Field Trip! Compass Rose Brewery & Kitchen

If you spend much time in pursuit of North Carolina craft beer (and we definitely have), you’ll notice some interesting branding. Many breweries lean toward dark and mysterious-sounding names and labels, whereas “Compass Rose” sounds poetic, nostalgic, even a touch romantic. We beer explorers are not immune to the lure of romance and nostalgia, so we decided to pay a visit to the North Raleigh brewery of that name.

The Basics

Location: 3201 Northside Dr #101, Raleigh, NC 27615

Website: compassrosebrewery.com

Social media: facebook.com/compassrosebrewery, instagram.com/compassrosebrewery

Vibe/Atmosphere: relaxed, cordial, inviting, spacious, festive

Beers We Tried: Tidal Break, Sawtooth, Northside Black Lager, Scott's View, Azteca, St. Joe

Parking: lot

Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends!

All Signs Point to Beer

Generally, “Compass Rose” refers to the circular diagram often used on maps and navigational instruments to display the cardinal directions: North, South, East and West. Historically, the maritime versions were ornate, resembling a rose. Compass Rose Brewery & Kitchen’s four compass points are the Malt, Hops, Yeast and Water – the essential ingredients of beer.

Plotting Our Course

Our visit to Compass Rose Brewery & Kitchen (CRB) revealed one pratical association with its moniker: some navigation expertise is required to find it. We could describe its location – near the NW intersection of Capital Blvd. and I-540 – but we suggest using your GPS for your first trip. While off the beaten path, our experience with the beer, the food and the staff proves that any effort needed to get here is well-rewarded.

A Little Romance

Jose Martinez, owner and founder, is a world traveler who started Compass Rose in 2015 with an international theme and a working motto of “globally inspired, locally brewed.” The large German beer hall-style taproom is one reflection of this theme. Another is the kitchen’s international menu, which includes a delicious range of South American and Mediterranean creations, as well as North American fare.

We met Head Brewer, Austin Nield, on a clear, cool October afternoon, and he explained he was in the midst of brewing, so would it be OK to talk in the brewery area? No arm-twisting needed! We beer nerds love a good show-and-tell.

Flights of Fancy and Food

Austin told us he has the latitude to make his own brewing decisions when it comes to new styles and variations and ingredients. But there are two flagships that he won’t mess with: Tidal Break West Coast IPA and Scott’s View Scottish Export Ale. Both of these fine beers are multiple gold and silver metal winners in US Open and NC Brewer’s Cup competitions. A trip to the taproom proved why – both beers are world-class examples of their respective styles.

Compass Rose has a wide spectrum of beer styles available on tap from the aforementioned flagships to a wonderful black lager and unique take on a Mexican amber lager. To balance out all the “compass points,” there is also a coffee/oatmeal porter, a Bohemian pilsner and two New England IPAs. Each one we sampled had distinct flavors with unique aromas and tantalizing mouthfeels. After we had tried six samples, we certainly felt as if we had traveled the four corners of the earth, experiencing beers from around the globe. See tasting notes below.

We also sampled the kitchen side of CRB. Hicham is the owner of the kitchen and is the chef responsible for the international menu. We settled in with our flight at the bar and then headed over to the kitchen side to order arepas and tacos, which were perfect pairings for several of the beers we tried. As we’ve said before, we are mainly focused on discovering the best beer NC has to offer, but if along the way, we have delicious spiced chicken enveloped in a crispy maize pastry, or juicy steak wrapped in a warm, soft tortilla, we will certainly give them a mention.

We were treated to what amounted to a personal brewery tour in mid-production mode. Austin and Assistant Brewer, Rachel Bernier, deftly balanced their brewing tasks with our conversation. In the process we got an in-depth history of Compass Rose and its flagship brews, a healthy dose of brewing and beer ingredient education, and a few beer samples pulled directly from bright tanks. We were in beer-nerd heaven.

What did we learn? In the Raleigh craft beer scene, Compass Rose is a relative veteran. In 10 years, they have had time to experience some turnover in the Head Brewer job, watch the local craft beer industry explode, and then see it contract in the post-Covid years. Austin has worn a number of hats as a CRB employee since 2018, ultimately assuming the role of Head Brewer in 2023. Rachel has a very impressive brewing resume of her own, and the two are clearly like-minded teammates.

Head Brewer Austin Nield pulls a sample from a tank.

Assistant Brewer Rachel Bernier let us snap a photo mid-brew.

Many Happy (Hoppy?) Returns

There were a few other early afternoon customers at Compass Rose enjoying the vibe and the quirky Halloween decorations around the taproom. As we continued to chat with Austin and then settled in with our food, we were “in the zone,” as they say. We felt a familiar sense of warmth and gratitude, which never gets old, no matter how many wonderful taprooms we experience. We suggest you make the trip to Compass Rose, where you’ll find a gathering place for food, beer, conversation and community. We predict you’ll have a “bon voyage” while you’re there.

NCBE's Beer Notes - Compass Rose Brewery

• Tidal Break (US Open Beer Championship 2021, 1st place; North Carolina Brewers Cup 2025, Gold)*

  • Style: WC IPA

  • ABV: 7%

  • Color: golden-yellow, clear

  • Aroma: citrusy, hoppy

  • Taste: grapefruit, guava, lime, piney sweetness

  • Mouthfeel: light, crisp, dry

  • Aftertaste: lightly bittery, pine

• Sawtooth

  • Style: NE IPA

  • ABV: 6.8%

  • Color: yellow

  • Aroma: grapefruit, malt, floral

  • Taste: grapefruit, lemon, mango, pine, light malt

  • Mouthfeel: light-medium

  • Aftertaste: balanced

• Northside Black Lager*

  • Style: Dark Lager

  • ABV: 5.3%

  • Color: deep brown, beige foam

  • Aroma: prune, hint of old leather

  • Taste: coffee, bittersweet chocolate, light tobacco

  • Mouthfeel: bubbly (fresh off of bright tank), medium

  • Aftertaste: pleasantly dry

• Scott’s View (2025 North Carolina Brewers Cup Gold; 2019 U.S. Open Beer Championship, Silver)*

  • Style: Scottish Ale

  • ABV: 6.4%

  • Color: deep amber brown

  • Aroma: Tootsie Roll™, caramel, malt

  • Taste: peaty, earthy, sweetish, caramel (like good Scotch Whiskey)

  • Mouthfeel: medium, off-sweet

  • Aftertaste: malty and smooth

• Azteca*

  • Style: Mexican Lager

  • ABV: 5%

  • Color: dark gold

  • Aroma: overripe tree fruit, apple cider vinegar, corn

  • Taste: honeycrisp apple, apricot, bread

  • Mouthfeel: refreshing, crushable

  • Aftertaste: light

• St. Joe*

  • Style: Imperial IPA

  • ABV: 7.5%

  • Color: bright yellow

  • Aroma: pineapple, floral, butterscotch

  • Taste: buttered kettle corn, tropical fruit, hard butterscotch candy

  • Mouthfeel: creamy

  • Aftertaste: light (for an Imperial), faintly sweet

*NCBE Two mugs up!

What do you think about Compass Rose?