Travelers at Charlotte Douglas International Airport now have a new local stop before takeoff. Sugar Creek Brewing Company has quietly rolled out a compact taproom in Concourse A, serving an airport‑exclusive "First in Flight" pilsner in late February. Fans of the South End taproom will recognize the Belgian‑inspired vibe, just squeezed into a much tighter footprint inside CLT.
First in Flight and where to find it
"First in Flight" pilsner is pouring only at Sugar Creek's new Concourse A location, which the airport reports opened in late February. Co‑founder and Charlotte native Joe Vogelbacher worked with the airport on the draft's profile, describing it as crisp with a clean finish and a floral hop aroma. Sugar Creek has been supplying CLT for eight years and is now graduating from behind‑the‑scenes vendor to full storefront, according to CLT Airport.
Small taproom, big footprint
The airport outpost comes in at 939 square feet with around 40 seats, tucked near Gate A22 and Panera Bread. It gives travelers a proper sit‑down spot between security and their gates, as noted by Axios Charlotte. Sugar Creek describes the concept as a streamlined, beer‑forward experience built for people hustling to make boarding time. Early renderings released in January showed a bar running along the terminal windows to take advantage of CLT's natural light and runway views.
The Master Cicerone behind the pours
Joe Vogelbacher, Sugar Creek's co‑founder and president, holds the Master Cicerone credential, which the brewery notes is shared by only a small number of people worldwide. Sugar Creek's site details the years of studying and tasting it took for him to earn that title and explains that he helped shape both the airport tap list and the "First in Flight" recipe. His expertise is behind a lineup that will feature seasonal and small‑batch pours, along with cocktails and wine for travelers who are not in a beer mood, according to Sugar Creek Brewing.
What this means for the local food scene
The Concourse A taproom fits into CLT's push to showcase local brands in its concessions program. The airport's food and beverage operations are run by HMSHost, and Sugar Creek says it teamed up with that operator to bring the concept to life, according to WCCB. Sugar Creek also told the airport it expects to move its larger production facility to Gastonia in late 2026, per CLT Airport. In the meantime, the CLT taproom gives travelers another homegrown pint option and keeps more of those airport drink dollars circulating locally as concessions continue to expand.
Whether you are hustling to make a connection or turning a layover into a mini brewery visit, Sugar Creek's Concourse A taproom now offers one more distinctly Charlotte stop before wheels up. Hours and tap selections may ebb and flow with flight schedules, but the latest addition is officially part of CLT's growing local lineup.
