When we arrived in Asheville in 2019 we came for the beer. We came to the mountains for my husband Ryan to study beer making and is currently working at New Belgium Brewing. All that to say, we certainly visit breweries as much as we can. It’s fun to try new recipes and brews, take in the ambiance, and share our favorite spots with others.

All that to say, we have created a little brewery-hopping schedule for you and your pals to enjoy over the course of a weekend.

Let’s begin on a Friday around West Asheville and the River Arts District.

Start at Zillicoah Beer Co. for lunch. Grab a pint of the Appalachian Pils (Pilsner) and some amazing Filipino food from Master BBQ. Hang out by the river for a while ‘til you’re ready to move onto Archetype Brewing West (7 min drive). For a little bit of a summer refresher, try their Commitment Phobia (Session IPA). If you enjoy a darker beer, their coffee porter isn’t one to miss. Order the Unruly Mystic. If you’re in need of an afternoon snack, you can order Gan Shan or Pizza Mind straight from your table at the brewery.

It’s about that time for a little Friday night music so make your way to New Belgium Brewing (2 min drive or 10 min walk). Live music starts at 6pm. They have plenty of seating on the patio, on the lawn or at the bar with a river view. Order a flight to try a variety of their brews. Our favorites, to name a few, are Dominga Mimosa Sour, Mountain Time Lager, Juicy Haze IPA and Trippel Belgian Style Ale. If you’re feeling overwhelmed by the options, there are pre-curated flights made by the staff there. The “beertenders” are also eager to help you find a beer that you’ll enjoy. And of course…more food. You can’t go wrong with any of the food trucks that park outside of the brewery. There’s a rotating schedule for you to see what you’ll be ordering that night for dinner. Everything closes down at 8pm, but at that point I think you’ll be ready for a good sleep. More beer to drink tomorrow….

It’s a new day for beer and we’re headed to the South Slope Brewing District for a little walking tour.

Start at Twin Leaf Brewery and grab a glass of Insanity of Dreams, a chocolate marshmallow dark sour. For a little change, try their guest tap of The Spice Merchant from Noble Cider. That particular cider is my favorite in town. There, I’ve said it.

Talk a walk across the street to The Funkatorium (Wicked Weed). This is where a flight is a must. If you don’t want to have a full glass of a sour beer, do a flight and try a few. They’re funky and fun — I wonder why it’s called the Funkatorium. And for the final stop of the town, we’re visiting Burial Beer Co. Just a two minute walk away. For the last glass of the day trying their New England IPA, Drowning in Habits. There are so many great options there to try, especially in the IPA realm. Hot tip: ORDER THE WINGS. They’re delicious and are the perfect way to round out the day. I’m sure at this point in the day food will be a must.

Thank you for taking this little tour with us. Happy Hopping!

Cheers,

Emma and Ryan