Why Locals Pick Differently Than Tourists
Search “best Asheville microbreweries” and you’ll get a lot of the same names in the same order. Most lists are written by people who spent a long weekend here and hit the South Slope. That’s a fine way to see part of the city’s beer scene. But locals think about it differently.
A local picks a brewery based on where they actually want to spend a Tuesday afternoon. They factor in parking, how loud it gets on a Saturday, whether the food is worth ordering, and if it’s a spot they’d take their parents or their dog without thinking twice about it.
This list reflects that thinking. All ten of these microbreweries in Asheville microbreweries in Asheville have earned their spots through beer quality, consistency, atmosphere, or a combination of all three. Hillman Beer features prominently because it genuinely belongs here, not because it’s padding the list.
1. Hillman Beer (Biltmore Village)
Why it made the list: Three Great American Beer Festival medals. Free parking. Creek-side seating. A full pub food menu until 9pm. This is the one Asheville microbrewery that checks every box at once.
Hillman Beer opened in April 2017 on Sweeten Creek Road just outside Historic Biltmore Village. Brad, Greig, and Brandi Hillman started the whole operation in a garage, brewing the Dingaudamnit Dunkelweisen as their very first batch. That origin story still shows up in how they operate: unpretentious, community-focused, genuinely good at what they do.
The beer: Hillman’s award-winning ESB took a Silver at GABF in 2018 and came back for Gold in 2019. The Four Fat Baby Belgian Quad earned a Bronze in 2017. Both are benchmarks for their styles in Western North Carolina. Beyond the medals, the tap list rotates with well-crafted ales and seasonals worth exploring on each visit.
The food: Hillman’s pub kitchen uses locally sourced ingredients and makes everything in-house. The signature burger, the Reuben, and the kale salad are all regulars. Kitchen runs until 9pm every night, which matters more than you’d think when hunger hits late.
The setting: Shaded back patio along Sweeten Creek, abundant front outdoor seating, and a warm indoor space. Dogs welcome on leash. Free parking lot. No reservations needed.
Hours: Sun-Tues 11am-9pm | Wed-Sat 11am-10pm Address: 25 Sweeten Creek Rd, Asheville, NC
2. Burial Beer Co. (South Slope)
Why it made the list: Burial is the kind of brewery that locals recommend without hesitation and visitors remember long after the trip ends.
What started as a one-barrel system in 2013 has grown into one of the Southeast’s most respected microbreweries in Asheville. The taproom on Coxe Avenue is decorated with vintage farm tools, folk art, and a famous mural of Sloth from “The Goonies” sharing a beer with Tom Selleck. It shouldn’t work as an aesthetic, but it does.
The beer: Burial’s approach is farmhouse-focused with serious attention to adjuncts and local ingredients. The Skillet Donut Stout and Surf Wax IPA are perennial favorites. Their rotating small-batch releases keep regulars coming back to see what’s new.
The setting: Lively South Slope taproom with outdoor seating. Gets crowded on weekends. Come on a weekday for the best experience.
Food: No in-house kitchen. Food trucks rotate on-site.
3. Green Man Brewery (South Slope)
Why it made the list: One of the oldest microbreweries in Asheville still operating, and still one of the best for classic English-style ales.
Green Man has been pouring since 1997, making it a genuine institution in a city where breweries open and close with regularity. Their three-story “Green Mansion” facility on Buxton Avenue includes multiple tasting rooms and upstairs views over the surrounding neighborhood.
The beer: The ESB and Porter are benchmarks locally. If you want to understand what good traditional English-style brewing looks like in an American context, Green Man is the place to try it.
The setting: Multi-level facility with indoor and outdoor options. Covered outdoor area with picnic tables is a solid spot in most weather.
Food: Limited food options on-site.
4. Highland Brewing Company (East Asheville)
Why it made the list: Asheville’s oldest brewery, with a campus that earned its reputation over 30 years and a winter seasonal that people drive across the state to pick up.
Oscar Wong founded Highland in 1994, setting the stage for everything that came after in Asheville’s craft beer scene. The Old Charlotte Highway location has grown into a full campus with a large outdoor event space, a rooftop bar, and a restaurant.
The beer: Cold Mountain winter ale has developed a genuine cult following. It releases seasonally and sells out quickly every year. Their year-round lineup is solid, with the Gaelic Ale and Black Mocha Stout being consistent performers.
The setting: One of the largest brewery campuses in Asheville. Live music events are common. Good for groups.
Food: Full restaurant on-site.
5. Wicked Weed Brewing (South Slope / Downtown)
Why it made the list: The most nationally recognized of the microbreweries in Asheville, and one that earned that recognition legitimately.
Wicked Weed opened in 2012 and grew quickly on the strength of hop-forward ales and an aggressive approach to experimentation. Their original location on Biltmore Avenue handles the flagship beers, while the Funkatorium on Coxe Avenue is dedicated entirely to sours and barrel-aged beers. The Funkatorium is worth a visit specifically if sours are your thing; it’s the East Coast’s first taproom dedicated to the style and reopened in May 2025 after Hurricane Helene repairs.
The beer: Freak of Nature double IPA is their most recognized beer. On the sour side, the Funkatorium’s rotating list changes constantly and rewards repeat visits.
The setting: Two distinct locations with very different vibes. The main location is lively and polished; the Funkatorium is darker, more atmospheric.
Food: Full kitchen at the main location. Limited at the Funkatorium.
6. New Belgium Brewing (River Arts District)
Why it made the list: The scale alone is worth experiencing at least once, and the free tours are genuinely one of the best activities microbreweries in Asheville for beer lovers.
New Belgium opened their east coast campus in 2016 on reclaimed industrial land along the French Broad River. The facility has a production capacity of 500,000 barrels and draws around 200,000 visitors annually. It’s a very different experience from a neighborhood taproom, but it belongs on any honest list of must-visit Asheville microbreweries in Asheville because of what it offers.
The beer: Fat Tire is the icon, but their Asheville facility produces a range of small-batch and experimental beers alongside the core lineup.
The setting: Massive outdoor space, a full restaurant, and a gift shop. The free tour includes the famous slide at the end. Good for families, couples, and groups.
Food: Full restaurant with a solid menu.
For more on this area, see our River Arts District brewery guide.
7. Thirsty Monk Brewery (Downtown)
Why it made the list: The most vertically interesting bar experience in Asheville, and the Belgian beer selection alone justifies a visit.
Thirsty Monk operates across three floors on Patton Avenue downtown: a Belgian bar on the lower level, an American beer bar in the middle, and Top of the Monk cocktail bar at the top. The Belgian focus is what sets it apart from other microbreweries in Asheville microbreweries. If you want Trappist-style ales or well-made Belgian dubbels and tripels, this is the place.
The beer: The Belgian selection is the draw. American craft standards are also well-represented on the middle floor.
The setting: Multi-story downtown location. Good for groups who want options. Gets busy on weekends.
Food: Menu available.
8. Hi-Wire Brewing (South Slope)
Why it made the list: Consistent, approachable, well-run. Hi-Wire is the brewery you take someone to when they’re new to craft beer and you want them to enjoy the experience without feeling overwhelmed.
The South Slope location on Hilliard Avenue is the original taproom for what’s grown into a multi-location Southeast operation. Their beers are crafted for approachability without sacrificing quality, which makes them an easy recommendation for any type of visitor.
The beer: The Hi-Wire Lager is their flagship: clean, crisp, easy-drinking. Seasonal releases add variety. Their Bed of Nails Brown Ale is a reliable cold-weather order.
The setting: Roomy taproom with solid outdoor seating. Less crowded than some South Slope neighbors.
Food: Limited on-site. Check for food trucks.
9. Bhramari Brewing Company (South Slope)
Why it made the list: The most food-forward of the South Slope microbreweries in Asheville, with a culinary-inspired approach to both the beer and the kitchen.
Bhramari opened in 2015 and quickly distinguished itself through small-batch brewing with local and seasonal ingredients. The bee branding and the name (Sanskrit for “relating to bees”) hint at their approach: careful, considered, local.
The beer: The tap list rotates based on seasonal ingredients and the brewing team’s interests. IPAs with local botanicals, stouts with local coffee, farmhouse ales with NC-grown adjuncts. Worth asking what’s new on each visit.
The setting: Warm, well-designed taproom with a good energy. Popular with locals.
Food: Full menu with a culinary focus. One of the better food programs in the South Slope.
10. Sierra Nevada Taproom (Mills River)
Why it made the list: Ten miles south of downtown, this east coast campus is one of the most complete brewery experiences in the Western NC region and earns its spot on any honest best-of list.
Sierra Nevada’s Mills River facility opened in 2012 and sits near the Biltmore Estate corridor heading south out of Asheville. The campus offers free tours, a full restaurant, live music events, and a tap list that includes beers brewed specifically for the east coast location alongside the national lineup.
The beer: Torpedo IPA and Pale Ale are the anchors. East coast-exclusive releases and seasonal beers make the Mills River taproom worth visiting even if you’ve had Sierra Nevada before.
The setting: Beautiful facility with a large outdoor space. Worth making a day of it. For everything you need to know before visiting, see our Sierra Nevada Asheville guide.
Food: Full restaurant with a strong menu.
How to Build Your Asheville Microbrewery Visit Around This List
Start with a Neighborhood Anchor
These ten Asheville microbreweries in Asheville span several areas of the city. Trying to hit all ten in one day isn’t realistic or enjoyable. Pick a neighborhood and build from there.
If you want the classic South Slope experience, Burial, Green Man, Hi-Wire, Wicked Weed, and Bhramari are all within easy walking distance of each other. For a guide to navigating that district, see our South Slope Brewing District guide.
If you want a quieter day with better parking and a full meal, start at Hillman Beer near Biltmore Village, then consider adding the Biltmore Village cluster nearby. Our Biltmore Village brewery walking guide covers the full walkable picture in that area.
Think About Food First
Not every Asheville microbrewery on this list serves food. Hillman Beer and Highland Brewing both offer full kitchens with real menus. Thirsty Monk and New Belgium have solid food programs. Several South Slope spots rely on food trucks. Plan your eating before you start drinking rather than figuring it out on the fly.
For a breakdown of which Asheville microbreweries in Asheville have full kitchens versus limited options, see our Asheville breweries with food guide.
Getting Between Them Safely
If you’re visiting multiple microbreweries in Asheville in a day, rideshare is the practical move. Uber and Lyft work well throughout the city. Dedicated brewery shuttles and tour services are also available if you want something more organized.
Our Asheville brewery transportation guide covers every option in detail.
When to Go
Weekday afternoons between 2pm and 5pm are the sweet spot at most of these Asheville microbreweries. Weekend evenings at South Slope spots get genuinely crowded. If outdoor seating matters, spring and fall are the most comfortable seasons in the mountains.
See our complete brewery visit planning guide for more timing and logistics advice.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which Asheville microbrewery has the most awards?
Hillman Beer holds three GABF medals, including a Gold for their ESB. Wicked Weed, Burial Beer, Hi-Wire, and Green Man have also collected national recognition over the years. Our guide to award-winning beers from Asheville microbreweries covers the full medal landscape.
Are Asheville microbreweries family-friendly?
Many are, particularly those with outdoor spaces and food. Hillman Beer and Highland Brewing are both solid choices for families. Our family-friendly brewery guide breaks it down in detail.
Do microbreweries in Asheville allow dogs?
Most allow leashed dogs on outdoor patios. Hillman Beer explicitly welcomes well-behaved dogs at both their Asheville and Old Fort locations.
