Explore R&D Brewing – Seven Saturdays Taproom

R&D Brewing is one of the most award-winning craft breweries anywhere in Raleigh, NC — a research-and-development-focused operation founded in 2017 by a team of beer industry veterans with over 150 years of combined industry experience. The founders’ commitment to genuine brewing research and small-batch experimentation shaped R&D’s approach from day one: rather than launching with a full production system, the brewery started with a 3.5-barrel pilot brewing system dedicated to iterative recipe development.

That approach paid off quickly. R&D earned major recognition on the national craft beer stage across 2018 and 2019, and in February 2022, the brewery opened the Seven Saturdays Taproom near downtown Raleigh — combining a bright industrial space with 16 rotating taps and an expanding portfolio of community and athletics partnerships.

Be sure to check out the pictures below to get a feel for R&D Brewing – Seven Saturdays Taproom before you go — or to relive the visit after.

Multiple National Beer Awards in the Brewery’s Opening Years

R&D Brewing’s research-first approach paid off almost immediately with national recognition on the craft beer stage. At the 2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship, the brewery earned a Gold Medal for its Bock and a Bronze Medal for its Mexican Lager — a debut showing that established R&D on the national stage in the brewery’s first full year of operation.

The wins continued into 2019. R&D took home Silver Medals for both the Seven Saturdays IPA (which would later lend its name to the taproom) and the Riviera Lager, plus a Bronze for the Remix Fruit IPA. That two-year stretch of major national recognition validated the R&D-first strategy — and set the stage for the brewery’s expansion into a public-facing taproom experience.

The Seven Saturdays Taproom Opened in February 2022

R&D Brewing opened the Seven Saturdays Taproom in February 2022 near downtown Raleigh — providing the brewery its first dedicated public-facing home. The bright, industrial space features 16 taps rotating through both core beers and small-batch releases straight from the brewery’s ongoing R&D program.

The taproom is designed with community engagement in mind, hosting rotating events and providing a natural gathering spot for craft beer enthusiasts curious about R&D’s award-winning lineup and experimental releases. Whether visitors come for the core beers or the rotating pilot-batch offerings, the 16-tap lineup rewards return visits.

Community and NC Athletics Partnerships

One of R&D Brewing’s most distinctive edges is its deep network of NC community and athletics partnerships — a wonderful example of how a brewery can integrate itself into the state’s broader civic and sports culture. R&D is the official beer sponsor of the Carolina Hurricanes (through its Storm Brew — a nod to the Hurricanes’ longstanding storm-themed branding), giving the brewery a genuine presence in Raleigh’s hockey-fan community alongside sister SA-covered Buffalo Brothers of Lake Boone (another Hurricanes partner venue).

Beyond the Hurricanes, R&D also brews official beer partnerships for Wake Forest University (Deacon Brew), Appalachian State University (Mountain Brew), and East Carolina University (Pirates Brew) — with each beer named to reflect the respective school’s identity. R&D has also co-branded its Riviera Lager to support NC State Athletics and its scholarship programs, extending the brewery’s community-support model into the university fundraising space.

Good to Know

Location: Seven Saturdays Taproom, near downtown Raleigh, NC
Founded: 2017 (brewery); February 2022 (Seven Saturdays Taproom opened)
Founding team: Beer industry veterans with over 150 years of combined industry experience
Brewing approach: Started with a 3.5-barrel pilot brewing system focused on research and development; continues to release core beers alongside small-batch experimental brews
Taproom: 16 taps rotating through core beers and small-batch releases; bright, industrial-focused space designed for community engagement
Awards:
2018 U.S. Open Beer Championship — Gold Medal (Bock), Bronze Medal (Mexican Lager)
2019 — Silver Medals (Seven Saturdays IPA, Riviera Lager), Bronze Medal (Remix Fruit IPA)
Signature beers: Bock, Mexican Lager, Seven Saturdays IPA (taproom namesake), Riviera Lager, Remix Fruit IPA
NC community partnerships:
Storm Brew — official beer of the Carolina Hurricanes (NHL)
Deacon Brew — Wake Forest University
Mountain Brew — Appalachian State University
Pirates Brew — East Carolina University
Riviera Lager — co-branded to support NC State Athletics scholarship programs
Hours: Check the R&D Brewing website for current taproom hours
Best for: Craft beer enthusiasts (especially fans of award-winning brews), NC university and college sports fans, Carolina Hurricanes fans, and visitors looking for a genuinely research-driven brewery experience
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 Buffalo Brothers of Lake Boone (fellow Carolina Hurricanes partner), plus downtown Raleigh museum stops at the North Carolina State Capitol or the North Carolina Museum of Natural Sciences

A Raleigh Highlight

R&D Brewing – Seven Saturdays Taproom is the kind of stop that stays with you for its sheer craft-credential density. With 150+ years of combined industry experience across the founders, multiple major national beer awards across 2018 and 2019, and a research-first approach that has kept the brewery iterating rather than resting on early wins, R&D delivers a genuinely serious craft beer experience even in a Raleigh market dominated by established breweries.

The community and athletics partnerships round out the appeal. Between the Carolina Hurricanes’ Storm Brew, the Wake Forest / App State / ECU / NC State university connections, and the ongoing 16-tap rotation of core and small-batch beers, R&D Brewing has integrated itself into NC’s broader sports and community fabric in a way few other Triangle breweries have. It’s the kind of place where craft beer enthusiasts settle in for hours to work through the taproom’s rotating list — and where Hurricanes and college sports fans build game-day traditions around Storm Brew and the university-branded beers.