17 Best Breweries in Asheville With Low-Key Local Spots

The craft beer scene in Asheville is hopping. Enjoy the best breweries in Asheville for location, flavor, families, food, and pets from Asheville locals. Sip beer in a train caboose or by the French Broad River.

Best Breweries In Asheville Featured Image with Hi-Wire beer — Hi-Wire’s RAD Beer Garden

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As Asheville residents, we visit the breweries weekly. It’s no surprise we have our favorites. Below, find a few travelers’ musts along with our top local spots. After picking your perfect brewery (or ten!), be sure to peruse all of our food, drink, and snack guides.

What You'll Find In This Guide

Zillicoah Beer Company

Tofu Skewers from Master BBQ — My tofu skewers

Our favorite brewery in Asheville, Zillicoah Beer Company sits along the French Broad River in Woodfin/North Asheville. They brew delicious Helles (my pick), Stouts, smoky brews, and a variety of Pilsners and Geists.

Enjoy both covered and uncovered picnic tables and a warehouse-like taproom. Find a series of delicious food trucks that circulate the brewery along with permanent food truck, Master BBQ; think authentic Filipino cuisine. Get the lumpia. We love it! This is a dog-friendly brewery.

Zillicoah Beer Company | 870 Riverside Drive; Woodfin, NC 28804

Hillman Beer

Located in the Biltmore Estate/Historic Biltmore Village neighborhood, Hillman Beer is one of the best Asheville breweries with food. Select from classic sandwiches, wraps, melts, salads, and pub appetizers.

Hillman produces some of my favorite beer styles including ESBs, Kölschs, Hefeweizens, Brown Ales, and Saisons. Enjoy their airy taproom or sit outside by the babbling brook with Fido.

Hillman Beer | Asheville: 25 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28803 & Old Fort: 78 Catawba Ave, Old Fort, NC 28762

Local Outdoor Enthusiast Tip: Hillman Beer opened a gorgeous taproom alongside the creek in Old Fort. Thirty minutes from Asheville, Old Fort is full of things to do, including mountain biking along the trails.

Wedge Brewing Co.

Wedge’s Foundation location (River Arts District) is our go-to brewery. Drink IPAs, Pilsners, Stouts, Lagers, Golden Ales, Cream Ales, and Sours. Sip beer on their outside patio surrounded by urban street art, an outdoor skate park, and artist studios. Order from the permanent on-site food truck, The Chop Shop, which owns a stellar butchery. Think hot dogs and hamburgers.

Wedge Brewing Co. | Foundation/Foundy Street: 5 Foundy Street; Asheville, NC 28801; Studios: 129 Roberts St, Asheville, NC 28801; Downtown: 1 Page Avenue, Suite 152 Asheville, NC 28801

Rye Knot

Rye Knot is a local neighborhood brewery, distillery, and delicious restaurant all in one North Asheville location. We appreciate their endless seating, fish and chips, beet salad, burgers, vegan soups, and whiskey that we buy for at-home Old Fashioneds. For craft beer in Asheville, I recommend Rye Knot’s Blondes and Ales. Tell Bob we say hello – as well as us; you might see us here since it’s our hot spot!

Rye Knot | 868 Merrimon Ave, Asheville, NC 28804

Get in even better spirits: Next to Funkatorium in South Slope, try Asheville’s great distilleries like Chemist (also home to a terrific bar, Antidote). Near the Grove Arcade, head to Cultivated Cocktails.

Asheville Brewing Company

Tom in Asheville Pizza and Brewing's movie theater

One of the best breweries in Asheville for pizza, Asheville Brewing Company has multiple casual and budget-friendly locations. Enjoy pub-grub burgers, tater tots, King Kong wings, salads, bowls, and sandwiches.

For local craft beer, try their darker brews with chocolate and coconut. They also feature ESBs, Lagers, and IPAs. Asheville Brewing is one of the top kid-friendly restaurants/craft breweries in Asheville. Their Merrimon location has two movie theaters (*but they are selling that location).

Asheville Brewing Company | North Asheville: 675 Merrimon Avenue; Asheville, NC 28804; Downtown: 77 Coxe Avenue; Asheville, NC 28801; 1850 Hendersonville Road Suite A; Asheville, NC 28803

7 Clans Brewing

Biltmore Village’s 7 Clans Brewing is where we go for gluten-reduced beer for Tom with Celiacs (always double-check). This women-majority and Indigenous-owned brewery features Blonde Ales, IPAs, Saisons, Sours, and Chestnut Browns.

7 Clans Brewing | 66 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC 28803

12 Bones Smokehouse

Christine's dad with BBQ at 12 Bones — My dad visiting from CT

One of the best breweries in Asheville with food, 12 Bones Smokehouse promises that devour-worthy local BBQ. The Obamas dined at the 12 Bones Smokehouse River location (River Arts District). Think pulled pork, ribs, and smoked meat platters with Southern sides.

At the South location, don’t miss Gus Gutty’s ode to Anthony Bourdain, and discover more of Asheville’s most memorable restaurants where the likes of Gordon Ramsay, Anthony Bourdain, and Samantha Brown dined.

12 Bones Smokehouse | South Brewery: 2350 Hendersonville Rd, Arden, NC 28704 & RAD BBQ Joint/Taproom: 5 Foundy St Ste 10, Asheville, NC 2880

Ginger’s Revenge

For lovers of meaderies and cideries (and gluten-free beer), Ginger’s Revenge is a must with its alcoholic and flavored ginger beer. If they have the Arnold Palmer on tap, get it. I especially love the fig, pumpkin, and fall flavors. Their ginger mural is the backdrop for live music, and they have board games for the family.

Ginger’s Revenge | Riverside Tasting Room: 829 Riverside Dr. Suite 100, Asheville, NC 28801

Wicked Weed Brewing

Burger at Wicked Weed — Tom’s gluten-free burger

Wicked Weed is one of the most popular and sought-after Asheville breweries with food. I take all out-of-town visitors here. With cozy indoor pub seating and an outdoor, dog-friendly patio with firepits, select from sandwiches, burgers, and heavier entrees like salmon and steak. Enjoy cocktails, red and white wine, ciders, and that famous Asheville beer.

Wicked Weed also owns South Slope’s Funkatorium, which is the East Coast’s first sour beer-dedicated taproom. Encounter unique flavors to zap your taste buds, including elderflower, raspberries, grapefruit, tropical fruit, vanilla, and cherries.

Wicked Weed Brewing | Downtown Brewpub: 91 Biltmore Ave. Asheville, NC 28801; Wicked Weed West: 145 Jacob Holm Way, Candler, NC 28715; Funkatorium: 147 Coxe Ave., Asheville, NC 28801

Looking for great Downtown places to eat? Nearby, enjoy top Downtown Asheville restaurants like Limones, Shanghai Dumpling House, and Bouchon. Across the street, the purple comedy bus, Lazoom, is always a good idea as one of the most fun things to do in Asheville. This popular guided beer tour also sells out frequently.

Cellarest Beer Project

Another one of the best breweries in Asheville serving gluten-reduced beer, Cellarest Beer Project sits on the quieter side of Haywood Road in West Asheville. A pet and kid-friendly brewery with indoor and covered and uncovered outdoor seating, sip on Lagers and Farmhouse Ales. We enjoy their Stouts, Doppelbocks, Helles, and Saisons.

Cellarest Beer Project | 395 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806

For non-beer drinkers in your group, head to nearby popular local coffee shops like Izzy’s, BattleCat, and Odd’s Cafe.

Hi-Wire Brewing

It’s no secret that you’ll find many of the best Asheville breweries around Downtown’s South Slope as well as the vibrant River Arts District. Hi-Wire’s South Slope taproom is known for its rainbow mural and offers the ideal location for a day of Asheville brewery hopping (they added a tiki bar too!).

My preferred location is Hi-Wire’s River Arts District Beer Garden. Spy vibrant murals while sitting in refurbished shipping containers. Hi-Wire features Lagers and Sour beers. They usually have Brown Ales, IPAs, and Seasonals.

Hi-Wire Brewing | Big Top/Biltmore Village: 2A Huntsman Pl; Asheville, NC; Downtown/South Slope: 197 Hilliard Ave; Asheville, NC; RAD Beer Garden: 284 Lyman Street; Asheville, NC

Insider tip: Hi-Wire’s RAD Beer Garden is great after spending a day rollerskating, walking, or biking the RAD Riverwalk or local public parks.

Whistle Hop Brewing

Whistle Hop Brewing is terrific for families, pets, and fun. The taproom is a train. With Blue Ridge Mountain views, romp around a massive outdoor playground with a slide, bocce, soccer, mini-bowling, mini-golf, and disc golf Connect 4. Whistle Hop also boasts charcoal grills and fire pits with indoor and outdoor seating.

For beer, enjoy IPAs, Kolschs, Wheats, Pilsners, Goses, Belgians, Dunkels, Sours, and Stouts. They brew up unique seasonals. Grab a bite to eat from rotating food trucks like Garage BBQ, Smasheville, Tin Can Pizzeria, and Cecilia’s Kitchen.

Whistle Hop Brewing Company | 1288 Charlotte Hwy, Fairview, NC 28730

Green Man Brewery

Although one of the hottest breweries in Asheville with travelers, Green Man has the best ESB around. They are also one of North Carolina’s and Asheville’s original breweries, popping up in 1997.

Their massive main location is three stories high with multiple bars, rooftop seating, a zen garden, and views of their brewing process. I most prefer Green Man’s Lagers, and they specialize in IPAs, Ambers, Porters, and Sours.

Green Man Brewery | Green Mansion: 27 Buxton Ave.; Asheville, NC 28801; Dirty Jack’s: 23 Buxton Avenue.; Asheville, NC 28801; Green Man Eats: 21 Buxton Ave.; Asheville, NC 28801

See where to get great rooftop drinks in Asheville like Top of the Monk and The Montford.

Catawba Brewing Company

Catawba Brewing Co. Downtown Asheville NC with two white brunette men and one female drinking beer at table

Pair your visit to Green Man with Catawba Brewing, which brews up delicious White Ales and plays with flavors like orange, pumpkin, coffee, coconut, peach, and lime. Find Stouts, IPAs, Porters, Browns, Ambers, Sours, Saisons, and even Cream Ales. We suggest ordering a beer flight since it’s hard to pick just one.

Catawba Brewing Co. | South Slope/Downtown: 32 Banks Ave; Asheville, NC 28801; Biltmore Village: 63 Brook St.; Asheville, NC 28803

White Labs Brewing Co.

Christine at White Labs Brewing Kitchen And Tap

One of the best Asheville breweries with food for locals, White Labs is located on your way into or out of North Asheville/Downtown. A family-friendly restaurant and brewery, White Labs Kitchen and Tap serves pizza, burgers, sandwiches, and sharables. Some of White Labs’ beers are gluten-reduced (just ask). Drink Stouts, Lagers, and Ambers.

White Labs Brewing Co. Asheville | 172 S Charlotte St, Asheville, NC 28801

Dssolvr

For unique Downtown Asheville breweries with indoor and outdoor seating (kids and dogs allowed), Dssolvr’s taproom is filled with fun blend beers. A few include their flagship Kölsch, a marshmallow Sour, hazy IPAs, Schwarzbiers, and Italian Pilsners. We and our friends love them, especially on a Sunday afternoon.

Dssolvr | 63 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801

New Belgium Brewing

Vegan burger from The Smokin Onion at New Belgium — The Smokin Onion at New Belgium

You have probably heard of New Belgium’s Fat Tire. Situated next to the French Broad River, enjoy a meal from rotating food trucks like Cecilia’s Kitchen and The Smokin’ Onion. Take a brewery tour. New Belgium serves Dark Ales, American, Hazy, and Imperial IPAs, Farmhouse Lagers, and Sours.

New Belgium Brewing Asheville | 21 Craven St, Asheville, NC 2880

More Asheville, NC Breweries

Christine selfie at Burial Beer Co Forestry Camp Taproom — Burial Beer Co. Forestry Camp Taproom (food!)

There are so many breweries, we couldn’t possibly name them all. A few more popular breweries in Asheville include:

Burial Beer Company
River Arts District Brewing Co.
Thirsty Monk Brewery
French Broad River Brewery
Twin Leaf Brewery
Archetype Brewing
One World Brewing
Highland Brewing Company (first and oldest brewery in Asheville)

Great Breweries Near Asheville

We are avid Western North Carolina day trippers. More Asheville area breweries to love include:

Hopping Weaverville Breweries (15 minutes)
Black Mountain’s craft beer scene (25 minutes)
Must-Visit Hendersonville Breweries (45 minutes)
Gluten-Reduced Beer Around Greenville, SC (1 hour and 20 mins)

Christine Frascarelli

4 Comments

L Rob says:

January 7, 2023 at 10:58 am

This is a great guide. We are looking forward to trying out some of the breweries listed!

Wondering why Burial wasn’t listed as one of the top 28? It was one of our favorite stops for food and amazing craft beer when visiting AVL. I realize there are SO many to choose from – but Burial had some of the best beer we’ve ever had!

Thanks again for the great information!

1. Christine says:
  
  January 7, 2023 at 4:07 pm
  
  We switch guides up every once in a while (adding and removing places) – so while we had them on in previous years, we decided to list our personal favorites recently. Burial is absolutely great, though, and we may always swap in and out again. I just love their beer names!
  
Don Zelm says:

November 3, 2021 at 12:37 pm

Try the German chocolate stout at Eurisko on Short Coxe.

1. Christine says:
  
  November 3, 2021 at 1:14 pm
  
  Yes!! I really love Eurisko’s Helles as well. Thanks so much for the beer suggestion.

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