Fayetteville Brewery & Beer Trail

Fayetteville's craft beer scene has grown into a network of breweries and brewpubs stretching from downtown to Hope Mills and the Skibo Road corridor. This brewery and beer trail connects the major stops into a logical route so you can build a safe, enjoyable night out or a relaxed weekend itinerary.

Always drink responsibly. Use a designated driver, ride share, or taxi when tasting at multiple locations.

How the trail is organized

The Fayetteville beer trail works best if you divide it into zones:

• Downtown and Hay Street core
• Skibo Road and central Fayetteville
• Hope Mills and southern Cumberland County

You can focus on one zone per night or plan a full Saturday with an afternoon start and early finish.

For driving and parking tips, pair this guide with our transportation and parking article and the main visitor guide.

Downtown and Hay Street: Historic brewpubs and taprooms

Huske Hardware House

One of Fayetteville's original brewpubs, Huske Hardware House operates inside a restored early 1900s hardware building on Hay Street.

What to expect:

• House brewed beers ranging from light blondes to dark stouts
• A menu of pub classics and updated comfort food
• Brick walls, high ceilings, and a historic industrial feel

This is an ideal first stop before a downtown concert, theater performance, or a stroll through the Cool Spring Downtown District.

Gaston Brewing Company

Gaston Brewing brings a modern taproom energy to downtown with:

• Rotating small batch releases and core styles
• Classic pale ales, IPAs, wheat beers, and porters
• Pub food that pairs well with their beers

Many evenings feature trivia, live music, or sports on TV, making it a comfortable social hub for locals and visitors.

Bright Light Brewing

Bright Light sits just off the main downtown grid with:

• A spacious, often family friendly taproom
• Food trucks parked outside on many nights
• Picnic tables and an open atmosphere where kids and dogs are usually welcome

It is a great place to end the downtown portion of your trail, especially on nights when the weather allows for outdoor seating.

Skibo Road and central Fayetteville: Beer with serious food

The Mash House Brewing Company

On Skibo Road, The Mash House combines a fully fledged brewery with a serious kitchen.

Highlights:

• Broad lineup of beers including IPAs, wheat beers, stouts, and seasonal specialties
• In house butchery program supplying steaks, burgers, and charcuterie
• Large bar area and dining room suited to groups, date nights, and business dinners

Because it offers both high quality food and beer, Mash House makes an excellent anchor stop if you only have time for one brewery experience.

Other central taprooms

Additional taprooms and beer focused bars dot central Fayetteville and the Cliffdale corridor, often pairing local and regional craft taps with wings, burgers, and flatbreads. These are good options if you want to watch a game while sampling local beer without driving to multiple locations.

Hope Mills and southern Cumberland County: Dirtbag Ales campus

Dirtbag Ales Brewery & Taproom

Just south of the city limits, Dirtbag Ales has evolved into a full community campus.

On any given weekend you may find:

• A wide range of in house beers from light blondes and wheat beers to hop forward IPAs and fruited sours
• A permanent on site restaurant serving burgers, sandwiches, and shareable appetizers
• An expansive outdoor area with a playground, dog park, and open lawn
• The popular Sunday farmers market featuring local produce, crafts, and food trucks

Because of its space and family friendly atmosphere, Dirtbag is perfect for daytime visits, especially if you have kids or dogs.

Suggested single night routes

Downtown focused evening

1. Start with dinner and a house beer at Huske Hardware House on Hay Street
2. Walk to Gaston Brewing for a flight and people watching
3. Finish at Bright Light Brewing for one last pint and, if available, dessert from a visiting food truck

You can park once in a downtown deck and walk the entire loop.

Mash House plus a downtown stop

1. Have an early dinner at The Mash House Brewing Company on Skibo Road
2. Drive downtown and park
3. Choose either Huske Hardware House or Gaston Brewing for a nightcap before heading back to your hotel

Family friendly afternoon at Dirtbag

1. Arrive at Dirtbag Ales in the afternoon when the playground and dog park are least crowded
2. Order a tasting flight to explore several styles while kids play nearby
3. Grab an early dinner from the on site kitchen or food trucks

This route works well if you want the brewery experience without a late night.

Safety, transportation, and timing tips

• Plan your transportation before you start drinking; ride share availability can fluctuate, especially later at night or outside the core
• Eat food at each stop and drink water between beers
• Avoid trying to hit every brewery in one night; spread the trail across multiple outings
• Check each brewery's social media for current hours, special releases, and event schedules
• On festival weekends and during Woodpeckers home games, downtown taprooms will be busier, so arrive earlier for the best seating

Pairing the beer trail with other activities

The brewery and beer trail pairs naturally with:

• Baseball games at Segra Stadium, starting or ending your night at a downtown brewery
• Food truck rallies and farmers markets at Dirtbag Ales
• Fourth Friday art walks when galleries and shops stay open late downtown

If you are visiting from out of town, combine this trail with our restaurant, coffee, and international food guides to build a full food and drink focused weekend.

Fayetteville's breweries showcase the city at its most relaxed and social, bringing together soldiers, veterans, students, and longtime residents over thoughtfully brewed beer.