By Asheville did not earn the nickname “Beer City USA” by accident. Tucked into the Blue Ridge Mountains where the French Broad River carves through downtown, this small city packs more breweries per capita than just about anywhere in the country, with around 100 local beers pouring on draft across its taprooms at any given time. Whether you are a sour fanatic, a hazy IPA chaser, or someone who just wants a crisp lager and a mountain view, here are 10 of the best breweries to build your Asheville beer trip around.
How to Drink Your Way Through Asheville
Asheville’s breweries cluster into a few walkable neighborhoods, which makes planning easy. The South Slope, a few blocks south of Pack Square downtown, is the densest brewery district in the city, with roughly a dozen taprooms within easy walking distance of one another. The River Arts District (RAD) hugs the French Broad River and pairs beer with working artist studios and galleries. West Asheville, along Haywood Road, has a more neighborhood, local feel. Because so many of these spots sit close together, the smartest (and safest) approach is to pick one district, park once, and walk. For the full lay of the land, the official tourism site at Explore Asheville is a reliable starting point, and the Asheville Ale Trail maps out routes by neighborhood.
South Slope and Downtown Breweries
Wicked Weed Brewing
Few names are as synonymous with Asheville beer as Wicked Weed. The flagship brewpub on Biltmore Avenue is a sprawling downtown destination with a full restaurant, a downstairs tap room with a view of the original 15-barrel brewery, a beer garden, and a bottle shop. It is a great first stop because it covers a huge range of styles, and serious sour and wild-ale fans can detour to the brewery’s separate Funkatorium taproom nearby.
- Address: 91 Biltmore Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
- Phone: (828) 575-9599
- Hours: Monday to Thursday and Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.
- Website: wickedweedbrewing.com
Burial Beer Co.
Born in 2013 inside a renovated transmission shop, Burial has grown into one of the most respected breweries in the Southeast while keeping its scrappy, art-forward identity. The South Slope taproom pours from more than two dozen taps when both bars are open, with a full-service kitchen and a thoughtful list of natural wines alongside the beer. Expect striking label art, hop-forward IPAs, and a constantly rotating board.
- Address: 40 Collier Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, noon to 11 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to midnight; Sunday, noon to 11 p.m. (kitchen until 9 p.m. daily)
- Website: burialbeer.com
Green Man Brewery
Green Man has been brewing since 1997, which makes it one of Asheville’s true pioneers and the first brewery to plant a flag on what is now the bustling South Slope. The brewery centers on two adjacent spaces on Buxton Avenue: “Dirty Jack’s,” the original and famously dog-friendly taproom where the specialty and taproom-exclusive beers are made, and “The Mansion,” a multi-level taproom with a rooftop. Come here for classic, well-made English-style ales done right.
- Address: 27 Buxton Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
- Phone: (828) 989-7453
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.; Friday, noon to 11 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
- Website: greenmanbrewery.com
Hi-Wire Brewing
Hi-Wire’s circus theme runs through everything from its branding to its approachable, crushable lineup. The South Slope Specialty Brewery and Taproom on Hilliard Avenue is the easy in-town option, while the much larger Big Top Production Facility and Taproom sits about half a mile from the Biltmore Estate with room to spread out. Hi-Wire is a good pick if you want sessionable lagers and pilsners rather than only big, hop-heavy beers.
- South Slope address: 197 Hilliard Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
- Big Top address: 2A Huntsman Pl, Asheville, NC 28803
- Hours (both): Monday to Thursday, 3 to 10 p.m.; Friday, 3 to 11 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 10 p.m.
- Website: hiwirebrewing.com
DSSOLVR
If you want to taste the experimental edge of Asheville’s scene, head to DSSOLVR on North Lexington Avenue, just at the top of the South Slope. Calling itself a “clearing house for surrealist beverage concepts,” DSSOLVR turns out an ever-changing roster of inventive IPAs, lagers, mead, and other fermented oddities, wrapped in some of the most eye-catching can art in the business. The taproom itself leans cozy and offbeat, a fitting match for the beer.
- Address: 63 N Lexington Ave, Asheville, NC 28801
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 3 to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 11 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 7 p.m.
- Website: dssolvr.com
River Arts District Breweries
New Belgium Brewing
The Colorado-born, employee-owned New Belgium chose Asheville for its East Coast brewery, and the riverside campus is one of the most polished beer experiences in the city. Set along the French Broad with views over the River Arts District, it pours flagships like Fat Tire alongside Asheville-only releases, hosts live music and community events, and rotates a schedule of food trucks. Guided brewery tours are available and best booked in advance online.
- Address: 21 Craven St, Asheville, NC 28806
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, noon to 8 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 9 p.m. (with holiday adjustments; check ahead)
- Website: newbelgium.com/visit/asheville
Wedge Brewing Co.
The Wedge is the beating heart of the River Arts District’s beer scene and one of the most beloved low-key hangouts in town. Established in 2008 in the lower level of the historic, triangular Wedge Studios building (a former metal artist’s studio), it draws a mix of artists, locals, and visitors to its sprawling outdoor space. There is a second RAD location and a downtown outpost in the historic Grove Arcade, but the original Wedge Studios spot, with its food trucks and easygoing vibe, is the one to seek out.
- Address: 37 Paynes Way, Asheville, NC 28801
- Hours: Open daily; hours vary by season, so confirm before visiting
- Website: wedgebrewing.com
Beyond the Core: Local Favorites
Highland Brewing Company
Highland is where Asheville’s modern craft beer story began. Founded in 1994, it is the city’s original craft brewery, and today its 40-acre east-side campus is a destination in its own right. Beyond the taproom and its well-known Gaelic Ale, you will find rolling event meadows, live music, an 18-hole disc golf course, and sand volleyball courts. Highland also operates a downtown taproom inside the S&W Market, an Art Deco food hall on the National Register of Historic Places.
- Address: 12 Old Charlotte Hwy, Suite 200, Asheville, NC 28803
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, noon to 9 p.m.; Friday, noon to 10 p.m.; Saturday, 11 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Sunday, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
- Website: highlandbrewing.com
Archetype Brewing
Over in West Asheville on Haywood Road, Archetype is the neighborhood brewery that locals fold into their regular routines. The focus is on “mindful” beers, including Belgian-inspired styles, balanced IPAs, and clean lagers, served in a relaxed, community-minded taproom. It is a worthwhile detour if you want to get out of the downtown crush and see how Asheville actually drinks.
- Address: 265 Haywood Rd, Asheville, NC 28806
- Phone: (828) 505-4177
- Hours: Monday to Friday, 4 to 10 p.m.; Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 9 p.m.
- Website: archetypebrewing.com
Zillicoah Beer Company
Just north of the city in Woodfin, Zillicoah sits right on the eastern bank of the French Broad River, making it one of the most scenic places in the area to drink a beer. The brewery specializes in open-fermentation and traditional European styles, and its riverside lawn with fire pits is a sunset favorite. Zillicoah reopened in August 2025 after rebuilding from extensive flood damage caused by Hurricane Helene, so a visit doubles as support for a local comeback story.
- Address: 870 Riverside Dr, Woodfin, NC 28804
- Hours: Monday to Thursday, 2 to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, noon to 10 p.m.; Sunday, noon to 8 p.m.
- Website: zillicoahbeer.com
Plan Your Visit
A practical tip before you go: brewery hours in Asheville shift with the season and with special events, and a handful of spots have weathered closures and rebuilds in recent years, so always check each brewery’s official website or call ahead the day you plan to visit. If you would rather not drive between districts, several local outfits run guided brewery tours and shuttle services, which let everyone in your group sample freely. To map your route and confirm what is open, lean on the official Explore Asheville brewery guide and the statewide tourism resources at VisitNC.com. Park once, drink responsibly, and let the mountains do the rest.