Sneaky Penguin Brewing

The brewery describes itself as family friendly, and we quickly saw what that meant. During our visit, young families filled the taproom with everyone from newborns to toddlers. A chocolate Labrador patiently accepted attention from anyone willing to offer a scratch behind the ears, while a beautiful Golden Retriever quietly celebrated a birthday with what appeared to be a pizza made especially for dogs. Everywhere we looked, people seemed comfortable, relaxed, and happy to be exactly where they were.

The Basics

Location: 7449 Six Forks Road, Raleigh, NC 27615

Parking: shopping center lot

Website: sneakypenguinbrewing.com

Social media: facebook.com/Sneakypenguinbrewing, instagram.com/sneakypenguinbrewing

Vibe/Atmosphere: Inviting, casual, comfortable, family and dog-friendly. Neighborhood hangout.

Beers We Tried: Yellow Umbrella, Berry Blonde, Forgot the Milk, Mumble, Easy Mode, Sawmill, Flippin Fast, High Seas, Wing It, Southern Rockhopper

Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends! Follow these simple tips for safer consumption.

Although owners Chris and Becky Nadeau were away during our visit, they made sure Taproom Manager Jacob knew we were coming. He greeted us warmly before returning to the steady stream of customers that filled the bar throughout the evening. Along with the rest of the taproom staff, he kept everything moving smoothly while still making guests feel welcome—a balance that's harder to achieve than it looks.

Putting down roots

Chris, a longtime homebrewer, and Becky opened Sneaky Penguin in 2022 with the goal of creating a neighborhood brewery where great beer and community could grow side by side. Judging by the crowd we encountered, that vision seems to have taken root. Instead of feeling like a place people simply stop for a beer, Sneaky Penguin felt like a place people naturally gather at the end of the workweek.

That welcoming atmosphere is supported by a tap list that offers something for nearly every palate. Rather than focusing on a single specialty, Sneaky Penguin embraces a wide variety of styles, giving guests the chance to explore everything from crisp lagers and hop-forward IPAs to Belgian ales and darker offerings.

Let's Spend Some Time Together

Some breweries are built around a brewing philosophy. Others are built around a destination.

After spending a Friday evening at Sneaky Penguin Brewing Company in North Raleigh, we came away with the impression that this brewery was built around something even simpler: creating a place where people genuinely enjoy spending time together.

By the time we arrived around 5 p.m., the taproom was already buzzing. Every booth seemed occupied, conversations flowed easily, and the brewhouse gleamed behind the bar as people and pints made their way to waiting tables. Despite the crowd, nothing felt hurried or chaotic. There was an easy rhythm to the room that invited people to settle in rather than rush through a drink and head home.

Friday night at Sneaky Penguin in North Raleigh feels buzzy yet blissful.

This charming canine was celebrating his birthday at Sneaky Penguin. His faux "pizza" was short-lived.

Their parents allowed us to snap a picture of these absolutely beautiful toddlers. They look AI-generated – but they're real.

Grain Expectations

Three beers, in particular, stood out to our group.

High Seas Mexican Lager was bright, refreshing, and carried a lively citrus character that seemed perfectly suited for a hot North Carolina afternoon.

Yellow Umbrella New England IPA offered generous tropical aromas, a rich, pillowy mouthfeel, and enough balanced bitterness to keep the fruit character from becoming overly sweet.

Our favorite surprise, however, was Mumble Tripel. Rich notes of caramel and butterscotch gave way to subtle hints of honey, herbs, and a faint smokiness that made it a beer worth lingering over.

Sneaky Penguin doesn't serve food, but that's hardly a limitation. Its location in Celebration at Six Forks places it within easy walking distance of restaurants serving everything from Mexican and Chinese cuisine to pizza and sandwiches, making it easy to turn an afternoon visit into an entire evening out.

Heading Home

As we gathered our things and headed to dinner, we realized we'd stayed considerably longer than we'd planned. Part of that was the beer, certainly, but an equally important part was simply enjoying the atmosphere around us. Families laughed together, friends caught up after work, dogs made new admirers, and no one seemed in much of a hurry to leave.

For us, that may be Sneaky Penguin's greatest strength. It has become more than a brewery serving good beer. It has become a neighborhood gathering place, where regulars, newcomers, children, and four-legged companions all seem equally at home.

NCBE's Beer Notes - Sneaky Penguin Brewing

• Yellow Umbrella *

  • Style: NEIPA

  • ABV: 6.7%

  • Color: Hazy yellow/gold, light foam head

  • Aroma: Tropical fruit, citrus

  • Taste: Tropical fruit, grapefruit, bitter

  • Mouthfeel: Full body, med carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Tropical. bitter

  • Overall: This was our favorite. Flavor intensity of an Imperial NEIPA with lower ABV. Chewy and highly drinkable.

• Berry Blonde

  • Style: Fruited Blonde Ale

  • ABV: 5%

  • Color: Brown/gold, hazy

  • Aroma: Berry, dank undertone, light foam head

  • Taste: Sour/bitter berry, honey, light caramel malt

  • Mouthfeel: light body, high carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Same as taste

• Forgot the Milk

  • Style: Lactose-Free Milk Stout

  • ABV: 6.2%

  • Color: Black, lt foam head

  • Aroma: Coffee, smoke, chocolate, tobacco

  • Taste: Same as nose plus vanilla, dry

  • Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation, dry

  • Aftertaste: Coffee, tobacco

• Mumble *

  • Style: Belgian Style Tripel Ale

  • ABV: 9.2%

  • Color: Gold, clear, light foam head

  • Aroma: Caramel malt, cardamon

  • Taste: “Werthers Original Caramel” (caramel and butterscotch), smoke, bitter, cardamon, honey

  • Mouthfeel: Medium body and carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Bitter

  • Overall: Wonderfully complex. Scary drinkable!

• Easy Mode

  • Style: Session IPA

  • ABV: 5.2%

  • Color: Gold, hazy

  • Aroma: Light citrus

  • Taste: Mild flavor profile with range of tropical and citrus notes

  • Mouthfeel: Refreshing

  • Aftertaste: Mildly bitter
    

• Sawmill

  • Style: American IPA

  • ABV: 6.5%

  • Color: Amber, clear

  • Aroma: Malt, umami

  • Taste: Citrus and light pine, bitter, umami

  • Mouthfeel: Light body, med. carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Same as taste

• Flippin Fast

  • Style: Lager

  • ABV: 4.9%

  • Color: Staw, clear, lt foam head

  • Aroma: Biscuity malt

  • Taste: Nutty, earthy, nice sharp bite

  • Mouthfeel: Crisp, light body, high carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Mildly bitter

• High Seas *

  • Style: Mexican Lager

  • ABV: 5.2%

  • Color: Straw, clear, light foam head

  • Aroma: Lime zest, cracker malt

  • Taste: Sour/tart, lime, salt, minerally

  • Mouthfeel: Light and crisp

  • Aftertaste: bittery

  • Overall: Distinctive representation of the style, crushable

• Wing It

  • Style: Hazy IPA

  • ABV: 6.5%

  • Color: Pale yellow, hazy

  • Aroma: Grapefruit, tropical fruit

  • Taste: herbal, grapefruit, tropical fruit

  • Mouthfeel: Medium body, light carbonation

  • Aftertaste: Citrus, bitter

• Southern Rockhopper

  • Style: Brown Ale w/Coffee

  • ABV: 5.8%

  • Color: Dark amber, light foam

  • Aroma: Roasted coffee beans

  • Taste: Roasted coffee beans

  • Mouthfeel: Roasted coffee beans

  • Aftertaste: Bitter

*NCBE Two mugs up!

What do you think about Sneaky Penguin Brewing?