The Brewerhood of the Traveling Pints: Asheville's Hoppy Adventure
Three days of brewery hopping in Beer City USA
Dylan's Take
Asheville has one of the highest breweries-per-capita counts in the country, spread across three real clusters: South Slope (walkable, dense), the River Arts District (spread out along the French Broad, still rebuilding some infrastructure after 2024's flooding), and a handful of standalone destinations like Highland and Sierra Nevada. Each cluster has its own character rather than competing head-on with the others.
Seasonal Editions Available
Oktoberfest Brewery Marathon
Lederhosen optional, beer required
Summer Sours & Sunshine
Day drinking but make it craft
Your Weekend Schedule
South Slope Brewery District
Burial Beer Co.
Start with the coolest brewery in town - punk rock vibes and incredible beer
Insider Tip: The Surf Wax IPA is perfection, and yes, that IS Tom Selleck on the wall
Green Man Brewery
The OG Asheville brewery - locals call it 'Dirty Jack's'
Insider Tip: Porter is their specialty, and the ESB is criminally underrated
Banks Ave Bar
Late night at this queer-friendly bar with DJs
Insider Tip: Friday nights often have drag shows or queer dance parties
River Arts District Brew Tour
Wedge Brewing
Riverside brewery inside the historic Wedge Studios building, with food trucks parked outside most weekends
Insider Tip: The IPA is solid but the Pilsner is the sleeper hit
New Belgium Brewing
The Fort Collins brewery's East Coast production facility and Liquid Center, with Asheville-only exclusives on tap
Insider Tip: Take the free tour for the view from the Liquid Center
Hi-Wire Brewing RAD Beer Garden
Outdoor beer garden built from up-cycled, mural-covered shipping containers — this is Hi-Wire's River Arts District flagship, distinct from its South Slope taproom
Insider Tip: Reopened in 2025 after flood damage from Hurricane Helene
Zillicoah Beer
Open-fermentation farmhouse ales just north of the RAD in Woodfin, on the east bank of the French Broad
Insider Tip: Reopened in 2025, nearly a year after Helene flooded it; check current hours before a special trip
Big Breweries & Classics
Highland Brewing
Asheville's first brewery - huge meadow and mountain views
Insider Tip: Come back on a weeknight to watch (or join) the sand volleyball leagues
Sierra Nevada
20 minutes south but worth it - basically beer Disneyland
Insider Tip: Make a reservation for the restaurant - it's incredible
Wicked Weed Funkatorium
Sour beer paradise in South Slope
Insider Tip: Get a flight - the sours are intense
One World Brewing
Underground brewery in a former bomb shelter
Insider Tip: The cave setting is absolutely wild
Must-Do Experiences
- Burial Beer for the vibe
- Highland meadow on a sunny day
- Sierra Nevada tour and lunch
- Funkatorium sour flight
- Food truck hopping
- Riverside beers at Wedge
- Volleyball leagues at Highland
Insider Tips
- South Slope is walkable between breweries
- RAD requires wheels but has tons of parking
- Drink water - elevation makes beer hit harder
- Most breweries are dog-friendly
- Food trucks are the move - check schedules
Where to Stay
Walk to most breweries
Central to brewery clusters
Getting Around
- • South Slope breweries are walkable
- • RAD needs a car or bike
- • Brewery tour companies exist if you want a guide
- • Bikes are great for brewery hopping
Photo Ops
- 📸 Burial Tom Selleck mural
- 📸 Highland meadow views
- 📸 Sierra Nevada campus
- 📸 Your flight lineup
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- Weekend itinerariesThemed weekend plans for scouting trips and visits.
- LGBTQ+ weekend itineraryA themed Asheville weekend: lgbtq+ weekend.
- 48 hours in gay AshevilleAn hour-by-hour weekend plan with real costs and timings.
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