Awesome Breweries and Expansions that Opened in 2019 in Raleigh, N.C.
Tuesday, December 10, 2019, 9am by Tabletop Media Group

Raleigh, N.C.'s beer scene is constantly growing, and this year we saw some awesome breweries open around town, adding to the diversity of offerings. Plus, other established breweries expanded, giving us all the more reason to raise a glass in the Raleigh area! Here’s a roundup of openings in 2019.
New Breweries
Cotton House Craft Brewers
With a delightful location in the historic Pasmore House in downtown Cary, Cotton House offers a cozy location to enjoy a beer or cider. The house is furnished with homey sofas and chairs, two exposed brick fireplaces, handmade walnut lighting fixtures and a rotating selection of local artwork, as well as a 25-foot Italian marble top bar. You'll almost feel like you’re still at home, only with an enticing selection of IPAs, golden ales, gose and more on draft within an arm's reach.
Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing
With one of the best downtown Raleigh skyline views in the city, Wye Hill is a bustling restaurant and brewery offering a rotating selection of unique house-brewed taps. Offerings range from a traditional American pale wheat ale to a roasted coconut oatmeal stout to a fruity hibiscus gose, alongside a delicious chef-driven menu that takes bar food to an elevated level. Get your camera ready for the view and your taste buds ready for the brews.
Mordecai Beverage Co.
Adding to the cool vibe of the recently-renovated Gateway Plaza is Mordecai Beverage Co., Raleigh's first combined brewery, taproom and bottle shop. Their brews—including a New England IPA, Belgian pale ale and citra dry-hopped saison—are rounded out by local taps. While sipping, check out the space’s murals by local artists, then snag a few beers to take home for a rainy day.
Oaklyn Springs Brewery
Born from a group of friends who shared a love for home brewing and a passion for sharing it with the community, Oaklyn Springs Brewery pours creative craft beers in a modern space in Fuquay-Varina. Taps range from their Chocolate Covered Sampler scotch ale to the Trivial Wager porter, which can be enjoyed during recurring events like yoga, music bingo and open mic nights.
Oak City Brewing Company
Oak City Brewing is a favorite local “nano-brewery” in Knightdale. Though its 1920s bungalow tap room in historic downtown has been an ideal spot to gather with friends and family since 2016, they only just started serving their own beers, which include a coffee stout, wheat beer and blonde ale. The brewery’s 20 taps are constantly rotating with guest beers from across the state, country and the world, making every visit exciting.
Expansions
Trophy Brewing Company on Morgan St.
Trophy Brewing’s beloved original location on Morgan St. just got a major upgrade with an expanded dining room offering additional shareable appetizers, along with all the pizzas you know and love. The location also got American oak foeders to pursue some unique varieties of wild and sour beers, as well as a bigger wine list including small producers of low intervention and natural wines. More patio space was out front to be enjoyed especially in the warmer months.
Lonerider Brewing Company Wake Forest "Hideout"
Lonerider, Raleigh's beloved Western era-themed brewery, opened a new saloon-style "Hideout" in Wake Forest featuring 12 taps of their signature brews—Shotgun Betty, Sweet Josie and Saloon Style Pilsner, just to name a few—along with three Lonerider spirits, cider, vodka and wine. Their expansive outdoor patio is a great spot for gathering friends and family for a drink or two, with recurring specials and food trucks throughout the week to satisfy all.
Burial Beer Co. - The Exhibit at Transfer Co. Food Hall
One of Asheville’s most highly-regarded breweries opened a new location dubbed “the exhibit” at Transfer Co. Food Hall in Raleigh, undergoing a renovation halfway through the year due to its high popularity. The intimate space exudes a refreshing atmosphere complete with local art, a plethora of house plants and exposed brick walls that play homage to the location’s original function as a coach house. Taps rotate often, with interesting names like The Perils of Living In Pretend (a fruited sour) and Asymmetrical Anguish (an English mild ale).
It looks like 2023 is going to be a big year for food in Raleigh, N.C. These highly anticipated restaurants have their eyes set... View More
Raleigh, N.C., is a booming metropolis that offers a big city feel with Southern charm. It's a smart, modern-meets-historic... View More
With a constantly-evolving restaurant scene that’s redefining and re-imagining both Southern cooking and global flavors,... View More
We're all thrilled to have turned the page to a new year, and we've got a great feeling about good news on the horizon... View More
If barbecue is a tradition in The Tar Heel State (it is), then Clyde Cooper’s BBQ is an institution. Opened on New... View More
Note: Authored by David Menconi, this piece has been produced in partnership with Raleigh Arts. Menconi's latest book,... View More
Every two weeks, we send out a newsletter that includes the best of the best upcoming events. If you sign up for our E-magazine,... View More
Another year is in the books! Looking back, 2022 in Raleigh, N.C., was filled with major festivals, outdoor concerts, sold-out... View More

Author: Tabletop Media Group
Tabletop Media Group is a boutique media agency based in Raleigh serving clients in the food, beverage and agriculture industries. The company offers consulting services in the fields of social media, graphic design, illustration, special events, website design and videography. Founder Kristen started the company in the midst of writing for visitRaleigh.com's food blog more than six years ago!
Follow @TabletopMediaGp on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram
Visit the team at tabletopmediagroup.com
Have ideas for more visitRaleigh.com articles or questions about current articles? Reach out to senior marketing manager Derek Allman, CHIA, at dallman@visitRaleigh.com!