My first impression when pulling up in the lot and seeing the giant Cabarrus Brewing sign in all its rustic patina glory was -"This is going to be good!"
I wish I could squeeze out another star for these guys but my experience here was both overwhelming and underwhelming.
The overwhelming: it was ridiculously crowded. Like people continually bumping into you (some say sorry, some plow through you). There were some rowdy ones (aka riff raff) cursing and stumbling. I think the entire population of Concord was here. Even with all the community German beer hall style tables/seating, it was almost impossible to find a seat. You are either the one sitting and watching others stare at you waiting to leave, or the ones staring at others hoping they leave. The area where you first walk in was also bottle necked with people ordering from the onsite food truck.
The line for beer moved quickly (as there were three of them). I like that there is one line specifically dedicated to flights and growlers.
The underwhelming: the bartender I had was not all that friendly and didn't even seem to notice or care about the nice tip I left. I got the impression that he wanted me to grab my beers and keep on moving. A smile or nod and a thank you would have gone a long way.
The beer I had went both ways as well, the Rocky River IPA was underwhelming -nothing stood out - too plain - too safe - one note. The Session Pale Ale was another story - very drinkable and tasty - cloudy (unfiltered?), some depth of flavor and a little sour finish = nice!
My overall opinion is that somebody made a very high grade facility and really dropped some money on this place to do it right. I think the beer shows promise and hopefully will get tweaked here and there.
I probably won't be back until the crowd thins out - when people are pushing, shoving and tripping (like a frat party), it doesn't make for a very pleasant beer drinking atmosphere! Of course being too busy is not a bad problem if you're management. Maybe they need a bouncer!