Nestled in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina is a city that has become synonymous with craft beer: Asheville. This picturesque place has gained a reputation for its thriving craft beer scene, with over 30 breweries scattered throughout the area. With so many options to choose from, we figured we could help you explore the best breweries in Asheville.
To help you dive into the Asheville craft beer scene, we’ve compiled a list of its 12 best breweries. From long-established breweries to newer up-and-comers, we’ve scoured the city to find the best places to grab a cold pint.
Whether you’re looking for IPAs, sours, some great grub, a dog-friendly place, or something else, the best breweries in Asheville offer a little bit of something for everyone. So, if you’re planning a trip to Asheville or looking for a new spot to grab a beer, be sure to check out these top breweries.
1. Highland Brewing Company
Best Sustainable Brewery
If Asheville is synonymous with beer, then Highland Brewing Company is synonymous with Asheville beer. This craft brewery was Asheville’s first since the prohibition, beginning its operations all the way back in 1994. Highland Brewing Company also holds such accolades as the largest independent, family-owned brewery native to the Southeast and as having the 6th largest solar array of all independent, craft breweries in the USA. Environmental sustainability is at the forefront of their operations as they continue to be pioneers in the industry. Be sure to stop by to marvel at the solar panel roof, visible from the rooftop bar, and enjoy their 28-year flagship Gaelic Ale.
12 Old Charlotte Hwy #200, Asheville, NC | highlandbrewing.com
2. Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium
Best Brewery to Grab a Sour
Wicked Weed Brewing entered the Asheville craft beer scene in 2012, and it was two years later that they opened another taproom in the area: the Funkatorium. The East Coast’s first taproom dedicated solely to sours, the Funkatorium is the place to visit for all your sour, funky, and barrel-aged beer needs. With a wide selection of beer, good food, and great atmosphere, the Funkatorium is a must visit in Asheville.
147 Coxe Ave, Asheville, NC | wickedweedbrewing.com
3. Asheville Brewing Company
Best Brewery to Visit Downtown
Asheville Brewing Company staked its claim as the first brewpub in the now brewery-centric downtown back in 2005 and has been a staple ever since. Their large outdoor patio offers plenty of seating year round and is a great place to sip on an IPA, farmhouse ale, porter, or one of their other 15 beers on tap. Pair your beer with one of their delicious pizzas or some pub grub, and you’ve got a quintessential, downtown Asheville experience.
77 Coxe Avenue, Asheville, NC | ashevillebrewing.com
4. White Labs Brewing Co.
Best Brewery to Grab Food
White Labs Kitchen & Tap is an innovative brewery and restaurant located inside a yeast factory. Founded by a team of yeast and fermentation experts, White Labs is known for its focus on the science of fermentation, both in the brewery and in the kitchen. Their taproom serves a variety of beers brewed on site and has a kitchen that features a menu of yeast-focused dishes and fermented sauces. You can take a tour of the brewery and learn about the science of brewing and the importance of yeast, or simply chill in the taproom and enjoy a beer paired with a delicious meal.
172 S Charlotte St, Asheville, NC | whitelabsbrewingco.com
5. New Belgium Brewing Company
Best Brewery for Outdoor Seating
Founded in Colorado in 1991, New Belgium expanded to Asheville in 2016 and was received with enthusiasm among locals and tourists alike. Though their flagship ale, Fat Tire, launched the popularity of this brewery brand, New Belgium offers a wide variety of beers as well as a rotating selection of seasonal and experimental brews. Try their La Folie Oud Bruin, Piano Keys Imperial Stout, or an IPA from their Voodoo Ranger line. Enjoy sipping through the draft list on their deck on the French Broad River or one of the many other sitting areas scattered around the property.
21 Craven St, Asheville, NC | newbelgium.com
6. Burial Beer Co.
Best Brewery for an Experimental Beer
Burial Beer Co is a highly regarded craft brewery with a reputation for its innovative and experimental beers, which often feature unique flavor combinations. The brewery has a taproom in South Slope, which serves a rotating selection of beers, as well as a kitchen that offers small plates and sandwich plates. Burial Beer Co. leans into a darker motif, cued from its name—with beer names like “This Passing Darkness of Strength and Devastation” and insane label artwork—nonetheless, they’re one of the friendliest breweries in Asheville.
40 Collier Ave, Asheville, NC | burialbeer.com
7. DSSOLVR
Best Brewery for Variety
This funky little brewery in downtown Asheville is the best place to visit to serve all types of beer tastes and speeds. From beer novices to hardcore enthusiasts to non-beer drinkers, DSSOLVR has something for everyone. You can expect to find traditional styles, such as Helles or Vienna Lagers, mixed in with less traditional brews, such as DDH Hazy IPAs or Barrel-aged Imperial Honey Stouts. They also offer house wine, cider, seltzers, and non-alcoholic options.
63 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC | dssolvr.com
8. Sierra Nevada
Best Brewery for an IPA
Asheville welcomed Sierra Nevada in 2012, and the brewery quickly became a popular spot for craft beer enthusiasts. The brewery offers a range of high-quality, handcrafted beers; and, while Sierra Nevada’s Pale Ale is their most recognized flagship, visitors should not pass up the number of IPAs on tap such as Juicy Little Thing IPA or DDH Powder Day IPA. Visitors can take a tour of the brewery, which includes a tasting room, restaurant, and outdoor seating area with stunning views of the mountains.
100 Sierra Nevada Way, Fletcher, NC | sierranevada.com
9. French Broad Brewery
Best Hang Out Brewery
French Broad Brewery in Biltmore Village has everything you want in order to make an afternoon or evening out of your brewery visit. Around since 2000, this local favorite focuses on European brewing traditions, offering classic styles such as Kolsch, Scotch Ale, ESB and Porter, although they’re also sure to have plenty of IPAs in the mix. Their cozy taproom has several flat screen TVs for game watching, board games to help pass the day away, and indoor and outdoor seating. You’ll also find live bands playing in the evenings throughout the week.
101 Fairview Rd D, Asheville, NC | frenchbroadbrewery.com
10. Hillman Beer
Best Brewery to Bring the Dog(s)
Located in Biltmore Village alongside the Sweeten Creek, Hillman Beer’s taproom is a welcoming and relaxed space, perfect for enjoying a beer with friends, family, or—most importantly—your pup. This dog-friendly brewery features a wide variety of beer on tap, from ESBs to IPAs to Belgian-inspired ales and more. You can build a flight or grab a pint alongside some tasty pub grub from their food menu and chill out back by the creek or out front on their large patio.
25 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC | hillmanbeer.com
11. New Origin Brewing
Best New Brewery
Though it is new on the scene, New Origin Brewing has already made a name for itself among the beer drinking crowd in Asheville. New Origin Brewing is housed in an unassuming brewhouse with modern fixtures, the perfect environment to enjoy some of its hyped-up beers. The brewery has perfected the balance between lagers and IPAs, so you can find a super dank, super juicy hazy IPA at New Origin Brewing on the same day you find a perfectly balanced and crisp European-style lager.
131 Thompson St., Asheville, NC | www.neworiginbrewing.com
12. Green Man Brewery
Best Place With a View
Green Man Brewery is one of Asheville’s oldest and dearest breweries for locals. It first opened its doors in 1997 and its flagship beers have become local staples that can be found in bottle shops and bars around Asheville. There are now three Green Man Brewery locations you can visit around Asheville, but the Green Mansion on Buxton Avenue has a view that can’t be beat. Soak in the scenic vistas of Asheville’s mountain splendor on the top floor of the Green Mansion while you enjoy a fresh pint from Green Man Brewery.
27 Buxton Ave., Asheville, NC | www.greenmanbrewery.com
13. One World Brewing
Best Brewery to Catch a Show
One World Brewing has become so popular in Asheville that the brewery is now spread out over a couple of locations. Its downtown location is one of the coolest spots in all of Asheville, tucked away in an alley and offering a speakeasy vibe. Its West Asheville taproom has one of the coolest bars you’ll ever drink at, shaped like a UFO. Regardless of where you choose to visit, One World Brewing always has fun events running in its taprooms, including live music from local musicians, comedy shows and community events.
520 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC | 10 Patton Ave., Asheville, NC | www.oneworldbrewing.com
14. Archetype Brewing
Best Brewery for Barrel-Aged Beers
Archetype Brewing in Asheville takes its beer seriously. The brewery has an expansive and impressive barrel program dedicated to farmhouse beers, traditional European styles and even a few experimental brews. Archetype Brewing’s barrel-aged beers are yeast-driven, funky, light and entirely unique.
265 Haywood Road, Asheville, NC | 174 Broadway St., Asheville, NC | www.archetypebrewing.com
Other Asheville Breweries
7 Clans Brewing
All Sevens Brewing
Eurisko Beer Company
Catawba Brewing Company
Cellarest Beer Project
Cursus Keme
Ginger’s Revenge
Hi-Wire Brewing
Outsider Brewing Company
Thirsty Monk
Twin Leaf Brewery
Wedge Brewing Company
Zillacoah Beer Co.