Wooden Robot, Free Range breweries get nod from Southern Living

Two of Charlotte's craft-beer establishments were picked by readers of Southern Living magazine for a recent list of the "Best Breweries in North Carolina."

The Wooden Robot Brewery, which made its debut in South End in 2015 and has since added a NoDa location, is at No. 6 on the list.

"Wooden Robot is becoming a household name among Charlotteans," reads the Southern Living feature. "The original South End location features a brewery, taproom, biergarten, kitchen and coffee bar. A newer location in NoDa includes a wood-aging program and rooftop patio. Inside both you’ll find a good mix of styles from farmhouse sours and Mexican-style lagers to IPAs and even Irish stouts."

And at No. 7 is Free Range Brewing Co., which also got its start in 2015. Its original location is in Villa Heights, and it added an outpost at Camp North End in 2020.

"Made with love by a North Carolina family, every beer at Free Range averages 95% locally sourced ingredients," the feature reads. The Charlotte brewery is committed to fostering community, which is why they give spent grain to farmers for feed, serve as a compost site for neighbors, and partner with local businesses, artists, and chefs for special events. The brewery makes all the classics, but also gets creative with sippers like the Susie Was A Real Peach, a Carolina grisette, and the Jenny Bought a Farm, a classic saison."

Asheville's Highland Brewing Co. — also North Carolina's largest independent craft brewery with nearly 45,000 barrels made in 2021 — took the No. 1 spot.

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