You used to bring beer on your vacation. Now you go on vacation for the beer. From its epicenter in Asheville to tiny enclaves around the region, craft brewing is a big draw for people from near and far. The number of local craft breweries is matched only by their quality, uniqueness, and seasonal ingredients.
No matter your tastes, Western North Carolina breweries are guaranteed to have something you enjoy. But with more than 65 breweries across the region (and dozens more tasting rooms and bottle shops), where do you start?
Plan your next beer vacation around WNC. Try one of these three tours to innovative breweries you’re guaranteed to enjoy:
5 Breweries from Asheville’s South Slope to Burnsville
Asheville alone is home to nearly three dozen breweries. From the grandfather of Asheville breweries, Highland Brewing, to the innovation happening along downtown’s South Slope, there are always countless flagship and seasonal brews to try.
On this tour, we recommend starting at Hi-Wire Brewing and moving north through some of the most inventive breweries in the area. Ginger’s Revenge is the next stop on this list and the area’s only brewery focused exclusively on naturally gluten-free ginger beers.
From Asheville, head north to the friendly small town of Weaverville to experience Zebulon Artisan Ales. Their Belgian and French farmhouse styles are unlike anything else you will find around. Take Highway 25 into downtown Marshall, an artist’s haven, and enjoy a small-batch brew while looking out across the ancient French Broad River.
Lastly, head north and east through Madison County and into Yancey County. Homeplace Beer Company in Burnsville is your last stop on this taste journey. Their sessionable beers and mixed culture fermentations are well worth the drive.
Hi-Wire Brewing
197 Hilliard Avenue, Asheville
2 Huntsman Place, Asheville
Ginger’s Revenge
829 Riverside Drive, Suite 100, Asheville
Zebulon Artisan Ales
8 Merchants Alley, Weaverville
Mad Co. Brew House
45 N Main Street, Marshall
Homeplace Beer Company
6 South Main Street, Area C, Burnsville
Map your route:
6 Breweries in Henderson and Transylvania Counties
Henderson and Transylvania Counties are known for their rich bounty of flora, fauna, and natural features, all of which are reflected in the local breweries in these communities. For instance, Blue Ghost Brewing, our first stop on this route located near Asheville Regional Airport, is named for a local species of firefly.
Oklawaha Brewing in Downtown Hendersonville is committed to brewing high quality beer while maintaining a strong sense of community and environmental responsibility. Visit for live music six days a week. For a farm-to-keg craft brew experience just outside of town, don’t skip Sideways Farm & Brewery, where farming comes first in both their name and brewing process.
From Etowah, continue traveling along Highway 64 to the boundary of Pisgah National Forest. There, you’ll find Ecusta Brewing, which is making a name for itself as the perfect place to grab a beer after a hike or ride. A little hop off the main road takes you to Oskar Blue Brewery, one of the largest beer producers in WNC. Continue into the heart of Brevard and complete your journey at Brevard Brewing Company on Main Street. Specializing in creating hand-crafted lagers, it’s a refreshing place to end your day.
Blue Ghost Brewing Company
125 Underwood Road, Fletcher
Oklawaha Brewing Company
147 1st Avenue E, Hendersonville
Sideways Farm & Brewery
62 Eade Road, Etowah
Ecusta Brewing
49 Pisgah Highway #3, Pisgah Forest
Oskar Blues Brewery
342 Mountain Industrial Drive, Brevard
Brevard Brewing Company
63 E Main Street, Brevard
Map your route:
5 Breweries across Our Western Communities
For a full-day tour, start at UpCountry Brewing in West Asheville. (For an added treat, visit on Tuesdays when they have taco and IPA specials.) From Asheville, head west along Highway 23 for each of these breweries. This route next takes you through the recently revitalized mill town of Canton to BearWaters Brewing. Relax outside by the river, or enjoy one of their many events.
Continue along Highway 23 into downtown Waynesville. Located in the middle of Main Street, Boojum Brewing takes its name from a local mountain legend. After filling up on their delicious beer and pub grub, follow the highway southwest into Sylva for Innovation Brewing Company, just off the Black Balsam Trail. Lastly, venture further south to Franklin for Currahee Brewing, named in honor of the Cherokee people.
Along this trail, you’ll travel through four mountain counties and a good bit of Nantahala National Forest. It’s a great route to see the beauty of Western North Carolina and try a few craft brews along the way.
UpCountry Brewing Company
1042 Haywood Road, Asheville
BearWaters Brewing Company
101 Park Street, Canton
Boojum Brewing Company
50 N Main Street, Waynesville
Innovation Brewing Company
414 W Main Street, Sylva
Currahee Brewing Company
100 Lakeside Drive, Franklin
Map your route:
Learn More about Local Breweries from Your Beverly-Hanks REALTORⓇ
At Beverly-Hanks, we appreciate the revitalization craft breweries have brought to many of our towns and neighborhoods. If craft brewing is an interest of yours, we encourage you to patronize local beer, cider, sake, and other breweries across our region.
If you are still not sure which local breweries best fit your tastes, our Beverly-Hanks agents are here to help. Check out these agent suggestions for the best place to enjoy last call across the region.
All real estate is local. In order to make confident real estate decisions, we believe it is important for you to have timely and neighborhood-specific information. If you would like more information about local breweries, our experts at Beverly-Hanks are here to help. Contact us today to speak with a Beverly-Hanks real estate agent about buying homes and land in proximity to local breweries around Western North Carolina.