The 10 Best Breweries In Asheville, NC
Zebulon Artisan Ales
Just outside the city limits of Asheville, about ten minutes to the north, is perhaps the most whimsical brewery in North Carolina. Mike Karnowski and his wife Gabe have a 7 BBL brewhouse in a quaint space in downtown Weaverville, NC, right next to a laundromat. His beers are exceptionally special as he is an historical brewer who finds old recipes from yesteryear and brews them as close as he can to how they used to brew them back in their heyday. Try all of of Zebulon's offerings for only a buck or two for a tasting of his European beer creations. You will be given a piece of paper to record the beers that you have consumed. You simply hand that sheet of paper in when you are ready to close out. Don't forget to buy some bottles to go as many of his beers are brewed and aged for a long time and are made with some additional aging in mind. Zebulon also has a bonafied beer engine from England in order to enjoy Cask Ale poured like you are in a pub in England. Any beer "on Cask" is a must for any beer lover. Don't be afraid to enjoy a classic English pint pulled out of the cask at 55 degrees with carbonation from the yeast only. These pints may be as low as 3% ABV for a classic English Bitter or Mild or over 10% for a snifter of a classic Imperial stout. Pro Tip: Zebulon is open 1-6 Friday and Saturday only so plan accordingly.
Green Man Brewing
This is the original taproom and soccer bar of the now bustling South Slope neighborhood. Green Man is a staple of beer, soccer and local culture in Asheville for over twenty-five years. Brewing up award winning English ales, like the 2021 GABF Gold Medal winning English Porter, Green Man is well established as a must stop for any beer lover visiting Beer City USA. Try visiting one of their two spaces on Buxton Avenue, the original Dirty Jacks or the grandiose and beautiful packaging hall/taproom dubbed by the locals as, "The Green Mansion." The Mansion was used to describe the 20,000 square foot mammoth building after being made brick by brick in 2016. Choose from a delicious array of eighteen beer offerings in each taproom ranging from Asheville classic English Ales, crisp brewer friendly German lagers and exceptionally balanced and fruity dry hopped American IPAs. Get the Wayfarer IPA or Trickster IPA to see the precursors to the Haze Craze. Green Man is a must see when visiting Asheville and what better way than with a local beer expert? Book here to go on Beer City Brewery Tours.
DO YOU WANT TO LEARN MORE ABOUT HAZY BEER? CLICK HERE TO READ MY BLOG POST.
Hillman Beer
Open for over five years in Asheville, Hillman Beer is a wonderful place to eat fabulous house made sandwiches and salads with your choice of award winning, tasty brews. They have a beer and burger special every Wednesday as well. Now with two locations in Old Fort and Asheville, Hillman has become a great new staple of Beer City USA. A former home brewer, Brad Hillman, along with his brother Greig and his wife Brandi, has made quite an impression in Beer City with their quality brews as well as chill indoor and outdoor hangs. If you are in the Biltmore Village area, go and have their award winning ESB, Belgian Dark Strong (or Quadruple), or one of their fantastic other offerings like their delicious Hefeweizen. If you are hiking, biking, kayaking or playing out East on I-40 check out their production facility in downtown Old Fort. There is also a brand new brewery right down the street from them called Whaley Farms that I very highly recommended as well.
CHECK OUT MORE ABOUT WHALEY FARMS IN MY BLOG POST
Sierra Nevada Brewing