08/21/2026
Happy Friday, it's almost Beer 'O Clock!
Thanks to everyone taking the time to read my post, I really appreciate it.
We recently had the pleasure of visiting Charlotte, NC, the beer mecca of North Carolina. There are currently 74 craft breweries in Charlotte—just amazing. Seems like everywhere you turn, you run into one. We would have loved to visit all 74, which I'm sure will happen over time, but our destination for this short visit was The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery & Biergarten (OMB for short).
Located on Yancey Road in an area I call Brewery Row, you could spend all day visiting craft breweries nearby. However, we chose OMB for one main reason: OMB happens to be a true German craft brewery and Biergarten! Once inside OMB's taproom, you genuinely get the feel of a European brewery atmosphere—tastefully done with amazing craftsmanship, warm and comfortable. The bar area is enormous, as is the whole space, which seems to go on forever.
We grabbed seats at the bar, were immediately greeted by the bartender, and were presented with both a beer and food menu. We immediately ordered up an OMB German Pilsner and an OMB Vienna Lager.
OMB German Pilsner:
Featured a brilliant golden color with a rich white head that laced wonderfully right to the end. The aroma of biscuit malts and spicy noble hops came into play without being overpowering. The first sip created a beautiful balance of biscuit malt sweetness and spicy hop characteristics—very well balanced. The finish was crisp and clean with just enough spicy hop character left behind. OMB's German Pilsner is a well-crafted Pilsner with a moderate ABV, making it extremely drinkable on a sweltering summer afternoon in Charlotte.
OMB Vienna Lager:
Sported a wonderful, intriguing copper color with brilliant clarity. Aromas of caramel and toasted malt characters came through alongside a moderately low hop bitterness. The first sip created a wonderful mix of toasted and caramelized malts that danced across the palate, telling you, "Yeah, this definitely tastes like another." OMB's Vienna Lager is a bit more malt-forward than the Pilsner, but exceptionally well-crafted. It finished clean and crisp with a moderate ABV. If you're looking for a slightly darker style with more complex malt character without the heavy punch of a high ABV beer, OMB's Vienna Lager is your go-to for sure.
OMB has a full bar and kitchen; their food menu looks impressive, and I'm sure the dishes don't disappoint. The German-style beer menu has options for just about anyone's taste, and the Biergarten is amazingly huge with tons of space overlooking their enormous brewhouse.
Charlotte, NC is definitely worth the trip, especially if you're in search of great craft beer. Parking can sometimes be tough—just like in any big city—so make sure you get there fairly early to snag a spot. The rest of the area is totally walkable!
Until next time, support your local independent craft breweries and businesses—keep your hard-earned money local.
Prost!
The Beer Monk.
