Published by Christina. Last Updated on July 29, 2024.
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As a city that loves good local beer, it’s a no-brainer that there are some great breweries in Fayetteville. And with Fort Liberty nearby, many of these businesses are veteran-owned, too.
Like many things in Fayetteville, local beer means more because it comes from people who’ve served this nation. Hopefully, you’re able to support them all (responsibly) after reading this guide.
Read More: 40+ Great Things to Do in Fayetteville
Breweries in Fayetteville NC
In this guide, we alphabetically feature these breweries in Fayetteville and include addresses, in case you like to map your travels.
Dirtbag Ales Brewing & Taproom
Address: 5435 Corporation Dr, Hope Mills, NC
Website
While technically in Hope Mills, you’ll agree that Dirtbag Ales deserves a spot in this guide. This place is an experience that goes beyond their amazing beers.
Events throughout the week include yoga, music, and a Sunday farmer’s market!
And in case you’re wondering where the name came from, it’s a nod to veteran owners Vernardo “Tito” Simmons-Valenzuela, Jerry Hall and Eric Whealton, who profess to be real dirtbags.
They are stellar people, but to be a real innovator they prefer breaking rules to following them. That’s part of why Fayetteville really likes these dirtbags, but the love is mutual.
As they explained, “What we love about Fayetteville is how diverse a community is and how much the people want local businesses to succeed.”
Their humble beginnings in a hard to find hole-in-the-wall led to many successes. Dirtbag now calls their impressive brewhouse complete with a playground and pavilion.
There’s also a regulation-size soccer field, volleyball court, fenced-in dog park, kid-friendly playground, and delicious on-site restaurant Napkins. It’s one of our favorite places to eat in Fayetteville, in case you were wondering.
Amazing food aside, we know it’s the delicious beer that’s responsible for this comfortable community environment. And as far as the brews go, Dirtbag is best-known for their Blood Orange Kolsch.
However, they continue to push the envelope and make new beers in their own Dirtbag-y way!
Read More: The Best Breweries in Asheville
Bright Light Brewing Company
Address: 444 W Russell St, Fayetteville, NC
Website
Bright Light Brewing Company serves up delicious microbrews and serves as a great spot to meet downtown. Step inside and you’ll find a kid- and dog-friendly space, a large back patio out back, and a rotating lineup of local food trucks.
Bright Light began as an idea that owners Mike Ray, Eddie Ketchum, and Chris Greive discussed over a couple of beers. Ketchum and Greive served together in the United States Army and they met Ray through the Fayetteville brewery scene.
Together, they took their wild idea from a dream to a place for the community to come together and enjoy great beer.
Bright Light Manager Sarah Canaski says that when veterans come back to the towns they grew up in or even served in, it’s great to see them open a business and contribute to it. In her words, “They believe in what they fought for and when patrons support them…It means just as much as the yellow ribbons hanging on your doors.”
To the Bright Light, “Fayetteville is home. This town has come a long way from ‘Fayette-Nam’ and we’re proud to be a part of the expanding community.” BLBC hosts events like trivia, live music, and even partners with Axes & X’s Axe Throwing Range whose mobile ranges allow ax-throwing on site.
These are just a few of the ways the Fayetteville community enjoys Bright Light. And you can, too, when stopping by and grabbing a pint.
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Gaston Brewing Company
Address: 124 Hay Street, Fayetteville, NC
Website
Gaston Brewing Company originally named itself after the lake that sits a couple of hours north on the North Carolina-Virginia border. And while the “lake” is gone from the name, that body of water’s peace and tranquility remain important to the owner, brewmaster, and veteran Troy Rassmussen.
Troy is a Green Beret who started brewing in 2004 when he got a “Mr. Beer” brew kit.
He and his wife Trish, and former owner Darrin Jones wanted GBC to be inviting to folks who come in from outside. As Troy shared with us, “Gaston is old French for ‘guest’ or ‘stranger’ and ‘Be Our Guest’ is our motto.”
A welcoming atmosphere doesn’t end with customers, as he also explained. “I think it’s important for communities to support all small businesses and am happy that so many here support veteran-owned small businesses.”
While sitting inside the taproom, sip on the Lake House Brown or this Fayetteville brewery’s award-winning Dew Drop Lavender.
Read More: The MacPherson House in Fayetteville (and 5 Reasons Why We Love It!)
Heckler Brewing Company
Address: 5780 Ramsey St, Fayetteville, NC
Website
Heckler Brewing Company is a welcome addition to the northern end of Fayetteville (near Spring Lake). Open since 2020, their taproom offers a mix of Heckler beers and guest taps from beers made in North Carolina and beyond.
While they don’t serve food, you can bring your own from Scrub Oaks next door or have it delivered. This collaboration between a local brewery and restaurant is another thing I love about Fayetteville.
These businesses really seem to get it, and Heckler Brewing Co is a great example to follow.
Huske Hardware House
Address: 405 Hay St, Fayetteville, NC
Website
Some folks don’t think of Huske Hardware House primarily as a brewery, but we just can’t leave out the city’s oldest brewpub. Not only has Huske been fermenting yeast on Hay Street since 1996, but the building itself also has a long history in Fayetteville.
Found on the National Register of Historic Places, Huske was built in 1903 and remained a hardware store for 67 years.
Today, Huske Hardware brews rich, full-flavored beer in their American-made, stainless steel, 15-barrel brewing system that you’ll see when walking inside.
Savor a pint of their Level Headed Blonde and chow down on a burger while there. And while sitting down, you can easily think back to the early days of Huske Hardware House during the early 20th century.
Mash House
Address: 4150 Sycamore Dairy Rd, Fayetteville, NC
Website
Before we get back to dreaming about these awesome breweries in Fayetteville, we can’t leave out Mash House, which was started by veterans in 2001 and changed hands later on.
One thing that hasn’t changed is their award-winning beers. Mash House’s microbrewery follows the same virtues as its butchers. That means they do not use preservatives.
Grab a pint and you’ll see why we love this place. Or you can go big and get their Mondo Mash flight, featuring all nine of their draft beers!
Support Our Entrepreneur Toops (and These Breweries in Fayetteville)
Did you know that veterans are 45 percent more likely to be self-employed than civilians? Many veterans learn valuable skills while serving, including discipline, organization, and community service.
These are also the markings of great leadership in business. And supporting veteran-owned businesses is a simple way to thank them for their service to our country.
Which of These Breweries in Fayetteville is Your Favorite?
When thinking back on these breweries, one thing stands out to us.
It took a village to start these breweries. Eric Whealton of Dirtbag Ales explained they couldn’t have created this dream without local support, even from fellow veterans.
He went on to say, “The veteran community would not let us fail, whether it was going out of their way to patronize us or offering volunteer work when we had no real staff.
We are proud of the local and veteran community that continues to support us and in turn, we strive to be something they can be proud to have in Fayetteville.”
We’re happy to have such an awesome beer scene here in North Carolina, and Fayetteville’s contribution is an important one in so many ways. If you’re familiar with any of these breweries, we’d love to know which ones are your favorites.
Please let us know in the comments section or by email. You can also share your first visit (or 100th visit) to our North Carolina Travel Facebook Group.
Before you get in touch with us, though, here are some more Fayetteville travel guides to help you plan an adventure through the area!
