NPR has called Asheville the "Napa Valley of Beer." Our beer scene features an amazing selection of bars, brewpubs, micro craft breweries, and cideries. Sample hundreds of local brews from 50+ western North Carolina mountain breweries. Asheville, per capita, has one of the highest rates of craft brew consumption in the Southeast. Accolades include being named Beer City USA for four years in a row. (Feature Photo: Green Man Brewery)
Here are our top picks for beer in the Asheville area. Many are located downtown within walking distance of each other (see our South Slope Brewing District Walking Tour). Also see the best downtown Asheville wine bars and cocktails.
Top Breweries, Beer Tours and Cideries in Asheville
Jackson County Ale Trail
For a more laid back, small town beer adventure, head to three cool towns near Asheville: Sylva, Dillsboro and Cashiers - home to six breweries with taprooms and restaurants.
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Black Mountain Cider & Mead
Crafting ciders and meads from local heirloom apples and honey, this cidery and meadery blend natural flavors for a robust and unique tasting experience. Enjoy small-batch cider flavors like Basil… More Information
Noble Cider Taproom
(356 New Leicester Highway, Asheville) Watch raw apples arriving for pressing, fresh apple juice being pumped into tanks ready for fermentation or the finished product being put into kegs or… More Information
Flat Rock Ciderworks
(305 North Main St, Hendersonville) Visit this tasting room in downtown to try their Wicked Peel and Blackberry Gold hard ciders made from local apples and blackberries from their nearby orchard.… More Information
Sierra Nevada Brewery
(100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River) See their impressive east coast brewery in south Asheville - complete with a taproom, big restaurant, free tours, events, and live music.
Bold Rock Hard Cider
(72 School House Road, Mills River) The biggest craft cider maker in the Carolinas has its cidery and tasting room just south of Asheville near the Sierra Nevada Brewery. Food truck and big… More Information
5 Must-Stop Breweries in Brevard, NC
See what's on tap at these top local breweries in Brevard that run the gamut in size, shape, and flavor profile, but all are must-stops for beer lovers!
Banner Elk Wineries & Breweries
The resort town of Banner Elk offers a nice selection of area wineries, including Banner Elk Winery, Grandfather Vineyard & Winery and Linville Falls Winery. You can also visit two craft… More Information
Asheville Brewing Company
(77 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, South Slope) In addition to their longtime favorites, their brewer series pushes the paradigm with amazing creations. Ask for a tour! In addition to great pizza, their… More Information
Frog Level Brewing Company
(56 Commerce Street, Waynesville) Taste some of the smoothest craft beer to touch your tongue, from the bite of their IPA to the smokiness of their Scotch Ale.
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Wedge Brewing Co
(37 Paynes Way and 5 Foundy Street, RAD / West Asheville) Located in a warehouse turned art studios in the River Arts District, this local's favorite neighborhood brewery serves classic styles… More Information
Oskar Blues Brewery
(342 Mountain Industrial Drive, Brevard) Oskar Blues' east coast brewery opened in 2012. The Tasty Weasel taproom is open daily with free tours of the brewery. Sample specialty draft ales,…
BearWaters Brewing
(130 Frazier St #7, Waynesville) Their full service Tap Room features 10 signature and rotating beers on tap. Start with a sampling flight paddle.
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Wicked Weed Brewery
(91 Biltmore Avenue, Asheville) This 15-barrel downtown brewhouse has a Tasting Room in the basement and another bar and restaurant upstairs with 20 beers on tap. They specialize in west coast-…
One World Brewing
(10 Patton Avenue, Asheville) Small-batch, hand-crafting nano-brewery and ale house located underneath the Farm Burger in downtown, near Pack Square. With a 1.5-barrel system with 10… More Information
Ginger's Revenge
(829 Riverside Drive, Asheville) A short drive north of downtown, this brewery specializes in gluten-free alcoholic ginger beers as well as grain-based brews. All organic ingredients,… More Information
Hi-Wire Brewing
(197 Hilliard, Asheville, South Slope; 2 Huntsman Place, Biltmore Village, and RAD Beer Garden at 284 Lyman St.) Hi-Wire is open every afternoon with year-round beers including Prime Time Pale Ale… More Information
New Belgium Brewing
(21 Craven Street, Asheville) Sample brews in the riverside Liquid Center Tasting Room, located just across the French Broad River from downtown Asheville. It has a huge lawn for kicking…
Highland Brewing Co.
(12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville) Visit the pioneers of craft beer in Asheville, brewing since 1994. Stop by their big Tasting Room to sample 15 brews every day of the week, along with live…
Black Mountain Ciderworks
(100 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain) Their Tasting Room has four ciders on tap, made from Henderson County apples.
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Urban Orchard Cidery
Visit one of the few “True Cider Bars” in the nation. Their taproom offers several varieties of their naturally gluten-free hard apple cider on tap. 24 Buxton Avenue in the South Slope district.… More Information
Green Man Brewery
(27 Buxton Avenue, Asheville, South Slope, and Dirty Jack's at 23 Buxton Avenue) Sample iconic ales loyal to traditional English-styles at one of the oldest breweries in NC. Their 3-story "… More Information
Nantahala Brewing Company
(61 Depot St, Bryson City) Nantahala Brewing Company’s inaugural beer is made with pale malt and a generous amount of crystal malts. Appalachian Trail Extra (ATX) Pale Ale is a lighter golden… More Information
Southern Appalachian Brewery
(822 Locust, Hendersonville) They specialize in making small batches of craft beer. Tasting Room downtown frequently has live music.
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Funkatorium Brewery
(147 Coxe Avenue, Asheville) Wicked Weed opened their nearby barrel house and sour tap room in the South Slope in late 2014 to store 1,000+ wine and bourbon barrels. They added a beer garden and…
Twin Leaf Brewery
(144 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, South Slope) Twin Leaf has a dozen beers on tap, classic Belgian, English and American-style ales and a rotating line up of lagers and other adventurous styles. Open… More Information
Fonta Flora Brewery
(317 North Green, Morganton) This microbrewery is striving to create a totally unique North Carolina/Appalachian style of beer. By utilizing local grains and foraging the countryside for wild… More Information
French Broad Brewing Co.
Sample their year-round European-style beers: the Wee-Heavy-Er Scotch Ale, 13 Rebels ESB, IPA, Ryehopper, Gateway Kolsch, and Anvil Porter. Tasting Room also has an assortment of… More Information
Archetype Brewing
Find easy drinking, clean Belgian and American-inspired ales in a taproom with games, community tables, live music, and a range of food options nearby in hip West Asheville. On Sunday in the… More Information
Innovation Brewing
(414 West Main, Sylva) They create traditional styles of ale and ol’ standbys, along with experimentation with a variety of fun and fresh ingredients for unique styles.
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Pisgah Brewing Company
(2948 US Highway 70, Black Mountain) is located in Black Mountain about 10 miles east of Asheville. They specialize in brewing hand crafted certified organic beer. Try the Pisgah Solstice, a… More Information
Whistle Hop Brewing Company
(1288 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview) Located 15 minutes from downtown Asheville, this dog friendly taproom is housed in two retired train cars surrounded by a deck with mountain views and outdoor… More Information
Oyster House Brewing Company
(625 Haywood Road, West Asheville) Oyster House creates craft beer in various styles, including their award-winning "Moonstone Stout" brew with oysters (shell and all) as an ingredient to give… More Information
Burial Beer Brewery
(40 Collier Avenue, Asheville, South Slope and Forestry Camp, at 10 Shady Oak Drive) Burial once focused on Belgian ales and German lagers, but now you can try pale ales, non-alcoholic pilsners… More Information
Asheville & WNC Beer Festivals
Tryon Beer Fest
A festive time with outdoor oyster roast, games, live music, and a great selection of craft beers and ciders. Downtown Tryon. Noon-6 PM. Tickets capped at 1,000.
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