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Beer Lover's Guide to Asheville Breweries
Asheville, North Carolina is a top beer destination. Don't miss any great spots in the city by using this complete guide.
Located in the beautiful Blue Ridge Mountains Asheville, North Carolina is a great destination for outdoor adventures and hiking in Pisgah National Forest, but, while there, one can also take in the vibrant culture and art scene while enjoying the terrific culinary options as well as epic selection of craft beer. As such, this lovely is deserving of a Beer Lover's Guide to Asheville Breweries.
Asheville is among the best craft beer destinations in the South, and it has more than 30 breweries to enjoy – many offering a welcoming taproom experience and, of course, flawlessly-executed beer.
In addition to the breweries, there’s also many bars and pubs worth checking out including The Whale: A Craft Beer Collective, Jack of the Wood, The Bier Garden and Creekside Taphouse, to name a few.
In this story, we’ve outlined a range of the best breweries the city has to offer, and we hope you use this a guide to exploring the finest brews in this North Carolina locale.
Burial Beer Co.
Burial Beer Co., named with inspiration from New Orleans, has two Asheville locations – both offering a variety of IPAs, Sours and Stouts on draft, in addition to wine, cocktails and food. Whenever a limited-release bottle drops here, you better arrive early or you’ll have to fend off long lines at this extremely hyped (with good reason) Asheville institution.
Multiple locations, 828-475-2739, burialbeer.com
Bhramari Brewing Co.
Many of the inventive beers at Bhramari Brewing Co. are culinary-inspired, such as a French toast-inspired stout, a Berliner Weisse with strawberries and shortbread cookies and Cheesecake stout. This dog- and kid-friendly brewery offers an outdoor and indoor space, where you’ll find many collaboration brews in addition to their own.
101 S. Lexington Ave, 828-214-7981, bhramaribrewing.com
DSSOLVR
DSSOLVR strives to blend old-school and new-school brews, which results in an eclectic tap list ranging from dry Irish stouts, easy-drinking kölschs to a bourbon-barrel aged imperial turtle stout and a strawberry white chocolate sour ale. This fairly new establishment also produces wine and cider on its quest to “brew until surreal.”
63 N. Lexington Ave., dssolvr.com
Wicked Weed Brewing
The jewel of the Asheville’s brewing scene, Wicked Weed has multiple locations in the city: a 50-barrel production brewery houses a taproom with tours available, the original spot is a brewpub with a beer bar, full restaurant, bottle shop and brewery and last but far from least, The Funkatorium, located on South Slope, is a dedicated sour beer taproom, featuring dozens of delightfully tart (and often Funkatorium-exclusive) brews.
Multiple locations, wickedweedbrewing.com
Twin Leaf Brewery
Located in Asheville’s South Slope area, Twin Leaf Brewery is a dog-friendly brewery with rotating beers as well as guest ciders and wine. If the eclectic beer list isn’t enough to entertain you, there’s also shuffleboard, giant Jenga and other games to keep you occupied (but the beer should keep you plenty engaged).
144 Cox Ave., twinleafbrewery.com, 828-774-5000
Sierra Nevada Taproom + Restaurant
Featuring one of the most beautiful outdoor spaces any brewery has to offer, this Southern outpost for one of the biggest craft breweries in the world is perhaps the biggest “destination” brewery on this list. With a vast campus that encompasses a river, a spacious taproom and copious outdoor imbibing spots, this is a spot not to miss. While this Sierra Nevada location is actually located outside of the Asheville city limits in Fletcher, North Carolina, it’s only a short jaunt from downtown so it would be an oversight to exclude it from this list.
100 Sierra Nevada Way, Fletcher, NC 28732, sierranevada.com/visit/north-carolina/taproom, 828-708-6242
Asheville Brewing Co.
The three locations of Asheville Brewing Company all offer something unique. In addition to serving beer and pizza both inside and out, the North Asheville location has a dine-in movie theater. The Downtown location offers 15 taps, an outdoor courtyard, roof top patio and their own taco truck on-site. Grab a slice of pizza and a variety of beers from the South location. There are vegan and vegetarian options and inventive pies, such as The Magic Dragon with a coconut crust, curry tofu or chicken topped with a sweet chili sauce.
Multiple locations, ashevillebrewing.com
Featuring one of the best most beautiful The three locations of Asheville Brewing Company all offer something unique. In addition to serving beer and pizza both inside and out, the North Asheville location has a dine-in movie theater. The Downtown location offers 15 taps, an outdoor courtyard, roof top patio and their own taco truck on-site. Grab a slice of pizza and a variety of beers from the South location. There are vegan and vegetarian options and inventive pies, such as The Magic Dragon with a coconut crust, curry tofu or chicken topped with a sweet chili sauce.
Green Man Brewery
One of Asheville’s oldest breweries (founded in 1997), Green Man Brewery creates iconic ales and is especially recognized for crafting traditional English styles, like the brewery’s award-winning Green Man Porter. The indoor/outdoor taproom overlooks the Blue Ridge Mountains and offers taproom-exclusive beers that you can only get on-site.
Multiple locations, greenmanbrewery.com, 828-989-7453
Catawba Brewing Co.
Named for western North Carolina’s Catawba River, Catawba Brewing Company has five locations throughout the state – two in Asheville as well as outposts in Wilmington, Morgantown and Charlotte.
The brewery’s South Slope location is dog-friendly, and the Biltmore Village location has axe-throwing. Both offer unique brews, such as the Lemon-Ginger White Zombie, an award-winning double dry-hopped IPA, the cereal-inspired Honey Combed Breakfast Stout and a Plum Sour Red Ale.
Multiple Locations, catawbabrewing.com
Wedge Brewing Co.
Wedge Brewing has two locations within Asheville’s River Arts District, one of which is on the ground level of a three-story studio for various artists. The brewery offers Margarita Gose, Italian Pilsner and Cherry Raspberry Wheat as lighter options to go along with a Belgian Strong Golden Ale, Russian Imperial Stout and Belgian Quad.
Multiple locations, wedgebrewing.com
Oskar Blues Tasty Weasel Taproom + Brewery
Another Southern outpost from a major player in craft brewing, CANarchy’s Oskar Blues Tasty Weasel Taproom + Brewery is a terrific spot for events and features a beautiful outdoor patio and drinking space with mountain views next to the company’s production brewery. Tours are available and recommended, as the smell of hops is truly intoxicating as you make your way to the Tasty Weasel for a celebratory pint (or four). Once again, this location is just outside of Asheville in Brevard, North Carolina, so it’s not too much of a stretch to include it.
342 Mountain Industrial Dr, Brevard, NC 28712, oskarblues.com/location/brevard-nc-oskar-blues-taproom, 828-883-2337
Highland Brewing Co.
Highland Brewing Company is home to the 6th-largest solar array of all independent, craft breweries in the U.S., which can be spotted from the rooftop bar. Year-round brews include a variety of IPAs ranging from tropical juicy citrus, hazy IPAs, imperial IPAs and Daycation session IPA, but seasonals and a myriad of limited-release beers are also produced.
12 Old Charlotte Highway, 828-299-3370, highlandbrewing.com
Hillman Beer
Hillman Beer’s Asheville location has plenty of outdoor seating for sipping the Hills & Oats Oatmeal Stout, Mommabeer Brown and Extra Special Bitter, among many others. Ingredients from local farms are used in the food options of sandwiches and salads. Leashed and well-behaved dogs are also welcome on the outdoor patio, too.
25 Sweeten Creek Rd, 828-505-1312, hillmanbeer.com
Whistle Hop Brewing Co.
This train-themed brewery is ensconced in two late 1960s train cars, adding to its rustic appeal. The three-acre outdoor space at Whistle Hop has tons of outdoor activities to enjoy – mini golf, disc golf, bocce ball, mini bowling, giant connect four, a fire pit, charcoal grills and picnic tables. The outdoor area is family- and pet-friendly with views of the surrounding mountains.
1288 Charlotte Hwy, 828-338-9447, whistlehop.com
Hi-Wire Brewing
Hi-Wire Brewing produces award-winning beer that’s balanced and approachable. Three Asheville locations include a 27,000-square-foot production brewery and taproom with a permanent food truck, a 2,700-square-foot South Slope taproom and a 5,000-sqaure-foot outdoor beer garden with 24 beers on tap.
Multiple locations, hiwirebrewing.com
Sweeten Creek Brewing
Sweeten Creek Brewing makes small-batch, seasonal and year-round beers – a session IPA, brown ale, hazy IPA and more. Sweeten Creek is also home to Bears Smokehouse BBQ serving barbecue favorites, such as pulled pork, brisket, mac and cheese and even vegan options, including smoked portobellos and vegan meatloaf.
1127 Sweeten Creek Rd., 828-575-2785, sweetencreekbrewing.com
Eurisko Beer Company
Located in Downtown Asheville, Eurisko brews an eclectic range of brews – a rice IPA, a coffee and cacao imperial stout and a double-dry hopped milkshake DIPA with vanilla and lime zest. The taproom also offers wine and cider options for non-beer drinkers.
255 Short Coxe Ave., 828-774-5055, euriskobeer.com
Thirsty Monk Brewery
Thirsty Monk Brewery has grown to include multiple locations throughout Asheville, each offering something unique. The Biltmore location has plenty of beer-friendly food pairing options, including bratwurst, fish and chips, soft pretzels and burgers and fries.
Multiple locations, thirsty-monk-brewery.square.site
New Belgium Brewing Co.
Another Western transplant, this New Belgium location is situated directly on the French Broad River for eminently picturesque views and plentiful selfie opportunities. The beers, of course, are tremendous are range from the brewery’s famed Voodoo Ranger series along with classics like Fat Tire and La Folie. The brewery’s Fruit Smash seltzer series is also represented along with a rotating variety of food trucks. A terrific destination brewery, this Coloradoan outpost feels right at home in NC.
21 Craven St, newbelgium.com/visit/asheville, 828-333-6900
White Labs Brewing Co.
The goal at White Labs Brewing Co. is to create beer that offers insight into new yeast strains along with classic strains. Even the pizza dough for wood-fired pizza is fermented for 72 hours and leavened with a particular yeast that is also found in some of the brewery’s beers. The Asheville location also has local guest taps, cider, cocktails along with mocktails and wine.
172 S. Charlotte Street, 828-974-3868, whitelabsbrewingco.com/asheville-nc/
Cellarest Beer Project
Farmhouse-inspired beers are fermented in wooden barrels at Cellarest Beer Project, combining old-world techniques with new-world technologies. Beers rotate regularly, with offerings such as The Snack Stout being fermented in cherrywood and conditioned on vanilla beans and coffee from Cooperative Roasters being representative of the experimental bent the brewery takes when crafting its offerings.
395 Haywood Road, cellarestbeer.com
One World Brewing
One World Brewing has two Asheville locations to enjoy, which all feature terrific brews like All Along the Hop Sour, Woodvale Amber Ale and many others. The downtown location has a cozy, speakeasy feel, while the location in West Asheville has an outdoor patio with a stage and bar, along with a taproom atop the 10-barrel brewhouse.
Multiple locations, oneworldbrewing.com
Archetype Brewing
Archetype Brewing wants to push the boundaries of traditional brewing to create beers that are complex – like a two-year barrel-aged farmhouse ale with seyval blanc grapes, a Belgian tripel aged in white wine barrels for 15 months and a coffee porter brewed with local cold brew to name a few. The original location (Archetype – West) has both dog-friendly indoor and outdoor seating, and the downtown location has the addition of wine and locally made charcuterie.
Multiple locations, archetypebrewing.com
UpCountry Brewing Co.
UpCountry Brewing Company has two North Carolina locations, serving up creative brews, such as Land Down Under IPA brewed with Australian yeast and New Zealand hops, Chocolate Covered Strawberry Milkshake IPA, Raspberry Beret Tart Ale and Black Rye Lager. The West Asheville taproom has a dog-friendly outdoor area, full bar and live music.
1042 Haywood Road, 828-575-2400, upcountrybrewing.com
Cursus Keme
Cursus Keme is a great spot for soaking up Asheville’s outdoor vibes with a beer garden and picnic tables. You can enjoy a variety of rotating beers such as a Double IPA, Smokey Dunkelrauchdoppelbock, multiple lagers and a tasty hefeweizen while listening to live music and noshing on dishes from local food trucks.
155 Thompson Street, 828-412-5193, cursuskeme.com
Asheville is among the best beer cities in the U.S., and with nearly 9,000 in the country, that’s no small feat. The city’s downtown area is immensely walkable and the city is close to a variety of notable landmarks, so plan a beercation that involves Asheville in order to explore as many of these breweries as you can. You won’t regret it!