If you’ve heard anything about Asheville, you’ve probably heard the words “Beer City USA.” That nickname isn’t just marketing—it grew out of national polls and a serious craft beer boom that started in the early 2000s. Asheville first earned the Beer City USA title in 2009 and has held onto that reputation ever since, with dozens of breweries of all sizes packed into the city and nearby towns.
Today, the Asheville area boasts 40+ breweries and beer pubs, giving it one of the highest brewery-to-population ratios in the country. You can’t see them all in one trip—but you can hit a few standouts and get a real taste of Beer City.
Here’s a friendly overview you can share with guests who want to explore Asheville breweries before or after their tour with Asheville Tours & Excursions.
What Makes Asheville’s Brewery Scene Different?
Lots of cities have great beer. Asheville adds a few extra ingredients:
- Walkable clusters: Downtown, South Slope, the River Arts District, and West Asheville each have multiple breweries within a short stroll.
- Scenery: Mountain views, riverside decks, and mural-covered warehouses turn brewery-hopping into a mini sightseeing tour.
- Sheer variety: From Belgian-style sours and barrel-aged stouts to easy-drinking lagers and hop-heavy IPAs, you’ll find a style for every palate.
Add in food trucks, live music, and dog-friendly patios, and it’s easy to see why beer lovers plan entire vacations around Asheville.
Downtown & South Slope: The Core of Beer City
If guests only have a few hours, downtown and nearby South Slope are the easiest places to start. A single afternoon can include:
Wicked Weed Brewing
One of Asheville’s most recognizable names, Wicked Weed is known for bold IPAs, barrel-aged sours, and a lively downtown brewpub space just off Biltmore Avenue. It’s a great first stop for visitors who want to dive into the local “headliners.”
Burial Beer Co.
In the South Slope brewing district, Burial has earned national praise for its creative lineup—everything from saisons to dark, dessert-like stouts—served in a quirky beer garden with murals and a wraparound patio.
Hi-Wire Brewing
Hi-Wire started in Asheville and has grown into a regional brand, but it hasn’t lost its approachable vibe. Locals love it for balanced, “anyone can enjoy this” beers and fun spaces, from its South Slope taproom to the RAD Beer Garden.
Green Man & Highland Brewing (The Old Guard)
Green Man and Highland Brewing helped put Asheville on the craft beer map. Highland is often credited as Asheville’s first successful modern craft brewery, while Green Man helped define the downtown pub-style taproom.
Highland’s main brewery is a quick drive from downtown with a rooftop and disc golf; Green Man has a multi-level South Slope taproom with city views. Both are “musts” for craft beer history buffs.
River Arts District & West Asheville: Beers with a View
If your guests love art, live music, and river views, steer them toward the River Arts District (RAD) and nearby neighborhoods.
Wedge Brewing
Wedge Brewing is famous for its murals, industrial-chic taproom, and location right in the heart of RAD. It’s the kind of place where you can sip a pint, watch trains roll by, and wander to nearby artist studios.
New Belgium Brewing – Riverfront Vibes
Across the river in the RAD-adjacent “West Asheville riverfront” area, New Belgium’s Asheville brewery offers a taproom and expansive lawn perched above the French Broad River and greenway.
Guests can:
- Relax on the cantilevered deck overlooking the water
- Sample year-round favorites and small-batch brews
- Enjoy rotating food trucks and a very dog-friendly space
It’s a perfect “after your morning tour” stop—especially on sunny afternoons.
Big Destination Breweries Just Outside the City
Two of the country’s largest craft breweries chose the Asheville area for their East Coast homes, and both are worth the short drive.
Sierra Nevada – Mills River “Beer Campus”
About 20 miles south of Asheville, Sierra Nevada’s Mills River brewery is often described as a “beer resort” or “Taj Mahal of breweries”—a huge campus with a taproom, full restaurant, outdoor amphitheater, trails, and river access.
Guests can:
- Take a brewery tour
- Enjoy farm-to-table pub food and 20+ beers on tap
- Stroll the grounds and gardens along the French Broad River
It pairs beautifully with a day of scenic touring or waterfall chasing.
How Beer Fits Into an Asheville Tours & Excursions Trip
You don’t have to build a full “brewery tour day”. Instead, think of breweries as bookends to your experiences:
- Morning: Sunrise or Blue Ridge Parkway scenic tour
- Afternoon: Self-guided stroll through South Slope or the River Arts District breweries
- Evening: Dinner and a nightcap at a downtown taproom
That way, you get both sides of Asheville: wild mountains in the morning, craft culture in the evening.
After your mountain adventure with Asheville Tours & Excursions, raise a glass to Beer City USA at one of our favorite breweries—you’ve earned it.
