Beer is big business in North Carolina. According to Business North Carolina, the Tar Heel State has the tenth most craft breweries in the United States, based on 2021 data. With 364 craft breweries, North Carolina is only one behind Ohio. California has the most, by far, with 931.

Asheville has long been thought of as the beer capital of North Carolina, but that may not be entirely accurate. When ranking the state’s craft breweries by self-reported barrels of beer produced in 2021, Charlotte has more in the top ten than any other city. You can see the list below.

North Carolina’s 10 Largest Craft Breweries (2021)

• 10. Lonerider Beer - Raleigh (13,750 barrels)

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  A post shared by Lonerider Brewing Co. (@loneriderbeer)

• 9. Aviator Brewing - Fuquay-Varina (14,500 barrels)

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  A post shared by Aviator Brewing Company (@aviatorbrewingco)

• 8. Noda Brewing (North End) - Charlotte (18,408 barrels)

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  A post shared by NoDa Brewing Company (@nodabrewing)

• 7. The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery - Charlotte (21,500 barrels)

  https://www.instagram.com/p/Cgw0t4vsy5w/

• 6. Hi-Wire Brewing - Charlotte (23,080 barrels)

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  A post shared by Hi-Wire Brewing Charlotte (@hiwirebrewing_clt)

• 5. Sycamore Brewing - Charlotte (27,767 barrels)

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  A post shared by Sycamore Brewing (@sycamorebrewing)

• 4. Red Oak Brewery - Whitsett (28,000 barrels)

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  A post shared by Red Oak Brewery (@redoakbrew)

• 3. Foothills Brewing - Winston-Salem (29,773 barrels)

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  A post shared by Foothills Brewing (@foothillsbrewing)

• 2. Made by the Water (Catawba, Oyster City, Palmetto, Faubourg) - Asheville (43,881 barrels)

  https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck_Ne9EJd4a/

• 1. Highland Brewing - Asheville (44,904 barrels)

  https://www.instagram.com/p/Ck8oIfqsDqH/

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