NPR calls Asheville the "Napa Valley of Beer!" Our beer scene features an amazing selection of bars, brewpubs, micro craft breweries, cideries and restaurants. Sample hundreds of local brews from dozens of western North Carolina mountain breweries. Asheville, per capita, has one of the highest rates of craft brew consumption in the Southeast. Accolades include being named Beer City USA for four years in a row, Forbes Travel Guide 5 Beer Cities To Hit This Summer and CNN 8 Best Beer Towns in the USA.
Here are our top picks for beer in the Asheville area. Many are located downtown within walking distance of each other (see our South Slope Brewing District Walking Tour). Also see the best downtown Asheville bars for wine and cocktails.
Top 30 Breweries, Pubs, and Beer Tours in Asheville
Featured Event
Downtown Asheville Brewery Map
Biltmore Village Breweries
Located just two miles south of downtown is the historic village outside the entrance of Biltmore Estate. It's becoming the next hot spot for breweries - and it's usually easier to find parking! Check out Catawba Brewing (63 Brook Street), French Broad Brewery (101 Fairview Road) and Hi-Wire Big Top (2 Huntsman Place). Sample 50+ beers, ciders and wines at Pour Taproom (2 Hendersonville Road). Read more about Biltmore Village.
2018 Beer Festivals & Events
January 6, 2018: Beech Mountain Winterfest Beer Festival
Sample 50 brews and ciders from a variety of regional breweries while enjoying live music on both levels of the Beech Tree Bar & Grille on the ski resort. 4-8 PM. Go to their website.
March 17, May 26, June 16, July 21, Aug 18 and Sept 1, 2018: Fontana Trestle Train BBQ & Brews
Enjoy slow-cooked BBQ and local beer tastings as you ride the scenic Great Smoky Mountains Railroad, starting in Bryson City at 7 PM. Read more.
April 7, 2018: Sylva BrewHop
Celebrate NC Beer Month with a progressive tasting at five stops in Sylva's cool downtown, including two local breweries Balsam Falls and Innovation. Tickets $25/person include souvenir glass and two 4 oz pours at each stop. 3-7 PM. Check in 2-2:45 at 462 West Main. Buy tickets online.
May 25-June 2, 2018: Asheville Beer Week
A full week of special events, workshops, dinners, infused brews, cask ales, a collaborative brew and more, held at many locations.
June 2, 2018: Beer City Festival
Fun downtown Asheville festival with 30+ breweries and live music in Pack Square Park in downtown Asheville. Get tickets in advance. Read more.
June 9, 2018: "State of Origin" Craft Brew Festival
Go to Morganton for a boutique craft brew festival held on the historic Courthouse lawn. Presented by Fonta Flora Brewery, 20 craft breweries from all across North Carolina will present unique beers brewed with local ingredients from flora and fauna. 5-9 PM. $50/person. Go to their Website.
June 16, 2018: Beer Camp
This epic adult day camp at Sierra Nevada Brewery includes games, obstacle course, keg bowling, hammerschlogan, silent disco, costume contest and more. Pair those with favorite Sierra Nevada beers, special collaboration beers and great food. 12-5 PM. $25/person includes entertainment and free shuttle with pick up in downtown Asheville. Get more info and buy tickets online.
August 10-11, 2018: Oskar Blues Burning CAN Beer Fest
Overnight event on their scenic REEB Ranch near Brevard, sample 200+ beers from 50 craft-canning breweries. Includes mountain sports including biking, running and paddling - along with international touring bands, camping, food trucks, and more. Read more.
September 15, 2018: Brewgrass Festival
Held at Memorial Stadium near downtown Asheville (above McCormick Field baseball park) from 1-6 PM with 45 breweries. $45/person. Buy advance tickets. Go to their website.
October 6, 2018: Asheville Oktoberfest
Sample beers and local food at this ticketed street festival in downtown Asheville, mixing Bavarian traditions with local eclectic vibe. See our Oktoberfest Guide.
October 13, 2018: CiderFest NC
Sample this crisp fall beverage from 15 cideries from several states. Live music, cheeses, baked goods, art and crafts, and educational activities for the kids. Benefits WNC Green Building Council. Salvage Station, 468 Riverside Drive, Asheville. 1-5 PM. $30/person advance. $40 day of. Limited tickets. Buy online.
October 13, 2018: Oktoberfest at Sierra Nevada
Enjoy a German feast, music, glassblowing and more at Sierra Nevada south of Asheville. 5-10 PM. $45/person. Limited tickets, buy online now.
November 3, 2018: Tryon Beer Fest
A festive time with outdoor oyster roast, games, live music and great selection of craft beers and ciders. Downtown Tryon. $30/person early bird tickets through August 31. $35 after Sept 1. $40 at event. Tickets capped at 1,000. Buy online.
Top 10 Craft Breweries Outside of Asheville
Innovation Brewing (414 West Main, Sylva) They create traditional styles of ale and ol’ standbys, along with experimentation with a variety of fun and fresh ingredients for unique styles. Nearby is Balsam Falls on the Jackson County Ale Trail.
Southern Appalachian Brewery (822 Locust, Hendersonville) They specialize in making small batches of craft beer. Tasting Room downtown frequently has live music.
Sanctuary Brewing Company (147 First Avenue East, Hendersonville) in downtown is a place for craft beer enthusiasts and animal lovers for a strong sense of community and environmental responsibility. Try their farmhouse ales, American stouts and West Coast IPAs.
Nantahala Brewing Company (61 Depot St, Bryson City) From their Flagship, Noon Day IPA, to their epic adventure-inspired Trail Magic Ale™ Series, their brews have ties to the rich history of brewing in the Great Smoky Mountains.
BearWaters Brewing (130 Frazier St #7, Waynesville) Their full-service Tap Room features 10 signature and rotating beers on tap. Start with a sampling flight paddle.
Frog Level Brewing Company (56 Commerce Street, Waynesville) Taste some of the smoothest craft beer to touch your tongue, from the bite of their IPA to the smokiness of their Scotch Ale.
Fonta Flora Brewery (317 North Green, Morganton) This microbrewery is striving to create a totally unique North Carolina/Appalachian style of beer. By utilizing local grains and foraging the countryside for wild flora, they are taking brewing back to its agricultural roots.
Catawba Brewing (212 South Green Street, Morganton) This family-owned, 15-year old craft beer maker with a great location for live music while sampling brews. They opened a downtown Asheville brewery in 2015.
Oskar Blues Brewery (342 Mountain Industrial Drive, Brevard) Oskar Blues' east coast brewery opened in late 2012 and produces 56,000 barrels of beer a year. Take a tour any day of the week. Some specialty draft ales are only available at the brewery tasting room, which includes a restaurant and music venue. See our Oskar Blues Brewery Guide.
Brevard Brewing Company (63 East Main Street, Brevard) They specialize in lagers, cold-fermented and aged over twice as long as ales.
Pisgah Brewing Company (150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain) Located in Black Mountain about 10 miles east of Asheville, they specialize in brewing hand-crafted certified organic beer. Try the Pisgah Solstice, a Belgian-style ale, or the darkest ale, the rich and smooth Pisgah Porter.
