Flat Top Brewing Company

The beer was good. The bartender appeared to be the owner but was not very friendly. We sometimes like to chat with the brewers and learn a little about their beer.

There are just so many craft brewery spots nowadays (especially in the NC mountains) that you have to be something pretty special to stand out. Flat Top is, sadly, nothing special. Their beer is on the good end of drinkable but there’s no real wow factor here. They had 8 beers on draft when we were here in early September but 2 were «not pouring.» Of the options, the Charlie’s Brown was probably my favorite.

Let me just start out saying that I’m a beer snob. Hailing from Colorado will make you that way. However, my husband and I are certainly not opposed to trying new brews and this place is very promising! We hit it up last year after a nice long hike over by Grandfather Mountain. While the outdoor atmosphere leaves something to be desired (it could have used a nice, private beer garden area) the indoor décor seems like it would be perfect for the winter months. But enough about the décor, on to the beer! I was impressed with both the IPA and the pale. They had a clarity of palate that is honestly rare in NC beers. Maybe they do something to treat the water but the flavor and the crispness were a refreshing and unexpected treat. I’m only sad I’ve been once!

Flat Top Brewing is located right off the main drag in Banner Elk just outside of the main downtown area. I really liked the seating arrangements and the fireplace in the taproom; it has a nice, cozy feel, especially when it gets cold and snowy up here.
During my visit there were 8 beers on tap. Flights here come in four. Pick the corresponding numbers to your beers and your samples will have a poker chip with that number under them for identification. I like that system, less time and work for everyone.
The Profile Pale was the most drinkable of the ones I ordered, followed by the Charlie’s Brown Ale, the darkest brown I’ve seen in quite a while. The two I thought I would love, Wilson’s Creek Spring IPA and Rye’d Along Black Rye IPA were nothing to write home about. I tried similar style Spring and Black IPAs at Rivermen in Belmont two weeks ago and they were way, way better.
While there, there was a small but steady flow of customers in and out of the brewery. I’m sure locals are proud to have this addition to Banner Elk. Many seemed to be ordering the darker beers, like their Porters and Stout. If I get back up here, I’ll give the dark ones a shot!

Good beers, local place. Been here a few time while visiting from VA, and always had a good time. Folks are always friendly, staff and patrons. Black rye IPA, simple as that. Get it, growler it, then go back again.

Classy interior, friendly staff, and most importantly, great beer.
After a day of hiking in Grandfather Mountain National Park last weekend, my wife and I were delighted to find this establishment in Banner Elk.
The bartender proved very knowledgeable about the beer and guided us to two excellent choices. I had the black IPA which poured a little thick and stout-​like. It was surprisingly refreshing and on the bitter side (which I enjoy). My wife had the American IPA which was lighter though still intensely hoppy. We are a bit snobbish about our beer and I can say with confidence that these guys know what they’re doing.
We sat outside which wasn’t as impressive as the inside with its leather couches and ski-​lodge design, but we were happy to be able to relax and sit at a table, enjoy our beers and munch on some complimentary pretzels. I would have loved to try a second beer, but we had dinner reservations that kept us from doing so.
For now, there’s nothing too adventurous on draft (there’s an amber and a pale in addition to the IPAs) but they had listed some more interesting offerings that are currently brewing and there are several empty spots for additional taps. We found out that they’ve only been open since July and it seems they’re already doing just about everything right. Here’s hoping one more great brewery thrives in NC! We can’t have too many.