Asheville, North Carolina, is renowned for its vibrant craft beer scene. If you’re an enthusiast looking to explore beyond Asheville, here are our top picks of the best craft breweries in Western NC. These areas surrounding Asheville boast exceptional breweries with unique and delicious brews. Hop in your vehicle, head for the back roads, and meet the brew masters in their natural habitat!
As always, have a designated driver, or plan a day hiking or touring with one or two stops at an intriguing brewery.
Weaverville and Woodfin Area
The Weaverville area is just a short drive from Wildberry Lodge. It has a thriving art community and Main Street. Here are half a dozen breweries to choose from:
Elluvium Brewing
11 Florida Ave, Weaverville
Elluvium is a small, family-owned craft brewery with about a dozen beers on tap, including IPAs, Lagers, and Stouts. It houses the paintings of a local fantasy artist and serves food, beer, wine, and non-alcoholic beverages seven days a week.
Leveller Brewing
25 N. Main St, Weaverville
Leveller Brewing is a husband-and-wife team that serves “world-class beer” and upscale snacks on Main Street in Weaverville. They have nine beers on tap, including several pilsners and lagers, a dark Czech lager, and a lighter Kölsch.
Outsider Brewing
929 Riverside Dr, Asheville
Outsider Brewing is a collaborative brewing company offering open craft studio sessions that show precisely how and why every ingredient is used. The beers on tap change constantly as they are the result of multiple partnerships.
Rye Knot
868 Merrimon Ave, Asheville
Rye Knot is a brewery, distillery, and kitchen with highly-rated food. It offers a dozen beers on tap and small-batch whiskey, rye, and gin.
Salt Face Mule
450 Weaverville Hwy, Asheville
Salt Face Mule is a decades-old brewery with a full food menu, a dozen homemade brews, and a minigolf course.
Zillicoah Brewing Company
870 Riverside Dr, Woodfin
Zillicoah Brewing Co. specializes in open-fermented farmhouse ales and lagers. It partners with a Filipino barbecue master to pair its beer with barbecue.
Waynesville and Maggie Valley Area
Waynesville and Maggie Valley are southwest of Wildberry Lodge. They host several festivals and arts and crafts shows throughout the year.
Boojum Brewing Company
50 N Main St, Waynesville
Boojum Brewing has been named “Best Brewery in Haywood County” for five years. Their brews include favorites alongside seasonals, and the food is exceptional.
Bear Waters Brewing Company
4352 Soco Rd, Maggie Valley
Bear Waters Brewing Company has two locations. Maggie Valley is beside a river. Enjoy your award-winning steak on the large patio washed down with also award-winning Sliding Rock Amber Ale.
Frog Level Brewing
56 Commerce St, Waynesville
Frog Level Brewing has one of the most extensive outdoor beer gardens where you can enjoy giant soft pretzels with your beer. Make sure you check their schedule for a musical lineup. Enjoy their dark and sour beers.
Innovation Brewing
414 W Main St, Sylva
Innovation Brewing dedicates its craft to updating your attitude about beer. You will find traditional styles alongside experimental beers with new and different ingredients. Within a few miles of the taproom, you can enjoy rafting, tubing, and hiking, then come here and quench your thirst.
Balsam Falls Brewing
506 W Main St, Sylva
Balsam Falls Brewing is a nano brewery dedicated to sustainability. It creates innovative and tasty beers in small batches, and its offerings are varied and appealing to everyone.
Lazy Hiker Brewing Company
617 W Main St, Sylva
Lazy Hiker’s original taproom is in Franklin; the newer Sylva location is a partnership with the Mad Batter Kitchen. Hoppy, malty, light, and sour beers are on tap.
North of Asheville
Just a few miles north of Asheville, there are some fun choices to satisfy your beer cravings.
Mars Theater Brewing
70 N Main St, Mars Hill
Mars Theater Brewing will transport you to a 1940s theater where you can sip craft beer and nibble on tasty bar food. You can watch a movie, indulge in karaoke, or enjoy a live performance.
Mad Co. Brewing House
45 N Main St, Marshall
Mad Co Brewing House is the first craft brewery in Marshall and Madison County. It specializes in light lagers, malty clear beers, and fruit brews and is home to a pizza house
Homeplace Beer Company
321 W Main St, Burnsville
Homeplace Beer Company calls itself a nostalgia project and prides itself on bringing folks together in its music venue with wood-fired pizza and excellent craft beer.
Big Pillow Brewing
25 Andrews Ave N, Hot Springs
Big Pillow Brewing is Hot Springs’s first craft brewery. We have created a fantastic venue by joining forces with Asheville’s favorite Grey Eagle Taqueria and offering live musical performances.
Western NC is More Than Beer!
Whether you’re a seasoned beer enthusiast or just beginning your craft beer journey, you will find that these best craft breweries in Western NC are sure to leave a lasting impression. So, grab your growler, hit the road, and discover the exceptional craft beer waiting just beyond Asheville.
But a beer adventure is just the beginning of a fun getaway. There are plenty of adrenaline-surging and chill-out choices! If you haven’t fueled up enough with your tastings, our area has plenty of dining options, many with outdoor patios.
The day’s highlight is returning to our log cabin lodge hidden in the woods like a private oasis. Sink into your comfy bed and sleep through the night until the smell of homemade breakfast tickles you awake. Isn’t that what vacation is all about?
Photo Credit:
© massimo parisi via canva.com
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