Compass Rose seems like a cool brewery but the night we went, the band was terribly loud. This was a huge drawback. The brewery is large so it is great for a huge group but there was no outdoor seating so there was no escaping the music. The band played the whole time so we were unable to have a conversation with our friends the entire night. However, the night was not at a total loss. The beer selection was great and we were able to entertain ourselves with minimal talking playing games the brewery had available: jenga (from mini to jumbo), mini shuffle board, and cards against humanity. My friend did mention that in her last experience, the band was different and not as loud. On another note, at least the band playing this night was good. Having a band at the brewery is a wonderful attribute and I am hoping the extreme loudness was a one-off. I look forward to my next visit to see what this place really has to offer. read more

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So one of my friends is a regular at Compass Rose Brewery, and she has been inviting me to join her for months now. They were having their first ever open mic comedy night on a Sunday at 7, so I decided to check it out. You can see the building from the main road, Gresham Lake, but the entrance is somewhat hidden and you have to turn onto Northside to get to the Brewery's entrance. There's plenty of parking and they have a great outdoor seating area with lights. The inside is huge, such a great space. There's lots of seating, tables, high tops and at the bar. They have an awesome throwback arcade machine with all the good games on it, and foosball. They have a huge screen tv, great for watching games. They sell their beer, a small selection of wine and I believe they have soft drinks. Food wise, they only have snacks like popcorn, peanuts, pretzels and other snacks, but you can bring in your own food, and food trucks are stationed outside on certain days. They have Bingo on Wednesday nights and Trivia on Thursday's. It's a great place and the staff is super friendly. You can host events there too. read more

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With seven in-house brewed beers and nine guest taps, including one cider, Compass Rose brewery has a large taproom with large long tables and stools. They also offer numerous bottles and canned beers, wine and cider in case you can't find something you like to tap. We tried the flights and enjoyed the breadth of options brewed here. My personal favorite was the Belgian Ale brewed with beets. The building is clean and well-kept. They have numerous snacks by The Veggie Wagon of Pleasure Island, NC, and the one we sampled was the French onion dip with baguette crostinis which were both delightful and fresh. The taproom has board games, darts, corn hole, and televisions and the bar even has outlets on the patron side for easy charging. Saw scheduled food trucks and daily events, but didn't visit at a time to participate. Will definitely have to return to take part. read more

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We went as a group of 6 on a Friday night and had a really fun time. Compass Rose is currently not serving any of their beer yet (I think they are waiting on some permits). All of the beers served are from other local NC breweries or other national ones like DuClaw, Sierra Nevada, etc. The hall is very open with Medieval light fixtures and you can see the stainless steel tanks through the glass windows. The bar is long with high chairs and then all the beer names and ABV content is written on a chalkboard. The tables are communal made of really sturdy wood and remind of deluxe German beer garden tables and chairs. There were lots of parents with kids and also people that brought their dogs so the brewery is very dog and kid friendly. We were a group of adults and had so much fun playing Uno, Connect Four and Jenga. Every once in a while you will hear the crash of wooden Jenga blocks as people try to build their towers. There was also corn hole and a musician playing music. It was very lively and really fun for all ages. We had our food from Valentino's food truck. All in all that was a lot of fried food to go along with beer and I will review them separately. I want to go back to Compass Rose when they start serving their own beer but for now it was really a cool place. read more

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Raleigh is earning a reputation for craft breweries and Compass Rose is one of the best in terms of atmosphere, friendly bar staff and of course a wide selection of their own craft beer. What I love about CR is the vibe they create of a true representative blend of the Raleigh community. Here you'll find a refreshing mix of people from all experiences from young families and empty nesters to hipsters and young professionals. What sets CR apart is their fresh tasting beer and genuine bar staff. There are some great folks who work here that don't have any of the typical know-it-all craft beer attitude. If you like breweries and give CR a try, you'll likely soon become a regular. read more

One of the cleanest/classiest breweries in Raleigh. The taproom is awesome for sure! Tons of woodwork within... the bars, tables, chairs, benches, you name it. They also have a cool little nook similar to a bottle shop with merch available too. Very big, wide open area! They even added some tables outside since the last time I was there. The beers seem to be a work in progress though. Not a big fan of the Cream Ale, and the Saison didn't really do it for me either. I did like the Oktoberfest quite a bit as well as a pumpkin wheat they brought out in fall time, but I guess I will have to do a little bit of waiting for those. I got a growler of the Stout this past time and that was pretty good. This is a very kid friendly brewery as well. It seems like there are quite a few more kids running around than the average brewery. Usually there is a group of adults sitting at one of the big tables near the back, and kids playing board games or drawing with chalk on the back wall which is covered in the chalkboard paint. Whether that is a plus or minus.. I guess depends on your personal preference. I am pretty indifferent. read more

Compass Rose Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

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While most of my previous review still stands, I'll update with the fact that Compass Rose is now our go to family brewery. On any given Saturday night before 8pm you'll find plenty of kids playing with the cornhole board and working their art skills on the chalkboard painted wall. It may be other nights as well, but we generally roll up in there on Saturday. They have a better selection of wine than some breweries according to Mrs. B. They also now have mostly their own beers on tap so there is something for every beer drinker's taste. The "beer shop" area is now just more seating and a couple dart boards which is a much better use of that space. They also have the usual brewery rotation of food trucks in addition to some packaged snacks for sale. read more

Great flight of four to six beers and great big high ceiling room for tastings with games to pass time Try the wheelhouse and the Belgian dbl as I found them delicious read more

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I went here on a date recently. Nice atmosphere though I was skeptical at first because of the location. Getting to this place feels like you're driving to the middle of nowhere down some deserted back country road. Once I got there, the atmosphere inside was nice, open and airy. There was a food truck outside, and it seemed like this place was pretty kid friendly until around 8pm, which was more than appropriate. Good selection of beer, and a nice view of the brewery through the glass next door. Parking looks like it could've been plentiful, but it was actually fairly limited on the Friday night that I went. There were a few cornhole boards and a giant Jenga game. There was a nice crowd there- not rowdy- very friendly and personable- same for the wait staff. Bathrooms were clean and presentable. You could have a conversation in a normal tone of voice without yelling to be heard. My only suggestion to make it 5 stars would be more/better lighting outside. As a single female walking back to her car in that area, it would just feel a little safer to have a well-lit path. Other than that, I thought this place was great. It's a good spot for groups (and first dates) :) read more

This place is great, everything a brewery should be: great atmosphere, good beer selection / variety; family and pet friendly; great staff and owners. Fun events, food trucks, bar games and board games for kids and adults (or just bigger kids). I've been there a couple times and I will definitely be back. I think my rating will go up each time I return. Can't wait to see the outside area once it is completed. read more

First off, the atmosphere of this place is great. Big open seating inside and nice patio off to the side. There was a food truck there so you were able to eat! I like the selection of beer. The downside to this place, the reason for 4 stars, was because of the location and the screaming kids we experienced while we were there. You can see the sign from the road but have to go up the street and around to a side road to get to it. The parents who brought their kids were irresponsible and ruined the evening for us. Overall, nice place though. read more

Children don't belong at a brewery. I don't care how good your beer is, adults don't want to sit around with other people's kids and drink beer. Especially on a Friday night. read more

Great beer. Purchased a four pack sample online and picked up on my way through town. Picked it up at the front. Everything was great. Definitely recommend the place. read more

Met here for a beer with some family & friends on a Saturday. Not a lot of people there, but it's kind of an odd location. It would be worth your time to find it. They had a good selection of craft beers, and I thought the Scottish Ale was very good. Looks like they're okay with you bringing your own food in, as I saw several groups that had brought in take out. Looks like it would be a fun spot for a gathering. read more

Compass Rose Brewery was the perfect place for our ten-year high school reunion! Joshua and all of the staff were extremely helpful and accommodating and we all had a fantastic time. The beer is delicious and the atmosphere is beautiful but relaxed. We'll definitely be back! read more

Loved this spot when they first opened but won't be going back again after today's visit - felt like I was in a Chuck E Cheese rather than a brewery. I'm all for family friendly spots, but kids from ages 3-10 were running all over the place, completely unchecked by parents, bumping into patrons trying to carry a beer back to their table and playing a game of tag in and around all of the seating area. Almost all of the tables were reserved for large parties who weren't even there, leaving a lot of patrons wandering looking for a place to sit. Someone was throwing a horrendous baby shower, hauling around tables and erecting gaudy topiaries and hanging pictures. It looked like a drunk Martha Stewart had redecorated one corner of the bar. I wish Compass Rose would go back to what they do best - making good beer snd creating a laid back place to enjoy it. read more

Always a good time at this casual brewery. It is not obnoxious or loud, it is just a good peaceful quiet chill time here with really good beer read more

Compass Rose Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The staff has always been very friendly and informative about their products and are able to explain what they serve as well as reccomend beers that fit your personal pallet. Atmosphere is very large with an open floor plan and outdoor seating and food trucks 5 out of 7 days of the week. read more

How long has this place been here? Seriously! I've lived about four minutes away from Compass Rose all this time and never knew it existed! My friend suggested we grab an after work drink and because we were too lazy to head downtown with the dogs she suggested Compass Rose. I had never heard of it but am always up for a new spot so agreed! I'm SO glad we ended up here! Definitely a new regular spot for us! The building is in the middle of a business park (and is a little sketchy) but the inside is seriously impressive. Compass Rose Brewery is huge, clean and beautifully decorated. There were at least 10 or so beers on tap (I believe all from their personal brewery-- but I could be wrong) and several more bottled options. We were also pleased to see wine and cider options as well! I really enjoyed the two beers I had (a vanilla stout and a beet-belgian beer) and it seemed as if my friend enjoyed hers as well! There was no food served at the brewery, but for good reason. Compass Rose is dog friendly, which means pups can come inside and hang out while you enjoy your beer! There were even several dog toys and bowls of water for the pups! Since food can't be served with dogs hanging out Compass Rose allows you to bring in food to enjoy. We had no problem ordering a pizza and enjoying it with our drinks! Compass Rose even provides a couple menus of local delivery spots in case you're at a loss of what to order! Service was super friendly and welcoming and because of that (and all of what I listed above) I can't wait to come back! I hear they have food trucks, trivia, pint nights and more on certain nights so I can't wait to stop by again soon! read more

This place is great! The bartenders are really sweet and will let you taste samples of beer until you find something you're really happy with. The taproom is open and inviting, and the decor is beautiful. The only complaint that I have is the fact that every beer is $5.50, which is a bit more than almost every NC brewery I've been to. I'll be back, though! read more

Compass Rose Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

I love the warehouse chic style brewery, very cute! The beer was good, but I had to take a star off (being generous here) for the amount of young screaming kids! There were literally more children than adults (yes, I counted). I don't think that I will return based on that. Not very relaxing with a shrieking 2 year old running wild in between the tables. Sheesh- watch your kids, people! read more

I really wanted to like this place. Their taproom is gorgeous and wide open. They have board games, tons of seating, and seems like it would be a really great atmosphere. Every time we come here there are a ton of kids. I'm fine with kids at breweries, but when just about every other customer in there brings their 6 or 7 year olds and just lets them run wild, then that really ruins it for me. Take them to Chuck E. Cheese or get a babysitter. The beers are terrible. I tried a flight and they all tasted sour, musty, and flat. I'm not sure if they aren't cleaning their lines properly or not cleaning their equipment, but that is not how good beer tastes. read more

This brewery is way up there in north Raleigh, but definitely worth checking out. The brewery is fairly new, so it has bright and shiny look with lots of open space and seats. We went on a Sunday afternoon and it wasn't crowded at all. Also very family friendly. You can bring your kiddos and have a couple of drinks. They also had plenty of games for you to play, a chalkboard that goes along 2 walls, and an indoor cornhole setup. As for beer, they didn't have any of their own beer on tap yet because they were waiting for government approval when we came, so we just had whatever they had on tap from other local breweries, etc. This was back on July 5. Hopefully this has changed now as of August 19. They don't serve food here except for popcorn. You can bring your own or have food delivered. I did notice that some days that a food truck comes by. Anyways, great new brewery and looking forward to my next visit! read more

Like many of the other reviewers you read, this once nice place is now infested with the entitled youth of the area. Instead of parents being responsible for their rambunctious offspring, they bring them here to wear down their seemingly endless energy. I used to be able to tolerate this until I found a group of kids throwing rocks at my car while the parents laid idle. Until the management here makes proactive steps to improve the atmosphere to accommodate those who are loyal (I.e. Ones over the age of 7), I will go elsewhere. I recommend you do the same. read more

Nicest and newest brewery space in Raleigh. Absolutely gorgeous taproom. Takes a compass to find it but worth the trip. Can't wait til they brew their own beer! Right now pouring 16 other brews on tap. read more

Compass Rose Brewery - Nicest brewery space in Raleigh. Takes a compass to find it but worth the trip. Can't wait til they brew their own beer! - Breweries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

The Compass Rose taproom is a gorgeous space with a glass wall looking into the brewery. Once they start brewing, it will be fun to hangout and watch the process. Currently Compass Rose is pouring a wide variety of beers. They don't serve food, but do have food trucks scheduled and a pile of menus of places that will deliver there. We brought take-out with us and hoped to watch Wimbledon. Unfortunately, the two TVs behind the bar are small and we couldn't really hear, so we left after one beer realizing it is not a sports bar. read more

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The other reviews are pretty spot on. Great spot to chill and socialize. Great games to play. Darts, cornhole, jenga..... Will be excited once their beer is flowing. The owner is super nice and goes around greeting people. read more

Compass Rose is a great local dive spot. The bartenders are friendly and knowledgable. The bar and restrooms are clean and the local beers are usually very good. My favorite aspect of the brewery is the atmosphere. They have long wooden tables that hold around 20 people and have board games, darts, and cornhole to play while you are there. This makes it great for meeting new people and for going as a group. They have live music a few days a week and have food trucks outside almost every day as well. I have been to compass rose many times and plan on going back many more! read more

Very disappointed. My family visited several times this summer and had a great time...better than great...almost magical, finally a place where beer and kids can happily coexist. The beer was yummy, the atmosphere and food truck offerings were better. For the most recent trip, we were greeted with a sign on the door that read "after 8pm, all guests must be over 21." The layout has changed and most of the family friendliness has vanished. At 7:44pm, an employee came to "remind" my husband of the 8pm policy. read more

Compass Rose Brewery - Breweries Near Me - Raleigh, North Carolina

Although compass rose is a little out of the way, the venue is awesome with lots of games and seating and they have popcorn too. Beer wise they only had 3 of their own on tap, I got the ipa and it was excellent. Quality of beer is comparable to raleigh brewing I would say. In addition they have a bunch of other breweries bottles and they had other breweries taps too. Prices were reasonable. Be careful when hammered and playing giant jenga! read more

Tucked away in the middle of a industrial area with no signage pops up this newer clean building that is the brewery. The space is huge with nice looking tables and chairs... but... the chairs/barstools are probably the most uncomfortable things I have ever sat in (not good for business). The proportions of the chairs are just off, the foot bar is too low for even my husband to put his feet on comfortably. We were hit with a big scent of clorox when we walked in that gave me a headache. They have about 7 of their own beers and then 7 guest taps from other craft breweries. I tried the beet belgian ale and coffee porter while my husband had the saison and the ipa which all were good quality beers. There are easily 50+ people in the place with one bartender. It was a great space and beer. I would work on the seating and clorox if I were them. I get it they clean, but there are plenty of other products out there. read more

This is a nice place to visit with friends for a few brews and laughs. The food truck is nice to have on site and the outdoor seating is good. The only problem is the beer. Compass Ross has a few that they brew, but none of them are much to brag about. Their saison may be their best one, but it still needs work. Luckily they have about 10 other beers that they don't brew, but they are not much better. It's very strange that they limit their beers to only 15 or 16 micro brews. I'm not able to talk my friends into returning here a second time with me due to the beer selection. Even though they don't have domestic beers for someone that wants to be there but not try another one of their FLAT beers, this doesn't seem to matter. This place is still bringing in the masses. read more

Great vibe and atmosphere and relatively easy to get to. We were just finishing off the night here so I had an Agave Cream ale. Good, but the sweetness got to me after a while. There was a solid blues band playing, which I hope is a regular Saturday occurence. Look forward to coming back down and trying some more of their offerings. read more

I went this place for the first time a few weeks ago, and I was quite impressed. It's really spacious, so even with a lot of people there, it's not really shoulder to shoulder. there is a good amount of seating, great beers, and it's even dog friendly. The place was very clean, with minimal decor. The beer wasn't anything I would consider an absolute favorite, but I enjoyed the ones that I tried. I'm not sure if the tap was serving my beer at the correct temperature, or maybe I was getting the end of a keg or something... Something didn't seem quite right. Maybe worth looking into. We will definite be back! read more

Good beer selection, great atmosphere and I loved the live music. Definitely a great neighborhood spot to come hang out at!

This is my favorite new brewery and the only bad thing I can say is that it's not close enough to where I live! I was introduced to Compass Rose by some lucky friends who can walk there. The space is huge, with long tables where you can sit with a big group or just join in with some other of the great folks who hang out there. It's beautifully designed down the the hardwood and the bathrooms. They also have a nice outdoor area. Of course they have a large selection of local beer on tap, as well as cider and some bottled and can options. They often have food trucks on site or you can order food in or bring it with you. They have board and card games and often have live music. Compass Rose is also kid and dog friendly! One small caveat - there isn't a ton of parking, especially when it's busy. But overall, Compass Rose is a great hangout and totally worth the drive! read more

I can very easily sum up this brewery in a single sentence: The beer is always good and the bartenders are the bomb. Seriously. Brian and Joslyn are the best. CR has a bunch of games to play and they're dog friendly! I have never encountered the kid issue that I've read about in other reviews, but I also don't typically go there before 8pm. They have rotating food trucks throughout the week, trivia night on Thursday, and bands on the weekends. We usually come here to watch football- they have a big projector for the prime time games! P.S. Their pumpkin beer is a must try and if you like a bit of a sour beer- the Kentucky Common is delicious. read more

Great, local brewery. I sadly, have not had the beer that they make on-site as I've been going for a while before they had the permit to do so and found other favorites that I've just stuck to. But what I've tried so far has been delicious and the staff is great. I've come for several date nights, mom's night outs, and even afternoon hangouts with friends with kids. The atmosphere is great with lots of seating and games at every table. You can swap out games, bring your own, or play corn hole, giant jenga, or just drink your beer and chat. You can bring in outside food so when we've had MNOs here, we've often each brought a dish. We've also seen people have pizza delivered in. On Thurs, Fri, Sat nights they have a food truck that you can also grab your food from. Sometimes we do a little of both as they'll post the food truck calendar so you can see what's in store. If you want a main dish from the food truck but they don't have dessert then we bring our own in, etc. The walls are covered in chalkboard material so kids can doodle if you come in the afternoons. It's really a great spot for just hanging out with friends and drinking delicious, local brews. read more

What a delightful surprise. Great family atmosphere with plenty of activities to keep folks of all ages engaged. The staff is friendly and knowledgeable. We will definitely be back. read more

Any place that has free popcorn is the place for me. This new brewery won't be a secret for long. Head to the north side for some of NC's best brews. Compass Rose was working toward getting their own beers on tap when I visited 2 weeks ago. It's still so fresh and so clean clean and the bathroom was remarkable. The food trucks roll in around 5 or 6 and you are also encouraged to order local fare from some menus they have up front. I like the open space and am willing to overlook the fact that because they are dog-friendly and cannot have a kitchen. The unruly pups, however, made my visit 4 stars instead of 5. It's a great place for large groups. There was a huge birthday party but no wait because the staff was efficient as can be. Compass Rose will join the ranks in my Raleigh brewery rotation. read more