It’s Time For An Asheville Brewery Tour!
The spring is the perfect time to book a few nights at a vacation rental and visit Asheville. The chill in the air is gone and the sun is shining, this clearly means one thing.. time to hit up some breweries!
Many of the breweries in Asheville offer tours, some for free and others for a fee. Some are in the same area but others are off the beaten path. With so many breweries in one area, the hardest part is figuring out where to begin. I want to be as efficient as I can with my beer drinking so I put together the perfect brewery tour list.
In the South Slope area downtown, aka the “brewing district” which is located along Coxe ave is an ideal place to start.
The Funkatorium is the east coast’s first sour beer taproom. They offer a “sour tour Sunday” which includes an in-depth exploration into their sour program. You will learn all about the history of sour beer, sample some of the best sour beers around and even take a field trip to the “funk house” where you will get a first-hand look at the brewing process. The price varies depending on the tour you choose but the “sour Sunday tour” will run you about $40 for the 2 1/2 hour experience. You will definitely get your money’s worth. Book online here: https://www.wickedweedbrewing.com/tours/sour-sunday/
From the Funkatorium it is easy to hop around and check out all the neighboring breweries including: Burial Beer Co, Green Man Brewery, Catawba, Twin Leaf, Asheville Brewing & Hi-Wire.
The amazing, New Belgium Brewery is only a quick 5-minute drive from the south slope. This should be the next stop on your tour list. Located in West Asheville, this expansive brewery offers ample indoor and outdoor space and is nestled along the French Broad River. Lucky for you, they have FREE 90-minute brewery tours. During the tour, you will be able to sample several beers, learn about the history of the company, the brewing process, and even see how eco-conscious they are. Reservations are recommended but not required. Book online here: https://www.newbelgium.com/brewery/asheville/all-tours
Up to venture outside of Asheville? Sierra Nevada Brewery is located in Mills River (near the airport) and is the holy grail/Disney World of breweries. They offer free tours but you must make a reservation online to snag a spot. Each tour can cater to your needs with different topics, lengths and beer samples. The facility alone will blow you away – don’t miss it! Book online here: https://sierranevada.com/visit/north-carolina/brewery-tours/#
Across town is Asheville’s first craft brewery, Highland Brewing. Their space itself is grand and also doubles as a music venue and event space. They offer free guided production tours every day of the week, usually towards the late afternoon/early evening. Book online here: https://highlandbrewing.com/brewery-tours
Down to venture out to Brevard? There you will find Oskar Blues Brewery, located only 5 minutes from Pisgah National Forest, making it the perfect stop after a hike! The taproom is open daily and hosts free tours of the brewery. There is a food truck on-site and live music most days of the week. Check out the brewery here: https://www.oskarblues.com/location/brevard-nc-oskar-blues-taproom/
Several tour companies in Asheville curated a brewery crawl for you, all you have to do is show up thirsty. Most of them provide an itinerary and transportation packages. To explore these options check out the links below:
https://www.lazoomtours.com/tours/band-beer-bus-tour/
https://ashevillebrewscruise.com/