I’m an Asheville native with insights into the absolute best breweries in Asheville!
Asheville, NC has been named “Beer City, USA” four times, and with over 50 breweries, it’s the beer capital of the Southeast. Trust me, sampling some local beer is one of the best experiences in Asheville.
In this guide, you’ll discover what the top breweries are known for, and learn why Asheville has one seriously hopping beer scene (pun intended). I’ll also point you to some local favorites that you won’t find featured anywhere else!
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18 Best Asheville Breweries
Highland Brewing Company
Asheville’s first and oldest brewery was created by the city’s very own “godfather of beer.”
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Highland Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Served Nearby / Food Trucks Nearby | 📞 (828) 299-3370
Highland Brewing Company opened its doors in 1994 and paved the way for Asheville’s infamous craft beer scene. This Asheville brewing company is known as the oldest and first legal brewery in Asheville. Today, it’s one of the largest family-owned breweries in the Southeast.
Highland Brewing Company offers a range of beer styles, so there’s something for everyone. Its Gaelic Ale, Highland Pilsner, and Oatmeal Porter are popular and available year-round. The brewery also offers seasonal and limited-release beers. Getting a flight is the best way to sample them all.
There are two taproom locations. One is 15 minutes southeast of downtown and the other is downtown inside S&W Market. Hands down, Highland Brewing is a great place to start your Asheville beer journey.
📚 Related Reading: Highland Brewing is where Asheville’s craft beer scene really began. Read our guide for more interesting trivia and fun facts about Asheville!
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company
A state-of-the-art brewery with an impressive facility, great food and beer, and guided tours.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Sierra Nevada Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 (828) 681-5300
Sierra Nevada Brewing Company is located half an hour away from downtown Asheville in Mills River. It’s a huge attraction regionally, but it’s frequented by locals and visitors alike. Its nationally-recognized craft beer, massive taproom, restaurant, and guided tours make Sierra Nevada a must-visit brewery.
Beer aficionados will love the state-of-the-art facilities and anyone can enjoy the lively atmosphere. There’s a beautiful back porch garden and live music takes place on the weekends.
Overall, Sierra Nevada is an impressive brewery that’s great for all ages. It’s also a great stop if you’ve been hitting up hiking trails or visiting waterfalls near Asheville.
Burial Beer Company
A funky brewery in downtown Asheville’s South Slope district with some of the best beer in town.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Burial Beer Website | 🍽️ Food Served
Burial Beer Company is a funky brewery that’s great for visiting on sunny days. It’s known for its imperial stouts, but its IPAs are great, too.
I highly recommend the “Until There Is No Longer” IPA. I took my dad with me when I visited Burial Beer and he still hasn’t stopped talking about how good this IPA was. The staff here is friendly and knowledgeable, and the food menu is filled with unique and hearty fare.
This brewery has multiple sections to hang out at, including an indoor area, an expansive patio, and a small rooftop. Overall, Burial Beer is a fun, eclectic brewery with some of the best-tasting craft brews in the Asheville beer scene.
Wicked Weed Brewing Pub
This popular Asheville brewery is known for its IPAs, sours, and delicious food.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Wicked Weed Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 (828) 575-9599
Wicked Weed is a staple in the Asheville craft beer scene. It’s known for its West Coast-style IPAs and barrel-aged sours. It has three taproom locations in Asheville.
The downtown Brewpub on Biltmore Ave is the most popular location, and it has a full restaurant and taproom. The South Slope “Funkatorium” is a sour-dedicated taproom that’s also home to Cultura, Wicked Weed’s fine dining restaurant. Wicked Weed West is a 50-barrel production taproom located west of Asheville in Candler, North Carolina.
Twin Leaf Brewery
A friendly brewery with unique beers, frequent events, and a cozy atmosphere.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Twin Leaf Brewery Website | 🍽️ Food Served Nearby | 📞 (828) 774-5000
Twin Leaf Brewery is a downtown Asheville brewery located in the South Slope district. The taproom is smaller, but the atmosphere is cozy and inviting, making it one of my favorites. It features house-draft craft beers which I recommend sampling by getting a flight.
The taproom has a few game tables up for grabs, and it hosts events throughout the week like karaoke, trivia, and an open mic night. Twin Leaf Brewery is also dog-friendly. You can order food from the restaurant next door, Little Chango.
👉 Book a Tour: Consider booking this downtown Asheville guided brewery walking tour! It features Twin Leaf and several other craft breweries.
New Belgium Brewing Company
This well-known Colorado brewery has one impressive riverside taproom in Asheville.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 New Belgium Website | 🍽️ Food Trucks Nearby | 📞 (828) 333-6900
New Belgium Brewing Company is one of the largest craft breweries in Asheville. It’s located along the French Broad River near the River Arts District (RAD).
What makes this one of the more unique Asheville breweries is that it’s accessible via the French Broad River Greenway—meaning, you can bike here! Consider joining this guided electric bike brewery crawl for a unique experience.
The vibes at New Belgium are truly family and dog-friendly and the space is so open. You can choose to sit inside, on the lawn, on the covered patio, or above the river. New Belgium produces a wide variety of beer styles, but the Fat Tire Amber Ale is a favorite. It also has a ton of hazy IPAs and a unique selection of sour beers.
📚 Related Reading: The River Arts District is a great area if you’re looking for where to stay in Asheville.
Asheville Brewing Company
Pizza and craft beer living in harmony at this longtime Asheville brewery.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Asheville Brewing Company Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 (828) 255-4077
Asheville Brewing Company is a lively, yet laid-back Asheville brewpub that’s known for its pizza and craft beer. The atmosphere feels like an old-school pizzeria, but you can sample a variety of house-brewed beers. The Ninja Porter is a local favorite, but many people honestly come for the pizza.
There are three locations but the South Slope brewpub is the go-to spot. It has indoor as well as patio seating, and its friendly vibe is ideal for families and pet owners. The North Asheville location is a brewpub and dine-in movie theater all in one, a great spot if you want something a little quirky.
Hi-Wire Brewing
A family-friendly circus-themed brewery with a fun and vibrant atmosphere.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Hi-Wire Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Trucks Nearby | 📞 (828) 738-2454
Looking for a fun and colorful atmosphere? Hi-Wire Brewing takes the cake in the Asheville craft beer scene. There are three locations: “Big Top” in Biltmore Village, the South Slope taproom, and the Beer Garden in the River Arts District (RAD).
Each location is decorated colorfully with circus-themed art and games, making it family-friendly. The Biltmore Village and RAD locations both have permanent food trucks operated by Foot Hills Local Meats. You’re also welcome to bring outside food to all Hi-Wire breweries.
Popular beers from Hi-Wire include pale ales like the Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA and the Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, as well as its selection of sours.
👉 Don’t Miss: 12 Bones Smokehouse is a popular BBQ spot not far from Hi-Wire’s RAD Beer Garden. You can take your food to-go and bring it to Hi-Wire, as mentioned in our Asheville itinerary.
One World Brewing
A local-feeling, quirky, and cozy brewery with locations in downtown and West Asheville.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 One World Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Trucks Nearby (West Asheville) | 📞 (828) 785-5580
One World Brewing is a quirky and cozy Asheville brewery with a local, welcoming feel. This brewery produces a variety of beers and you can expect IPAs, chocolate stouts, pale ales, and more.
The downtown location is underground with a cool tavern vibe. It’s close to popular places like the Asheville Art Museum and French Broad Chocolate Lounge. This taproom also has games and you can bring in food from nearby restaurants.
The West Asheville location has an alien theme going on, which is pretty fun. It offers events like Latin dancing and live music, and it has a food truck on-site between Thursday and Sunday.
Zillicoah Beer Company
A hidden, local joint with a taco truck along the French Broad River.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Zillicoah Beer Website | 🍽️ Food Trucks Nearby | 📞 (828) 424-7929
Zillicoah is a friendly and relaxing brewery that sits along the banks of the French Broad River. It has a low-frills and local vibe to it. The seating stretches from inside the taproom, out to the patio, and down along the river. There are picnic tables, hammocks, and even a fire pit.
German-style beers are what Zillicoah is known for, and ordering half-pours is the way to go since they don’t do flights. Zillicoah also has a permanent food truck, Taqueria Muñoz, that serves authentic Mexican street food. Another thing to note is that Monday through Saturday, Zillicoah is 21+ only. Sundays are open to families.
👉 Pro Tip: Since Zillicoah sits along the river, it’s worth a stop if you’re visiting during the spring, summer, or fall. These are the best times to visit Asheville.
DSSOLVR
A chilled-out downtown brewery known for its unique flavors, IPAs, and sours.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Dssolvr Website | 🍽️ Food Not Served
DSSOLVR is a chilled-out downtown brewery that’s all about unique flavor combinations. It crafts a range of beer styles but its IPAs and sours are most popular. I recommend getting a couple of half-pours to sample since it doesn’t offer flights.
The atmosphere at DSSOLVR is dark and cool, but the drinks are the main attraction. Food isn’t really served here, aside from chips and some snacks. However, you’re welcome to bring outside food.
Overall, DSSOLVR is ideal for beer enthusiasts who want to try something different, or those who want to go brewery hopping downtown. DSSOLVR is located on N. Lexington Ave and it’s close to places like Bold Rock, One World Brewing, and other breweries.
French Broad River Brewery
A casual Biltmore Village brewery with seasonal beers and a honky-tonk vibe.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 French Broad River Brewery Website | 🍽️ Food Served Nearby | 📞 (828) 277-0222
French Broad Brewery has a more honky-tonk kind of vibe compared to many Asheville breweries. It’s a bit of an older crowd that frequents here, and there’s live music on Thursdays and Fridays (with dancing!).
On tap, French Broad Brewery has seasonal beers, but the scotch ale and Kolsch are local favorites. As for food, you can get pizza right next door at The Original Papa Nick’s.
French Broad River Brewery is located in historic Biltmore Village within walking distance of Hillman Beer and Catawba Brewing Company.
Archetype Brewing
A fun and laid-back West Asheville brewery.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Archetype Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Served Nearby | 📞 (828) 505-8305
Archetype Brewing is an Asheville brewing company with locations in North and West Asheville. They serve a variety of seasonal, small-batch, and barrel-aged beers on tap. They’re known for their lighter beers like Commitment Phobia IPA and the Cowboy Poet lager.
I’d recommend the West Asheville spot out of the two locations. It has a rooftop deck and ample outdoor seating which is great for families and dog-owners. This location also does weekly events like trivia, game nights, and live music. You can also order food from the restaurants next door.
On the other hand, the North Asheville location is great for booking private events.
🍺 Book a Tour: Sample some of the best of the area on this West Asheville guided food tour! This includes stops at Archetype, Bean Werks Coffee & Tea—one of the best Asheville coffee shops—and much more.
Catawba Brewing Company
This casual, no-frills brewery has two locations and is known for its white zombie beer and sours.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Catawba Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Truck Nearby (South Slope) | 📞 (828) 552-3934
Catawba Brewing Company is a super casual, chilled-out brewery best known for its White Zombie ale and selection of fruity sours. It has two Asheville locations: one in South Slope, and the other in Biltmore Village. Both locations host pretty popular trivia events.
Local North Carolinians might know that Catawba Brewing Company has other locations throughout the state. One is in Charlotte, which makes a great day trip from Asheville. The other is in Wilmington.
Green Man Brewery
A longtime Asheville brewery with great balcony views and a tasty porter.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Green Man Brewery Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 828-989-7453
Green Man Brewery is one of the oldest breweries in Asheville and it recently opened a huge new facility in Asheville’s South Slope district. It’s known for its porters, but its ESB beer is also quite popular.
Green Man Brewery has a casual, but relaxed atmosphere. It has tons of seating and a great third-floor balcony. It serves classic beer food like burgers, fries, and pretzels. Green Man has a smaller, industrial-style taproom right next door called Dirty Jack’s, great if you’re looking for something more lowkey.
Wedge Brewing Company
This local brewery is known for its eclectic vibe and traditional beer styles.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Wedge Brewing Website | 🍽️ Food Trucks Nearby (RAD) | 📞 (828) 505-2792
Wedge Brewing Company is a local Asheville brewing company with a decent selection of traditional beers. You can expect styles like IPAs, stouts, ales, and more. Its Iron Rail IPA is the one flagship beer to try, but its Belgian-style beers are also popular.
There are three locations in total. There’s the Payne’s Way location in the River Arts District, which has an eclectic, industrial vibe. Not far from there is the location on Foundry Street, which similarly, has lots of murals and street art.
Both of these spots have rotating food trucks and tons of outdoor seating. Wedge Brewing’s newest location is in downtown Asheville’s Grove Arcade.
Hillman Beer
A Biltmore Village brewery with a variety of beer styles and food offerings.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Hillman Beer Website | 🍽️ Food Served | 📞 (828) 505-1312
Hillman Beer is a western North Carolina brewery in Biltmore Village. It’s within walking distance of Catawba Brewing, French Broad Brewing, and several other attractions.
Hillman serves a variety of beer styles including IPAs, malty browns, lagers, and more. It also has a larger food menu than many other Asheville breweries. So, this is the spot if you want a food and drink menu to serve different wants. Indoor and outdoor seating is available.
Bold Rock Hard Cider
A casual joint with delicious ciders in downtown Asheville and Mills River.
📍 Google Maps | 🍻 Bold Rock Website | 🍽️ Food Served / Food Trucks Nearby | 📞 (828) 552-3720
Craft beer isn’t the only thing Asheville, NC does well. Head over to Bold Rock Hard Cider for something a little different. It has locations in downtown Asheville and Mills River, and it offers some seriously tasty ciders.
I recommend doing a flight so you can sample different flavors. Bold Rock also has a pretty good selection of food, especially the fried chicken sandwich. My personal favorite location is the Mills River Bold Rock since its open space is great for families and dog owners.
📚 Related Reading: Bold Rock serves up some Southern favorites. But there are so many North Carolina foods you should try during your visit to Asheville.
FAQs About Breweries in Asheville
How many breweries are there in Asheville, NC?
There are over 50 breweries in Asheville, NC. This makes it top the list of best places to visit in North Carolina for beer.
Where is the best place to go brewery hopping in Asheville, NC?
The downtown South Slope district is the best place to go brewery hopping in Asheville, NC. There are numerous Asheville breweries within walking distance. This includes Burial Beer,Twin Leaf Brewery,Wicked Weed, and many more.
Do you need reservations for breweries in Asheville, NC?
You do not need reservations for breweries in Asheville, NC. All Asheville breweries operate on a walk-in basis. You won’t need (or even be able to make) reservations unless you plan on doing a guided brewery tour or special event.
Can you walk around Asheville, NC with alcohol?
You cannot walk around Asheville, NC with alcohol in an open container.
👉 Need help packing? Check out our North Carolina packing list. Or, get a free, printable version of the packing list here.
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There are some seriously great breweries and beers to try in Asheville and nearby western North Carolina towns. I hope this guide helped narrow down your list, no matter your brewery vibe!
