Middle James Brewing | Our Story
Great beer, better people
Middle James started with a friendship, a love of craft beer, and a vision for something the Charlotte area didn't yet have — a neighborhood brewery built around great beer, real food, and sports.
How two brewers became partners
Mike Smoak won a homebrew competition and got to brew at one of Charlotte's biggest breweries — where head brewer Andrew Viapiano was waiting. They hit it off, and the rest is history.
Three years before the first pour
From that first conversation to opening day in August 2019, Mike and Andrew spent more than three years planning, building, and getting it right. The Pineville space they chose was an old gold shop — now a brewery, top to bottom.
Waxhaw and a national win
Growing the brand meant bringing it to Waxhaw — a family-friendly taproom on historic Main Street covered by the Charlotte Observer, with over a dozen beers on tap. Along the way, their IPA "Hops on One Leg" earned a national award.
The culture we built
Flags from around the world hang from the ceiling, every screen has a game on, and the crowd is always into it. Great beer, better people — it's how this place was designed to feel.