Visiting NC for the holidays...

If you're in the Chapel Hill area, hit up Beer Study. Usually an awesome tap and bottle selection.

 

If in the Raleigh/Durham/chapel thrill area,hit SAMs quik shop in Durham. Best bottle selection around. When you're in Charlotte, hit NoDa brewing. Great place. Enjoy!

 

Don't miss Bestway in Greensboro and Sam's in Durham. Both in your described route.

 

Are you coming into Charlotte proper? I could give you a lot of suggestions if that were the case.

If you're staying in the Belmont/Gastonia area, check out The String Bean and Grape and Barley.

 

Which holiday? If you come in December you may find some OHB "big beers" still around and Mother Earth's Silent Night. Both good choices for the cold months...

I concur to all of those shop recommendations above.

 

If your in the Raleigh area, I've heard the Yard House is a must to visit. Have well over 100 taps and great food. I'm soon to Check it out

 

Roll into Charlotte proper. If you want to hit breweries, NoDa and Birdsong are next to each other in one area (Heist is nearby, but I'd avoid it), and Triple C, Unknown Brewing and Olde Meckenburg are near each other in another area. Duckworths is a great place for beer and food. Bottle shops include Brawley's, Good Bottle (near Triple C), Salud (near Noda). These are all within a ~5-mile radius of Uptown (a/k/a Charlotte city center).

 

NoDa HDR, you might hit Event Horizon and Children of The Corn releases if your lucky. Durham, Sams.

 

A lot of good advise so far, it will depend on how much time you have...and how may drivers....lol

From Gastonia..N on 85...Brixx Pizza on 85: http://brixxpizza.com/locations/gastonia

After Brixx staying with the highway...go to exit 45A, Taco Mac, Total Wine, and Flying Saucer are all at this exit or just above....unless you decide to take 77S to Brawleys and Duckworths Park Rd.

 

If you stop at Beer Study, grab NoDa cans (theyre a dollar cheaper than at the brewery). Also, dont miss Steel String in Carrboro. They have been destroying things lately. Rubber Room (Hoppy rye session) is hitting the mark, as did No Quarter (Breakfast Stout). Crying Holy was fantastic (DIPA).

Dont miss Sams Quik Shop in Durham, Bottle Revolution and Tasty Beverage Co. in Raleigh, and the plethora of Charlotte breweries.

 

If you can make it to Busy Bee/Trophy Brewing let me know....we always have bottles stashed away and we'll be happy to trade/hook you up. Nothing specific necessary but if you wanna plan anything just send me a BM.