South Slope: Brewery Central and My Running Route
Where craft beer became an industry. Walkable to downtown, drowning in IPAs, and part of my regular running loop when I need hills.
Who It Might Fit
If you want to walk to 10 breweries but also need to walk to work downtown
Perfect for young professionals who measure distance in breweries
Great if you love the energy but need slightly less chaos than downtown
If your ideal Saturday is brewery hopping without calling an Uber
My Take
Part of my running route when I need hills—up through South Slope, loop around, descend into downtown. The brewery density is honestly absurd but in the best way. You can literally brewery crawl in a straight line. Burial, Green Man, Catawba—it's where I take out-of-town friends who 'want to see why Asheville is Beer City.'
Housing & Prices
Typical range: $600-800K for a condo or small house
Walkability & Access
Walk Score: 88/100
Super walkable to downtown and breweries. Steep hills though (your calves will thank you).
Getting Around
- Downtown: 5-minute walk uphill
- River Arts: 10 minutes
- Airport: 20 minutes
Parking: Tricky on weekends. Residential permits help. Brewery lots fill fast.
Local Favorites
The brewery that put South Slope on the map. Serious beer, serious vibes.
Huge space, live music, actually good food. Less pretentious than others.
Monthly queer dance party that's actually fun. One of the few explicitly LGBTQ+ regular events.
OG Asheville brewery. Porter is legendary.
Sour beer heaven. Not for everyone but if you know, you know.
The Good Stuff
- ✅Walk to downtown and even more breweries
- ✅Actual nightlife without downtown tourist chaos
- ✅Young, professional crowd that's pretty diverse
- ✅Close enough to everything but slightly removed
- ✅Banks Ave brings regular queer nightlife
Trade-Offs
- ⚠️Weekend brewery tourist overflow is real
- ⚠️Those hills are no joke (especially after brewery visits)
- ⚠️Expensive for what you get housing-wise
- ⚠️Can feel like a brewery theme park sometimes
- ⚠️Limited grocery/practical shopping within walking distance
Curious if South Slope is the right fit for you?
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Downtown is tourists and condos. South Slope is locals and breweries. Both walkable but different energy.
RAD is artists in warehouses. South Slope is professionals in breweries. Both creative but South Slope is more polished.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it just breweries?
Mostly, but also great food spots, music venues, and you're a quick walk to downtown for everything else. The brewery density is the feature, not a bug.
Can I live here if I don't drink?
Sure, but you'll be swimming upstream. Most social life revolves around breweries. That said, many have great food and NA options now.
How's parking really?
Weekday fine, weekend nightmare. If you live here, get residential permit. If visiting, walk or Uber.
Where my hill runs end and brewery crawls begin
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