkin beers, märzens, brown ales, and more. What makes it even better, and worthy of our top-picks list, they have a fantastic dog-friendly beer garden! Oak City Brewing Company is open Monday-Thursday, from 3-11 PM, Friday, from 3 PM – 12 AM, Saturday, from 12 PM – 12 AM, and Sunday, from 12-8 PM.
13 | Raleigh Brewing Company | 3709 Neil Street
The Raleigh Brewing Company takes pride in its roots and not only supports the local community and non-profits around, but it also has some amazing brews to boot! Their indoor and outdoor space is a great place to come have a tall one or participate in one of their community activities. Here you can sample 7 core beers (including their non-alcoholic root beer), The First Squeeze American Wheat Ale, Hell Yes Ma’am Belgian Golden Ale, Coffee Hidden Pipe Porter, The Walter Imperial IPA, House of Clay Rye IPA, or the Moravian Rhapsody Czech Pilsener. Visit their taproom Monday-Tuesday, from 12-10 PM, Wednesday-Thursday, from 12-11 PM, Friday-Saturday, from 12 PM – 12 AM, or Sunday, from 12-7 PM.
14 | Trophy Brewing & Taproom | 656 Maywood Avenue
Pizza and beer, what more could you want in a brewery? Trophy Brewing & Taproom offers an experience unlike others in downtown Raleigh, you can grab a slice and a brew with friends, or meet new folks with the same beer passion. Here they have 12 beers on tap and a select set of beers available to sample in flights. Their beers include Trophy Wife (session IPA), Foam Party (pilsner), The Rye Stuff (Roggenbier), and more. Trophy’s hours of operation are Monday-Thursday, from 3 PM – 12 AM, Friday-Saturday, from 12 PM – 2 AM, and Sunday, from 12 PM – 12 AM.
15 | White Street Brewing Company | 218 S White Street
White Street is located in a cool historic building that brings modern and blue-collar vibes together. Stop in when they’re hosting one of their many events throughout the year, or on a weekday to sample a flight. They have 5 year-round beers including Kölsch German Ale, Hoptimist IPA, Relaxession Session IPA, Scottish Ale, and Emmalyn Belgian Blonde, as well as several limited-release brews. White Street Brewing Company hours are Monday-Thursday, from 4-10 PM, Friday, from 2 PM – 12 AM, Saturday, from 12 Pm – 12 AM, and Sunday, from 12-10 PM.
For even more fun when the sun goes down, we have all the details you need to partake in Raleigh’s Nightlife.