Drive a little below the Oak City of Raleigh, North Carolina, and you’ll find one of the state’s best-known craft breweries, Aviator Brewing Company in Fuquay-Varina. The acclaimed operation which now proudly encompasses a major segment of Broad Street in the historic downtown area is a favorite dining and beer travel destination in the southern tip of Wake County. But beware, while the cool craft brew is enticing, Aviator Brewing is so much more than beer.
Aviator's Beer Story
Aviator Brewing transformed from a one-man operation begun in 2008 in an old airplane hangar brewing into two used dairy tanks to a thriving regional craft brewery with multiple locations and countless distributors.
Theirs is a brew tale start-up story that’s characteristic of many a local brewery. They started small but took off quickly.
Today, Aviator Brewing Co. is a fixture in the heart of historic downtown Fuquay-Varina bringing an array of dining and beverage options to this charming southern town while producing top-quality beer to meet growing demand.
Tour The Brewery
A trip to Aviator Brewing is an agreeable agenda item and no visit would be complete without touring the brewery. The folks at Aviator are happy to show visitors how they craft their beer and serve up samples as they educate.
Located a short hop down the road from their restaurants, the brewery provides an up-close view of the brewing process. No reservations are needed and the tour is a deal at just $5 per person 21-years and over. Free for under 21. Each tour lasts about 30-minutes and when the tour’s done, visitors can stay and sip in the taproom or unwind on the patio with a cold one. There’s also merchandise and cornhole available at the brewery.
- tours may not be available due to COVID-19 restrictions so call ahead.
Not only is there plenty of indoor seating at Aviator Brewing Pizzaria & Beer Shop, but there's also outdoor seating and a Roof Top Bar.
Cornering the Market
Aviator Brewing is a notable addition to the landscape in Fuquay-Varina. The old train station is home to Aviator Tap House and Gastro Pub. Across the street is the Pizzaria & Beer Shop. The old Varina Hotel at the corner of Broad and Stewart is where you’ll find Aviator Smoke House serving up some mean BBQ paired with craft beer.
Hence, not only is there good beer to be had but there’s also cuisine to appeal to every taste. Moreover, with multiple locations on Broad Street in the historic district, Aviator Brewing Company has literally and figuratively cornered the craft beer market in Fuquay-Varina.
Dining at Aviator Brewing Co.
For our visit, we opt for outdoor dining at the Tap House. As their website states, this is a “true beer drinker’s heaven.”
Housed in the old Varina train depot dating back to 1903, the Tap House features indoor and outdoor dining. The specialty here is gastropub fare and perfectly chilled beer on tap from their state-of-the-art micromatic draft beer system. Be sure to ask your waitperson how they cool the beer, it’s mind-blowing!
Rather than choosing a single beer, I elect to sample a flight. Catchy names like Shark Fight, Aviator Lager, and Giga Blaster befit the beverage and are a great pairing with the cheeseburger and fries I order. The meal, the beer, and the upbeat atmosphere at the old train depot make for a delightful dinner.
Post-meal, we stroll the historic downtown area and naturally, pay a visit to the bottleshop where Aviator Brewing Co. beer can be purchased to take away.
See You There
Aviator Brewing Company’s setting in downtown Fuquay-Varina paired with its great family atmosphere, educational brewery tours, and delicious food makes it a cheerful destination punctuated by merriment.
Raleigh is becoming the capital of the Beer State of the South – North Carolina. The Triangle area alone (Raleigh, Durham & Chapel Hill) now boasts in excess of 40 micro and craft breweries. Aviator Brewing Company is a cornerstone of that craft beer community.
Likewise, Aviator is moving forward and has its sights set on expanding with big plans for future brewing and dining enterprises. Aviator Brewing Company is ready for take-off!
If you like this, share it with your friends! Happy Travels!
Hey, Pinners! Pin This For Later!
► Plan Your Trip to Fuquay-Varina Now!
It makes it simple to plan your trip. We’ve pre-filled the destination from the article and if there are multiple places mentioned in the article, we’ve put the one that is best used as your base to see all of the places mentioned.
Just select I’M STAYING and enter the travel dates and hit SEARCH. It automatically uses the first place in the article.
For a multi-day trip, if you stay near that location, you should be able to use it as your base.
Super simple. Just click on the pencil and enter the name of any place mentioned in the story. Or you can enter any address or even the name of a company if you are mixing business and pleasure.
Just click I’M DRIVING and you can see how long it will take, get driving directions and even rent a car if you need one.
Yes, we guarantee the best published rates on hotels. Click on the link for BEST RATE 110% GUARANTEE for details.
Hey pinners, save this for pinning after your trip
More stories you'll love reading!
Myrtle Beach SkyWheel: Your Front-Row Seat to the Best Sunset Views
An iconic landmark on the Grand Strand of South Carolina’s famous Myrtle Beach, the SkyWheel offers a birds eye view of the beach, the ocean, and the surrounding areas. Travel along with PullOverandLetMeOut to find out why sunset is the ideal time to experience the Myrtle Beach SkyWheel.
Hooves & History: Discovering the Wonders of Kentucky Horse Park
Since 1978, Kentucky Horse Park has been welcoming visitors to experience a one-of-a-kind equine theme park, where they can delve into the rich history of horses or even saddle up to better understand why Kentucky is known as the Horse Capital of the World. Join PullOverandLetMeOut on a journey to discover the wonders of Kentucky Horse Park.
Carter Mountain Orchard: Savoring the Seasons in Charlottesville, Virginia
PullOverandLetMeOut takes you to the heart of historic Charlottesville, Virginia, to the top of Carter Mountain to discover a unique orchard positioned up high overlooking the valley below, and next door to Thomas Jefferson’s beloved Monticello. Travel along to Carter Mountain Orchard and savor the seasons in Charlottesville, Virginia.
