Charlotte Craft Beer Week Coming March 18-28

Lager and ale fans in Charlotte, N.C., will tell you the region is going through a beer renaissance and the proof will be on display during the inaugural Charlotte Craft Beer Week from March 18-28 at events spread across the area.

Charlotte Craft Beer Week will feature tastings of rare and exotic brews, showcases for local and regional breweries, food and beer pairing events, and appearances by some major names in the brewing industry.

“The craft beer movement in the Carolinas really took off thanks to the Pop the Cap campaign which resulted in passage in 2005 of a bill in North Carolina to raise the maximum alcohol content in beer from 6 percent to 15 percent. In 2007, South Carolina went a bit further and raised its cap to 17.5 percent,” said Darrin Pikarsky, founder of the Charlotte Beer Club. “Since that time dozens of unique beers have become available in the Charlotte area and a terrific new wave of North Carolina craft brewers have brought some world class beers to market.”

Tickets for the events will be sold at each of the host locations and more information is available at the Charlotte Craft Beer Week website .

The complete event schedule is being updated daily, but the 11-day celebration of all things beer already includes:

March 18, 7-9 p.m.: Charlotte Craft Beer Week Tap the Keg Reception at Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery at 401 N. Tryon St., Charlotte.
March 19, 7-10 p.m.: Brewery Night at The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium at 9605 North Tryon St., Charlotte.
March 20, 3-6 p.m.: Beasts of the East Big Beer Tasting at The Liberty Gastro Pub at 1812 South Blvd., Charlotte.
March 21, 3-7 p.m.: North Carolina Brewers Guild Tasting at The Flying Saucer Draught Emporium.
March 24, 5-9 p.m.: German Fest at The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery, 215 Southside Dr., Charlotte.
March 25, 7-10 p.m.: Freak Fest at The Common Market, 1515 S. Tryon St., Charlotte.
March 27, 1-5 p.m.: Cask Beer Festival, Duckworths, 1600 E. Woodlawn Rd., Charlotte.
March 27, 6-10 p.m.: Stone Brewing Most Arrogant Bar in America Celebration, Tilted Kilt, 13230 Carowinds Blvd., Charlotte.
March 28, 2-5 p.m.: Charlotte Craft Beer Week Last Call, Common House, 1101 Central Ave., Charlotte.

Craft beer focused restaurants, bars and retailers interested in hosting or an event should contact Darrin Pikarsky at darrinpikarsky@gmail.com.