It’s no secret that Asheville, North Carolina, is home to over a dozen breweries. As a craft beer hub, people flock to this vibrant city to try new brews and learn more about each brewery’s process. Beyond the breweries, there’s so much to do and see while you’re in Asheville.
No matter what reason you’re heading to Asheville, if you plan on stopping at a brewery or two, it can feel overwhelming to decide on which one because there are so many. To streamline your choices, here’s a curated list of the 13 finest breweries in Asheville.
New Belgium Brewery in Asheville
Opened in 2016, New Belgium Brewery in Asheville is larger than many of its competitors. They also have an impressive variety of brews ranging from their Voodoo Ranger IPA and frontrunner, Fat Tire, to their newest launch, Mural. Give this Agua Fresca Cerveza a taste and let us know what you think! When visiting New Belgium, you can sit indoors or outdoors. But keep in mind, this brewery doesn’t serve snacks, but there are daily food vendors out front!
Asheville Brewing Company
One of the best breweries that’s not too far from many of our downtown rentals is Asheville Brewing Company. Visitors and locals alike love this brewery for several reasons. It’s one of the oldest and longest-standing breweries in the city, opening its doors in 1998.
Asheville Brewing Company has a variety of craft beers for you to choose from. They have plenty of year-round beers to try, but we suggest trying any of the seasonal beers that they might have on tap during your visit. They even have some brewpub-exclusive beers that are a must-try since you can’t get them anywhere else.
Some of our favorite beers here are the 828 Pale Ale, Ninja Porter, and the Rocket Girl Lager. Be sure to grab a pizza to share with friends while you enjoy your beer here.
Green Man Brewery Asheville
Green Man Brewery got its name from the mythical sylvan woodland creature, the Green Man. This seasoned brewery has been serving fresh, hoppy beers to North Carolina locals and visitors since 1997. Green Man brews their beer at either the newly built, “Greemansion,” or their original tasting room, “Dirty Jack’s.” Guests particularly enjoy visiting Dirty Jack’s, as it’s one of the few dog-friendly breweries in Asheville and they have a shaded patio! Whichever facility you decide to visit, be sure to sample their Green Man ESB and Green Man IPA.
Catawba Brewing
Catawba Brewing is in the bustling South Slope area of the city, putting it near plenty of other breweries and things to do in Asheville, NC. What makes this one of the best breweries is not just the tasty beer they produce. They’re a pretty large brewery with plenty of outdoor space for furry friends to hang out.
Despite the large size of the brewery, they have a smaller selection of beers to choose from. Don’t let that discourage you from going here, though. The limited number of beers they offer are some of the best around. We highly recommend grabbing a flight so you can try a few of their beers while you’re here.
White ales are their specialty here, with several on their beer list. They tend to be fruit-forward but not overly fruity. People rave about the Blackberry Zombie White Ale and the Strawberry Zombie White Ale.
Highland Brewery Asheville NC
Highland Brewing Company is the oldest craft brewery in Asheville. Since 1994, this brewery has carried and distributed Western North Carolina’s favorite beers. Some notable beers include the Highland Pilsner, Daycation IPA, and Gaelic Ale. The Gaelic Ale is known as Asheville’s first beer! When visiting this brewery, you’ll see some original features and their new additions. Highland Brewery added on an outdoor music venue, The Meadow, to their spacious taproom. On the weekend, The Meadow has an additional bar and live music performances.
French Broad River Brewery
One of the most lively breweries in Asheville is French Broad River Brewery. They regularly have live music you can listen to while you spend time with your friends and drink delicious craft beer.
French Broad River Brewery has been making a name for itself in Asheville since 2000. They’re one of the most popular spots in town thanks to the great beer, amazing staff, and even better atmosphere. They also have daily specials that you’ll want to take advantage of. Sundays, they have really discounted beer that is always worth stopping in for.
This is an excellent brewery because of the large number of beer choices you have. They have a lot of year-round brews like the Frog Horn IPA, Anvil Porter, and Cherry Limeade hard seltzer. No matter what style of beer you prefer, you can find something to love here.
Sweeten Creek Brewing
Sweeten Creek Brewing is a family-friendly brewery in Asheville with plenty of space for everyone. Even though they are proud to serve beer lovers, they strive to create an atmosphere where even those who don’t like craft beer can have a good time.
The brewery is huge, with a tasting room, a stage outside for performances, two sand volleyball courts, a dog park, and an outdoor beer shack. While you’re sipping on their tasty beers, you can order some of the best barbecues in town without having to leave.
If you stop here, you can’t leave without trying their Picnic Pilsner. It’s one of the most popular, and for good reason. It goes with everything.
Burial Brewery Asheville
Do you ever find yourself craving some Vividly Depicted Hauntings? Or how about a local favorite, Captivities of Bloodshed. Get yourself in the Halloween spirit by visiting Burial Beer Company. This brewery embraces a gloomy aesthetic with morbid beer names, heavy metal typefaces, and dark artwork hung on the walls. There are two barrooms (each with a unique range of brews), an outdoor brewhouse, and a roof deck for guests to enjoy. As if this Asheville brewery couldn’t sound any better, their bar menu is designed by a James Beard nominee!
7 Clans Brewing
After you spend some time exploring Biltmore Village, you can pop into 7 Clan Brewing. The brewery gets its name from the Cherokee, and they honor their homeland and traditions as best they can.
It has a modern yet Earthy atmosphere with beautiful greenery throughout the space. The brewery has large garage doors that they keep open when the weather’s nice so that everyone, even those sitting inside, can enjoy the fresh air.
7 Clan Brewing has three main beers that you need to sample when you stop into the brewery. Their Hop-Rooted IPA is perfect for those who enjoy a dry-hop beer, while the 7 Clans Blonde Ale is great for those who want something simple and refreshing and goes with everything.
Hillman Beer
If you want to sample fantastic craft beer while supporting a small business, you’ll want to go to Hillman Beer. This family-owned brewery opened in 2017 in Asheville and only three years later was able to open another location in 2020.
The brewery is the perfect combination of a traditional brewery and brewpub. People love the food here, too, so you might as well enjoy a meal or snack while you try their beer.
Their beer menu is broken down by style, so you can easily find something you want to drink. They have ambers, IPAs, sours, and everything in between. We’re partial to their Old Fort Original because it’s light.
Wedge Brewery Asheville
With two location and both located in the vibrant River Arts District, the Wedge Brewing Company is always growing in popularity. The brewery’s Asheville Lager won gold at the 2017 Great American Beer Festival, against 121 other breweries. Along with the award-winning beer, Wedge Brewery is also known for their Iron Rail IPA and Golem Belgian Strong Golden Ale. Both of these locations attract a mix of locals and visitors, so come prepared to purchase your pint and head to one of the nearby, shaded seating areas. When hunger strikes, visit one of the rotating food trucks or 12 Bones Smokehouse next door to the newer location at the Foundation building.
Hi Wire Brewing
Hi Wire Brewing is located in the River Arts District in Asheville. This brewery has several locations throughout the Southeast United States, but the Asheville location is far above the rest. The taproom is lively and relaxed to hang out in while you try new beers.
They pride themselves on creating approachable and balanced beers that most people will enjoy. What we love about Hi Wire Brewing is that they make an effort to make different types of craft beer.
You’ll find sours, stouts, IPAs, and more on their beer list. If you happen to be there when any of their specialty or seasonal beers are on tap, you have to try them. Some of those that are must-try are the Chocolate Taco 10W-40 and Grandma’s Cherry Pie Parfait.
DSSOLVR
Located in the heart of Downtown Asheville, DSSOLVR is a must-visit while you’re in Asheville. It has a fun atmosphere that you don’t get with many traditional breweries.
It’s right next to other breweries, so it makes a great stop if you plan on brewery hopping while in Asheville. We will say that DSSOLVR has some of the most unique beers you’ll find, maybe ever.
This is the brewery for the adventurous beer drinker. One of their creations that you wouldn’t even think about trying normally is their Crab Rangoon Smoothie Style Fruited Cheesecake Sour. Besides that, if you love hoppy beers, you’ll enjoy their DIPA.
Where To Stay
Yonder Luxury Vacation Rentals is ready to help you discover the most comfortable and convenient rental in downtown Asheville. We have properties all over the city, putting you in a prime location for brewery hopping and whatever else you want to do while you’re in Asheville.
With decades of hospitality experience, the highest standards, and a commitment to our renters, you know you’ll get the cream of the crop of Asheville, NC, rentals. If you’re ready to book your trip to Asheville, give us a call today to find out more about our rentals and secure yours.
