Plan Your Craft Beverage Getaway in Cabarrus County

Kick off the weekend with a cold one at Buzzed Viking Brewing Company in Concord. Toast the day with a locally crafted beer, mead, and cider or glass of wine from nearby Douglas Vineyards. Then, dig into the restaurant’s shareable pub fare: burgers, sandwiches, pizzas, wings and loaded nachos. Save room for the funnel cake fries, a sweet treat topped with strawberry compote and chocolate sauce.

Interested in finding more local wine? Also in Concord, Dover Vineyards is a farm-vineyard hybrid where you can pair a bottle purchase with homegrown goodies from its farm stand.

Concord has even more to offer craft beverage enthusiasts.

Home to two craft breweries and a food hall, Gibson Mill is a must-visit when it comes to savoring local eats and sips in Cabarrus. Don’t miss Cabarrus Brewing Company (go for the Long Baller Lager) and eats from their in-house kitchen. The hazy IPA is a favorite at High Branch Brewing Co., located on the lower level of Gibson Mill Market food hall where you can grab dinner or choose from a variety of mocktails at The Market Bar.

The former textile mill has been transformed into a community gathering hub with several entertainment options as well. Across the campus, visitors will find everything from a board game café and digital escape room to axe-throwing and an expansive antique mall featuring tons of vintage finds.

Spend the rest of the evening around the corner in historic downtown Concord where the new social district allows guests to sip and stroll. Here, dog-friendly Local Bottle Shop offers a wide variety to choose from and Kodiak Cocktail Bar & Music Lounge merges delicious craft cocktails with live events in a relaxed setting.

Craft beverages in Cabarrus extend to expertly crafted coffee as well.

For something locally roasted, kick off the day in Kannapolis with a cup of joe from Local Patriot Roasting Co. With coffee and a pastry in hand, take an hour or two to browse the local boutiques and gorgeous streetscapes of revitalized downtown.

In Concord, try Verb Coffee for a tasty breakfast and caffeine fix before setting out on an afternoon adventure in the eastern Cabarrus County. Be sure to grab a bag of coffee beans to take home.

Spend the afternoon on a wine-tasting excursion in Midland. Rocky River Vineyards welcomes guests to relax in its pastoral country setting where flights include sips of Merlot, Cabernet Sauvignon, Chardonnay and sweet Muscadine wines. While you’re in the area, check out Reed Gold Mine, site of America’s first gold discovery.

In Mount Pleasant, Southern Grace Distilleries — which just so happens to make its home in a former prison — distills small-batch whiskeys and moonshine, where every batch and every bottle is hand-labeled and numbered. Sign up for one of the distillery’s behind-the-scenes tours and spend some time relaxing in the newly refreshed tasting room or patio.

Follow up your beverage tour with a hearty meal in downtown Mount Pleasant.

At family-friendly ‘cue joint Mt. Pleasant Smokehouse, try tender brisket, 16-hour smoked pork, pulled chicken and more. Inside 73 & Main, diners will find a historic setting and on-site Old Well Brewery along with steaks, seafood, salads, burgers and more. This local restaurant even infuses spirits from Southern Grace into a few of their must-try dishes.

Indulge in a late-morning brunch at Concord’s Southern Strain Brewing Company. Housed in a former cotton mill, the brewery leans into Sunday Funday with a jazz brunch. This means live music from local talent plus yummy dishes like sweet potato hash and shrimp and grits all topped off with cherrymosas — prosecco blended with Southern Strain’s cherry lemon sour.

A few doors down from Southern Strain, the trio of Provided Coffee shop, Nothing New vintage store and locally grown flowers from Curiosity Farm can make any Sunday morning.

Find another delicious brunch option in Harrisburg where Vortex Bottle Shop is serving up open-faced biscuits, flatbreads and mimosa flights. After your visit here, make a stop at Percent Tap House which holds the honor of being the town’s first brewery. The single-barrel operation also offers wine, cider and cold-brew coffee in addition to beer.

Conclude a flavorful, fun-filled weekend with a trip to downtown Kannapolis.

Every Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 12 p.m., connecting Old Armor Beer Company and Tipsy Hare Ciderworks offer brunch complete with a build-your-own Bloody Mary bar and cider slushies. At this veteran-owned brewery, each beer reflects a military meaning or story and patrons can purchase a drink for members of the military and first responders with the Pay It Forward board.

Downtown’s West Avenue social district means you can grab a beverage to go and explore the area’s many local boutiques and specialty stores. Plus, rack up even more points at other Explore & Pour spots including Gaelic Alley Irish Pub.

Wrap up afternoon with a first-run movie at the affordable historic Gem Theatre, or bowling and arcade games at Kingpin Underground.