Asheville boasts of more breweries than any other cities in the country. Since 2010, it has been dubbed as "Beer City USA" four times, and we are not surprised. You don't need to wait for the weekend or a certain festivity to indulge in wide-range of brewery options the city offers. You can explore almost 100 beers locally brewed along the Appalachian Trail or join a beer tour to find out which beer stands out the most.
With so many options available for you to choose from, you might be wondering which one is the best-tasting and where it is located. You can taste them all if you want, but we have listed some of the most famous breweries in Asheville. Highland Brewery Highland Brewery is the first brewery in Asheville, and it was opened in 1994 by Oscar Wong, an Asian engineer. Aside from being the pioneering brewery, it is also the largest in the city. Gaelic Ale and St. Teresa's Pale Ale are some of the most favorite choices from this brewery. Asheville Brewing Company This brewery is known for its pale ales including the Red Light and Shiva. It started brewing in 1995 and continues to offer a wide variety of excellent-tasting beer. Their Ninja Porter won gold at the 2014 World Beer Cup besting 54 other beers. Up to now, it is still one of the locals' most favorite beers in town. French Broad Brewery Brewing since 2001, the French Broad Brewery offers European-inspired beers. It is known for its Wee-Heavy-Er Scotch Ale, which has a higher alcohol content compared to other brews, so you have to drink in moderation, or you will get drunk. Aside from this, they also have the Anvil Porter and 13 Rebels Extra Special Bitter that will surely excite your palettes. If you go there on the weekend, you can enjoy the live music in their tasting room. Wicked Weed Brewery Located in Biltmore Avenue, Wicked Weed calls itself a "gastropub" due to its extensive selection of local food that goes so well with their West-Coast-inspired beers. Some beers that you don't want to miss are their Coolcumber and Freak of Nature DIPA. They serve excellent beer, no wonder the place is always full of locals and even tourists who want to taste their wickedly good selections. There is no reservation, so you will have to wait outside with other people who also want to get a taste of their brews. Burial Beer Company Burial Beer Company is the new generation of the brewery in Asheville known for putting a modern twist to their Belgian ales. Burial brew is located on the South Slope and offers different releases almost every weekend. If you are looking for a taste you've never had before, you should try their Shroud Belgian Dubbel or the Skillet Donut Stout. These are just some of the most famous breweries in Asheville, but there are a lot more. If you want to learn more about them, you can join local beer tours, or you can go there on your own and explore the vast brew selections the city has. More information |