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    Pilot Brewing

    4.5 (90 reviews)
    InexpensiveBreweries
    Closed 2:00 pm - 10:00 PM
    Updated 2 months ago

    Pilot Brewing Photos

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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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    Great brewery! They have good beer and games at every table. Staff was friendly and the place had a great atmosphere!

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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

    Wooden Robot Brewery

    Wooden Robot Brewery

    4.5
    (432 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.

    Brewery #439 Wooden…read moreRobot is a cool spot with a cool name and upon 1st glance from the outside just looks like a hip restaurant. Now they are part that too with a bunch of apps, wings, burgers, etc. I got my usual flight (theirs has 5 beers...wooohooo!) which consisted of a vanilla coffee blonde, a Mexican Lager, a Helles, an IPA and a hazy pale ale. All of them were really good with the hazy pale ale and the vanilla coffee blonde being my favorites. Cool art of the Wooden Robot could be found throughout the brewery. My only regret is that I didn't buy a t-shirt.

    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.
    Burial Beer

    Burial Beer

    4.4
    (48 reviews)
    0.2 mi
    $$

    Like two star-crossed lovers, the universe conspired to make me fall for the Queen City. I scored a…read morefirst-class upgrade on the flight in, Enterprise ran out of standard cars and handed me the Keys to a convertible, and I ate the best grits of my life topped with Milwood's crispy brisket. That was just half a day in, so naturally, I started feeling like Charlotte had passed me a note, "I like you, stay longer." The one thing I failed to respect was the Carolina summer sun. I desperately needed a hat. Sure, I could have gone to Target or the bike shop I passed earlier, but any civilized man knows the best place to buy a cap is a brewery. Untappd pointed me toward one of the most popular breweries in a city full of popular breweries: Burial Beer Co. Since I was driving, I kept things responsible and sampled taster-sized pours, spacing them out with non-alcoholic mocktails and 0.0 beer like a grown man who still wanted to remember where he parked. Burial also offers cocktails, ICEEs, low-ABV session beers, THC beverages, wine, and self-serve water. The menu helps you navigate the offerings with color-coded sections: cocktails in blue, light-bodied beers in neon green, dark ales in orange, and high-ABV options in pink. Food isn't available onsite, but delivery gets the green light. I grabbed a corner seat at the bar, not because I wanted to brood, but because the post-brunch crowd had arrived in full force with babies, buddies, and dogs. Every bartender and guest I spoke with treated me like I had wandered into a neighborhood clubhouse instead of a brewery. They gave recommendations, bought me a drink, and one even helped me pick out a hat. Southern hospitality is alive and well at Burial Beer Co., a place that turned a shopping trip into a welcome party, proving that Charlotte knows how to beat the heat with good pours, good people, and better merch.

    Cool spot in Plaza Midwood to grab drinks and food…read more Lots of indoor and outdoor seating, a rooftop bar, a bottle shop, food truck in back, and it's walkable to lots of other bars and restaurants so you can easily get a change of scenery. There is also a small parking lot in front of the building with free parking.

    Photos
    Upstairs
    Upstairs
    Nostalgia  in Reverse
    Nostalgia in Reverse
    Inside

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    Inside
    Gilde Brewery

    Gilde Brewery

    4.0
    (133 reviews)
    3.9 mi
    $$

    Great service, food and fun place. Lots of room for large parties. We tried a variety of items all…read moregood.

    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
    (354 reviews)
    4.8 mi
    $$

    HUGE thank you to Legion…read more Our company, Opkalla, held its big team Midyear dinner at Legion last night (which I'm responsible for planning), and I was absolutely blown away by the entire experience planning with Gabby, through the event itself for about 50 people. Before I even get into the event itself though, none of it would've been possible without Gabby being such an absolute joy to work with throughout all of the planning leading up to it. During the planning phase she made my life about 100 times easier instead of harder, which is saying something because that's definitely not always the case with venues and I've experienced the other side of that coin elsewhere! From the second we arrived, we were treated with genuine attention and enthusiasm (not to mention, HUSTLE!) I was running around so much all day that I can't believe I'm blanking on a couple of the girls' names now...I remember Kayla's name specifically for some reason...but EVERY single server, bartender, etc working our event was absolutely AMAZING. (As an aside, I worked in hospitality for years, so I know firsthand how much goes into pulling off a private event like ours. Legion's team last night made the entire evening seem effortless.) Drinks were flowing and refilled so quickly, everyone was constantly checking in with me to see if we needed anything, the food was fantastic, and while I didn't catch his name in the middle of all the celebrating, the steak carver you assigned to our event was such a great guy too and SO wonderful with our team. I genuinely can't find the right -- or enough -- words to explain how impressed I was with the entire experience, from the planning process all the way through the end of the night. This was probably the first large team event I've been responsible for, whether at Opkalla or any previous company, where I actually got to relax at times during the event and almost felt like a guest instead of just the planner!! You have no idea how refreshing that was. (Not that I would've minded running around putting out fires if I had to; that occasionally just comes with the territory and was definitely the case earlier that day prior to Legion!) Legion handled everything so seamlessly that I barely had to do any "work" during the event beyond enjoying the evening and checking in with our team. It was obvious everyone had everything they needed, and even more obvious that everyone was having an absolute blast. Thank you again for making this such an incredible experience. It was truly one of the smoothest, most enjoyable events I've ever been a part of, and that's a huge credit to Legion's events team and serving/bartending staff. I can't wait to work with them again for future events, and to recommend them to others I know who are often in need of event venues! THANK YOU AGAIN, GABBY AND LEGION!

    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 August 2026

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