Asheville has more than 50 breweries in and around town, and it has earned the title of Beer City, USA four times. You can walk between a dozen taprooms on the South Slope, drink a lager on the French Broad River, or drive out to a mountain brewery with a stage on the lawn.
This guide is organized by neighborhood, from downtown and the South Slope to the River Arts District, West Asheville, Woodfin, South Asheville, Black Mountain and Mills River. After that you'll find more breweries to try, picks for food, dogs and live music, and answers to common questions. Updated October 2026.
Downtown: Wicked Weed Brewing Brewpub
Downtown Asheville, 91 Biltmore Ave.
Wicked Weed opened in 2012, and its Brewpub on Biltmore Avenue is still the original. Upstairs there's a full restaurant and a bottle shop. Downstairs, a taproom and beer garden sit next to the original 15-barrel brewhouse, and the patios are dog friendly. The Cultura Room next to the Funkatorium is now Wicked Weed's private event space.
Tip: Wicked Weed West, the brewery's production facility and taproom, is out in Candler if you want to see where most of the beer is made.
South Slope: The Funkatorium
South Slope, 147 Coxe Ave.
The Funkatorium is Wicked Weed's sour beer taproom and was the first on the East Coast dedicated to sours. It reopened in May 2025 with a German-style beer garden and a wood-fired menu built to go with tart, funky beer. There's a long list of sours on draft and more in bottles to drink there or take home.
Tip: Order a flight. Sours range from light and fruity to sharp and barrel aged, and a flight is the easiest way to find your style.
South Slope: Asheville Brewing Company
South Slope, 77 Coxe Ave., and North Asheville, 675 Merrimon Ave.
Asheville Brewing Company has been making beer since 1998, and its Shiva IPA and Ninja Porter are local standbys. The Coxe Avenue brewpub at the top of the South Slope has pizza, house beer and a covered patio, which makes it an easy first stop on a brewery walk.
Tip: The Merrimon Avenue location in North Asheville has a movie theater and a game room, so you can catch a film with your pizza and a pint.
River Arts District: Wedge Brewing Co.
River Arts District, 37 Paynes Way and 5 Foundy St.
Wedge has been pouring in the River Arts District since 2008 and takes its name from the wedge-shaped building where it started. It now runs two taprooms a few blocks apart. Wedge Studios sits under the Wedge Studios artist building, and Wedge Foundation on Foundy Street reopened after Hurricane Helene flooded it in 2024. Both have big outdoor patios.
Tip: Food trucks rotate at both spots, so check before you go if you're planning dinner.
River Arts District: New Belgium Brewing
River Arts District, 21 Craven St.
New Belgium's Asheville brewery sits on the French Broad River, with decks that look out over the water. The taproom pours the full New Belgium lineup plus the wood-aged sours the brewery is known for, and food trucks are on site every day.
Tip: The Wilma Dykeman Greenway runs right past, so walk or bike along the river before or after your pint.
River Arts District: RAD Brewing Co.
River Arts District, 13 Mystery St.
The River Arts District Brewing Company, or RAD Brew Co., is a brewery and music venue a block off Clingman Avenue, close to The Grey Eagle. There's a patio, a food-truck schedule and live music, which makes it an easy add to a night in the district.
Tip: Park along Clingman Avenue or Roberts Street and walk over.
River Arts District: Ginger's Revenge
River Arts District, 829 Riverside Dr., Suite 100
Ginger's Revenge brews alcoholic ginger beer, which is naturally gluten free, and the tasting room on Riverside Drive rotates flavors through the year. There are nonalcoholic options too, so it works for a mixed group. On Friday evenings, Warren Wilson College music faculty host a traditional music session called Sit a Spell.
West Asheville: Archetype Brewing
West Asheville, 265 Haywood Rd.
Archetype opened its West Asheville brewery and taproom in 2017. The taproom is built so there's almost nothing between you and the brewhouse, and it's full of plants and sunlight, with board games, a jukebox, couches, covered patios and a rooftop deck. Food from the Beacham's Curve courtyard next door can be brought right to your table.
Tip: There's plenty of parking, which is rare on Haywood Road.
West Asheville: One World Brewing West
West Asheville, 520 Haywood Rd.
One World West brews on a 10-barrel system on the bottom floor and serves upstairs in a bright taproom or out back at the outdoor bar and stage. The calendar is full most nights, from live bands to a Latin dance night that starts with a lesson. One World's downtown taproom, at 10 Patton Ave., sits two floors down beneath Farm Burger.
Tip: Park behind the building. Turn onto Allen Street and follow the signs around back.
West Asheville: Westville Pub
West Asheville, 777 Haywood Rd.
Westville Pub has been West Asheville's neighborhood pub for more than 20 years. Expect pub food, a pool table, a long list of local craft beer on tap and three bay windows for watching Haywood Road go by. It's open seven days a week, and the kitchen runs late.
Tip: It's a good last stop after a show on Haywood Road.
Woodfin: Zillicoah Beer Company
Woodfin, 870 Riverside Dr.
Zillicoah sits on the bank of the French Broad River just north of downtown. Hurricane Helene flooded it in 2024, and it reopened in August 2025. The beer leans toward crisp lagers and pilsners, open-fermented farmhouse ales and wild ales aged in foeders and barrels. The riverside seating is some of the best in town.
Tip: Every other Sunday, the band Cast Iron plays and then opens a bluegrass jam. See our Bluegrass Jams guide for details.
Woodfin: Riverside Rhapsody Beer Company
Woodfin, 995 Riverside Dr.
Two friends started Riverside Rhapsody after brewing at Blue Mountain Pizza in Weaverville for years. The brewery on Riverside Drive has an indoor bar and lots of picnic tables outside, and dogs and kids are welcome. Iron & Oak Brisket serves barbecue on site.
Tip: Wednesday nights bring an open acoustic jam, and Saturdays usually have live music.
Woodfin: Salt Face Mule Brewing Co.
Woodfin, 450 Weaverville Rd.
Salt Face Mule pairs a brewery and restaurant with two outdoor mini golf courses and bocce, so you can play a round with a pint in hand. The house beers include a West Coast IPA, a hazy IPA, an Irish stout and the gold-medal Mosey on Over Pilsner. The kitchen does Southern-leaning sandwiches, burgers, fish, chicken and shrimp and grits, with a kids menu.
Tip: Check the website for weekly food and beer specials before you go.
East Asheville: Highland Brewing Company
East Asheville, 12 Old Charlotte Hwy.
Highland opened in 1994 as the first brewery in Asheville since Prohibition. It started in the basement of Barley's Taproom, moved in 2006 to a former movie studio in East Asheville, and now owns the whole 40-acre property. The taproom pours the full lineup, including Cold Mountain, the spiced winter ale released each holiday season. There's a rooftop bar, an outdoor area called The Meadow and food trucks on site.
Tip: Take the brewery tour to see how the beer is made and get a look around the property.
South Asheville: Sweeten Creek Brewing
South Asheville, 1127 Sweeten Creek Rd.
Sweeten Creek sits on a big creekside property built for hanging out. The year-round beers include a pilsner, a pale ale, a brown ale and hazy IPAs, with seasonals like a Märzen and a black IPA. Bears Smokehouse BBQ has cooked on site since 2021, and there's an 8,000-square-foot fenced dog park. Each June the brewery hosts Bele Shred, a two-day music festival that raises money for Hood Huggers.
Tip: The entrance is a private drive, and you cross the creek to reach the taproom. The brewery is closed Mondays.
Arden: 12 Bones Smokehouse and Brewing
Arden, Hendersonville Road
12 Bones Brewing started when owners Angela and Bryan King moved their Arden smokehouse to a new building on Hendersonville Road with room for a brewery. The beer runs from simple traditional styles to experimental ones and collaborations with local farmers and chefs. Bring barbecue from the smokehouse into the taproom, or finish your flight with ribs and pulled pork next door.
Tip: Grab a table on the patio by the train tracks, where dogs are welcome.
Fairview: Turgua Brewing Company
Fairview, 3131 Cane Creek Rd.
Turgua is a farmhouse brewery on Cane Creek Road southeast of Asheville, with a taproom and outdoor seating by the creek. Food trucks come through most days, and the weekly calendar includes trivia, open mic nights and Tuesday music jams that rotate from old-time to Irish, Americana and gypsy jazz.
Black Mountain: Pisgah Brewing Company
Black Mountain, 2948 US 70
Pisgah Brewing is a brewery and outdoor music venue in Black Mountain, about 20 minutes east of downtown. Its outdoor stage hosts bluegrass, jam, reggae, rock and Americana concerts from spring through fall, and the taproom has music too. On Tuesdays there's an unplugged bluegrass jam open to all levels.
Tip: For lawn shows, bring a chair or blanket. Some headliners are ticketed, so check the calendar first.
Black Mountain: Lookout Brewing Company
Black Mountain, 103 S. Ridgeway Ave.
Lookout started as a homebrew experiment and is now a small-batch brewery in downtown Black Mountain. Regulars like the Looking Glass Amber Ale, a food truck parks outside, and Thursday night is music bingo.
Tip: If you live nearby, ask about the Mug Club, which comes with a free 4-pack every month and a bigger pour.
Mills River: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co.
Mills River, 100 Sierra Nevada Way
Sierra Nevada's East Coast brewery sits in the woods in Mills River, south of Asheville near the airport. The taproom and restaurant pour classics like the Pale Ale and Torpedo alongside beers you'll only find there, with a full restaurant menu. There are brewery tours and an amphitheater for concerts.
Tip: Book a brewery tour ahead of time, especially on weekends.
Mills River: Mills River Brewing Co.
Mills River, 336 Banner Farm Rd.
Mills River Brewing is a family-owned brewery with a big beer garden, fire pits, cornhole and a kitchen. Families and dogs are welcome, and there's live music, trivia and a full bar for anyone not drinking beer. Each September it hosts a Renaissance Festival with costumed combat, performers and vendors.
Tip: On the first Wednesday of the month, there's a bluegrass jam at 6 p.m.
More Asheville breweries and cideries to try
- Downtown and South Slope: Burial Beer Co., Hi-Wire Brewing, Green Man Brewery, Dirty Jack's, Twin Leaf Brewery, DSSOLVR, White Labs Kitchen & Tap.
- West Asheville: Cellarest Beer Project, Diatribe Brewing Co., OysterHouse Brewing.
- South Asheville and Biltmore Village: French Broad River Brewery, Hillman Beer and Burial's Forestry Camp, plus Hi-Wire's Big Top in Biltmore Village.
- Weaverville: Blue Mountain Pizza and Brew Pub, Leveller Brewing Co., Zebulon Artisan Ales. Zebulon keeps short weekend hours.
- Cider, mead and sake: Urban Orchard Cider Company, Noble Cider, Botanist and Barrel, Ben's Tune Up.
- A short drive away: Wicked Weed West in Candler, Oskar Blues Brewery Brevard in Brevard and Oklawaha Brewing Company in Hendersonville.
Asheville breweries by what you're looking for
- Breweries with food: Wicked Weed Brewpub, Sierra Nevada, 12 Bones, Salt Face Mule, Asheville Brewing Company, Mills River Brewing and Sweeten Creek, where Bears Smokehouse BBQ cooks on site.
- Dog-friendly breweries: Sweeten Creek's fenced dog park, Riverside Rhapsody, Mills River Brewing, Zillicoah's outdoor seating and the patios at Wicked Weed and 12 Bones. For more, see our dog-friendly breweries and bars post.
- Live music: Pisgah, Highland, One World West and RAD Brew Co. For jams you can join, see our Bluegrass Jams guide.
- Sours and wild ales: The Funkatorium, New Belgium and Zillicoah.
- On the river: New Belgium and Zillicoah on the French Broad, and Wedge and Ginger's Revenge in the River Arts District.
- Something different: mini golf at Salt Face Mule, movies at Asheville Brewing on Merrimon Avenue, and gluten-free ginger beer at Ginger's Revenge.
Frequently asked questions
How many breweries are in Asheville?
More than 50 in the Asheville area, counting the towns nearby.
Where can I walk between breweries in Asheville?
The South Slope, just south of downtown, has the most breweries in the smallest area, including the Funkatorium, Asheville Brewing Company, Burial, Hi-Wire, Green Man and Twin Leaf. The River Arts District is the next best area to explore on foot.
Are Asheville breweries open after Hurricane Helene?
Yes. Several breweries along the French Broad River flooded in 2024, and most have reopened, including Zillicoah, Wedge Foundation, Hi-Wire's RAD Beer Garden and the Funkatorium. Hours still change, so check before a long drive.
How do I get around to more than one brewery?
Walk the South Slope, or book a ride with AVL Ride so nobody has to drive.
