Dilworth Brewing Company

1992 menu

Currently occupied by Picasso's -this shot taken shortly after the Brewery left (note the Brewery's yellow awnings)

Charlotte's first Brew Pub opened on March 1, 1989 in the Dilworth neighborhood on the corner of East Blvd and Kenilworth Avenue. It occupied the building that had previously been the home of the Kenilworth Cafe (which had closed in 1986). Several other brew pubs would open across the Charlotte shortly after (mirroring the national trend), but none would prove to be as popular as the Dilworth Brewing Company. Their popularity would eventually take them downtown where, in February 1993, Jonathan's Jazz Cellar began serving the Dilworth's brews from their taps as well.

The Dilworth Brewing Company would run for almost 10 years, closing in the Summer of 1998 due to a lack of space and parking. A new location was planned but never materialized. In the meantime, the brew pub trend had peaked in Charlotte, and the remaining pubs slowly began to close.

This review from 1996 provides a good overview of the pub-

Sitting in a quiet Charlotte neighborhood south of downtown lies Dilworth Brewing. The stainless steel 7 bbl J.V. Northwest brewhouse is visible from the street as well as the dining and bar areas. Fans hang from the high ceiling and the wall behind the small J-shaped bar sports the glasses of the mug club. Four TVs without sound and a CD sound system help create a comfortable ambiance for diners and drinkers seated at the two dozen wooden tables and chairs. The one medium-sized room is well-lit and the walls feature beer memorabilia and a large mural depicting beer and women in an idyllic setting. German beer coasters and 5 liter beer cans also adorn the walls. The menu offered traditional pub fare consisting of Soups, Salads, Appetizers, Sandwiches, Pasta, Chicken, and Desserts.

The Albemarle Ale was a gold color with a medium body, even balance and a clean light malty and hoppy flavor, and finished cleanly. The Reed's Golden Pilsner was a light gold color, with a distracting DMS aroma, unfortunately the light body and accompanying light hop flavor were negatively affected by the DMS off-flavor. The Latta Light was a very clear gold color with a light body and mild hoppy, slightly sweet malty flavor and light hoppy finish. The Joe's Porter had a dark malty aroma with a creamy mouthfeel, even balance, slightly sweet malty flavor and clean finish. The Brewmasters Special was the East Blvd. ESB. It offered a hoppy aroma, dark amber color, medium body, malty sweet flavor with moderate hop presence and a clean hoppy finish.

Wednesdays through Saturdays you'll find live entertainment but you'll find attractive prices all of the time. Remember, no Sunday sales in North Carolina before noon. Externally bottled Albemarle Ale six-packs are $6.75, 10 ounce glasses $1.50, pints $2.75, 2 ounce samples 75¢, 1 gallon cubes $12.50, 5 gallon jugs $40, and half-barrel kegs $93. Dilworth Brewing seems like a great neighborhood bar in spite of its distant parking lot. All neighborhoods would benefit from their own brewpub such as this.