Long-awaited Gilde Brewery opens this week in Charlotte. What to order on your first visit BY HEIDI FINLEY UPDATED FEBRUARY 22, 2022 3:19 PM

The long wait is over. Gilde Brewery will be opening in Charlotte’s Lower South End on Saturday, Feb. 26 at 3 p.m.

The brewery’s first U.S. location has been in the works since 2018, but the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain issues caused multiple delays. It will also serve as Gilde’s U.S. headquarters, overseeing the brewery’s distribution across the country.

“Our opening is as much anticipated for us as it is for the German beer lovers in Charlotte and across the U.S.,” Gilde CEO Karsten Uhlmann said.

What to expect: The 9,500-square-foot brewery and restaurant showcases German architectural details and design touches, and millwork, while focusing on the brewhouse’s Caspary copper kettles and stainless steel fermenting tanks.

“We’ve created an immersive experience for our guests to give them a true interpretation of German culture, cuisine, and, of course, beer,” Gilde President Mike Gaertner said. “We have been brewing beer since 1546, and we look forward to sharing our heritage and authenticity with Charlotte and the U.S.”

The space: There’s seating for 350 guests to spread out across the bier haus, outdoor bier garten, patio and semi-private event space. Local artisans Tenon & Tailored created custom millwork inside the brewery, while Carla Garrison-Mattos created murals and artwork around the building. Kerf & Burled provided outdoor tables, chairs and the bar.

The beer: German brewmaster Willi Wallstab and his team will serve Gilde’s six staple beers: Pilsener, Red Rooster, Radler, Urbock, Hefeweizen and Black Beer — all made according to the high standards of the German Purity Law. The team will also craft beers that will be unique to Gilde’s Charlotte location.

Gilde will sell cans of its core beers for off-site consumption, and customers can already find them in stores and markets around the Charlotte area.