It’s official: Charlotte Beer Garden opens Wednesday in South End.
Have you ever had a cold one in a tree house? You’ll find out what that feels like on your first visit to Charlotte Beer Garden, which opens Wednesday in South End.
After much anticipation, CBG quietly made it official with one simple line in its Instagram bio on Tuesday afternoon: “Opening February 26 in South End.”
The 3-story building with four bars and a rooftop with a view is filled with trees and plants. The windows and doors are accordion-style, so when the weather is warm and breezy and everything is open, Mother Nature will be one of your drinking pals.
There’s even a huge walnut tree with bird cages dangling below.
With a little time, expect vines to be growing all around you — through the rooftop rafters, along the columns on the sidewalk-facing patio, etc.
You will be in a literal beer garden.
“I probably should be smarter and build a sh**load of apartments or something, but I’m not very bright,” owner Niall Hanley told CharlotteFive last week. For the record, we’re happy with his choice.
How to hang out in the Disney World of Charlotte beers
OK, here’s the deal. There will be hundreds of beers on tap, and so you’re going to want to plan ahead. First, download the Untappd app if you don’t already have it. Search for Charlotte Beer Garden on the app. Once the beer garden is open and the menu is live, you’ll be able to sit at your desk and plan ahead for 5 p.m. (sorry, boss). As beers are added or kegs are tapped, you’ll see the results in real time.
After you decide what to order, it’s time to head to the bar. Here’s where you’ll go:
Main level: Get a seat here if you want a craft cocktail or a North Carolina beer. This is where you’ll order a Wheat Mojito, a Gose Margarita or any of your favorite local brews. An outdoor patio with a bar (and heaters) will connect visitors with sidewalk pedestrians.
Level two: Head straight here if you want a national (other than N.C.) or international beer; you’ll have 222 taps to choose from.
Level three: If you want to see South End from a whole new perspective, go straight to the rooftop bar and choose from the 24 additional taps up here.
Pro tip: Unless you sit at the bar, you’ll wait to be seated (unlike a brewery where it’s first-come, first-served).
436 taps of beer
Charlotte Beer Garden’s sister, Raleigh Beer Garden, holds three Guinness World Records: most different beer brands on draft tap (203), most varieties of beer on draft tap (369), and largest tap takeover (177 with Wicked Weed).
Hanley promises Charlotte that by the end of summer/fall, Raleigh will be very disappointed. (Insert a “take that, Raleigh” joke.) Charlotte Beer Garden will be bigger.
In addition to all those choices for beer, you probably won’t want to just have a drink and then move on elsewhere for dinner. This is not your average beer garden food.
Hanley’s executive chef, Dan Yeager, told us to expect a menu of French Bistro mixed with Canadian Poutine mixed with bar food.
Most important: The full bar menu will be served until 2 a.m.
Here are some menu items you’ll want to look for:
Dry rubbed wings - served with bleu cheese or ranch dressing
Mushroom Burger - two 4 oz. patties topped with caramelized onion and mushroom duxelles aioli and served on a brioche bun.
Burrata cheese - served with warm garlic bread
Also on the menu are Esquites Corn Dogs, with roasted corn, pimento peppers, pickled onions, avocado spread and sweetened mayo; pizzas, salads and entrees such as Mussels & Fries, Tuna Nicoise and German Bangers & Mash.
BY THE NUMBERS
Here’s what you can expect:
- 3 levels
- 4 bars
- 150-160 local taps on main level
- 200 taps for beers outside of North Carolina on second level
- 25-30 taps on rooftop bar
- 436 total taps
- 501 seats
Charlotte Beer Garden
1300 South Tryon St.
Instagram: @cltbeergarden
Weekday reservations are available on Open Table.
Three-story building is ADA accessible (via elevator).
Editor’s note: This story originally published on Feb. 24 and has been updated to reflect an opening date.
This story was originally published February 24, 2020 at 5:30 AM.
