Looooooove the beer selection here, and they are awesome because they will let me sample several before making my selection (I'm picky about beer). Tuesdays are especially awesome when they have great beer specials. Food is good; chicken spinach and feta brat with grilled onions and peppers is delicious as is the quinoa salad! Will definitely be back; it's a favorite.
Review Source:The bartenders are all very friendly and easy on the eyes. Don't order a mixed drink...it WILL be watered down, no matter how much you tell them you want it strong.
Never in my life did I expect to play something called "Cornhole". It's just a sack of corn that you toss into a hole. Seems pretty boring, but after a few drinks in...it becomes fun cause you're trying to concentrate.
The beer hall itself is nicely laid out, spacious...lots of seating... They have sand where you can play volleyball. That's a first! And ping pong tables, giant jenga, giant chess and giant connect 4.
VBGB is fun and a great environment for enjoying a beer before a concert with friends at NC Music Factory. They have a great beer selection featuring lots of local and North Carolina breweries and the food is decent enough (could be better in my opinion). I really like the layout of ordering food at the window, they just add it to your tab and bring it out to you. Still hungry after your pretzel, just go order something else! The pretzel is delicious but the beer cheese needs a little work - tastes like some kind of velvetta/American/nacho hybrid - cheddar would be better! Worth getting though, I definitely go for the beer and atmosphere. Lots of seating inside and outside too.
Review Source:Cool and unique place! There are games for kids to keep them entertained, lots of outdoor seating and beach volleyball courts. Â A little something for everyone! Â The food is really quite good and reasonably priced. Â You order food from a walk-up counter, and then it is brought to your table. Â And our food arrived amazingly fast which was great since we had kids with us. Â It's a little rough around the edges (some of the picnic tables are sagging, games are getting worn out, etc.) but overall a fun place with great food. Â We ordered the caprese salad skewers, quinoa salad, burger, sausage sandwich, pretzel, pulled chicken sandwich, chips and corn salad, chicken bites, etc. Â Basically, we ordered the entire menu and it was delicious. Â They have limited selection on non-alcholic drinks (no iced tea, or lemonade, etc.) and they should serve some sort of plates with the food as it is usually shared among more than one person. Â Other than that, GREAT place!
Review Source:Great "German Style Beer House" adjacent to the Downtown Amphitheater and The Fillmore. First time there and I'm definitely a fan. Great crowd for this particular show but could vary depending upon what band is playing. Fairly good selection of beers on tap that include some great local brews from NoDA Brewing and Birdsong Brewery. You walk up to order food at 'window' to the right immediately after you walk in and get a number that you take back to where ever you feel like sitting. Cozy up to a stranger and make friends! Simple food menu that works really well with beer. They even have sand volleyball courts outside. Look forward to my next visit before & after a concert.
Review Source:After going to many a show at the NC Music Factory, I was embarrassed to say I had not tried VBGB. Â I have finally remedied that and am very glad of it! Â
To the right of the entrance is the counter where you can place your order for food. Â You order, take a number, and move along. Â There are all kinds of things on the menu: burgers, pretzels, salads, wings, fried things, brats, and so on. Â The prices are extremely reasonable. Â If you're going to a show and not trying to break the bank for the evening on food/beverages, this is definitely the place to go. Â
Once you have your food ordered up, you can either take a seat at one of the long picnic tables and wait or make the wise decision and head on over to the bar to get your beer on. Â All the local craft breweries have offerings, and there are other craft brews available from all over the place. Â You can order all different sizes, from a 12 ounce cup to a jumbo-sized mug to a pitcher. Â If it's busy, I recommend going the pitcher route so you don't have to keep going back and waiting in line. Â
Once you have your number for your food and your beer situation squared away, you can sit inside or outside. Â Plenty of places to park it. Â The staff brings the food out to you when it's ready and you're good to go. Â The place was packed when we were there, but we had no problem finding a seat and the wait for the food was not bad at all. Â This place seems to run pretty smoothly when things are busy, and you can get in and out in 30-45 minutes if you're in a rush to catch the opening act. Â The food itself was pretty darn tasty. Â I had a chicken brat and the lady went with quinoa salad. Â We also got sweet potato fries. Â Good stuff, and we spend about 16 bucks for the whole thing! Â We will definitely be back!
I love beer gardens, and I love beer. Â I am giving this place a two star, because on the night I went, they had a DJ blasting crappy music in the tent. Â The whole point of beer gardens with the bench seating is to enjoy good music, and more importantly, good company.
Wihout the crap DJ, i'd give this place a 4 star. Â I'll change my rating if I go and the ambience is better.
I think that by far this is one of the best places to hang out at the NC Music Factory! I've been coming to VBGB since it opened off and on. I've never had a bad experience. Everything this places advertises on it delivers. The bar is nice open and clean and the staff is warm and inviting even in times of high volume rushes. When you walk in you'll notice that this place doesn't look like you typical gastropub but has a nice laid back feel with long tables and a bar with an ice shelf.
There is a large patio out back that is great for relaxing underneath this huge neon sign which adds to the ambiance of the patio. The last time I was there, the patio boasted a large chess/checker set. Â
There is a side room that an organization I belong to rented out that was very nice and private and at relatively low cost. It also has its own private outdoor patio. The menu selection here is great! The are food specials here almost every day. The fare here is a different kind of bar fodder with everything from burgers to edamame. This place is worth the try if you are looking for a young and hip spot for a rising young professional that needs a place to blow off some steam.
This place is a pretty good contender for becoming an amazing beer garden like the ones in NYC. Jumbo-sized games (chess and Jenga) and spaces to play Cornhole Toss and ping-pong plus an amazing beer selection!
It doesn't seem to attract a huge crowd (I wonder why?), but I think it's a great place to come with a group of friends just wanting to enjoy a chill night out in Charlotte.
Maybe people only gather around here when the weather is warm? Hopefully I'll be able to go again this summer!
This place is so much fun! They have larger than life chess and Jenga, as well as cornhole boards, and ping pong tables. It was a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon.
We ordered the Crispin cider (which was a little over priced IMO), and the pretzel with beer cheese. The food is amazing. After even looking at our pretzel, there were other people in our party that ordered one. It was awesome! Can I please have that cheese in a cup to take home? I want to dip it with everything!
We also had some wings and some sweet potato fries. I thought the fries were very good, but my husband fell in love with their honey mustard dipping sauce that comes with it.
All in all we had a great time here. There was more than enough parking just across the street, we had good drinks, excellent food, and plenty to keep us entertained. A must go for people that have never been!
**Just a side note, they used to be open every day but Mondays, but have recently decided to be open on Mondays too, another day to have fun!
I am actually in love with this place because it reminds me of the beer gardens in Queens, NY where I grew up. Â The atmosphere is chill and I love all the games they have that you can play from cornhole to ping pong to the giant connect four for those of you looking to rekindle your love of childhood board games. Â The food is pretty good too. Â The pretzel and beer cheese was right up my alley.
My only disappointment is that I came on a Friday night after a concert at the Fillmore and the place was less than half full. Â I can't figure out why because it seems to have all the makings of a great hangout spot. Â I wonder if it was just an off night or just because summer hasn't started, so I'll be back and hopefully the scene will pick up more then.
I attended a welcome party/dinner here, a precursory celebration during a wedding weekend. Â Which was pretty rad, so for anyone looking for a more laid back large group lunch/dinner - perhaps you want to consider VBGB? Â
The sad news, for me at least, is that there isn't much in terms if vegan food options. Â However, the quinoa salad is in fact terrific (and I'm fine with consuming my calories in fermented liquid format, thank you very much). Â Even if the quinoa wasn't the only item I could eat, I'm confident I would have still inhaled five cups (approximately? Â sure felt like it afterwards, whoah) of the stuff. Â Thankfully everyone else was busy stuffing their faces with pretzels and beer cheese, sliders, etc., so no one really missed the quinoa . . .
The secluded side room (complete with a one-person restroom!) and patio are was reserved for us, but as the festivities ended, a dozen of us wandered into the large patio area chockfull of game such as Connect Four, cornhole, ping pong etc. Â There was a laptop DJ as well and quite a large crowd. Â
The beers, they are impressive. Â But there's also wine for those of us who try to abstain from beer. Â I had a few whiskey sours that night as well as they were the "themed drink" named after the now wedded couple's dog. Â I'm sure whatever you have a hankering for - VBGB has it.
I visited VBGB Beer Hall and Garden last Saturday night for a birthday party. Â It's a great venue for large group gatherings. Â The restaurant/bar is presumably modeled after German beer halls and gardens.
Inside, there is a huge horseshoe-shaped bar with plenty of seating. Â On the floor, there are several large picnic-style, communal tables (like a German beer garden would have). Â Above, there are a handful of TV displays tuned to sports.
Outside, there is big patio with more tables and many games. Â Games include giant Jenga, giant Connect Four, giant chess, cornhole, and more. Â Since it was cold outside, the patio was enclosed and heat lamps were brought out to provide a measure of warmth.
Ample free parking is available in a paved parking lot directly outside the building. Â I'm not sure when this place opened, but it feels relatively new. Â A reservation was made for our party of 20+, so two tables were blocked off with signs for our group.
You can get beer at the bar and there's a window by the kitchen where you can order food. Â After placing your food order, you're given a number to place at your table and your food is brought out to you. Â VBGB's food menu mainly consists of bar food such as fries, onion rings, wings, chicken tenders, and burgers. Â I was told by the staff that their most popular items are their jumbo pretzels, bratwurst, and kabobs. Â I like their affordable pricing -- not a single item over $10.
I tried the following:
Chicken bratwurst with spinach and feta ($6)
Quinoa salad ($3) - black beans, corn, tomato, cilantro, lime vinaigrette, colored tortillas
Fried pickles ($3)
Cinn-A-Yum pretzel ($5) - jumbo pretzel covered in cinnamon & sugar, w/ vanilla icing on the side
Complimentary sauerkraut and sauteed peppers and onions are available for any bratwurst or hot dog order upon request. Â I had sauerkraut put on my chicken brat. Â I also had it served in VBGB's housemade pretzel bun, so I ended up with a very unique brat. Â It wasn't a pork brat and it wasn't served in a typical bun.
It didn't take very long for the food to arrive from the kitchen. Â The brat was freshly grilled and the bun was freshly toasted. Â The brat was large, but I wouldn't consider it jumbo. Â The meat was juicy and seasoned well. Â I could taste the spinach and feta, but the flavors were subtle. Â The sauerkraut wasn't bad. Â As for the bun, it definitely tasted like and almost had the consistency of a pretzel.
The quinoa salad was good. Â It was served with a side of hard, colored tortillas. Â I could have done without the tortillas and more quinoa. Â The quinoa salad was healthy and refreshing. Â It was served in a small paper tray.
The fried pickles were served piping hot. Â They came with a side of dipping sauce, which I didn't try. Â The fried pickles were good enough on their own. Â I recommend sharing this side as it's a bit greasy.
The Cinn-A-Yum pretzel is the dessert spin on VBGB's jumbo pretzel. Â The pretzel is indeed jumbo and they coat it in a thick layer of cinnamon and sugar. Â It's expectedly sweet and you even have the option of having it coated with vanilla, chocolate, caramel, or raspberry icing. Â I had the (vanilla) icing served on the side and used it as a dip. Â Due to their sheer size, I recommend sharing these pretzels too.
Jessica was our server and she seemed pretty cool. Â Very friendly, as were many of the staff.
Overall, I had a good time at VBGB. Â It had a nice relaxed and casual atmosphere and proved to be a good meeting place for a big group of friends.
Trivia: VBGB stands for Very Big German Beer.
I'd been wanting to try this place for some time, so when my wife said that several of her coworkers were getting together there for a little holiday get together I jumped at the chance.
The place is interesting; you walk in to a good sized bar area with a nice U shaped bar with an ice rail to keep your beer cold. As you walk in the food ordering window is to the right, and the portion of the bar where you order your drinks is straight ahead. There are a couple of separate dining areas for large groups, and there is a nice patio with tons of super sized games. When we were there they had a large connect four game, 2ping pong tables, 3 or 4 corn hole set ups, a giant chess board, and 2 large jenga sets. There seems to be something for everyone, and the place was packed.
The service was decent; there was no wait staff wandering around checking on people. If you want a beer you have to go to the bar, and if you want food you have to go to the window. Not a bad set up, but it can get backed up at times.
The food was good, we got a little of all of the finger type foods so that everyone could try multiple things. Fried pickles, soft pretzels with beer cheese, hot wings, nachos, sweet potato fries, etc... Everything was good, the pretzels and beer cheese was great.
Now, on to the most important part.... The beer. The beer selection seemed to be well thought out; a nice mixture of NC locals, southeast regionals, and nation craft beers. There was also a nice mixture of APA's, IPA's, Porters, Stouts, etc... Too often a craft beer bar will have 20-30 taps and more than half of them are IPA's, and big stouts, and other styles get left out to the dismay of casual beer drinkers that aren't into these styles. I spent most of the evening drinking Birdsong Jalapeno Pale, and Lagunitas Brown Sugga. All for a reasonable price.
Overall, Â I was impressed with this place and look forward to going back
VBGB is cool in its uniqueness. Â There is simply no other bar like it in the Crown Town. Â Here's what makes it unique...
*The beeeeeeers, oh the beers they have.  As others have stated, this isn't the place for a bud lite.  The key vocabulary at VBGB is CRAFT, MICROBREW, and  SEASONAL.  If you don't know what to get, ask the bartenders, they are quick to recommend something to suit anyone's tastes. Â
*The food - Being a native of Rochester, NY I can truly appreciate the Zwiegle's hot dogs they serve here - simply nothing like 'em and they remind me of home. Â The way in which you place and receive your food is also unique. Â There is no waiter/waitress service, and there is no hostess. Â You just kind of go up to the food window (located inside the VBGB) and order what you want. Â Careful, the menu, tho tasty is somewhat limited. Â They have onion rings, poppers, Beef kabobs, wings, nachos, and even a black bean burger for that vegetarian we all know.
Patio - The outdoor patio area is also a big part of what makes VBGB unique. Â They have everything from corn hole to human-checkers. Â There are plenty of picnic benches and seating for all. Â It definitely dies out a little in the the winter months however.
Parking - Parking is somewhat limited in the immediate area surrounding VBGB, but fear not, there is plenty of of free, well-lit parking in the parking lot just across the street by Mattie's diner. Â Â Â
I am not giving VBGB 5-stars for one reason - I think its hard to get a beer here. Â I rarely am able to go to the window area (from the outside) or up the bar (on the inside) Â and order a beer without some sort of wait. Â I think part of the difficulty is due to the funky way the bar is set up and the fact that people sit around the bar - Â hampering access to the bar tenders. Â They might also be understaffed at times, I'm just sayin...
Over all, VBGB is a great bar and is the perfect place to take an out-of-towner or the beer lover in all of us. Â The crowd is cool, and the beers are colder.
This is a great place! Â I have been there multiple times and never leave disappointed. Â
The beer selection is awesome, they have a large number of craft beers beers on tap and are constantly changing. Â On top of the great beer selection there is a ton of this to do.. On the back patio they have ping-pong, corn hole, chess, connect four, and much more!!
On top of all the fun activities and great beer, parking is never a problem as there is a giant parking lot across the street, and i have never had to pay a cover mo matter the day of the week!
My first experience at VBGB was actually a "girls night out" event where we started the night at the Music Factory there. Â Right off the bat, the vibe was very cool, laid back and fun. Â I've been there several times since (definitely a great place to pre-game before a concert) and even threw one of my best friends' birthday parties in the private room they have (RESERVE IT---FOR FREE!!!!) Â
Besides the fact that they have an amazing assortment of beers (Tuesdays $2 drafts-an incredible deal!) AND fantastic food (the pretzel hot dog and beer cheese thought makes my mouth water as I'm typing), they also have a very knowledgeable and friendly staff and a ton of cool bar games! Â Giant Jenga, Connect Four, cornhole....You cannot possibly get bored here! Â I'm heading there tonight for Trivia at 8:30 and am sure I won't be disappointed.
This is one of my favorite places to drink beer in Charlotte. Â I usually don't drive out to the Music Factory just to come here, but I am ALWAYS pre-gaming at this place before a show at the Fillmore or the amphitheater. Â I get just as excited about coming here as I do about the actual concerts themselves....That's saying something!
I can always count on VBGB offering up a beer on tap that I've never tried before. Â It's always such an adventure! Â It's all craft beer here folks. Â The food is very basic, but I like that. Â I'm not looking for an expensive meal when I'm trying to get my drink on, just something to keep me going. Â If you try anything at all, go with the pretzel & beer cheese. Â It's terrific. Â A great munchie to keep you grounded after all those high gravity brews!
I have been to VBGB twice now. Â Great experience both times! Â Super chill atomosphere. Â The first visit was wtih a large group. Â We had no issues finding a space for all of us inside on a picnic table to watch the game. Â We also were going inside and outside a bit to place games out on the patio. Â Life size Connect-Four....how cool!
My second visit was with my guy friend. Â We just chilled at the bar and enjoyed a couple drafts. Â I tried one of the pumpkin beers rimmed with cinnamon and sugar. Â Yum! Â On this visit I discovered the frozen strip at the bar to keep your beer super cold. Â How cool!!!
They have specials every day....called 4,3,2,1. Â I think both days the $4 were of the wine variety and the 3&2 were of the beer family, with the 1 including free beer sauce or something.
If you are a Rochester, NY native- THEY HAVE ZWEIGLES HOTDOGS here! Â Lol....I couldn't even believe my eyes when I saw it on the menu, not realizing this place had NY roots. Â I don't like hot dogs, but I like Zweigles! Â They also use Dinosaur BBQ (another Upstate NY gem) products....I love feeling at home while living in (my new home) the Queen City!!!
Ahhh VBGB--Long time visitor, first time reviewer.
Better put your craft-beer pants on folks, because this place ain't serving pitchers of Bud Light.
This place is exactly what Charlotte needed, and sits nestled directly in the heart of the Charlotte Music Factory. It's kind of a no-frills atmosphere, where everything is counter service; I think it works well, because whether you're indoors or out, there is always an opening to order a beer.
Also, I think at this point in our city's maturity, unless you have a solid patio/rooftop/outdoor area, you're not quite as cool as everyone else...and wow, does VBGB have an excellent patio. Drinking games abound--ping pong, jenga, cornhole, you name it, they've got it.
This place is also perrrrrrfect for the pre-show beer if you're going to either the Fillmore or the TW Amphitheater. A quick stop in for a Birdsong Higher Ground IPA, NoDa 10 Blocks South, or whatever local beer they've got on tap that night, and you'll get right in the groove prior to the show.
Last but not least, don't underestimate the food! One of those big-ass Pretzels & some beer cheese?---as our friends from NY say, fahgettaboudit!
We rarely venture far out of the Lake Norman area, but a Groupon to a beer hall in the northern section of Charlotte was just too tempting to pass up. We headed out on a rainy Saturday, which is probably not the best weather to go in, but our Groupon was on the verge of expiring so it was now or never. Despite the ill weather we still had a great time at this beer hall.
My first piece of advice regards parking...do not follow your GPS and attempt to park in the area around the building as it will undoubtedly be full and will be a pain to get out of. Instead park in the huge lot right across the street and then just walk over. Â Once you enter VBGB you will be surrounding by a few things...long beer hall-esque tables, loud music, and loads of people. It's a fun place to go for a beer with buds, and everyone else seems to be of like mind since the place was packed already when we went at 5pm. Â
So the main point of attraction at VGBG is the beer. They offer about thirty or so taps and sell them in a variety of ounces. Most of the beers are craft and either local to NC or from other states. There's a little bit of everything and even the most picky beer drinker should be able to find something on draft to chug down. The bartenders were pretty quick, though the first one we spoke with could have been a bit more knowledgeable about the beer list. We started off with a 12oz for each of us then grabbed some appetizers and a seat.
The kitchen is pretty convenient as you just walk up to a window, place your order, and then sit back and wait for them to deliver the food to you. We started with the fried pickles and potato latkes. I'm not a huge fan of pickles, but I would definitely eat these again. The fried outside really helps die down a little of the bitterness of the pickle and also gives it more crunch/ texture  than it would get on it's own...both good things in my book. The latkes were pretty decent, though a bit too flimsy for me. The shredded potato cakes were fresh from the fryer and had a great taste, especially when dolloped with sour cream. But they were flaky and fell apart easily, leaving some crumbs to fall to waste. I would have preferred a firmer potato cake but the taste was spot on.
After we polished off our first beers, apps and a few rounds of Connect Four (there are a few boardgames that you can bring over to your table) we were ready to move on to the main course. I grabbed a flight of beers (four 5oz glasses) so that we could each try two more beers without committing to two more full glasses. Unfortunately the bar ran out of flight glasses and the tray so I was forced to carry back four soda glasses back to our table. Not only was it a pain for me to carry four glasses without a tray, but by the time I got back and settled the beers were all out of order, so the miss' and I ended up playing an impromtu game of Guess Who.
For dinner I ordered the pork brat with sour kraut and the miss' ordered the chicken brat with peppers and onions, both on a pretzel bun. First off, the pretzel bun puts any other bun to shame. That thick, slightly hard exterior that yielded to a soft interior was far superior to any other hot dog/ brat/ sausage vessel you can find. The pork brat with sour kraut was the perfect combination, and the brat was extremely juicy and had that slight snap to it. The chicken brat was equally as good, and with the peppers and onions it gave it a great overall flavor. I personally preferred the pork to the chicken, but both were still pretty damn good.
There is an outdoor patio area but we didn't venture out there due to the stormy weather. Overall VGBG's seems like a fun place to sit back and take a load off. A decent selection of beers, some great "beer food", games, live music and more make for a great hangout spot. My biggest criticism is that a lot of people agree, and the place can be a bit too packed for my taste (I all about personal space.) We will definitely be back in the future next time we want to take a few hours out of the day to hang out with good food and great drink.
I hate to degrade their rating, because the food and beer selection is top notch, but something has to be done about the children running around the place.
Yes, I understand you're trying to cater to families. And yes, I appreciate that you have your own children and this is your dream, yada yada. But I ask you - who tends to buy more, spend more overall money, at a bar/restaurant? Families, who milk a beer or two and chicken fingers for the kids? Or a groups of 30-somethings who are there because they love beer?
In striving to create a place that welcomes families who don't want to hire a babysitter for some reason, it has become a place where children are encouraged to run around and bother other guests seated at nearby tables. And when I commented on this to one of the bartenders, I was scolded for complaining. "This is a family spot" I was told. Really? Since when is being a family spot mean that there are zero rules or accountability about keeping one's children reined in?
The truth is, we're less inclined to go there on Saturday afternoons now, and that's really too bad. Yet another great joint ruined by parents unwilling to, you know, parent their unruly children. And I'm not alone in this opinion - I've heard it said by others as I have gone around town.
Better watch out -- that's the sort of bad word of mouth that can wreck a place.
VBGB has it all: a name the rhymes with heeby-jeeby, a frosty strip of bar to keep your beer cold, a wealth of beer from both local and national microbreweries on tap, 90s music, games out back, and a fabulous array of food. And with $2 beers on Tuesday nights, I defy you to find a reason not to go. Ok, the location at the Music Factory may be a little inconvenient, but that is the only negative that I see.
The buttery pretzel is a requirement for anyone visiting, as it complements your beers nicely, as well as come with beer cheese (similar to the orange nacho cheese, but with a beer-twist). Adding further legitimacy, they offer the coarse-grain mustard that is a requirement for anything claiming to be a beer hall. Goes goes perfectly with anything from pretzels to sausages. I was a little less impressed with the sauerkraut, but that may be my spoiled eastern European heritage speaking.
Long wooden communal tables and even a private room make this a great place for hanging out with groups as well. Hope to see you there!
I was reluctant to write a good review on this place because, i know this sounds terrible, but I don't want it to get too popular. but i think it's unfair to be greedy.
This is my favorite bar. There, I've said it. Â I have a lot of respect for the owners because they value the importance of a good product, and throw away marketing bs. Â You won't see a single neon sign, posters, or crazy looking tap handles. Â It's all about the beer. Â That's it. Â And VBGB's has a great selection, and it constantly changes. Â
I love how every single bartender there knows their beer. Â Don't know what you want? Â They can help you figure out if you're an IPA kinda drinker, or maybe a lighter hefe style brew. Â Again, it's all about the beer.
The food is surprisingly good as well. Â It's a small menu of freshly made "bar" food. Â The brats and the pretzels are delicious. Â
My favorite thing about this place? Â You won't be able to find a Miller Light or a Bud Light to save your life. Â I've seen people walk in, ask for that type of beer, and literally walk out. Â As long as this place stays with that policy, I will continue to loyally support them.
We went back again and this time sat outside. We grabbed a drink inside first but the service just wasn't up to par this time. the wait was very long and honestly service wasn't very personable. I asked whether a specific beer was sweet to which he assured me it wasn't. Â It was almost sickeningly so (in my opinion), but he ran away so quickly and the line took so long that I just stuck with it..Also, much to my surprise he just assumed I wanted the large size so I was stuck with a bigger amount of it too. The place was busy but I felt like the bartenders had a tough time keeping up with the demand.
Outside looks awesome but there were so many things to do (table tennis, large connect four, large chess, jenga etc.) that it took up the most room and there wasn't very much seating. I wouldn't have really cared about sitting so much but the large mugs are very heavy and it would have been nice to be able to set my drink down every so often. I know it sounds silly but those things were solid!
We recently bought some sort of deal for this place so I am sure we'll be going back and I hope it was more like my first visit than my most recent. Fingers crossed....
My gah, 62 reviews already? This place is popular! Hip rather. It's like uber hipster hip. Banksy pieces on the walls, I mean, the epitome of hipster ala nerdcore hip hop.
A massive collection of tasty, local, organic hipster beers. Pretzels, Cheeseburgers, sorry hipsters I cannot confirm if they are organic, free range, grass fed cows. But I can confirm that they have a big ass Connect Four and all kinds of other games.
Cornhole for the frat boys and a sweet, I mean sweet ice bar to chill your drink and entice the cosmopolitan, metro crowd. Hipsters, Frat boys and Fraternity Girls, beer drinkers, this place ruleZ with a capital Z. The only people who might be turned off to VBGB are the OG new age hipster counterculture types who despises these kinds of commercialized LA hipster folk.
VGBG, I like thee. You're hip, new and a breath of fresh air. Your cheeseburgers weren't too shabby either.
This place is pretty awesome. Â Every Tuesday night every bear is $2 - it is hard to beat that. The building has a fixed-up warehouse type of a feel with brick walls and concrete flooring. Â The menu is one of many local and country wide micro-brewery beers. Â There is a large outside area with corn hole and other games.
The large pretzel is warm, buttery, salty with delicious beer cheese (whatever that is). Â It perfectly pairs with the many different beers that you can select from.
I will be here many a Tuesday night in the future!
Tuesday two dollar beer night is much cooler than I expected. Every beer there counts for this discount wow! I had five fantastic beers for my first foray into VBGB how awesome! I didn't pay for any of them, even more awesome thanks wonderful drinking buddies!
I'm going to list the beers I liked here, mostly so I can remember them for future purchases. My favorite of the night was a Lost Coast tangerine wheat ale that was deliciously citrusy! Second place goes to the Orange Blossome extra pale ale. Beers 3-5 were also very good but I cannot seem to have remembered anything by that point! Outside they have extra cool games and activities on the patio, oh yeah!
As I was leaving for a late dinner I happened to spot the ice rail. What an ingenious idea to have a cooled platform to keep your beer glass cold! I shall be back next Tuesday and maybe even the Tuesday after that! Yeah that's right be ready to put up with me now that you've gotten me hooked.
This is perhaps the perfect beer pub in the CLT. Whether you're here on a Saturday night enjoying a well-spun DJ mix indoors, or taking advantage of a crisp late spring night outdoors while watching folks enjoy several games of cornhole and a giant-sized chess board that would make the White Queen want to jump in and play. I love this place, and i'll go whenever I get the opportunity.
Lots of local microbrews on tap - NoDa, OMB and Natty Brown, just to name a few - and segregated by type, but if you have a hard time figuring out what you want, especially if you're used to more mass-produced swill (I'm looking at you, Bud drinkers), one of the friendly and knowledgable barkeeps will ask the right questions and pour you a cold pint that you won't be disappointed with. I wish I could remember the name of the one barkeep I like, but if you see a bartender with a chrome-domed head and a set of wilderness-crazy mutton chops so awesome it would make Wolverine go all berserker-rage with envy, he's the guy you want pouring you a brew. The man is a Sherpa of beer-laden deliciousness.
But the biggest draw for me is the food. If you want stale wings smothered in salty BBQ sauce, go look elsewhere. The black bean burger is the 2nd-best in town - sorry, but the Herban Legend's BBB kicks ass - but you can't leave a night at VBGB without enjoying a fresh-baked giant pretzel. Look, I'm from NYC, and the pretzel is about as ubiquitous there as an out-of-control yellow cab and tourists gawking at all the pretty lights in Times Square, but I had my feel of those doughy-assed twists of high-carb crap, so if you're gonna make me eat a pretzel, knock me on my ass.
The pretzels don't knock me on my ass. They give me the proverbial foodie boner that can't be made to calm the hell down with a cold shower. Oh, and dip 'em in beer cheese, and...yeah, go crazy.
It doesn't feel like an authentic German beer hall, but, hey, if you want authentic, buy your authenticity-seeking ass a plane ticket to Munich during Oktoberfest and get your damned fill, ya fuckin' snob. I don't care. I don't care if this is a Polish or Czech or Bolivian or Trafalgarmorian beer hall; the beer's awesome, the food even better, the atmosphere perfect and devoid of the kind of douchery that some of the trendy drinking spots on Tryon are infested with.
Just go already, dammit. Have a pretzel, enjoy a NoDa, and play some cornhole, and have a nice time.
Dear VBGB,
My bad, yo! While I was off over here thinking you were some college idiot infested bar, you're just hanging out at the NC Music Factory with your ample free parking, beautiful pitchers of beer, lots of taps, in a variety of beer styles, being a chill and relaxed destination right outside of Uptown. I'm sorry I assumed some things about you that weren't true - and you know assuming gets ya - it makes an ASS out of ME (and not really U).
But seriously, your outdoor patio with adult Jenga and cornhole was really fun! The indoor/outdoor convenience of ordering, the long picnic tables that encourages people to talk to their neighbors/old friends/new friends and the DJ's on Saturday night was all really enjoyable. I didn't eat any of your food, but next time! We are definitely planning on coming back and hanging out with you soon - perhaps for another birthday party, maybe for a fun date, or a girl's night. No matter the occasion, I think you'd fit the bill pretty well!
Thanks again for the fun night and good beers - may I never judge another nightlife establishment before testing it out again!
Sincerely,
Rachel
VBGB is one of my favorite places in the NC Music Factory. Both the indoor and outdoor seating are much to be envied by other bars.
The bar has tons of local beers on draught. NoDa, Birdsong, OMB, Natty Greene's, and plenty of others. If the weather is poor, from rain or sweltering heat, take a seat at the bar and rest your frosty glass on the ice rail. Yes, it's like a gift from the beer-filled heavens. What an incredible and innovative idea. It keeps your beer icy and gives the kids something to play with!
The food is grade A bar food. Grilled pretzels with beer cheese, brats, dogs, and wings. The best things we've had have been the hippie nachos. Complete with crumbled blackbean burgers and nacho cheese. The fried banana peppers are to die for and are great on everything you can get your beer-drinking hands on. The pretzels.....oh, sweet lord. Amazing. I've been hard pressed not to drink the cheese at times. Salty and perfect consistency.
I love that this place is kid friendly. Sure, there's tons of booze flying by and it can draw a bit of a rougher crowd, but take the kids in for a hotdog on the patio at lunchtime and it's better than a ballpit. Tons of games for the kids to play out back and the staff is so friendly. The bartenders were giving the kids straws and other things to play with on the ice rail at the bar. How nice is that? Definitely a plus for those who have little ones and had to forgo a sitter.
VBGB is a perfect afternoon spot for a beer and brat. Great to watch the game or have a patio lunch with the fam. High-fives all around!
I've never been here before, I'll be back for sure.
Meeting a Yelp friend (you know who you are) for a birthday party, I was impressed with the substantial beer selections and the unique pairings of proper beer food to go with it. I've posted a pic of the beer menu that is posted on the wall and they don't just sell pints - they offer smaller "taster" sizes if you really want to explore the offerings.
As for the food impression, I liked it. Brats, pretzels, pretzel bites and more. One of the folks at the table had the full size pretzel and it was a massive thing with a decent sized pot of dipping cheese. It looked good. On the other hand, my brat with onions and peppers and sauerkraut was awesome. I had a side of the potato salad and was not disappointed. Served warm, with a vinegar tang and bits of bacon in there, it was excellent. Next time, I might just have the potato salad and be done.
And then, my complaint. I am not a fan of bars that feel they need to set up entertainment. Whether it's bingo or trivia, when the speaker blasts so loud that you can't have a normal conversation even when screaming, I get up and go. And that's why I left VBGB after just the one beer even though I was having a good time up to then with new friends. Sorry, with this I had to drop a star.
Parking is tight, especially when there is something going on at the Amphitheater next door.
We came here on a Saturday night. Â The beer list and specials were great. Â They have 4-3-2-1 specials that cover both food and beer options. Â It was my lucky night because they had Son of a Peach on special, definitely my favorite summer beer. Â The bartenders were awesome. Â I overheard a couple people asking for recommendations in ear shot. He asked what they liked and immediately knew what type of beer to bring over, judging from the reactions his picks were pretty spot-on. Â
I was looking at the giant board they have behind the bar showing the different types of beer they offer and was pretty surprised at how good the prices were. Â It is not out of the ordinary to be charged $7 or $8 for different types of craft beers, the prices here stayed around $4-$6. Â The menu offerings were also very unique, everything from potato latkas to cinnamon pretzel twists...I'll definitely be ordering some small appetizers next time they come. Â
There is also a giant chest board on the back patio as well as different board games you can grab and play. Â The DJ was great and had a good mix of old and new stuff. Â I was expecting it to be slightly more crowded on a Saturday night.
All and all there is good beer, good selections, great bartenders, and definitely a great atmosphere.
I came here on a Saturday night, during no special event other than a brave group of people sat in my line of vision and decided to play a round of jumbo jenga. I was immediately roped in and gave a shout of cheer when it fell so I could take the wheel of my own thoughts again.
I wasn't impressed with my choice of beer, Dogfish Head's Black&Red stout.. The flavor profile threw me way out of my orbit but I was a tropper and then the Catawba Valley White Zombie witbier brought me down to earth. I did think that the local beers should be at most $4, because of the proximity and to encourage ppl to drink local brews.
Note: Don't make the mistake I did. If you order your beer before you go to the bathroom, make sure your co-evening partner takes it off the frozen bar strip.. Otherwise, you may spill your beer all over yourself trying to detach it :)
Good experience, good dj, friendly bar staff, clean bathrooms, and outdoor patio!
Not sure what VBGB means, but I love it!
And you know what, I'm not even a big fu-fu beer fan.  To me anything that's not "Bud," "Miller" or  "Michelob" are just confusing... yes, gasp, you can yell at me later :)
But on a Tuesday $2 draft night, I'm more than happy to try that stuff... stuff I cannot pronounce, because apparently I like foreign wheat beer. Â The bartenders (or beer consultants) also told me to stay away from IPA or anything that has the word pale in front of ale. Â Hey, I'll listen to the experts. Â So far so good. Â They were even nice enough to keep letting me taste different stuffs and eventually mixed 2 together so they could get rid of me for the next 15 minutes. Â
It's just a nice, causal setting where you can just hang out at the picnic table (if you have a big group) or at the bar (completed with a little strip of icy area for the beer) and talk with your friends. Â Yes, we can talk and hear each other! Â They even offer games like Jenga and ping pong for a friendly game of rivalry. Â
They have a small kitchen area with small bites that are decently priced. Â I tried the chicken nuggets which were ok as well as the pretzel... which was a little expensive for a pretzel but was nice and warm and did its job soaking up my beer.
Not being a huge beer person, a casual observer at most, this place has done nothing but help broaden my horizons about what I do and don't like. Â The bartenders are very knowlegdable when I walked up and said, "I drink this, tell me what I would like". Â I have tried many of the brews, some amazing, some not to so good to my taste and I am happy that they are patient with trying to find a great beer for me to have.
Now onto the food. Â YUMMMMMM Â Jumbo pretzel with beer cheese has no competition to any other beer place in the area. Â I am a vegetarian and they have different options for me to try and are so good to you if you don't like something.
I will be going back, ummmm, Tuesday of course. Â Great place for friends, trivia nights on Thursday, they have random games to play (Connect Four and Jenga come to mind, when's the last time you played Jenga?) Â I reccommend this place to everyone from the casual drinker like myself to the ultimate beer snob.
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