Lonerider at Wake Forest

Lonerider at Wake Forest — officially the Lonerider Brewing Company Hideout and Distillery — is the Wake Forest satellite of the well-established Raleigh-based Lonerider Brewing Company and one of the most genuinely distinctive craft beverage venues in town. Opened in 2019, the Hideout combines a Western outlaw-themed craft brewery with an integrated distillery pouring Lonerider Spirits’ signature whiskeys and craft cocktails — a genuinely rare brewery-and-distillery combination in the Triangle craft beer scene.

Signature beers include the crisp Shotgun Betty Hefeweizen and the bold Peacemaker IPA — both named to fit the brewery’s outlaw theme — as well as the Ranch Water seltzer for lighter-drinking visitors. The Hideout also functions as a genuine family-and-pet-friendly community venue, with frequent food trucks, live music, and rotating pet-friendly events, including adoption gatherings with TriBeagles.

Be sure to check out the pictures below to get a feel for Lonerider at Wake Forest before you go — or to relive the visit after.

The Hideout — A Saloon-Style Brewery and Distillery Concept

The “Hideout” branding genuinely shapes the visitor experience. Lonerider’s Wake Forest location leans into a saloon-style aesthetic — dark wood, warm lighting, and Western-themed touches throughout the interior — that reflects the parent brewery’s outlaw brand identity. Unlike most Triangle craft breweries, which tend toward polished-industrial aesthetics, Lonerider Wake Forest commits to its Western concept in a way that gives the venue a genuinely distinctive character.

That Western identity extends beyond the physical space. The parent Lonerider Brewing Company built its brand around outlaw and cowboy themes from its founding in Raleigh, with beer names, artwork, and marketing all reinforcing the outlaw-brewery concept. The Wake Forest Hideout is the fullest expression of that theme, complete with the “Hideout” moniker that positions the venue as an outlaw’s getaway spot in the Triangle craft beer scene.

Lonerider Spirits — The Integrated Distillery Component

The distillery component genuinely distinguishes Lonerider Wake Forest from every other brewery in the town. Lonerider Spirits — the parent company’s distillery arm — produces small-batch whiskeys and other craft spirits on-site, giving visitors access to both the craft beer and spirits programs at a single venue. That kind of integrated brewery-and-distillery operation is rare across the NC craft beer scene and genuinely unique within the Wake Forest brewery cluster.

The distillery pours signature whiskeys and craft cocktails alongside the beer program — extending the beverage lineup for groups who want spirits options and giving craft beer enthusiasts a chance to explore small-batch spirits from the same operation. Distillery tours are also available, offering visitors an educational look at the on-site spirit-making process alongside the more familiar craft-brewery experience.

A Family and Pet-Friendly Community Venue

The Hideout’s role as a genuine community gathering spot shapes much of its day-to-day identity. The large outdoor patio — combined with lawn games and a wide open field where kids can play while parents enjoy a pint or Ranch Water seltzer — makes the venue a natural weekend destination for families with children. That intentional family-friendly design is genuinely unusual in a craft beer scene where “family-friendly” often means “we tolerate children.”

The community programming rounds out the appeal. Frequent food trucks keep food readily available without the venue needing to maintain an in-house kitchen; live music anchors the evening programming; and rotating pet-friendly events — including adoption gatherings with local rescue TriBeagles — reinforce the venue’s community-focused character. Private events (birthday parties, corporate gatherings, receptions) round out the venue’s role as a genuine Wake Forest gathering space beyond craft beer visits alone.

Good to Know

Location: Heart of Wake Forest, NC
Official name: Lonerider Brewing Company Hideout and Distillery
Opened: 2019 (as satellite of Raleigh-based Lonerider Brewing Company)
Concept: Western outlaw-themed craft brewery + integrated distillery pouring Lonerider Spirits’ whiskeys and cocktails
Signature beers: Shotgun Betty Hefeweizen (crisp); Peacemaker IPA (bold); Ranch Water seltzer (light-drinking option)
Distillery: Lonerider Spirits — small-batch whiskeys and craft cocktails produced on-site; distillery tours available
Amenities: Saloon-style indoor taproom; large outdoor patio; lawn games; wide open field where kids can play
Programming: Frequent food trucks; live music; pet-friendly events, including TriBeagles adoption gatherings; private event hosting available
Family-friendly: Yes — intentionally designed for parents with children
Pet-friendly: Yes — with active pet-rescue partnerships
Hours: Check the Lonerider at Wake Forest website for current hours
Best for: Craft beer enthusiasts (especially IPA and hefeweizen fans), craft spirits enthusiasts, families with children (thanks to the open field), pet owners (thanks to TriBeagles events), and Wake Forest regulars looking for a genuinely distinctive Western-themed venue
Pair with: A broader Wake Forest food and beverage day exploring the town’s concentrated craft brewery scene, plus outdoor recreation at E. Carroll Joyner Park with its wonderful Great Depression-era pecan grove, or the sprawling Falls Lake State Recreation Area just north of town

A Wake Forest Highlight

Lonerider at Wake Forest is the kind of stop that stays with you for the sheer distinctiveness of the concept. The combined brewery-and-distillery operation is genuinely rare in NC craft beer, and Lonerider’s decision to lean fully into the Western outlaw theme — from the “Hideout” branding to the Shotgun Betty and Peacemaker beer naming to the saloon aesthetic — makes the Wake Forest location one of the most immediately recognizable craft beer venues anywhere in the town.

The community programming rounds out the appeal. Between the family-friendly open field, the TriBeagles pet adoption events, the frequent food trucks, and the integrated distillery tours, Lonerider Wake Forest has become one of the most consistently rewarding stops on the town’s concentrated craft brewery cluster — and a genuine weekend destination for families, pet owners, and craft beer enthusiasts alike.