Somehow, Charlotte Brewing Company continues to be one of the city’s best-kept secrets. That’s about to change.
Better known as Eaton Pub & Grille, Charlotte Brewing Company recently opened an outdoor patio or “beer garden,” providing an additional 40 seats to the already popular Charlotte restaurant. The stamped concrete patio is the first phase in a plan that will bring open-air dining to Cochran Avenue.
The plan is to provide live music on warm evenings, and eventually overflow seating for popular DJ Trivia nights, which are held every Monday and Wednesday night at Charlotte Brewing Company.
“I’m really trying to make this a destination location in this community,” said Terry Davis, owner of Charlotte Brewing Company. “The patio is always full, so it’s definitely popular.”
Davis said the popularity will really take off once the second phase of the patio project is complete in 2019.
The Davis family, which owns Eaton Place and Eaton Pub and Grille purchased the former Paul’s Gun Shop more than a year ago. Working with Mark Hughes, owner of Jerry’s Barber Shop, the barber shop was moved to the former gun shop location, making room for the Brewing Company’s expansion. Once fully constructed, the former barber shop location will feature glass garage-style doors that will be able to open to Cochran Avenue on the east end, and the patio on the west end.
“I’m really chomping at the bit to get to the next phase,” Davis said. “To be able to see through from main street will definitely show the community that something’s going on here. It will bring more attention to the fact that we are a brewery.”
Charlotte Brewing Company currently has 15 of its own brews on tap, and its own root beer. Davis said the available brews fluctuate between 14 and 17 flavors. Forefathers IPA, a New England style pale ale is currently a hit with local beer enthusiasts. Davis said Hunters Moon (Oktoberfest) and Jack Wagon (pumpkin ale) will be on tap some time in September.
Davis said the patio expansion will afford extra room to increase brewing capacity, which will help keep up with demand. The basement that runs under the new patio will be filled with brewing equipment, as will the old patio that was originally built when Eaton Pub & Grille was first opened.
Davis said the transition from Eaton Pub & Grille to Charlotte Brewing Company will continue to intensify as the patio project nears completion in 2019.
