on a gray Sunday afternoon In February, I approached the corner of a bleak L-shaped brick building in an office park off Brawley School Road. It reminds you of the nearest intersections, Raceway Drive and Gasoline Alley, in case you don’t know where you are. Ah yes, Mooresville. Race City, USA.
So what is this tiny pirate-themed brewery with a taproom the size of a crow’s nest? It’s Jolly, a nanobrewery opened in 2017 by a military veteran named Tony Philippe. Roger Brewery. By then, Charlotte’s beer scene was well underway. But the Lake Norman region was lagging behind. Philip and some of his brewing compatriots solved that problem by setting up locations in and around Mooresville. A combination of NASCAR racing and a few hours on the lake. I’m thirsty—until Race City boasted an actual Ale Trail.
It’s a collection of locally owned craft breweries that, while not within walking distance of each other, are close enough for an easy visit with a designated driver. The town’s tourism bureau, Visit Mooresville, offers a variety of perks if you can prove you’ve visited all six locations.
King Canary Brewing Co.’s flagship, Stud Puffin. Look at him. He is wearing a small top hat.Photo credit: Herman Nicholson
West of I-77
King Canary Brewing Company.
562 Williamson Road
Florida residents Andrea and Matt Grabina opened the restaurant in 2018 in an old house on the cove. Matt passed away in 2019, but Andrea continued to work through her grief and COVID-19 with the help of her friends in the #CLTBeer community. It’s the key to this scene.
try: stud puffin, a dry-hopped pale ale, and King Canary’s flagship, the leader of the pack. (All of KCB’s beers have names derived from birds.)
Hoptown Brewing Company
107 Plantation Ridge Drive
This is Scott and Sandy Plemmons’ baby, born when she gave him a homebrewing kit while they were still dating. In 2018, Sandy started serving Scott’s Hootenanny beer at her yoga studio. (Yoga makes you thirsty, too.) They found investors and opened a taproom in a shopping center right next to Blaster’s Ice Cream.
try: on the ninesAn American lager designed with golfers in mind. The front end is golden and biscuit-flavored, and the rear end is floral.
Provided by: Mallory Brinkman
jolly roger brewery
236 Raceway Drive, St. 12
Philip was raised in Germany and specializes in flavorful, intensely aromatic beers. He basically brews them out of the closet. When you walk in, the office faucet, which doubles as the bartender’s booth, is on your left. A hallway lined with stools and beer shelves leads to the taproom and three small tables. However, Philip is looking for more space, so he wants to experience as cozy a space as possible.
try: IPA double IPA, a solid bestseller at 7.5% ABV. (Get it? IPA, eye patches, pirates…?)
Wobbly Butt Brewery
125 Molake Drive
The facility is attached to Victory Lanes, a bowling alley owned by Ben and Erica Kleins, a couple who have a great love for dachshunds. The brewery name is a tribute to one of them, Leroy. All the beer names are next to the dog. Every batch is booed before bottling (seriously).
try: Addy’s Alea flavorful Irish red ale named after the Kleinses’ dachshund, Addie Joe, who has sadly passed away.
Bundglars Brewing Company
239 Singleton Road, Steth F1 and F2
This is a relatively new company, founded in 2022 by Kendra Bare and Sean Raymond. It’s a nice space, clean and bright, with a flat screen and gas fireplace, but there were no patrons when I visited on a Sunday, perhaps due to its location at the back of yet another office park.
try: Bout Dame Time Amber Aleis strong against malt.
East of I-77
Ghostface Brewing and Beer Lab
215 and 225 S. Broad St.
Technically, these are two separate businesses, but they count as one here because they have the same owner and are adjacent to each other near downtown. The older location is a pizzeria that serves Ghostface beer on tap and is a family-friendly establishment that primarily caters to a lunch and happy hour crowd. After dark, we recommend visiting Beer Lab. After 9 p.m., he’s restricted to 9 p.m., and the extensive beer menu adds to the adults-only atmosphere.
try: sand life vibeA low alcohol (4.2%) golden ale. Both the name and the character might make Mooresville beer ideal, at least for summer by the lake. Light and refreshing, perfect for the beach or boat, with a hint of key lime. Beat the humid heat.
The editor is GREG LACOUR.
