Long-awaited Gilde Brewery opens this week in Charlotte. What to order on your first visit
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.
The food: Executive chef Dominik Kuehne has relocated from Germany to Charlotte with a menu of authentic foods to pair with the beer, and a few new creations. Offerings include:
● Obazda & Brezel, a German cheese cream made with Gilde Hefeweizen beer and served with a warm salted pretzel
● Weisswurst, herb poached Bavarian white sausage served with a warm salted pretzel
● Schnitzel, breaded veal cutlet with Lignonberry, Potato Salad and Lemon
● Mecklenburg Pork with Dark Beer Prune Sauce, Seared Brussels Sprouts, Mushrooms and Brown Butter Potatoes.
Gilde Brewery
Location: 3530 Dewitt Lane, Charlotte, NC 28217
Neighborhood: Lower South End
Hours: 3-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday; and 3:10 p.m. Sunday and Tuesday-Thursday.
This story was originally published February 22, 2022 at 1:48 PM with the headline "Long-awaited Gilde Brewery opens this week in Charlotte. What to order on your first visit."
