🍺 Fantasy Brewery League North Carolina Draft Guide (Beta) Season: Spring Region: North Carolina League Size: 6–10 Players Roster Size: 6 Breweries 🏆 Top 10 NC Draft Targets (Anchor Breweries) These breweries offer high floors, consistent activity, and strong seasonal upside. 1. Highland Brewing — Asheville Why Draft: NC’s original craft brewery with steady awards and festival presence. Best Fit: Early Round 1 anchor Risk: Low 2. Burial Beer Co. — Asheville Why Draft: Constant releases, collabs, and media visibility. Best Fit: High-upside early pick Risk: Moderate (variance in awards) 3. NoDa Brewing Company — Charlotte Why Draft: Reliable medal history and broad distribution. Best Fit: Safe Round 1–2 pick Risk: Low 4. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery — Charlotte Why Draft: Lager dominance aligns well with seasonal scoring. Best Fit: Anchor for spring or fall seasons Risk: Low–Moderate 5. Appalachian Mountain Brewery — Boone Why Draft: Community-driven with strong competition results. Best Fit: Round 1–2 hybrid pick Risk: Moderate 6. Foothills Brewing — Winston-Salem Why Draft: Legacy strength, consistent production, and visibility. Best Fit: Safe Round 2 pick Risk: Low 7. Fonta Flora Brewery — Morganton Why Draft: Saison and farmhouse excellence; high seasonal bonuses. Best Fit: Strategic Round 2 pick Risk: Moderate 8. Wicked Weed Brewing — Asheville Why Draft: Scale, festivals, and media coverage. Best Fit: Event-heavy league formats Risk: Moderate (competition-heavy category) 9. Bond Brothers Beer Co. — Cary Why Draft: Clean execution, local loyalty, and consistent releases. Best Fit: Round 2 anchor Risk: Low 10. Hi-Wire Brewing — Asheville Why Draft: Collabs, festivals, and wide visibility. Best Fit: Depth anchor Risk: Moderate 🟢 Top 10 Sleeper Picks (Win Your League Here) These breweries often outperform their draft position due to seasonal alignment, awards upside, or niche excellence. 1. Zillicoah Beer Co. — Woodfin Sleeper Case: Lager and heritage styles fit seasonal scoring perfectly. Draft Window: Round 3–4 Upside: High 2. Haw River Farmhouse Ales — Saxapahaw Sleeper Case: Farmhouse and mixed fermentation dominance. Draft Window: Round 3–4 Upside: Very High 3. Casita Cerveceria — Wilson Sleeper Case: Unique cultural niche and strong media storytelling. Draft Window: Round 3–5 Upside: High 4. Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery — Farmville Sleeper Case: Dark beer specialists shine in cooler seasons. Draft Window: Late rounds Upside: Seasonal spike potential 5. DSSOLVR — Asheville Sleeper Case: Experimental releases and collabs generate steady points. Draft Window: Round 3 Upside: Moderate–High 6. Resident Culture Brewing — Charlotte Sleeper Case: Media visibility and taproom buzz. Draft Window: Round 3–4 Upside: Moderate 7. Southern Pines Brewing — Southern Pines Sleeper Case: Competition-focused approach yields surprise medals. Draft Window: Late rounds Upside: High variance 8. Mother Earth Brewing — Kinston Sleeper Case: Distribution reach + steady releases. Draft Window: Late rounds Upside: Moderate 9. Red Oak Brewery — Whitsett Sleeper Case: Lager purity and heritage appeal. Draft Window: Late rounds Upside: Seasonal alignment dependent 10. Edward Teach Brewing — Wilmington Sleeper Case: Coastal identity and festival presence. Draft Window: Late rounds Upside: Moderate 🎯 Draft Strategy Tips (NC Edition) Don’t over-stack Asheville early—diversify regions. Lock one anchor in Round 1, then hunt sleepers. Seasonal style bonuses can outscore awards. Small breweries win leagues when styles align. 📌 Final Takeaway “Championship teams are built in Rounds 3–5.” This guide is meant to educate, not dictate—the best players will find value beyond the list.