asheville

Asheville, NC

Asheville has repeatedly been ranked Beer City USA and is a cute little beer-centric town in the middle of the mountains.

AVL Tips: 

  • Wear layers! The weather here fluctuates quite a bit with the elevation so be prepared to be hot one minute and chilly the next.

  • The downtown area can get quickly overwhelmed with tourists and bachelor/bachelorette parties. Be sure to get out of ‘South Slope’ and see more of the city, you won’t regret it.

  • Hiking isn’t as close as you would initially expect, you’ll need to drive a bit to hit the trails even though the city is nestled in the mountains

  • Asheville is unique in that there are ~30 breweries, but there are multiple outposts of some breweries that make that number as high as it is. Burial, Hi-Wire, Wedge, Wicked Weed, Green Man, Asheville Pizza & Brewing, Thirsty Monk, One World, and Catawba each have more than one location all within five or so miles, something that is not common in other cities. I would definitely recommend checking out each location individually if you have time because each atmosphere can be very different!

  • Looking for more of a small town vibe? Hendersonville is a cute area just south of Asheville.

Adventures & Ales Top Asheville Recommendations: ​

  • Burial Beer: The mecca of Asheville beer! This is a MUST. Expect it to be busy as a result of how fantastic the beers are, so try to visit on a weekday if you can. They are constantly changing things up but 100% of what they make is fantastic, especially their IPAs. Their original taproom is in South Slope with patio seating and a small food menu.

    • Forestry Camp is their second venture in the city. It is in the Biltmore Village neighborhood a bit south of downtown. They’ve got a food menu, cocktails and wine, guest taps, a rooftop patio, and chill vibes.

    • Eulogy is their music venue next to the South Slope taprooms. On Saturday afternoons it is open as a beer hall. The space has Burial beers, occasional guest beers, cocktails, Visuals wine, and Good Hot Fish inside. On top of Eulogy is Visuals Wine and Cocktail Bar. This rooftop bar is home to Burial’s wine line, cocktails, a handful of their beers, and a small food menu.

  • Cellarest Beer Project: A great brewery in West Asheville. They are particularly focused on Farmhouse Ales and Lagers. Cassia is their onsite food truck with incredibly delicious Asian eats.

  • Dssolvr: A killer brewery with delicious beers. They are located right downtown and you can get food delivered from nearby restaurants as well.

  • The Whale: An awesome craft beer bar with a variety of taps, cans and bottles. They have three locations in the Asheville area: West Asheville, South Slope, and The Outpost in Haw Creek.

    • The Masters Park to Haw Creek Valley Overlook trail is located 3 minutes from their Outpost location. It is a great way to get in a quick workout with a view before your brew. The trail is 2.3 miles long with 551ft of elevation gain and takes about an hour to complete.

  • Stay at The Glamping Collective: This is an amazing property with geodomes and glass cabins located 30 minutes west of Asheville in Clyde. The domes are incredibly luxurious with kitchens, full bathrooms, hot tubs, fire tables, air conditioning & heat, and so much more. The property has three onsite trails as well, so you don’t even have to get in your car to go for a beautiful hike. The Sunset Summit Trail was my favorite—the views are incredible, even not during sunset! Plus they even have Adirondack chairs at the summit to sit and relax.

    • Another great lodging option is Asheville River Cabins: These are cozy stays on the French Broad River right off the Blue Ridge Parkway. The cabins are complete with full kitchens, grills, hot tubs, fire pits, coffee nooks, and everything you could need for your stay. They are located 15 minutes south of Asheville proper. In addition to the cabins they have A-frames and RV spots.

  • Taco Boy is a great spot for tacos, nachos and cocktails next to The Whale in West Asheville and in Biltmore Park.

  • TRVE Brewing: A metal-themed brewery coming out of Denver with solid beers.

  • Terra Nova Beer Co.: A solid brewery with two locations in the Asheville area: South Slope and Swannanoa. At their South Slope location they have Mission Pizza inside serving up ‘za, a nice patio, and a large variety of taps including 4 Czech side pulls.

Dssolvr

  • Summit Coffee: An extremely cute coffee shop located in The Foundation, a complex covered in 14 acres of street art that is super trendy. Get the lavender latte & don’t look back!

  • Zillicoah Beer: Located right on the French Broad River, this is the perfect spot north of town to relax on a beautiful day. It’s super chill, family friendly, and dog friendly outside. They specialize in fantastic Lagers.

  • Sunny Point Café: A delicious spot for brunch every day of the week! This spot is incredibly popular so expect a wait and try to avoid it on Sundays. They are also open for dinner Tuesday-Saturday. Located in West Asheville.

  • New Origin Brewing: A small brewery with a large variety of beers that are all great. They have a nice patio space and 900 Degreez food truck onsite for pizza.

  • Cursus Keme: The “secret brewery” in Asheville that’s not quite a secret anymore. This spot used to be a tractor trailer repair shop and is now a large bright and airy taproom. The outside seating near the river is lovely as well. They have a limited number of beers on tap that are usually quite unique and delicious. Located a block past New Origin at the end of the road.

  • Biscuit Head: A tasty spot for—you guessed it—biscuits! They have sweet or savory options as well as drinks. There are 3 locations in Asheville: downtown, West Asheville, and Biltmore Park.

  • Catawba Falls: Another great spot to hike just 30 minutes from downtown. This is very family friendly and relatively flat to the falls. If you’re feeling adventurous you can climb up the falls via a rope on the right-hand side. The trail is short and sweet but still provides great views!

  • Taco Billy: Delicious tacos! Highly recommend their breakfast tacos but they’ve also got beers if you go for lunch or dinner. You can order online to avoid a line as well.

Summit Coffee Asheville

Top Touristy Spots Actually Worth Visiting in Asheville:​

  • Blue Ridge Parkway: An amazing scenic drive with viewpoints to pull over and admire from. Bring snacks, take your time, and enjoy!

  • Float the river with Zen Tubing! Bring your cooler and speaker and enjoy the relaxing journey along the river.

  • Sierra Nevada Mills River: This is a HUGE outpost of the California-based brewery with a private drive, full kitchen and taproom, and concert space. The outdoor space is great, with a firepit, game space, dog space, kid space, and all nestled in the forest. Do not miss the pretzels with pimento beer cheese! The staff here is also super friendly and great!

    • Located right next to the airport so it’s a perfect spot on your way in or out of town if you’re flying! Driving distance from downtown Asheville is about 20 minutes.

  • Highland Brewing: Asheville’s first brewery! This is a unique spot with shipping containers inside and out, frequent live music, cool artwork, and a meadow onsite. The also have hiking trails on their property and chill vibes all around.

  • North Carolina Arboretum: A lovely outdoor space with gardens, trails, educational programs and events. It is $16 to enter the parking area.

  • New Belgium Brewing: Based in Fort Collins, CO., New Belgium calls Asheville its second home. They are located right on the Catawba River and have a fantastic outdoor space. You can also tour the incredibly massive brewery.

  • LaZoom: Bus comedy tours that share a bit of Asheville history, comedy skits, and a stop at a local brewery. They also offer haunted tours, band tours, and kids tours.

Sierra Nevada

Other Things to do in Asheville:

  • Lookout Mountain & Rattlesnake Mountain: Most of the hiking near Asheville is a solid hour drive from the city, but these trails are just 25 minutes away in Black Mountain, NC. Lookout is crowded and there are a lot of manmade steps, but the views are good from the top. I would highly recommend going over the back end of Lookout and continuing up to Rattlesnake where there is generally no one else on the trail and the views are even better.

    • Montreat Rainbow Road, Toll Road, Lookout Mountain Trail: This trail is 4.3 miles long with 889ft of elevation gain. If you go straight up to the Lookout Rocks you’ll gain all of that elevation in about half of a mile, if you end with the rocks it’s a gradual ascent. This trail is a bit boring at times but the Lookout Rocks are great—most folks just go straight up and back down. Parking is limited so avoid this trail on weekends if possible.

  • Pop up to Weaverville, 10 minutes north of town and visit Leveller Brewing Company and Zebulon Artisan Ales. Leveller has a cute patio space and stellar Farmhouse-focused beers. Zebulon has funkier styles in a tucked away taproom a block away.

  • Trombatore Trail: A solid hike up to a pasture-style view of the surrounding mountains. AllTrails listed it at 4.7 miles but it is actually more like 6 as a heads up.

  • Hillman Beer Co: Lots of outdoor seating and a full food menu. They’ve also got a location in Old Fort, east of Asheville.

  • Mountain Madre: A great Mexican restaurant and Agave bar in downtown AVL. Their food and drinks are delicious and their patio is very cute.

  • Vortex Donuts: A great spot to grab a donut and coffee! If you go close to closing time it’s buy one get one free donuts! Highly recommend the peanut butter chocolate.

  • Hi-Wire South Slope: A small little taproom with fun vibes and good beers.

  • White Labs Kitchen and Tap: A production facility, education hub, and brewery based in San Diego with a second location in Asheville. This taproom has a variety of beers on tap and each style has two beers to choose from using different yeasts which is fun! They’ve also got a full food menu with wood fired pizzas that are delicious. Service is mediocre.

  • Diatribe Brewing: This is a chill spot in West Asheville where the tap list is Lager and old-school styles heavy.

  • One World Brewing: Two taprooms, one in West Asheville and the original is downtown in a basement setting.

  • Green Man Dirty Jack’s: The historic original Green Man location with semi-grunge vibes (hence the name).

  • Asheville Pizza and Brewing: 3 locations in town, each with solid pizza and solid beer. Their South Slope location also has a cute little outdoor patio. Their location on the north side of town has a full movie theater!

  • Wedge Brewing at Wedge Studios: The original Wedge outpost. They have a large outdoor space but a small indoor space. Be sure to ask for peanuts.

Highland Brewing

  • Hi-Wire Big Top: A really chill spot compared to their South Slope location. This is where their production happens so it is pretty industrial. They’ve got a permanent food truck onsite, Foothills Meats. The 10W-40 Stout series is delicious!

    • Hungry & don’t love the food truck options? Standard Pizza is a one minute walk away and has great pizza! The slices are huge!

  • Archetype Brewing: A brewery in West Asheville with average beers. They have a nice rooftop patio and Pizza Mind is located next door for some ‘za.

  • Asheville Retrocade: A game bar with craft beer! They’ve got Dance Dance Revolution, Pac-Man, Skee-Ball, and so much more! If you go after 9pm it is 21+

  • The Brew Pump: A craft beer bar in a gas station! No, really. They’ve got $3 specials and well…gas!

  • All Sevens Brewing: Another brewery in West Asheville, they’ve got a full food menu, a pool table, and basic beers that you can get pitchers of.

  • Rattlesnake Lodge Trail: This is a close to town but pretty boring hike that is 4.3 miles long with 882ft of elevation gain and takes 2 hours to complete.

  • Wicked Weed Funkatorium: Wicked Weed was bought out by Anheuser-Busch so I try to avoid their beers and drink small/craft. The Funkatorium specializes in farmhouse ales and barrel aged sour beers that are small batch.

  • Thirsty Monk: Overhyped Belgian brewery and seltzery where neither the beer nor the seltzer is good.

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The Best Cities for Beer Vacations

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I have explored the beer scene in a lot of cities both domestically and abroad, and it’s time to share the absolute best places for a craft beer vacation.

To make the list you have to have a high quantity of breweries, but also some fantastic breweries. There are a lot of cities with a ton of breweries that make average to mediocre beer. These cities all have folks absolutely crushing the game.

In no particular order, here are the best cities in the United States and abroad for beer vacations:

The Best US Cities for Beer Vacations:

Richmond, Virginia

Richmond has a ton of breweries and some that are truly fantastic. Scott’s Addition itself is jam packed with breweries but the rest of RVA has some great beers to offer as well. Highlights here include Triple Crossing, The Veil, The Answer and Tabol for breweries and Mekong for a great beer bar. Check out my Richmond beer and travel guide here.

Asheville, North Carolina

Asheville has long been deemed one of the best beer cities in the country, so it is no surprise that I would agree. This picturesque city is home to some huge breweries like Sierra Nevada, Highland, and New Belgium, but also more localized spots like Burial, Dssolvr, Zillicoah, and New Origin. Don’t miss The Whale for a great beer bar! Check out my Asheville beer and travel guide here.

Denver, Colorado

Of course Denver is on the list. With superb breweries like Cerebral, Bierstadt, Our Mutual Friend, and TRVE it’s hard to beat the brew scene here. Pair that with everything else the city has to offer and the surrounding scenery and you’re absolutely in for a good time. Check out my Colorado beer and travel guide here.

Grand Rapids, Michigan

As a Michigander this addition should be no surprise, but it’s not just me and my home state biases—Grand Rapids is constantly in the running for any “beer city” competition. Don’t miss Speciation Artisan Ales, Arvon, and City Built for breweries and for Seven Monks for a beer bar. The city is exploding with breweries to explore. Check out my Grand Rapids beer and travel guide here.

New York City, New York

I’m sure most “normal people” wouldn’t think of New York as a hub for craft beer, but the city that never sleeps is indeed a great spot for craft beer lovers. The beer bar scene here tends to shine brightest with spots like Torst, Beer Street, and Proletariat, while breweries such as Other Half, Fifth Hammer, and Evil Twin absolutely crush it. Check out my NYC beer and travel guide here.

Chicago, Illinois

Chicago has a wide array of breweries throughout their many neighborhoods and suburbs. Heavy hitters include Maplewood, More, Mikerphone and Revolution, plus don’t miss Phase Three in the northern suburb of Lake Zurich. Check out my Chicago beer and travel guide here.

The Twin Cities, Minnesota

The Twin Cities are exploding with breweries! Highlights include BlackStack, Barrel Theory, Fair State, Modist, and Falling Knife. The beer scene here tends to be somewhat IPA heavy, but the beers are superb and there are plenty of spots to explore. Check out my Minneapolis and St. Paul beer and travel guide here.

Portland, Maine

We all know New England is chock full of great breweries and particularly Hazy IPAs, but Portland’s beer scene is unmatched. With OG spots like Allagash, Maine Beer Company, and Oxbow alongside newer (and hazier) breweries like Mast Landing, Belleflower, and Bissell Brothers, you can find an absolutely superb beer of any style. Don’t miss the killer beer bar Novare Res Bier Cafe as well! Check out my Portland beer and travel guide here.

Los Angeles, California

LA might not seem like a great beer city at first glance but this sprawling metro is home to some of the country’s best breweries. LA’s southern neighbor San Diego gets all of the praise for craft beer, but LA’s scene is far superior. Monkish, Bottle Logic, Green Cheek, Homage, and Highland Park all call LA home, along with a ton of other great spots. Windsor Home Brew is a fantastic beer bar and bottle shop that is not to be missed either. Check out my LA beer and travel guide here.

Portland, Oregon

Portland’s beer scene has been exploding for decades. The city is overflowing with breweries and it seems a new one opens almost weekly at this point. There are some solid spots in PDX, and topping the list are Great Notion, Cascade, Ruse, and Wayfinder. Check out my Portland beer and travel guide here.

Charlotte, NC

I wouldn’t live in Charlotte if I didn’t think the beer scene here was superb! There are a ton of breweries in the city, but Resident Culture, Burial, HopFly, and Fonta Flora top the list. CLT is also home to some fantastic beer bars—Salud and Pop The Top should not be missed. Check out my Charlotte guide here.

Tampa, Florida

Tampa absolutely crushes the dark beer game. There are a lot of breweries that make great other styles of beer, but if your a Stout person Tampa is for you! Brewery highlights include Angry Chair, BarrieHaus, Woven Water, and Magnanimous. Check out my Tampa beer and travel guide here. Neighboring St. Pete is also full of great spots!

Notable Mentions:

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania—Check out my Philly beer and travel guide here! I am excited to be back in May 2024!

Burlington, Vermont—This is the one beer city that I believe will be stupendous that I have not yet visited, but I do think it is probably one of the best cities for a beer vacation. My plans to visit have been foiled numerous times now, but I will finally be there in June 2024!

The Best Cities Abroad for Beer Vacations:

Melbourne, Australia

Melbourne is a gorgeous city with a booming beer scene, especially for Oceania. Stomping Ground, Fixation, Mood Dog, and Mountain Goat are the best of the best here, but there are a ton of spots to visit. Check out my Melbourne beer and travel guide here.

Munich, Germany

Is it possible to think of “beer cities” and not think of Germany? Munich is home to some classic gems like Augustiner Keller, Lowenbrau, Hofbrauhaus, and Paulaner. Pair a cold mug from any of their breweries with a pretzel or sausage and it’s impossible to have a bad time. Check out my Munich beer and travel guide here.

Brussels, Belgium

Another classic beer city! Personally I think the not-so-classic Belgian beers here outperform the dubbels and tripels. Cantillon is obviously the top choice here, but Moeder Lambic and Delirium should not be missed either! Check out my Belgium beer and travel guide here.

Wellington, New Zealand

My beer expectations for New Zealand were low, but the country as a whole is making some killer beers. Wellington in particular has a stand out beer scene. It is home to Garage Project, the country’s best brewery hands down, but Parrotdog is also a must-visit. Check out my North Island beer and travel guide here.

What are your favorite cities in the world for beer travel? Let me know in the comments! Cheers—Alexis

Hendersonville, NC

Hendersonville is a cute little mountain town south of Asheville, NC. It is a popular area for retirees and has a classic “main street” to bop around. HVL is a great spot for a weekend getaway with more small town vibes and less crowds. The surrounding small towns also offer great eats, drinks and hikes. Check out my recommendations below!

See my Asheville guide here.

Oklawaha Brewing Company

Downtown Hendersonville

Pro-Tip: Most of the main streets of downtown Hendersonville have paid parking requirements, but if you go over just a block or two to the side streets the parking is free.

Beer + food recommendations—in ranking order:

  • The Blue Door Bottle Shop and Beer Hall: A great spot with 20 taps and a wide selection of cans and bottles. My favorite spot I visited in HVL.

  • Blue Ridge Beer Garden: A cute spot with a turf patio, string lights and picnic tables. They have 25 taps with a good variety of options. There is often a food truck parked out front and the vibes are great.

  • Oklawaha Brewing Company: A solid brewery with a wide offering of beers. They have a kitchen and frequent live music.

  • HenDough: A delicious spot for donuts, breakfast biscuits, and chicken biscuits.

  • West First Wood-Fired: A cute spot for pizza and pasta in a cozy environment. Tasty!

  • The 2nd Act: A coffee shop and bar with a small food menu and frequent live music and events. A great place to start or end your day!

  • Arabella: A cute spot for breakfast and brunch! The food is tasty and they have a small patio out front that is open seasonally.

  • Dry Falls Brewing Co.: A nice little brewery with a wide variety of beers on tap. They have a small patio and average beers.

  • White Duck Taco Shop: A Carolinas chain for great tacos! They have a large patio out front and delicious eats—don’t skip the queso.

  • Trailside Brewing Co: A solid brewery in a renovated factory space. They have a large patio and they are dog friendly inside and out.

  • Mikes on Main: An old school diner offering breakfast and lunch on Main Street.

  • Postero: A solid spot for lunch and dinner downtown.

  • Southern Appalachian Brewery: Hendersonville’s first brewery! They have frequent live music and a patio space. The beer here is mediocre.

  • Guidon Brewing: A German brewery with a German-inspired beer list and kitchen. Located directly next door to Southern Appalachian Brewing. The beer here is below average.

  • Skip Boodas Brewing Company: They don’t have any of their own beers available and the guest tap selection is mediocre.

12 Bones South

12 Bones South

Surrounding Towns:

  • Burning Blush Brewery: A stellar spot in Mills River. The Lagers are great and the space is unique. There is usually a food truck outside if you are hungry.

  • Whistle Hop Brewing Company: A great brewery located in Fairview, NC. They have a huge outdoor space with a ton of yard games. They are housed in a literal train car which is unique and fun. Highly recommend!

  • 12 Bones South: A great BBQ restaurant and brewery located in Arden. They have another location in the River Arts District of Asheville as well. They have both indoor and outdoor seating with cute murals and little mason jar glasses for flights. The beers are tasty and the food is delicious. The “damn good corn pudding” is in fact damn good.

  • Sierra Nevada Mills River: This is a huge outpost of the California-based brewery with a private drive, full kitchen and taproom, and concert space. The outdoor space is great, with a firepit, game space, dog space, kid space, and all nestled in the forest. The staff here is also super friendly and great! Located in Mills River near the airport.

  • Mills River Brewing Company: A spacious brewery in Mills River with a fantastic outdoor space. They are located near the airport and offer cocktails, wine and beer. They have a permanent food truck onsite with a large menu and frequent live music.

  • Sideways Farm and Brewery: This farm brewery is located in Etowah. The beers can be great but they have only 4 taps so it’s a bit unreliable.

  • Turgua Brewing: An average brewery on the creek with a nice outdoor space. They are advertised as a farmhouse brewery but they have a large variety of beers. They are located 3 minutes from Whistle Hop Brewing in Fairview.

  • Blue Ghost Brewing Company: A mediocre brewery located in Fletcher near the airport. They also have an onsite food truck but the hours are limited.

  • Skip Joey’s New York Bagels: A bagel shop with two locations in the area—Hendersonville and Fletcher. 0/10 experience here twice.

Rainbow Falls

Get Into Nature:

  • Rainbow Falls Trail: This is a great hike that is 5.4 miles long with 1,181ft of elevation gain and takes about 2 hours and 15 minutes to complete. It is located in Jones Gap State Park in Marietta, SC, just across the border. Reservations are required on holidays and weekends, the park closes by 5, and there is a $6 entrance fee. It is a very nice trail that is steep at times but the falls at the end are fantastic.

  • High Falls and Triple Falls Tour: A popular trail in DuPont State Recreational Forest. This is 20 minutes from downtown Hendersonville and overall 3.7 miles long with 511ft of elevation gain. Both sets of waterfalls are very cool and there is also a fun old covered bridge.

  • Bearwallow Mountain Trail: This trail is directly across the road from Trombatore. It is a quick 1 hour trail that is about 2.5 miles long with 587ft of elevation gain. Skip walking up the fire tower road, the views are nothing.

  • Trombatore Trail: A solid hike up to a pasture-style view of the surrounding mountains. AllTrails listed it at 4.7 miles but it is actually more like 6 as a heads up.

  • Explore Green River Game Lands: This nature area is just 20 minutes from downtown and has a few different trails to explore.

    • Little Bradley Falls Trail which is 2.2 miles long with 164ft of elevation gain and takes about 50 minutes to complete. There are 3 river crossings but it is worth it to get to a very cool waterfall at the end. There is a little swimming hole as well.

    • Across the street is the Big Bradley Falls Overlook Trail which has some threatening signage and a very high and wide river to cross so I opted to turnback, but would try again in the summer months.

    • Lower Big Hungry Falls is another good option that is short at .8 mile with 170ft of elevation gain and takes 20 minutes. It leads to a nice waterfall with a beach area.

Have you explored the Hendersonville area of North Carolina? Let me know your favorite spots in the comments below!
Cheers—Alexis

The Best Breweries in North Carolina

North Carolina is a mecca for beer lovers—Asheville has continually been rated Beer City USA, Charlotte has almost 50 breweries itself, and essentially every other city in the state has their own local brewery they support. But which ones are making the absolute best beer? In alphabetical order, here are the best breweries in North Carolina:

Burial Beer Co. in Asheville & Raleigh, NC

Burial first opened it’s doors in the summer of 2013 and since then has become one of the best breweries in the country and arguably the best in North Carolina. They now have 3 locations—their original brewery and taproom in the South Slope neighborhood of Asheville, their Forestry Camp brewery and taproom in the Biltmore area of Asheville, and their downtown Raleigh location. They also are getting close to opening their Charlotte taproom and they are in the works of opening another space in Asheville. Burial is best known for their juicy New England IPAs, but they also make incredible Stouts and Lagers.

Dssolvr in Asheville, NC

Dssolvr is located in the heart of downtown Asheville and opened in December 2019. They focus on doing both worlds of beer well—old school Lagers, West Coast IPAs, Wild Ales + new school Hazy IPAs, Fruited Sours, and Pastry Stouts + everything in between. Their Fruited Sours can get a little crazy but everything they put out is well crafted and delicious.

Fonta Flora Brewery in Morganton, Nebo, and Charlotte, NC

Fonta Flora is one of the OG’s of the NC brew scene, having opened in 2013. They now have three locations—their original brewery and taproom in downtown Morganton, their Whippoorwill Farm location in Nebo, and their Charlotte taproom in Optimist Hall. Their award winning Wild Ales are the standout, but their Lagers and Hazy IPAs are phenomenal as well.

New Anthem Beer Project in Wilmington, NC

New Anthem opened in 2016 and they now have two locations in Wilmington—their original brewery and taproom at 116 Dock Street in downtown and their larger taproom and brewery at 110 Greenfield Street. New Anthem is best known for their New England IPAs which is reflected by their IPA-heavy tap list and can production.

Newgrass Brewing Co. in Shelby, NC

Newgrass opened in August 2015 and they are located in the heart of downtown Shelby right off Highway 74. Newgrass is an ideal stop between Charlotte and Asheville for Pastry Stouts, Hazy IPAs, and Fruited Sours. They have leaned into the hype beer game and it has treated them well—you can now find Newgrass cans and taps throughout the Carolinas.

Resident Culture Brewing Company in Charlotte, NC

Resident Culture is located in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood of Charlotte and opened their doors in September 2017. They are also close to opening a second brewery and taproom in the Gold District of Charlotte. The motto at Resident Culture is “where your weird is welcome” and they mean that—walking into their taproom you find a different vibe than most breweries. Their tap list is constantly changing but no matter the style RC does it well. Whether it’s a Mushroom Stout, Sour Patch Kids Sour, Lime Lager, Juicy IPA, or a Crisp Pilsner, if Resident Culture has leaned into it, they won’t steer you wrong.

Honorable Mention: Casita brewing Company

Casita is located in Wilson, North Carolina, a small town an hour east of Raleigh. They opened their taproom in 2020 after contract brewing for years at Hill Farmstead Brewery in Vermont and Duck-Rabbit Brewery in NC. Casita has already produced some phenomenal beers and as they continue to get comfortable in their new home the future looks bright.

If you’re exploring North Carolina, here are my guides to Asheville, Boone, Charlotte, Raleigh, and Wilmington!
Cheers!—Alexis

The Best Breweries in Asheville

Asheville has a plethora of breweries, but which ones are the best? I’ve rounded up the top 5 breweries in AVL for your next beer trip!

Check out my full guide to Asheville here!

Burial Beer

Burial Beer

Burial is hands down the best brewery in Asheville. They are one of the top breweries in the country so this should be no surprise. Burial’s OG South Slope taproom can get packed on the weekends, but it is worth the wait for their fantastic brews. Their other taprooms in Asheville include Forestry Camp, Eulogy, and Visuals Rooftop Wine Bar. Their top styles are juicy New England IPAs, thiccc Imperial Stouts, and crispy Lagers.

Zillicoah

Zillicoah Beer

Zillicoah makes incredibly fantastic Lagers and Farmhouse Ales. Their serene location just north of downtown is right along the French Broad River. It is the perfect spot to relax with a clean, crisp beer.

Dssolvr

Dssolvr

Dssolvr makes both classic beer styles and insane hype beer styles, but they do everything well. Whether it’s a clean crisp Pilsner or a quadruple fruited Sour Ale with marshmallow you can expect it to be phenomenal. Dssolvr’s taproom is located in downtown Asheville and has a small patio space out back.

Cellarest Ber Project

Cellarest Beer Project

Cellarest is a killer spot for Lagers and Farmhouse Ales in West Asheville. They have a unique approach to beer with wood fermentation and complex flavors.

New Origin Brewing

New Origin Brewing

New Origin is always a solid spot for IPAs and Stouts. They are located on the east side of town with a robust tap list full of tasty beers.

Highland

Special Mention: Highland Brewing

Highland is Asheville’s oldest brewery and is still one of the best! They began in 1994 and have since grown into a staple of the Southeast. Highland makes every style of beer you can imagine, but they are best known for their Gaelic Ale, an Amber. Their 40-acre property in East Asheville includes a taproom, meadow, packaging hall, event center, rooftop bar, and trails.

What do you think are the best breweries in Asheville? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

2 Days in Asheville, NC

Asheville is one of my favorite places to visit! It can be overwhelming to plan a visit to Asheville because there are just so many breweries and parts of town to explore. Check out my blog on the best breweries in Asheville here!

I’ve put together this guide for a two day trip to hit the highlights of this adorable mountain town. If you’ve got more time to explore check out my full guide to Asheville here!

Asheville Day 1

For your first day you have to go all in and hop around the South Slope area of town:

Start your adventure at Vortex Doughnuts to fuel up for a day full of brewery hopping.

Walk 2 minutes to Burial Beer, arguably the best brewery in North Carolina. Get there early to avoid the masses of people who will inevitably want to visit this great spot.

Walk 7 minutes to Hi-Wire Brewing. Their South Slope location is small but their beers are delicious!

Walk 12 minutes to Dssolvr, a newer brewery in central downtown. They are absolutely crushing it and I highly recommend a visit.

From the downtown strip walk 8 minutes to Terra Nova Beer Co for a tasty side pull Lager and some pizza to soak up your beverages.

If you are ready for another beer, pop over to Green Man, a 5 minute walk from Terra Nova.

Haw River Overlook

Asheville Day 2

Start your day at Taco Billy for delicious breakfast tacos! You can order online ahead of time as well to save time.

Hike part of the Mountain-to-Sea Trail from the Folk Art Center to the Haw River Overlook. The views are gorgeous at the lookout of this 5.5 out and back trail. Plus, it is just a 15 minute drive from town!

After your hike take some time to drive part of the Blue Ridge Parkway for more stunning views of the Blue Ridge Mountains.

On your way back into town, check out New Origin for tasty beers and pizza and then the secret brewery Cursus Keme next door

Head to the Biltmore Village area for a relaxing afternoon:

  • Grab beers and lunch at Hillman Beer

  • Sit on the rooftop patio and drink delicious beers at Forestry Camp by the team at Burial

If you’ve got more time in Asheville, here are my other recommendations!

What are your favorite Asheville stops? Let me know in the comments!

The South's Best Breweries

The South's Best Breweries

The best breweries across the Southern United States. These breweries have great beer and great atmospheres to hang out in!