Sour beer enjoys time in the limelight. Here are the best places to find it in Charlotte
Sour beer has been around for centuries, but it has recently hit its stride with craft beer lovers looking for an alternate to heavy IPAs. The category of beer, which includes lambic, gose and Berliner Weisse, boasts flavors all along the tartness and funkiness spectrum.
What contributes the beer’s acidic qualities is the inclusion of wild yeast strains or bacteria, such as the bacteria Lactobacillus and Pediococcus and the fungus Brettanomyces. This is different from most modern brewing, which intentionally keeps those wild yeasts out. Because of the yeast and bacteria, sippers can expect flavors tart and crisp, or barnhousey and funky alike.
Now that you know a bit of the science behind sour beer, why don’t we crack one open and explore the scene in Charlotte? Here are some solid places to find sour beer in the Queen City.
Birdsong Brewing Co.
Location: 1016 North Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28206
Neighborhood: Optimist Park/Belmont Charlotte
While Birdsong doesn’t offer any sours in its flagship rotation, you may find one in a special batch. Included in beers the brewery has produced before are its strawberry lemonade sour and Rain Fruited Sour.
The Common Market
Location: 2007 Commonwealth Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Location: 235 W Tremont Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Location: 4420-A Monroe Road, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Oakwold
Location: 161 West Main Street, Rock Hill, SC 29730
Neighborhood: Downtown Rock Hill
The beloved local deli-coffee shop-bottle shop-whatever you want it to be always has a case stocked with plenty of beer options — including lots of sours.
Free Range Brewing
Location: 2320 N. Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: Villa Heights
According to Free Range, the beers average 95% locally sourced ingredients. Keep it close to home and try out some sours, such as the We Kneed Each Other wild sourdough ale.
Legion Brewing
Location: 1906 Commonwealth Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Commonwealth/Plaza Midwood
Location: 5610 Carnegie Boulevard, Charlotte, NC 28209
Neighborhood: SouthPark
Location: 2013 West Morehead Street, Suite 200, Charlotte, NC 28208
Neighborhood: FreeMoreWest
One of the flagship beers at Legion is Supernova, a fruited sour that changes flavors according to the season. Grab a couple alongside the bar food offered at the brewery.
Lenny Boy Brewing Co.
Location: 3000 S. Tryon St., Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: South End
Lenny Boy doesn’t just specialize in delicious fruited sours (think strawberry, guava and cranberry), but it also offers an array of kombuchas, some of which are alcoholic. The taproom often hosts art shows, weekly fitness events, non-profit events, documentaries, trivia, festivals and more.
Resident Culture Brewing Company
Location: 2101 Central Avenue, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: Plaza Midwood
Location: 332 W Bland Street, Suite C, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Resident Culture rotates beers frequently, but one can usually find a sour. One known to pop up in the offerings is a fruited Berliner Weisse.
Salud Cerveceria
Location: 3306-C N Davidson Street, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
The tap list changes all the time at this NoDa hangout, but sippers can usually find a couple sours — some produced with lactose for a creamier mouthfeel. Bonus: Try the downstairs Salud Beer Shop for shelves and cases stocked full of cans and bottles of other beer.
Wooden Robot Brewery
Location: 1440 S Tryon Street #110, Charlotte, NC 28203
Neighborhood: South End
Location: 416 E 36th Street #100, Charlotte, NC 28205
Neighborhood: NoDa
Self-described as an “urban farmhouse brewery,” Wooden Robot offers a couple funky options, like a sour ale and a farmhouse ale.
Editors’ note: Molly Weisner contributed to this article.
This story was originally published April 19, 2022 at 6:00 AM.