Lone Rider has started to make some decent brews. Improved on their consistency. They have a tap room out near the Angus Barn, but no food.
They don't serve food directly but they typically have a truck there that offers food. They have a limited release beer right now called Belle Star that's excellent. The hours can be kinda tough though only being open Thursday through Saturday. It was crazy there this past Saturday but otherwise it's typically 20-30 people tops.
My two most important items are good local/craft beer and then Dart Boards, good food would be a welcome plus.
If Im downtown, my favorite is Natty Greenes they have all three including a brewpub with great craft beer, Napper tandys doesnt have have a brewpub but they have everything else, Then the Flying Saucer again doesn't have the brewpub but great beers.
If I'm in Cary it would be the upper deck (kind of a dive bar), good food and beer, or Rally Point for the same benefits.
Wake forest it would be O'Mulligans, good beer and food and darts.
great place for local brew nothing being made around here is bad, some better than others obviously, Im part of the NC brewers guild, great source for everything local... asheville is booming for beer too
Favorite NC breweries Foothills, French Broad and Aviator right now, both have solid line of beers and quality seasonals
You cant go wrong with Flying Saucer. Tons of beer and the Cheboygan Side by side~ giggity- goo
Big Boss has a pretty chill taproom- you can get takeout delivered there for food, but the beer and atmosphere is what you should go for. The Aces & Ates Coffee Stout is sick! Cherry Bomb Grill is is pretty beer friendly, and if you love Belgians- def. check out The Raleigh Times. If you need food too- try the Busy Bee Cafe. All in Raleigh- safer than Durham!
This is great, there are so many breweries/brewpubs in the area, I could hope to visit them all. On top of that, I make my own, and personally I think mine are better then most. ;-) Hell I guess in a few months I could call my house a brewpub, we are moving and Im setting up a brewstation and wet bar in the finished basement with darts, maybe a pool table is in the future.
Since others have mentioned places that aren't strictly brewpubs, should checkout the Village Draft House in Cameron Village in Raleigh. Hard to beat 99 beers on tap... Food is decent too.
Along the same lines, Player's retreat has a decent selection, decent food, and the best single malt collection in the area.