Brew-Hoppers Guide to WNC
Most people aren’t aware that Western North Carolina is the brewing capital of the Southeast. In fact, on just about any day of the year, one can select from nearly two hundred locally brewed craft beers. From dark rich porters and stouts, to hoppy golden ales, there is something perfect for every beer drinker!
Asheville Breweries
Archetype Brewing, established in 2017, is located in West Asheville at 265 Haywood Road. Founders Brad Casanova and Steven Anan bring background and experience from years of work in both Colorado and Western North Carolina. Together, they created a company based on simple, but powerful principles.
Asheville Brewing Co. is a local micro-brewery specializing in hand-crafted delicious ales, now with three locations throughout Asheville. Try the Shiva IPA, the flagship beer with a flowery nose and hoppy finish. The patio is the place to be during the summer, and with the heaters on in the winter, you can play corn hole or ladder golf any time of year! The wait staff is friendly and attentive, and the music they play is top-notch! It also serves great pizza and other delicious food.
Located at 12 Old Charlotte Hwy., Asheville Distilling Company features free distillery tours for the whole family on Fridays and Saturdays at 5:00 pm and 6:00 pm. The distillery is known for its Troy & Sons American Moonshine.
Ben’s Tune Up is located in the South Slope Neighborhood of downtown Asheville, and is home to an urban beer garden, full service restaurant, sake brewery, convenience store & Foothills Butchery.
Blue Mountain Pizza and Brewpub:
Blue Mountain Pizza is a true treasure in the quaint town of Weaversville, NC, just a few miles north of Asheville. Very friendly staff, and a great menu to choose from.
Burial Beer brews favorites such as Skillet Donut Stout, Scythe Rye Pale & Bolo Coconut Brown Ale on the larger system while experimenting on our 1 barrel, pilot system.
Burial Beer Co.’s Forestry Camp Taproom:
The Forestry Camp Taproom features over 24 taps, a full-service kitchen highlighting approachable American dishes inspired by our Asheville terroir, a wonderful cocktail list, and a highly-curated selection of wine including the latest from our VISUALS winery.
Catawba Brewing’s third location opened in 2015 at 32 Banks Avenue on the South Slope brewery district of Asheville. The space is 5,600 square feet and features many reclaimed materials for the seating and cooler wrap. The space has two distinct bar areas. The great hall has 24 taps and an indoor/outdoor space. The Rickhouse, or barrel room, has 5-6 barrel aged beers on tap. An outdoor seating area completes the location.
Named for George Vanderbilt’s beloved Saint Bernard, Cedric, this warm, relaxing tavern overlooks the village green at Antler Hill Village. The décor, ambience, and menu pay tribute to the neighborhood pubs of Britain and Ireland. Enjoy satisfying pub fare alongside robustly flavored American and global cuisine presented with Biltmore flair. On tap are Biltmore’s own Cedric’s Pale Ale and Cedric’s Brown Ale.
Located near Tunnel Road, Cursus Kĕmē is a beer garden and brewery with custom-made equipment. Visitors can expect to find beer of every style, made using grain from Riverband Malt ouse.
Green Man Brewery’s Dirty Jack’s is nestled in a brewery so you can enjoy a pint while observing the legendary Green Man brewers in action. Dirty Jack’s has an outdoor patio and welcomes all, including your kids and especially dogs. Please bring your domesticated ones leashed.
DSSOLVR is scheduled to open on Friday, Dec. 13, 2019 at 63 N. Lexington Ave. The craft brewery focuses on collaborating with local and regional artisans to bring you equal amounts of old school and new school. In addition to beer, they also offer a whole smattering of wine, cider, mead, and non-alcoholic beverages.
French Broad Brewing Company is nestled near Biltmore in Asheville. Since opening their doors in 2001, the goal has been to create traditional European style beers while maintaining the unique flavor that is Asheville. If you like Extra Special Bitter, then 13 Rebels ESB is for you. A bright copper color with a complex malt palate is complemented by traditional British hops, notably East Kent Golding.
Ginger’s Revenge Craft Brewery:
Ginger’s Revenge specializes in alcoholic ginger beers, which are all naturally gluten-free.
Green Man offers a legendary line of beers for your enjoyment. Locally brewed a few blocks from the pub, Green Man Brewery crafts the finest English-style ales in the region, under the watchful eye of the resident brewer, John Stuart. English and Belgian yeasts and specialty grains give these beers their unique appeal and distinctive style. Don’t forget to ask about the mustard!
Highland Brewing Company is one of the largest brewing operation in Asheville. They brew some of the finest and freshest ales in the Southeast. For fifteen years, they have produced an impressive array of ales, from the best-selling Gaelic to the popular winter seasonal, Cold Mountain Ale. Feeling like a full flavored dark brew? We suggest you try the Black Mocha Stout.
Hillman Beer is a family-owned production brewery and taproom with an on-site restaurant and outdoor space. The company opened at 25 Sweeten Creek Rd. in 2017
Located in downtown Asheville’s Brew District, Hi-Wire Brewing embraces its craft from top to bottom – from its hand-produced beers to its artwork, hand-drawn by a local artist. Hi-Wire’s light-hearted circus theme embodies the fun, authenticity, and creativity of this deep-rooted craft.
Located alongside the French Broad at 21 Craven St., New Belgium’s state-of-the-art facility is open for tours and its tasting room is serving its best offerings. Stop by today to see what the fuss is all about.
Located at 356 New Leicester Hwy, just 2 miles from Patton Ave, Noble Cider specializes in unique ciders, cysers and meads. Noble Cider is “True to the Core”!
One World Brewing is a small-batch hand-craft nano-brewery and ale house. It is located at 10 Patton Avenue in downtown Asheville (in the basement beneath Farm Burger), with a second location opening in West Asheville in 2018. One World’s mission is to inspire our community and our region to participate and get involved with solutions to environmental and political issues that effect us all.
Located in West Asheville, The Oyster House Brewing Company is small micro brewery devoted to producing high quality, unique ales for beer and seafood lovers. Looking to try something a little different? Give the Moonestone Stout a shoot, its actually brewed with oysters… shell and all. Though there is no oyster taste present in the brew, but it adds sea salt and calcium to the recipe.
Riverside Rhapsody is a small craft brewery that provides Woodfin and the surrounding communities with a casual and comfortable community hub and local “watering hole.”
Sierra Nevada in Mills River opened its east coast brewery in South Asheville in 2015 with a taproom, brewery, and restaurant. Visit the Taproom to sample one of their 23 beers on tap, many produced just a few feet from the restaurant.
Sweeten Creek Brewing is located at 1127 Sweeten Creek Road (in South Asheville) and opened in late 2015. The location features a sandwich shop which is open during regular hours. The brewery is the product of a collaboration between Joey and Erica Justice and Chad Gibson.
Thirsty Monk South is tucked in a back space at the Thirsty Monk South pub in Gerber Village on Hendersonville Road. They also have a location downtown Asheville. In addition to the hand crafted brews available, Thirsty Monk offers over sixty rotating taplines, a mouthwatering Food Menu, weekly specials and Team Trivia!
All Sevens Brewing was established in 2018 as the brainchild of Westville Pub with a philosophy of keeping it simple and consistent. House beers are brewed using a 5-barrel system, and the specialties include IPA, amber, porter, stout, Irish red, and a golden ale.
Located at 144 Coxe Avenue, on the corner of Coxe and Banks in the South Slope of downtown Asheville! (Entrance on Banks Avenue)
Urban Orchard Cider Co. and Bar:
Urban Orchard Cider Company is a local, family-owned hard cider production company and tasting room located in West Asheville at 210 Haywood Road. One of only a handful of “True Cider Bars” in the nation, their taproom and bar provides house made, delicious, craft hard apple cider, guest bottles of hard cider, local beer, wine, and gluten-free/dairy-free snacks.
A boutique restaurant and tasting room featuring fermented foods and beverages, White Labs Kitchen & Tap opened in 2017 at 172 South Charlotte St
Wicked Weed brewing is a new local brewery at 91 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville, NC. Wicked Weed is an unexpected name for a gathering point that celebrates unexpected beer. Agreeable beer with a bit of a rebellious steak.
Zebulon Artisan Ales is a small production brewery with a sweet little tasting area that is open on Fridays and Saturdays from 1-6 pm. They are closed on other days in order to brew or bottle. Zebulon Artisan Ales is located in downtown Weaverville which is just ten minutes from downtown Asheville.
Black Mountain Breweries
Lookout Brewing consists of glorified home brewers – having fun and making good beers – one small batch at a time. Watch them brew while you relax at their bar located at 103 S. Ridgeway Ave in Black Mountain.
Pisgah Brewing Company is located in beautiful Black Mountain, North Carolina just miles from Americas most precious watersheds. Specializing in craft brews made with all-organic grains and malts, Pisgah Brewing’s flagship beer – Pisgah Pale Ale – is a staple of the Asheville, NC beer scene.
Brevard Breweries
Oskar Blues Brewery is located in Brevard, NC, about thirty miles south of Asheville. They specialize in brewing great craft beer. Oskar Blues chose to open a brewery in Brevard because of its small, intimate location which allows them to invest in a small town that shares their passions.
Hendersonville Breweries
Nano-brewery focusing on hop-forward IPAs, crisp lagers, and locally fruited sours. Located at 147 1st Ave E, Hendersonville, NC 28792 in downtown Hendersonville.
Southern Appalachian Brewing is a local micro brewery based in downtown Hendersonville, about twenty miles south of Asheville. Their tasting rom is family friendly and friendly dog friendly. In addition to their wide variety beer and wine, they also sell soda and bottled water for non-drinkers and under 21s. Also be sure to check out their big, huge soft pretzels. Southern Appalachian Brewing also allows you to bring your own meal from your favorite restaurant, or simply bring your picnic baskets from home.
Waynesville Breweries
Frog Level Brewing is located at the gateway of the Smokies in Waynesville, North Carolina. Their beers are distinct in their attitude and ingredients; brewed with wholesome grains and fresh hops. Be sure to try out their Tadpole Porter, with barley, fresh hops, and oatmeal, and also try their Catcher in the Rye, crafted with rye and blasted with hops to form a beautiful red ale.
Upstate South Carolina Breweries
Born in the foothills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, “Greenville’s Brew-Pub” continues to pay homage to one simple creed, to provide its customers the very best experience! The existing brewery at 217 Main in downtown Greenville is currently closed; however, it’s soon set to return to a new location!
Carolina Bauernhaus Ales is a farmhouse brewery located in downtown Anderson at 115 West Federal Street and serves European style farmhouse ales. Their hand crafted ales pay homage to the rich agricultural resources of the Upstate by using locally sourced malt, grains, yeast, and hops.
Ciclops Cyderi & Brewery, formerly known as Hub City Taphouse, is located in downtown Spartanburg at 197 East St. John St. They make both beer and craft cider. They have great events and a wonderful environment which provides for a fun night out.
Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant:
The popular Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant has set down roots in Greenville, SC. It is a regional brewpub which with an extensive kitchen menu and several unique beers on tap. Their Greenville location opened in May 2018 at 741 Haywood Rd.
RJ Rockers Brewing Company opened its doors in Spartanburg, South Carolina, in April 1997, on a mission to provide delicious, hand-crafted beer to the good people of the Upstate. Originally a brewpub, Rockers quickly became the soul of downtown nightlife and served as a catalyst for the revitalization of Morgan Square.
Located on Main Street in Travelers Rest, Swamp Rabbit Brewery is a creation of Ben Pierson, a.k.a. the godfather of beer. For those of you who don’t know the master brewer, Ben is a classically trained brewer, honing his craft in Germany. All in all, the godfather has over 30 years experience and has installed over 20 craft breweries across the country.
The Community Tap, located in Greenville at 217 Wade Hampton Blvd., is known for its wine, beer, food trucks, festivals, and more.
Thomas Creek brews, located in Greenville, SC, are artfully handcrafted – with the finest malted barley, hops and yeast. To shotgun a tasty, flavorful beer such as ours would be akin to shooting skeet with vintage Johnny Cash records or playing Jimi Hendrix on a ukulele.
Looking for more happenings in the area? Check out Asheville.com’s comprehensive visitor center.
We updated our brewery list on December 17, 2024. Did we miss a brewery? Contact us if so and we’ll add it to the list!