Asheville is the craft beer capital of the South. Its downtown is home to over 20 breweries, with new ones opening along the French Broad River and Patton Ave. every year. More and more bachelor and bachelorette trips are making Asheville a party destination, but Asheville’s laid-back brewery culture has stayed intact.
This guide lists the top six breweries in Asheville. The breweries that made the list have a great selection of beer and a good vibe. Each spot is an ideal place to go after a hike. Or, you can follow this guide to go on a back-to-back brewery hopping adventure.
The breweries appear in the order you should visit them while you brewery hop around Asheville.
The top breweries in Asheville
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Sierra Nevada is home to the best hazy IPAs. Their signature Sierra Nevada Pale Ale put them on the map decades ago but now Sierra Nevada is known for their wildly popular Hazy Little Thing.
Sierra Nevada is the biggest brewery on this list. You can do a self-guided tour of the brewing process and explore an outdoor garden. They have a stage and live music in the backyard on certain days.
On weekends, it can be hard to get a table inside the taproom or on their covered patio. Luckily, they have a first-come-first-serve “Back Porch” bar where you can order beers and snacks without a reservation.
Sierra Nevada is technically in Mills River, NC, not in Asheville, but it’s a must-visit brewery while you’re in town. You’ll want to start your brewery-hopping tour here before making your way to downtown Asheville. You can also visit Sierra Nevada as soon as you land in Asheville since it’s right next to the airport.
New Belgium Brewing Company
New Belgium serves the best beer at the best prices with a view, a trifecta that makes it my favorite brewery in Asheville. The brewery sits on the edge of the French Broad River right outside downtown Asheville. New Belgium used to be known for its signature Belgian-style amber ale, Fat Tire, but is now known for its line of Voodoo Ranger IPAs.
You can order a hazy IPA for as little as $5 or order a curated flight to try new brews. Grab a seat on the ledge of the patio to look down at the French Broad River or cool off in the AC inside. There are typically food trucks on the lawn if you need a snack to pair with your beer.
That Planner Friend Tip: New Belgium closes earlier than most bars and breweries, so make sure to make it your first stop in Downtown Asheville since you’ll likely want to stay here for a while. It closes at 9 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays and 8 p.m. every other day.
Wicked Weed Brewing
Wicked Weed walked so every other brewery in Asheville could run. Wicked Weed is the most popular craft brewery that was founded in Asheville. Their famous beer is Pernicious, a classic IPA.
Wicked Weed has two locations in downtown Asheville, the Brew Pub and the Funkatorium. The Brew Pub is where you’ll find Wicked Weed’s classic beers and a full sit-down dining experience. On the weekends, it can get full so it’s best to make a reservation for a large party.
On the other hand, the Funkatorium is easier to walk into. The Funkatorium serves Wicked Weed’s line of funky sour beers. Even if you aren’t a sour beer fan, they serve Wicked Weed’s classic beers like Pernicious and Freak of Nature. In the last few years, Wicked Weed has ventured into the natural wine scene, which they also serve at the Funkatorium.
Green Man Brewing
Green Man is a laid-back brewery in the southern part of downtown Asheville known as South Slope. It was one of the first craft breweries in the entire state of North Carolina and prides itself on making traditional English ales. They make a range of craft brews from hazy IPAs to red ales.
The brewery or “Green Mansion” as they like to call is three stories tall. The taproom is on the top floor and has an outdoor patio where you can enjoy your beer with the breeze. Green Man offers flights and also serves pub food like pretzels and hamburgers.
Hi-Wire Brewing
Hi-Wire is a colorful brewery in a garage-like space in downtown Asheville. You go to Hi-Wire for the vibe more than the beer, but the creative space makes for a creative beer offering. Along with their flagship brews, Hi-Wire serves fun seasonal beers like a Vietnamese coffee stout and a mojito sour.
Catawba Brewing Co.
Catawba Brewing embodies the spirit of North Carolina. Many of its beers are named after the outdoors like Carolina Fog and Endless Trail. Their taprooms are bare bones because the star of the show is the beer. Catawba’s main taproom is the South Slope in downtown Asheville but there’s a smaller outpost near Biltmore Village.
Honorable Mentions
Burial Beer Co.
Burial is a popular spot in downtown Asheville because it hosts fun outdoor events in its space. The brewery is more of a grab-and-go window and you can grab a seat at the many picnic tables outside.
Highland Brewing Company
Highland is another very North Carolina brewery. The main brewery is near the golf course in Asheville, southeast of downtown. Highland has a downtown taproom on the second floor of the S&W Market Food Hall. Here, you can order flights from the bar and get food from the many vendors downstairs in the food hall.
Planning a trip to Asheville? Check out this guide to the Blue Ridge Parkway.
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