Breweries In Asheville, NC (January 2025)

This guide to Asheville breweries shares it all– the big guys, the microbreweries, the must-visit breweries and the hidden gems. We share details on the beer offerings, vibe, food scene and more.

Complete Guide TO Breweries In Asheville

Not only is Asheville home to some of the nation’s largest and most established craft breweries but there are also several up-and-coming startups and small-batch breweries.

The smaller ones have a bit more flexibility to experiment and perfect, so you can expect a lot of unique brews and fun collaborations from them.

This guide details each brewery in Asheville and includes details on types of beer, food offerings, seating and more. It was updated in January 2025 to reflect the status of each brewery post-hurricane. For details on closures, see our guide to breweries that flooded.


Hidden biergarten in South Slope with awesome food

Burial Beer in South Slope is our top recommendation for a brewery in Asheville. This gets thrown around a lot, but we mean it! It’s the perfect combination of a cool space, unique brews and delicious food.

Burial’s quiet Biergarten-style outdoor area is a welcome surprise in the heart of South Slope. There are several places to sit, including old vehicles scattered around.

Their in-house kitchen serves excellent fare. In fact, it’s at the top of our South Slope restaurants guide. We especially love the cheeseburger!

Burial has a second location near Biltmore Village (details below!) and locations in Raleigh and Charlotte. Burial does not have flights, samples or tasters available. Full pours only!


Coolest brewery atmosphere in town

You’ll find Burial’s second location in Asheville near Biltmore Village. Burial’s Forestry Camp is one of the coolest breweries in town.

It’s located in a former camp that housed Civilian Conservation Corps Workers. The setting and old buildings bring a sense of nostalgia to your beer-drinking experience.

Just like at their South Slope location, Burial does not offer flights or samples. Full pours only.

Forestry Camp is on the list of Asheville breweries with great food. And they use East Fork pottery!

Burial Forestry Camp

Though their menu changes seasonally, you can count on excellent menu items like a classic smash burger, steak frites, fried oysters and even redfish.


12 Old Charlotte Highway | East Asheville

Excellent beer, local food trucks and great outdoor fun

As Asheville’s first craft brewery, Highland Brewing is where the Beer City magic first began.

Established in 1994, Asheville’s oldest craft brewery still cranks out high-quality beer today. A few of their top brews include their flagship Gaelic Ale (an amber-colored American Ale), their seasonal Cold Mountain Spiced Winter Ale and an excellent line-up of IPAs.

You’ll find a great outdoor area, a large indoor taproom with a porch and a rotating lineup of food trucks at their production brewery in East Asheville

The huge campus also has loads of activities, like a short hiking trail, disc golf, corn hole and volleyball. Their large outdoor space, dubbed “The Meadow”, is perfect for kids of all ages to get some energy out.

They offer brewery tours for a behind-the-scenes look and they also host several events throughout the year.

Highland also has a bar and taproom downtown in the beautiful S&W Market (Asheville’s only food hall!)


Unique high-quality brews in an unassuming spot

Cellarest is a small-batch brewery in West Asheville specializing in wood barrel fermentation and lagering. Their craftsmanship produces high-quality beers in styles you won’t find elsewhere.

Rather than having a beer list chocked full of IPAs, they have interesting wild ales, stouts, and lagers on the menu. It’s all small batch and regionally influenced (classic Asheville!) and they make use of some pretty cool techniques.

One noteworthy one is that they use European-style serving tanks. These use compressed air instead of CO2 for dispensing, which saves on labor and water and reduces added chemicals.

They have great outdoor seating as well as a small taproom. Live music in the garden area can’t be topped! And their mural with the sun peeking through woods is super impressive.

As far as food goes, they have Thai food available from the Cassia food truck on site Friday to Sunday from 2-9. You can also bring your own food or have something delivered. May we recommend Gan Shan West or Pizza Mind just down the road?


A local Asheville gem with several out-of-state locations

With several locations scattered around Asheville, Hi-Wire’s colorful vibe is sure to draw you in. Not only do they have their flagship and seasonal ales available, but also a wide assortment of special batches, sour and wild ales.

Their colorful South Slope spot serves as their original home and is now dedicated to brewing their small-batch beers, sours and wild ales.

It is an intimate taproom and can’t be missed with its rainbow vortex façade. For food, you’ll find a few snacks and ready-made charcuterie platters or you can bring your own.

Their South Slope brewery features 24 taps of unique Hi-Wire beers as well as non-alcoholic beer and soda.

Hi-Wire previously had three locations in Asheville but their River Arts District location was destroyed during Hurricane Helene. Their Biltmore Village received some damage but quickly reopened in the aftermath.


Excellent local brewery brought to you by a top Asheville BBQ restaurant

If the name sounds familiar, perhaps you are thinking of their sister restaurant: 12 Bones Smokehouse. They make some of the Best BBQ in Asheville.

But let’s talk about the brewery! 12 Bones Brewing is just another example of an Asheville establishment contributing to what makes Beer City so amazing.

It’s located in the same building 12 Bones’ South AVL location, so you can pair world-class BBQ (especially the ribs!) with great beer.

With a lineup of traditional and more experimental beers, there is something classic or unique for every palate. They also host a ton of cool events like trivia and live musicFollow on social media for upcoming events.

There’s a food counter on the restaurant side or you can order food from your table using a QR code. The restaurant counter has a few beers available, but you’ll find more on tap at the brewery side of things.

12 Bones Brewing hosts Totally Rad Trivia on Wednesday nights at 7pm. They also have live music on Thursdays from 6-8PM.


Rotating food trucks and local beer at an artist studio/gallery

You can’t get more Asheville than Wedge Brewery at Wedge Studios. It’s tucked in the dock level of an iconic building in the River Arts District.

The building (a triangular-shaped wedge…) is over 100 years old. It was founded by a metal artist and features 20 working studios. It’s a great place for art lovers to explore!

This location did receive flood damage during Hurricane Helene but it was able to reopen on 10/31/24. Their downtown taproom is also open, but their second River Arts location (Wedge at Foundation) was destroyed.

The brewery features rotating food trucks, a small taproom and great outdoor seating. You can’t get a flight but they do offer half-pours.


South Asheville brewery with a BBQ restaurant

Sweeten Creek Brewing is a hidden gem brewery in South Asheville. They have a great variety of brews, an on-site Bear’s Smokehouse and a large meadow perfect for kids and dogs.

Alongside their signature pilsner, Sweeten Creek offers a variety of malty options for those who prefer a richer taste.

They also have a wide selection of IPAs, including their ‘Asheville Style IPA,’ a unique creation that merges East Coast and West Coast styles into a local favorite.

Bear’s BBQ and Sweeten Creek Brewing are in separate spaces and have different ordering areas.

Bear’s BBQ has all of the classics you’d expect, from pulled pork to burnt ends, mac & cheese, collards and more. They also have a few unique creations, like cornbread topped with mac + cheese and choice of meat.

Bear’s Smokehouse & Sweeten Creek

For vegetarian options, Bear’s has smoked portobello, smoked tempeh and Impossible meatloaf.

This is the second Asheville location of Bear’s Smokehouse. The first Bear’s in the area is one of the many restaurants in South Slope. Bear’s is originally out of Connecticut.


Asheville’s (and quite possibly the East Coast’s) most impressive brewery

If you looking to be wowed by a brewery, head to the Sierra Nevada Brewery located south of Asheville in Mills River.

This kid-friendly brewery serves as their East Coast production facility and is the closest brewery to the Asheville airport. It’s situated on over 180 acres on the French Broad River.

Sierra Nevada is a beer wonderland where you can eat, drink and soak in the great outdoors. They offer a variety of brewery tourslive music, great bites, awesome beer and plenty of space to roam around.

You can either dine at their restaurant (10/10 food btw) or you can order from their patio menu out back and enjoy the grounds. The food menu at the taproom restaurant is a bit more elevated than the Back Porch one.

Sierra Nevada

Their outdoor space is pretty great– you’ll find a grass lawn amphitheater, a working garden, and plenty of seating to enjoy. Live music is every Saturday and Sunday at the amphitheater from 2 to 5pm, and they also host live music events in their High Gravity space.


Great outdoor patio in the heart of downtown Asheville

With some of the best quality beer in Asheville, DSSOLVR is a must-stop for any beer enthusiast. Located on Lexington Avenue in downtown Asheville, this small brewery packs a punch.

DSSOLVR has around 20 beers on tap with styles ranging from Kolsch to sours to double IPAs ensuring there is something for every taste. There’s even a cheesecake sour!!

The patio space tucked behind the brewery is a favorite around town. There are beer garden-style tables surrounded by trees. It’s unexpected!

Their indoor seating is also pretty great because it’s in the same space as their production brewery. So you can watch the magic happen from your seat. They open the doors between the spaces when the weather is nice.

One thing to note is that DSSOLVR does not have flights, samples or tasters available. Full pours only!


West Coast-style hoppy brews and outdoor seating downtown

As a true darling of the Asheville beer scene, Wicked Weed has multiple locations around town. Explore classic brews & eats at their downtown Asheville brewery, dive into sours at the Funkatorium, or visit their newest spot in Enka/Candler.

Their original location (the Brewpub) is located downtown. They have a vast selection of award-winning beers as well as an on-site kitchen with excellent food options. Try one of their signature flights if you are indecisive or like to sample several brews.

The Brewpub is a great place to hang out with both indoor and outdoor seating. We especially love the open patio on Biltmore Ave. Perfect for people-watching!

Wicked Weed

Wicked Weed offers free brewery tours at their brewpub location. It’s 21+ and you can sign up online.

One last thing… Wicked Weed was sold to Anheuser Busch-InBev in 2017. All of their beer production continues to remain in Asheville, though their distribution area has obviously expanded since the sale. It’s still a beloved Asheville brewery, though, and feels very local despite the sale.


Hurricane Update: All Asheville Wicked Weed locations are closed as they support staff and community needs.

Perfect destination for sour lovers

Less than a ten-minute walk from Wicked Weed’s Brewpub you’ll find their Funkatorium. Located in the heart of the South Slope Brewing District, they specialize in small-batch sours and funky beer.

With 20 on tap, it’s a wonderworld for sour lovers. They also have a selection of traditional beers on tap at the Funkatorium as well as signature flights.

And we can’t forget the space and food– elevated pub fare and beer garden-style seating. The perfect escape, especially when paired with a funky sour.

The Funkatorium


Hi-Wire production brewery with outdoor seating and a food truck

Their 27,000-square-foot production brewery and taproom is located near Biltmore Village.

Known as Hi-Wire Big Top, you’ll find several picnic tables outside, a covered patio, and rotating food trucks.

Big Top features 30 taps (25 Hi-Wire brews), 3 draft wines, cold brew, and local Devil’s Foot Sparkling Lemonade.

Hi-Wire has a second location in South Slope, but their River Arts District beer garden received too much damage from Hurricane Helene to reopen.


Brewpub near Biltmore Village with great outdoor seating + flights

Hillman Beer is an Asheville brewery gem. It’s just down the road from Biltmore Village and has excellent outdoor seating and a great food menu.

This location flooded during Hurricane Helene but was able to reopen in the aftermath.

Hillman’s beer selection offers something for every taste. From light Nitro Pale Ales to their classic Dunkelweisen, and with rotating sours and hard seltzers, there’s always a perfect brew waiting.

Hillman offers flights, 32-ounce crowlers, 16-ounce pours and short pours (12oz.) They also have a few N/A options like Athletic Brewery non-alcoholic beer, Devils Foot, kombucha and soda.

Hillman Beer

And as for food, it’s excellent! Their signature burger topped with house pickles and a delicious sauce is always our top recommendation. It comes with chips, though you pay a bit more for fries. They also have a great reuben, a fried chicken sandwich, salads and a few appetizers.

Don’t miss Hillman Beer’s burger + beer special on Wednesday nights.


A brewery your kids will love as much as you!

This train-themed brewery does much more than just appeal to kids and the young at heart. While they have plenty of activities and things to see for kids, their beer is truly next level.

They brew some classic crushable brews including their flagship pale ale, Pale by Rail, and a ton of uniquely flavored beers like a Fruit Loops Milkshake IPA, an Orange Blossom Ginger Tripel and a Dark Choco Hazel Imperial Stout.

The outdoor space is amazing with a 3 hole mini golf course, cornhole, disc golf connect four, and an epic tunnel slide that kids absolutely love. And inside you can actually sit in an old caboose. Rotating food trucks keep you fed.

It’s a great place to check out on your way back from a day trip to Lake Lure or after hiking the Bearwallow Mountain trail. The perfect family-friendly brewery!


Laidback taproom in downtown Asheville’s Grove Arcade

Wedge’s newest location is right at home in the Grove Arcade. Their taproom is the perfect place to escape the crowds.

You’ll find around 10 drafts available, including a few IPAs, a lager, a sour and even their take on the classic Belgian Saison when available. Ginger’s Revenge is also on the menu, as well as wine and prosecco.

Wedge has an extensive beer list featuring IPAs, sours, stouts, and lagers. All three of their locations offer great places to hang out and enjoy excellent beer.

As far as food goes, you can either get a bar snack by the local catering company Red Fiddle Vittles or bring your own food. Wedge is located near a ton of great restaurants that offer takeout.


Rooftop seating, excellent beer and a cool place to hang

Archetype is a beer-first kind of place. They obsess over the process and the ingredients (mixed fermentation, wild ‘less-predictable’ yeast…) and it shows in their unique brews.

As a result, they consistently put out high-quality beer with some core favorites and a rotating selection of IPAs, stouts, lagers and so much more. And what’s great is that you can catch them at three locations around town. See below for details!

Archetype Brewing’s production facility in West Asheville offers plenty of seating everywhere from an outside patio to a rooftop deck. You’ll find all of their core beers as well as seasonal and small-batch brews. You can also get cans or bottles to go. View the on-tap menu here.

They don’t have a kitchen on-site BUT don’t fret… Archetype is located next to two of our favorite restaurants: Gan Shan West (best Asheville takeout!) and Pizza Mind. Both restaurants offer online ordering and delivery to Archetype. Note: rooftop delivery isn’t available.


Perfect for those who love the science behind beer-making

We mean it when they say they have turned brewing into a science. White Labs brews the same beer with different yeast strains, resulting in very different beer profiles.

You can try the different strains yourself to see how it changes the flavor. It’s a great way to pinpoint which flavors and styles you really love. Read more about their beer and methods here.

Not only is their beer fantastic, but they also have a great food menu specializing in pizza. You’ll also find wings, burgers, sharable snacks and more.

White Labs is located in downtown Asheville, but not in the busy area where parking is scarce. Instead, they are just east of downtown, offering a great escape from the busyness of the main shopping and dining area. Their tap room is great with nice outdoor patio seating out front.


Wicked Weed West

Exterior of Wicked Weed West in Asheville NC showing a patio with outdoor seating to the side

Wicked Weed West is the third Wicked Weed in the area– it’s located in nearby Candler. You’ll find a 50-barrel production brewery at Wicked Weed West, as well as a taproom and food truck. There’s outdoor seating to the side with picnic tables and umbrellas.

Expect excellent food with menu items like a smash burger, a beyond burger and even salads. Oh, and local Sunshine Sammies ice cream sandwiches and chalk for the young at heart.


Hurricane Update: New Belgium will be closed for foreseeable future as they assess impacts to the brewery and campus.

Production brewery, taproom and river views in West Asheville

New Belgium has a huge production brewery in West Asheville with a fun taproom, plenty of outdoor space and great views of the French Broad River. They feature over 30 beers on tap with a huge selection that you won’t find in stores.

While New Belgium doesn’t have an in-house restaurant, they have a rotating calendar of food trucks. They have a great event space and outdoor festival grounds. It’s a perfect place for kids to run around while you enjoy some fresh air and great beer.

New Belgium also has an outdoor porch overlooking the river with great covered seating. And for all the beer enthusiasts out there, they offer a range of brewery tours to meet your taste. Check out this article for more production brewery tours in Asheville.


Hurricane Update: Asheville Brewing Co in South Slope is closed while they wait for the return of water.

South Slope production brewery with pizza

Asheville Brewing Company is a local brewery and pizza favorite. Their South Slope location serves as the production brewery and packaging warehouse. It’s in a great location on the north end of South Slope (and just next to Rabbit Rabbit music venue!)

Their covered outdoor picnic tables make for casual seating and the perfect spot for kids to enjoy a slice of pizza. Dogs are also allowed at the outdoor patio.

Their pizzas are all great and include a variety of toppings, including crust toppings. Try the parmesan crust! They also have gluten-free and vegan options made with Daiya cheese.


Hurricane Update: Asheville Pizza and Brewing is closed while they wait for the return of water.

A dine-in movie theater and brewpub in North Asheville

The original Asheville Brewing Company location, known as Asheville Pizza & Brewing, offers a nostalgic escape for families in North Asheville. It’s a brewpub/restaurant with 2 dine-in movie theaters,

Catch a new release or a classic kid’s movie (think: Where the Wild Things Are) for just $3! And enjoy their famous pizzas, sandwiches, and more alongside their extensive beer selection (on tap and canned).

Other Fun Things To Do With Kids

Breweries Closed Following Hurricane Helene

The following breweries remain closed following Hurricane Helene.

Hurricane Update: Hi-Wire’s River Arts District location was heavily damaged by Hurricane Helene. You can support them at their South Slope location. It’s open daily from 1pm to 6pm with draft beer and to-go beer.

This Hi-Wire location was in the heavily flooded area of the River Arts District. Their other Asheville locations (South Slope and Biltmore VIllage) remain open.

Colorful beer garden made of shipping containers

The newest Hi-Wire location to the Asheville scene and one of our favorites in town! Tucked away in the River Arts District you’ll feel like you walked into paradise.

The 25,000-square-foot distribution center has a killer beer garden and taproom. The beer garden is constructed from nine up-cycled shipping containers, and in true RAD fashion, they are covered with colorful murals.

The outdoor seating is great and our kids love watching the forklifts at work in the distribution area.


Hurricane Update: Wedge Brewery At Foundation received massive damage when Hurricane Helene came through. Their other River Arts location did too, but their downtown location was spared.

Wedge at Foundation suffered catastrophic damage during the flooding. Their other RAD location was also damaged but was able to reopen at the end of October. They also have a taproom downtown.

Local brewery with a permanent food truck and outdoor seating in River Arts District

Wedge Brewery has three locations in Asheville, our favorite of which is in River Arts District by Summit Coffee and 12 Bones.

Whether you enjoy a classic IPA like their Iron Rail IPA, something lighter like their Margarita Gose or something in between, Wedge has you covered with 18 beers on tap.

They also serve wine and hard cider for those looking for something other than beer.

Wedge is a great spot for a casual beer with a huge outdoor space that is great for hanging out with family and friends.

They have a permanent food truck with burgers, hot dogs and gyros, including a vegetarian option. It’s run by local Chop Shop Butchery. 12 Bones Smokehouse is also next door and offers takeout.


Hurricane Update: Unfortunately, New Origin’s brewery was completely destroyed by floodwaters. You can support them in these challenging times through their gofundme.

New Origin Brewing was destroyed by Hurricane Helene floodwaters.

A hidden gem with creative brews and a modern feel

You probably won’t stumble across this brewery while exploring Asheville, but it’s a local favorite for sure. Like so many other small-batch breweries, New Origin offers creative beer concoctions that you won’t find elsewhere.

New Origin is certainly off the beaten path– tucked away in the same area as Regeneration Station just off Swannanoa Rd. They have a modern tap room with bright clean vibes and a great outdoor space. It’s the perfect spot to spend a beautiful afternoon.

They don’t have a kitchen, but 900 Degreez Pizza is on-site from Wednesday to Sunday. It’s a food truck… but like, a food TRUCK. As in, a large box truck that has been reconfigured into a very cool mega food truck.


Hurricane Update: Cursus Keme was completely destroyed by Hurricane Helene. They have a GoFundMe set up to raise funds for their next steps.

Cursus Keme was destroyed by Hurricane Helene floodwaters.

An actual hidden brewery in Asheville

You may be surprised to find a small brewery tucked behind a gate with vines in the middle of what feels like an abandoned industrial area. Located near Biltmore Village (and just by New Origin Brewing), Cursus Keme is one of the most unique breweries in Asheville.

With an open airy feel, the industrial interior is connected to nature with huge roll-up doors, massive wooden furnishings, and tons of plants. Their tables and benches are awesome!

The small brewery has a great selection of beer ranging from IPAs to pilsners to a doppelbock and they’re always experimenting with more.

You’ll find a few tables outside as well as a lawn (bring your own chairs!) They also feature live music, a monthly artisan market, and a food truck. Oh, and one last thing– their outdoor area is surrounded by trees and hops (yes, they grow their own hops!)


Hurricane Update: Zillicoah sustained significant damage to its building and equipment. They are raising money to support their rebuilding efforts.

Zillicoah was destroyed by Hurricane Helene floodwaters.

A great brewery along the river in North Asheville

Located north of downtown Asheville along the French Broad River, Zillicoah Beer Company is another gem of a brewery.

They have an on-site food truck Master BBQ serving up mouthwatering Filipino Comfort food.

ZIllicoah now allows all ages every day of the week. This is worth mentioning because they used to only allow those over 21 except on Sundays.

Plenty of space on their 4-acre property makes it a great place to spend the afternoon drinking with friends and enjoying river views.


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