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    Pilot Brewing

    4.5 (90 reviews)
    InexpensiveBreweries
    Open 2:00 pm - 9:00 PM
    Updated a few days ago

    Pilot Brewing Photos

    Recommended Reviews - Pilot Brewing

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    Exterior
    John E.

    You can find Pilot Brewing at 1331 Central Ave, Charlotte, NC 28205 - it's impossible to see from the street as it's on the backside of the building - facing, if you park along the left you're pretty much in front of the patio and you can walk up to the main entrance. You'll see plenty of signage and mural covered walls leading up to the patio and entrance. This is a very cute space with, what else, an aviation theme with renderings on the walls and plenty of airplanes and related materials to look at - the taproom is post-industrial chic with the bar extending along the right wall - they have about a dozen taps. Full disclosure we had started the day early at Wooden Robot Brewing where we pretty much sampled their entire taproom, then made it over to Burial Beer Co where we sampled everything again, finally over to Legion Brewing when we finally ate same sharables - by the time we hit pilot we were pretty wrecked and looking to slow things down a bit. With all the above in mind, there was a sign for $3 next to the Harvest Saison on their menu behind the bar so we ordered several of those. We all thought it tasted pretty foul - heavy malty, earthy backbone with odd spicy bitterness at the finish - we didn't complete our goblets. To be fair, when I later looked up the beer turns out it's a farmhouse with pumpkin, which explained the flavors - we just weren't prepared for it - turns out it's won some awards more into the pumpkin beer category which explains the cinnamon, all spice, nutmeg and ginger which felt so weird. I plan on hitting the complete menu the next time we're in Charlotte as I feel like we missed out on some great beers due to this misunderstanding. The service was really good but our taproom guy may have been put off a bit by how noisy and drunk we were, he was still very nice to us and answered any questions we had. Looking forward to coming back.

    Giddy Goat Stout -- 5/5
    Brynt L.

    Enjoyed my recent visit to Pilot. I'm working my way through all of the Charlotte area breweries and this one truly stands out. The brews are all delicious and the staff is great! The tasting room is cozy but has ample space for games and plenty of small tables. During the week they also have great specials. Def worth a stop.

    Menu
    Tina C.

    Nice place! Beers were great, atmosphere was cool (not too loud), games and TV available. There were free stickers and pens and a monthly calendar of events.

    Menu 10.16.21
    Neema B.

    Mogogo food truck brought us to Pilot Brewing on a Saturday evening. After we ordered our food, we sat on the patio of Pilot Brewing. It was chilly that night, so we moved to the inside. This is a nice location in Plaza Midwood, near several eateries and shopping. The brewery is small but quaint and there are several tables inside. They also let us eat out food inside which I liked. Of course we bought glasses of beer. I'd like to return on a day where the weather is nice and we can really enjoy it.

    Patio
    Jordan B.

    Pilot Brewing is a really great micro-brew located in Plaza Midwood area. They have seating inside, at the bar and some tables outside also on the patio. Parking can be a little challenging, but not majorly. They have a good variety of beers to choose from - lager, IPA, etc. They also have cans to go, which is a great option! Staff is super friendly and helpful on making decisions. It's a great patio to chill out and have a beer, so definitely try it out!

    James D.

    Small interior, with a decent amout of tables out front for seating. They also have a walk up window for ordering outside, which I always, always love. Beers are good, but beer is so subjective, so you can make your own decisions there. They do flights and they won't break your bank either. Less than 10 bucks for 4 and the beer tender threw in an extra one for us for free as well. Plenty of cans to take home if you wish. They open pretty early, about 11 am ish. Counter folks are super friendly and they do have free, strong wifi. Parking situation isn't too bad with a large dedicated lot. Free stickers and pens for you here.

    Rick T.

    Follow the parking signs and everything will be okay ! Don't immediately look for parking right beside the brewery go towards the first floor of the apartment complex. Do a flight of beers and grab some free stickers too ! Staff super friendly made it a point to make sure we had what we needed for the hour we were at the brewery.

    Stephanie J.

    Pilot Brewing is smaller but was still a fun time. There is a small amount of seating available both inside and out. I chose to have a flight and my friend and husband both had a pint. You get to choose 4 in a flight, I selected the Ruth Bader Ginsburg Southeastern IPA, Island Altus Hopper IPA, Oktoberfest and Spring Saison. It was the Mimosa Gose for my friend and the Cafe Latte Stout - Pure Intentions for my husband. My favorite was the Island IPA. This brewery is worth checking out if you are in the area.

    The beer list and the flight chits
    Leila R.

    You're #clearedfortakeoff to try a flight at this small-batch Plaza Midwood brewery where you'll find an eclectic selection of beerstyles to expand anyone's beerpalate, whether pro or novice. ⁣ They also have boardgames, are dog-friendly and occasional entertainment + foodtrucks. Definitely worth checking out if in the area!

    Shawn W.

    Such a great chill place to come for a few drinks. They have a variety of beers on tap and in the can. Reasonably priced and you're able to enjoy drinks inside or outside on the patio. You can also order outside at the window without having to go inside. They switch the selections out so be sure to check back for new beers and selections. I haven't gotten the chance to try their bites but they do offer a big pretzel with mustard that looked great.

    Julie P.

    In the ever growing Charlotte brewery scene, pilot brewing markets itself as an ode to small batch beers. I really would give this place 3.5 stars, with the half star for the spot/accommodations. The spot itself is great - small inside, but a large patio space, great for summer and warmer Charlotte days. They have games and other activities for the table, as well as snacks for the tiny humans. The beer has some hits and some misses, just like any brewery in the area. I tried a flight and really loved the cinnamon bun brown, which isn't a normal beer on my radar, but it wasn't overly sweet and the cinnamon spice balanced the beer nicely. My least favorite was the crop dust pale - it tasted like a crop dusting - very malty and had an odd aroma that I couldn't shake when drinking it. If you're in the area, definitely stop by and try it, I just don't think it's in the list of breweries you would want to spend the day at.

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    Page 1 of 3

    Ask the Community - Pilot Brewing

    Review Highlights - Pilot Brewing

    You won't see Pilot Brewing from Central Ave, but it's tucked in the back of the building where Yafo is located.

    Mentioned in 7 reviews

    Read more highlights

    The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

    The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

    4.0
    (879 reviews)
    4.4 mi
    $$

    I am glad this place was near my gate (D9) so I could grab breakfast, a coffee and work near an…read moreoutlet, while charging my devices. Standout server, Ashley, was fabulous and accommodated my request for iced coffee, even though it wasn't on the menu. Seeing her hustle and serve several tables, it was clear she goes out of her way to make customers happy. Loved her! Tables were clean and spacious and my breakfast sandwiches with egg, bacon and gouda was really tasty. It was a lot of food for one person, with the potatoes side too. A solid meal before flying home. I didn't try any of their brews because it was early and I was working...but next time!

    Great place for large get together's. Plenty of space. Clean establishment. Food was good. Sandwich…read moreand brats...yum. We had Emerson as our wait person. She was very personable and checked on us repeatedly. After she went off duty we got stuck with James who when I asked to bring us a craft of water for the table said " I could, but we have a water station down there" and he pointed to a far away bank of cups and water and then said "And I don't know why you guys aren't inside". And I said "since I'm a paying guest I would think you could bring us water ". He reluctantly brought us water then disappeared and didn't come back out. Here's my complaint: Where I choose to sit with my party is my choice James, I don't care if you're hot and sweaty, I'm the customer. Telling me to get my own water is unacceptable. Why you chose to only bring one refill of water to a table of 8 is on you. You might be too delicate for the job James.

    Photos
    Copper Altbier with selections from our Brauhaus Menu
    Copper Altbier with selections from our Brauhaus Menu
    OMB's park-like Beer Garden
    OMB's park-like Beer Garden
    Captain Jack Pilsner with selections from our Brauhaus Menu

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    Captain Jack Pilsner with selections from our Brauhaus Menu
    Wooden Robot Brewery

    Wooden Robot Brewery

    4.5
    (430 reviews)
    2.3 mi
    $$

    Love this place - I need to come here more often! I've been here a decent number of times over the…read moreyears and realized I have never had a less-than-awesome experience. I've come as a Charlotte newbie, then became the one showing the place off to visitors, and in between I'll show up for a trivia night here and there. Staff here is my personal favorite- everyone is kind but not pushy or bothersome. They know the bar and the food menu.. I have asked what to order and fully gone along with their suggestions. Zero regrets. This is also a wonderful place to take friends or family visiting from out of town. My parents moved down here with me; just across the border in SC, but absolutely loved it here when I took them. They're boring and picky, and Wooden Robot somehow was exactly what they were looking for.

    I love a place that lives their motto. "drink good beer, do good things"…read more The place: wide open with plenty of seating inside and out. I feel even if it's packed, there's still ample room to not feel like sardines. The food: delicious in all of their offerings. Fries were perfectly crisp and not oily. The hummus was well balanced and tasty. The beer: my initial only reason to visit. But tasting their offerings had me sold and ready to give them all my money. So here's why they live their motto. The cans we bought started leaking, we went back and asked if the leakage was a problem. They asked a few questions and profusely apologized and gave us two six packs of their beer with no charge. I tried to pay but they refused. They could have just said "sorry to hear" and sent us on our way but they made us whole. Plus, their code of conduct is awesome and should be a standard for all businesses. We're fans forever. Not only of their food and beer, but their values. Thank y'all so much!!

    Photos
    Wooden Robot Brewery Taproom
    Wooden Robot Brewery Taproom
    Pops Leicht hit the spot
    Pops Leicht hit the spot
    Wooden Robot Brewery  Main Entrance

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    Wooden Robot Brewery Main Entrance
    Sycamore Brewing

    Sycamore Brewing

    4.0
    (424 reviews)
    2.8 mi
    $$

    The food here is actually super good for a bar spot! I have tried the pizza, burger and blt and all…read moregreat, the fries are my favorite. When you sit down there is a QR code to order your food and they text you when it's ready. They have napkins, salt pepper, sauces and everything available to you when you go to pick up your food. I love how it's dog friendly. The beers come in 2 sizes and they have liquor drinks upstairs. They do not have everything though so be sure if you're looking for a certain drink you are aware. Love the live music as well.

    A gorgeous 2-story, open-spaced brewery located in Charlotte! I went on a late Saturday afternoon…read moreand this place was popping with college game day fans. Despite the crowd, it was quick to get drinks at any of their bars (under 5 min wait in line). Unfortunately, I also wanted food and that wait was extremely long. You can order food on their app or at one of the registers on the 1st floor. The cashier ringing me up quoted me 45 minutes before taking my order. It ended up being 70 minutes. I ordered a chicken Caesar wrap and it came with a side. I picked fries. They text you when the food is ready to be picked up. The wrap and fries were average and definitely not worth the wait. My friend got their pretzel sticks appetizer. Her food was delicious. All the employees were in good spirits! The brewery is indoors and outdoors with tables sprinkled throughout. After 20 minutes of searching, we found a table inside. I would try this place again simply for their pretzel sticks, but would make sure it's not during a busy game day if I'm super hungry.

    Photos
    Sycamore Brewing
    Touring the brews!
    Touring the brews!
    Incredible service, very nice owners & staff.  They say welcome!  Winchester Esb is wonderful, love the south mtn cream stout.

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    Incredible service, very nice owners & staff. They say welcome! Winchester Esb is wonderful, love the south mtn cream stout.
    Suffolk Punch Brewing - SouthPark

    Suffolk Punch Brewing - SouthPark

    4.2
    (172 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    Fantastic spot. I had some visitors in from Japan and they really wanted to go to the SouthPark…read moreMall to get some shopping done. We popped in here for a mid-shopping break. They have a pretty good variety of beers. I wish they had more dark beer options. We didn't get any food. But the setting is great. Wide open community type seating. Great breeze when the doors are all open. Nice little playground nearby for the kids. The service was fast and friendly. We got a few samples and our server even recommended some things to taste. Recommended!

    A few years have passed since I last visited South Park and I was lucky to have free morning to get…read moresome shopping in. Shopping is much better while dosed up on coffee so we figured we should try out this coffee shop. Upon entrance, I really enjoyed the moody atmosphere in the shop. Everything was clean and organized which is a huge plus. The staff was kind and patient in assisting us with ordering. I opted to get a Banana Bread Cold Brew which mixes one of my favorite fruits, with my favorite type of coffee. It was delicious is kept me going while I was shopping. The whole brewery looks incredible and fosters an environment which people seem to enjoy themselves. The coffee shop was all I needed but hopefully I get to go back and see the rest of the brewery at some point.

    Photos
    Suffolk Punch Brewing - SouthPark
    Truffled Hand Cut Fries IG: @Kay.Aye
    Truffled Hand Cut Fries IG: @Kay.Aye
    Rose-berry mule mocktail

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    Rose-berry mule mocktail
    Gilde Brewery

    Gilde Brewery

    4.0
    (130 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Great Beer! The Pilsner is one of the best. Authentic German food. Fantastic atmosphere and a great…read morestaff. A must visit when in Charlotte, NC.

    Updated Review (2026):…read more We've been coming to Gilde since they opened their doors in 2022. When we first began coming, they served delicious authentic German food. Unfortunately, they've changed their menu a dozen times and have removed our favorites from the menu (the original braised pork (they changed it over time, but the original was amazing) and the goulash) :( They have slowly evolved their menu into bar food to cater to the party-going crowd as their street has become more trafficked -- which now means a greater likelihood of having to succumb to the paid parking garage. We're big fans of their beers and did a brewery tour & tasting when Gilde was at its peak. Their beers are the reason I at least give them 2 stars: the pale wheat and red rooster are especially delicious. We even spent our NYE 2025 there and did the stein-holding competition. We've tried new things on the menu, desperate to give them more tries... but we keep ending up disappointed. For example, the steak sandwich is not a steak sandwich, but rather a kebab. We've driven the 40 min drive to go there and show up and then they are closed for a private event (with no notice on their social media). We have also brought friends there and have waited an hour for a server. Last Mother's Day, we showed up for dinner at 7:45 p.m (sure, that's a tad late.. but we left our home at 7) and were told the kitchen was already closed. This Mother's Day, we waited 45 minutes, with no updates or warnings, to be seen by a server. When we tried to place our order, we were told that we couldn't yet place our food order and that we had to order drinks separately because their kitchen was slammed. I'm no expert, but why not still accept customer's orders and speed up the kitchen by bulk-cooking? Can't multiple brats be made at once? Or larger portions of sauerkraut or bacon? Also, only a third of the tables were taken.. so that sounds like some poor kitchen capacity. When we were finally served our food (still took awhile even after putting in the food order), they had served my husbands meal 10 min before mine and then I was served mine.. and it turns out they still had forgotten about our daughter's French toast and had to START it. The disorganization or perhaps just lack of effort/care has gotten ridiculous. So disappointed at the way our favorite restaurant went downhill!

    Photos
    Leberkäse Sliders: Seared leberkäse sliders topped with sauerkraut, pickles, and mustard cream. Served with mini-Kaiser rolls.
    Leberkäse Sliders: Seared leberkäse sliders topped with sauerkraut, pickles, and mustard cream. Served with mini-Kaiser rolls.
    Pork Ragu Langos
    Pork Ragu Langos
    Backfish: Bier battered pollock served with remoulade sauce, pan-seared potatoes, marinated greens, and lemon.

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    Backfish: Bier battered pollock served with remoulade sauce, pan-seared potatoes, marinated greens, and lemon.
    Legion Brewing South Park

    Legion Brewing South Park

    4.0
    (347 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    I am in the Southpark area today and met a friend for lunch. Upon arrival Nate came up and…read moreintroduced himself and took my order. This is my first time visiting Legion Brewing. This isn't your typical brewery with regular bar food where everything is fried! Nate is awesome he explained the menu extensively! He said that everything is made from fresh ingredients farm to table. I ordered a Juicy Jay chicken salad with a Ranch-Bluecheese dressing. The patio area is well shaded and it was people everywhere from the inside to the patio. My salad was to die for! I'll be back when I can relax and have some drinks.

    There is so much seating both inside and outside we didn't have to wait at all for a table on a…read moreFriday evening. Lots of families with kids dining around us, seemed like a very kid friendly place. We started with the pretzel rolls, which came warm in a small cast iron skillet with sides of beer cheese, pimento cheese, and mustard. They were good but I thought seemed a little overpriced at $8 for only 4 small rolls. The Juicy Jay chicken salad was phenomenal. The server said it was his favorite thing on the menu and I can definitely see why! Can't speak to the drinks as we were having a sober evening but they had beer, wine, and cocktails on the menu.

    Photos
    Cluck You- hot Nashville chicken sandwich Breakfast 7a-1030a
    Cluck You- hot Nashville chicken sandwich Breakfast 7a-1030a
    Beer flight
    Beer flight
    Duck Confit Sandwich Wood charred potato fingerlings Prosecco

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    Duck Confit Sandwich Wood charred potato fingerlings Prosecco

    Pilot Brewing - breweries - Updated June 2026

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