If there is one thing North Carolina has a lot of, it’s craft breweries. Especially in the Charlotte area. In the trendy areas like Southend, Plaza Midwood, and NoDa there is seemingly one of every corner. But even nearby towns like Pineville, Matthews, and Concord have a local brewery as well. But with all that craft beer around it can be hard to know where to go and what to try. I personally enjoy beer but I know nothing about it and or what I may like on a menu. So I need all the help I can get. So what is the best of the best? That is determined by the North Carolina Brewers Cup Competition.
The yearly competition is administered by the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild. This year the competition received 873 entries. These were submitted by 122 independent North Carolina craft breweries. And marks the largest commercial beer competition in the Southeast. Winners were selected by certified beer judges from across the Southeast.
There were 36 style-based beer categories and a winner of a gold, silver, and bronze medal was awarded in each category. A few honorable mentions were given out as well. Winners ranged from all ends of the state from Asheville to the coast. But there were a ton of beers (37 in fact) in the Charlotte local area that made the list. And no matter what kind of beer you like there is an award-winning one in that style you can try.
So keep reading to see and learn about each of the local beers that were awarded medals at the 2023 North Carolina Brewers Cup. You can read more about the judging here and see the complete winners list from the entire state here.
Pilot Brewing Company Pub Ale
Category: British Pale Ale
Medal: Bronze
The Pale Ale is described as “an average strength English Style Pale Ale/ESB; balanced perfectly between malt and hops for an easy drinking session ale” It has a 5.6% ABV.
Neoteric Brewing Company Dawn of The Red
Category: Scottish & Irish Beer
Medal: Silver
You’ll find Neoteric Brewing Company in Huntersville. Their Dawn Of The Red is an Irish Red Ale, described as complex and malty with notes of caramel.
King Canary Brewing Lord Of The Wings
Category: British Porter & Brown Ales
Medal: Silver
You’ll find Lord of the Rings at this Mooresville brewery. This 4.5% ABV English ale is characterized by subtle notes of toffee, with a biscuity mouthfeel.
Southern Range Brewing LLS Deranged Red
Category: American Porter, Amber, & Brown Ales
Medal: Silver
Derranged Red is one of Monroe’s Southern Range Brewing’s long-standing flagship beers. It is described as a “refreshing amber ale.”
Cabarrus Brewing Company The Oath
Category: Stouts
Medal: Gold
The Charlotte area’s first gold medal is actually claimed by Concord for The Oath. This imperial stout is brewed with roasted barley, cacao nibs, Peruvian/Nicaraguan french roast coffee, and aged on Madagascar vanilla beans.
Lower Left Brewing Company Edge of Precipice
Category: American Pale Ale
Medal: Gold
Edge of Precipice is described as “crisp and crushable” It has hints of Citrus, Tropical fruits, Candied Orange, and Sweet Pine.
NoDa Brewing Company Hopsadaisical
Category: American Pale Ale
Medal: Bronze
Is there an award for best name? Hopsadaisical gets my vote in that category for sure. This West Coast-style IPA is easy to drink with just the right amount of hop flavor.
Lower Left Brewing Citranova
Category: American-Style IPA
Medal: Silver
Another West Coast IPA Citrinova has intense aromas of Mango, Passion Fruit, Green Melon, and sweet Citrus. The beer is characterized by a smooth, light mouthfeel.
NoDa Brewing Company Radio Haze
Category: Juicy/Hazy Pale Ale
Medal: Gold
Another winner comes to us from Charlotte’s NoDa Brewing Company. This time it’s the gold medal winning Radio Haze which features bold, fruity hop flavors without too much bitterness.
Devil's Logic Brewing Subliminal Messsages
Category: European Wheat (and Related) Beer
Medal: Silver
Subliminal Messages is malt, light bodied German-style wheat ale. You’ll taste hints of banana as well.
Petty Thieves Brewing Company Mullholand Drive
Category: European Wheat (and related) Beer
Medal: Honorable Mention
Petty Thieves in Charlotte’s Mullholand Drive didn’t quite medal but was loved enough to be recognized with an honorable mention. The beer is a 4.7% Amber Keller Beer.
The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery French Saison
Category: Saisons
Medal: Silver
The silver medal-winning French Saison is only available in the taproom as a to-go option. This <span style=”color: #000000;”>French Saison features a light citrus aroma of orange and grapefruit, with light floral notes of honeysuckle and clove.
Pilot Brewing Company Trappist Single
Category: Belgian Strong Ale/Monastic Ale
Medal: Gold
Bringing home the gold is this Belgian Blonde (that previously took home Silver in this category in 2019). It’s a trappist-style ale with aromatics of banana and spice.
Devil's Logic Brewing Pasing
Category: Pale European Lager
Medal: Gold
Pacing is available on draft and as to-go 4-packs. It is a Traditional Munich Helles Lager. You’ll taste subtle spicy and floral hop aromas, low bitterness, and moderate malt sweetness.!
Hoptown Brewing Company Hoptown Oktoberfest Marzen
Category: Amber European Lager
Medal: Gold
Mooresville is the home of Hoptown Brewing Company and the award winning Oktoberfest Marzen. It has a 5.2% ABV and notes of caramel, toasted bread and honey.
Pilot Brewing Company Dunkels Bock
Category: German-Style Bock
Medal: Gold
The top ranking of three (yes three) local beers in this category. Dunkles Bock is Pilot Brewing’s strong, malty German lager.
Neoteric Brewing Company Bock Jaw
Category: German-Style Bock
Medal: Bronze
Bock Jaw debuted in June at Neoteric Brewing in Huntersville. It is a “complex and malt forward beer with notes of toasted bread, raisin, caramel, and dark fruit.”
Lost Worlds Brewing Hansa Bock
Category: German-Style Bock
Medal: Honorable Mention
This honorable mention beer doesn’t appear to be on tap right now at Lost Worlds Brewing. Hopefully it will make its return soon.
Petty Thieves Brewing Company Year of The Boar
Category: Smoke Beers
Medal: Gold
Year of the Boar is a “Smoked Helles Lager”. A Helles Lager is a malt-accented.
Cavendish Brewing Company Chester Street Porter
Category: Smoke Beers
Medal: Silver
Take a drive out to Gastonia’s Cavendish Brewing Company to try the Chester Street Porter. This beer is “dark and sweet”. How could it not be when it’s brewed with chocolate malts?
NoDa Brewing Company Lager Days
Category: American-Style Lager
Medal: Silver
A slightly hoppy beer Lager Days is easy to drink. Sometimes simple shines the brightest and that’s certainly the case with this NoDa brew.
Hi-Wire Brewing Leisure Time Lager
Category: American Style Lager
Medal: Bronze
Described as the “official beer of relaxation” Leisure Time Lager is a smooth, crisp and refreshing American craft lager brewed patiently with 100% barley.
Trolley Barn Fermentory Sanctified
Category: Pilsner-Style Lager
Medal: Silver
This pilsner lager features Italian Eraclea Pilsner malt and German Hops in the kettle. From there it is dry hopped with German Select and a secret ingredient.
Hopfly Brewing Co. Tempo
Category: Pilsner-Style Lager
Medal: Bronze
Tempo is not currently on tap at Hop Fly so unfortunately I can’t tell you much about it. Hopefully, this award-winning beer will be back soon!
Birdsong Brewing Company Party Starter
Category: American Amber Lager
Medal: Gold
This seasonal märzen is malt-forward with hints of toffee and light floral aromas. It is described as “rich and bready on the palate” followed by a smooth, crisp finish.
Hoptown Brewing Company Sweet Wings Honey Wheat Ale
Category: American Hybrid Styles
Medal: Gold
Sweet Wings has a 5.7% ABV. And as it’s name would suggest it’s brewed with locally sourced honey and North Carolina wheat.
Pilot Brewing Company Xpression Session Blonde Ale
Category: American Hybrid Styles
Medal: Bronze
Xpression Session is a low alcohol easy-drinking American blonde session ale. And even better is that $2 from every 4 pack of this beer sold will be donated to Transcend CLT.
Lake Norman Brewery Blueberry Cheesecake Sout
Category: Fruit Beers
Medal: Gold
This gold medal winning sour doesn’t seem to be on tap currently at Lake Norman Brewery, but hopefully they will bring it back soon!
Lower Left Brewing Company
Category: Fruit Beers
Medal Silver
Ultimo Hombre is one of, if not the only, beer I have actually tried on this list. This Mexican lager is similar to a Corona.
Middle James Brewing You're Turning Violet, Violet
Category: Fruit Beers
Medal: Bronze
Named for it’s violet color this You’re Turning Violet,Violet is a Blueberry wheat beer. You can find it in Pineville at Middle James Brewing.
Petty Thieves Brewing Company
Category: Sour Fruit or Field Beers
Medal: Silver
As the category would suggest Blenderhead is a heavily fruited sour with flavors of raspberry, cherry, watermelon, and lime. This is one I’d like to try on a hot summer day.
Lenny Boy Brewing Strawberry Jam
Category: Sour Fruit or Field Beers
Medal: Bronze
This sour ale features strawberry, hibiscus, and lactose. It has a 7.4% ABV and is available at the Southend Brewery.
The Dreamchaser's Brewery Gin-Spiced CranDa
Category: Field & Spiced Beers
Medal: Bronze
You’ll find the Dreamchaser’s Brewery in Waxhaw, NC. The Spiced CranDa is a kettle-soured berliner weisse-style ale. It’s brewed with real cranberry puree f and available during the holidays.
Divine Barrell Brewing Comfort In Darkness
Category: Wood and Barrel-Aged Beers
Medal: Gold
Comfort in Darkness is brewed in Booker’s Bourbon barrels. It is jet black in color with notes of roasted coffee, rich chocolate, oaky vanilla, and a warming bourbon heat.
NoDa Brewing Company Big SLURP
Category: Specialty Beer
Medal: Bronze
SLURP stands for Superior Lupulin Utilization Research Project. This beer is a juicy IPA brewed with a variety of hops and hints of tangerine.
Devil's Logic Brewing Guided By Impatience
Category: Historic Beer
Medal: Silver
Guided By Impatience is an unfiltered German Lager. It’s brewed using a traditional Pilsner Malt base.
Southern Strain Brewing Company OK Lunch
Category: NC Home Grown
Medal: Gold
Light, crisp, and refreshing is how Southern Strain Brewing describes this pilsner malt. You can find it in Concord or Plaza Midwood.
