Hickory Nut Gorge Brewery
Recent ratings and reviews.
Reviewed by CarolinaCardinals from North Carolina
3.93/5 rDev +16.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
3.93/5 rDev +16.3%
vibe: 4.5 | quality: 3.5 | service: 4 | selection: 4 | food: 4.25
Visited here with Da Boss for dinner on 8-6-21 after driving up from Flat Rock.
Vibe on the outside was outstanding with the brewpub having 4 decks overlooking the river. Inside is a small tasting room with a few tables, a ordering/paying station, and a small kitchen. The outside has seating for approximately 75-100 on the 4 levels.
Quality of the beer is so-so. I had an oatmeal stout that missed the mark but also had a cask coconut porter that was wonderful.
Service was good as the order takers and kitchen folks were all very friendly when pulling a brew or running the food order out to you on the deck.
Selection was good as there were 15-20 brews available.
We had fish and chips for dinner. The fish was spot on and the chips were good.
Overall a fun place to visit that is on the tourist trap main drag in Chimney Rock, not to far from the state park. Worth a visit if you are in the area!
Aug 07, 2021Vibe on the outside was outstanding with the brewpub having 4 decks overlooking the river. Inside is a small tasting room with a few tables, a ordering/paying station, and a small kitchen. The outside has seating for approximately 75-100 on the 4 levels.
Quality of the beer is so-so. I had an oatmeal stout that missed the mark but also had a cask coconut porter that was wonderful.
Service was good as the order takers and kitchen folks were all very friendly when pulling a brew or running the food order out to you on the deck.
Selection was good as there were 15-20 brews available.
We had fish and chips for dinner. The fish was spot on and the chips were good.
Overall a fun place to visit that is on the tourist trap main drag in Chimney Rock, not to far from the state park. Worth a visit if you are in the area!
Reviewed by francus from North Carolina
2.76/5 rDev -18.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 1 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3
2.76/5 rDev -18.3%
vibe: 3.5 | quality: 1 | service: 4.25 | selection: 3
Well. So much potential, but no go. The brewery is a 1 barrel system. The woman behind the bar was very friendly and helpful and the service was impeccable. The serving was generous. The bar area is very small and they had 4 of their brews on tap and maybe 5 or 6 from other breweries. The bar area overlooks the river and out the back is a multi level seating area also overlooking the river. The views from this bar area stunning and I could see sitting all day drinking brews and watching nature and being perfectly content. Except......
Their beer was not all that hot. Not even close. I had their version of an ESB. The color was too light and no malt profile at all. But all that is forgivable. What is not was the unmistakable taste of an infection. It was pronounced enough to be noticeable by smell and definitely hit the taste buds. I hate to say it about any craft brewery, but it had to happen some time. I had several sips of beer and then determined it wasn't worth working that hard to try and enjoy it and I poured it out. It is possible the way off flavors could be caused by open fermentation with some funky yeast or massively over used yeast or maybe dirty beer lines, but it did seem like infection off flavors I have tasted at beer competitions.
All that said, this place has great potential. The view and natural setting alone are top notch. With just a little work (and liberal use of Star San) the beers could improve enough to be passable, maybe even worthy of the surroundings they find themselves in. Hopefully if/when you visit they have improved somewhat. It would be a shame for all that potential to go to waste.
Side note: no food, but they did have chips/snacks for sale.
Oct 29, 2017Their beer was not all that hot. Not even close. I had their version of an ESB. The color was too light and no malt profile at all. But all that is forgivable. What is not was the unmistakable taste of an infection. It was pronounced enough to be noticeable by smell and definitely hit the taste buds. I hate to say it about any craft brewery, but it had to happen some time. I had several sips of beer and then determined it wasn't worth working that hard to try and enjoy it and I poured it out. It is possible the way off flavors could be caused by open fermentation with some funky yeast or massively over used yeast or maybe dirty beer lines, but it did seem like infection off flavors I have tasted at beer competitions.
All that said, this place has great potential. The view and natural setting alone are top notch. With just a little work (and liberal use of Star San) the beers could improve enough to be passable, maybe even worthy of the surroundings they find themselves in. Hopefully if/when you visit they have improved somewhat. It would be a shame for all that potential to go to waste.
Side note: no food, but they did have chips/snacks for sale.
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