Asheville Breweries & Cideries
NPR calls Asheville the “Napa Valley of Beer,” but let’s be clear—this city isn’t trying to be anything but itself. Asheville’s craft beer culture runs deep, built on ingenuity, community, and an unshakable love for the art of brewing. With more than 50 breweries scattered across Western North Carolina, this region doesn’t just drink beer—it defines it.
Per capita, Asheville ranks among the top craft beer consumers in the Southeast, and it’s no stranger to accolades. This city held the Beer City USA title for four consecutive years and has landed on just about every “best beer town” list you can name, from Forbes Travel Guide to CNN’s Top 8 Beer Towns in the USA. But the real proof is in the pint glass—whether you’re sipping a crisp lager on a riverside patio or diving into a small-batch sour brewed with mountain-grown fruit, Asheville’s beer scene is unmatched.
To get you started, we’ve rounded up our top picks for beer in the Asheville area. Many are downtown, conveniently within walking distance (see our South Slope Brewing District Walking Tour), and if beer isn’t your thing, don’t worry—our guides to downtown wine bars and cocktail spots have you covered, too.
Top Breweries, Beer Tours and Cideries in Asheville
Just a stone’s throw from Biltmore Village at 101 Fairview Rd, Asheville, this tasting room is pouring some seriously good European-style brews. Try their year-round favorites like the Wee-Heavy-Er Scotch Ale, 13 Rebels ESB, IPA, Ryehopper, Gateway Kolsch, and Anvil Porter—each one more delicious than the last.
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.
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.
Mountain Layers Brewing (90 Everett St) This award-winning 7-barrel craft microbrewery and taproom is located on historic Everett Street in beautiful downtown Bryson City, Swain County—the gateway to the Great Smoky Mountain National Park in North Carolina.
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 their agricultural roots.
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.
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