Raleigh Brewing Company

Raleigh Brewing Company is one of the most historically significant craft breweries anywhere in Raleigh, NC — established in 2013 by homebrewer Kristie Nystedt as North Carolina’s first female-owned brewery. That founding distinction alone would make Raleigh Brewing a genuine landmark in NC craft beer history, but the brewery has also built out a serious production operation — a 20-barrel brewhouse supplying 32 different taps in the taproom — that keeps it consistently relevant more than a decade after opening.

The beer program spans a broad range of styles, from crisp classic Pilsners to bold hop-forward creations like the signature House of Clay IPA, plus rotating seasonal and experimental brews from the brewery’s research side. Since the initial opening, Raleigh Brewing has also expanded with a second location in Johnston County — extending the brewery’s reach beyond the Triangle.

Be sure to check out the pictures below to get a feel for Raleigh Brewing Company before you go — or to relive the visit after.

North Carolina’s First Female-Owned Brewery

The Raleigh Brewing Company origin story is genuinely singular in NC craft beer history. Kristie Nystedt — a passionate homebrewer — opened the brewery in 2013, becoming the first woman to own a brewery in North Carolina. That milestone gave Nystedt and Raleigh Brewing a founding position in the state’s craft beer heritage that few other breweries can match, and Nystedt’s ongoing leadership has kept the brewery independent and mission-focused through more than a decade of growth.

The commitment to genuine craft brewing shows in the operation. The 20-barrel brewhouse provides serious production capacity, and the 32-tap taproom delivers one of the broadest craft beer selections available at any single Triangle venue. Whether visitors come for the core House of Clay IPA lineup or the rotating seasonal experimental releases, the tap list rewards return visits.

The Beer Program and Johnston County Expansion

Raleigh Brewing’s beer program covers a broad range of styles designed to appeal to newcomer craft beer explorers and dedicated aficionados alike. Alongside the House of Clay IPA — the brewery’s signature bold hop-forward beer — the taproom pours crisp lagers and pilsners, Belgian-inspired ales, robust stouts, and rotating seasonal specialties.

The brewery has also expanded with a second location in Johnston County, extending Raleigh Brewing’s craft beer presence beyond the Triangle. That expansion reflects the brewery’s broader growth over the past decade — from a first-of-its-kind female-owned startup in 2013 to one of the most established craft breweries in eastern NC today.

Good to Know

Location: Raleigh, NC (plus a second location in Johnston County)
Founded: 2013 by homebrewer Kristie Nystedt
Historic distinction: North Carolina’s first female-owned brewery
Brewhouse: 20-barrel production system
Taproom: 32 different taps of craft beer, including core beers, seasonal, and experimental releases
Signature beer: House of Clay IPA — bold hop-forward flagship
Beer program: Broad range spanning crisp Pilsners and lagers, Belgian-inspired ales, IPAs, stouts, and rotating seasonal specialties
Second location: Johnston County — extending the brewery’s reach beyond the Triangle
Hours: Check the Raleigh Brewing Company website for current hours by location
Best for: Craft beer enthusiasts (especially IPA fans), NC craft beer history buffs, and visitors curious about the state’s female-founded brewing tradition
Pair with: Other Raleigh food and beverage stops like Brewery Bhavana (Belgian-inspired brewing + dim sum), Burial Beer Co. Raleigh Taproom (art gallery meets craft beer), Crank Arm Brewing Company, East Bower Cider Company, or R&D Brewing – Seven Saturdays Taproom, plus downtown Raleigh museum stops at the North Carolina State Capitol, the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences, or the North Carolina Museum of Art

A Raleigh Highlight

Raleigh Brewing Company is the kind of stop that stays with you for the sheer significance of the founding story. Kristie Nystedt’s 2013 opening as North Carolina’s first female-owned brewery put Raleigh Brewing at a founding milestone in NC craft beer history that no other brewery can match — and Nystedt’s ongoing leadership has kept the brewery independent, mission-driven, and steadily growing more than a decade later.

The beer program rounds out the appeal. Between the 32 taps rotating through crisp Pilsners, hop-forward IPAs like the signature House of Clay, and experimental seasonal releases from the 20-barrel brewhouse, Raleigh Brewing offers one of the most consistently rewarding craft beer taprooms in the city. Add the recent Johnston County expansion, and Raleigh Brewing has clearly earned its status as one of NC craft beer’s most established and forward-looking operations.