Asheville Dilemma

Wicked Weed around 11am on Saturday or between 2-4pm. You have to check out downstairs, if you go. Otherwise, I always enjoy Wedge. They have (IMO) the best IPA in Asheville and cornhole games and stuff outside.

 

I hit up Appalachian Vintner for the first time when I was in Asheville earlier this month. I was like a kid in a candy store. Not only did they have a great selection, but I could order a pint and walk around with it and pick out beers. I had the cask beer that day- delicious!

 

Dude, chill out. There's a reason WW is so insanely popular: Most of their beers are awesome. Let @5thOhio decide for himself without you getting all worked up about what everyone else's advice is. Yes Green Man is great, but you're really gonna recommend Highland? A brewery who only ever has their regular lineup on-tap at the brewery that all of which the OP can most likely buy in SC anyway?

 

5thOhio could easily have a late lunch at WW, and walk a few steps to Green Man. He doesn't have much time for his Saturday foray.

 

Always reliable @jmw to come in and shit on a thread about WW.

If you know what the guy likes, why not just BM him the suggestions since it seems like you have them nailed down?

What would ANYONE in this subsection expect to see suggested when someone asks about Asheville? Wicked Weed is the new kid on the block, and a popular one at that. Regardless of their schtick, or whatever you hate about them, they aren't just popular because they are new.

Sure, it's the hipster spot to be in Asheville, in a town brimming to the top with hipsters. Asheville has plenty of choices, and I agree.. WW doesn't always have the be the end all be all suggestion. SN's new place is stellar, and once NB gets up and going, I think it'll be just as popular. OB has a cool spot as well.

Point is.. we get it, you hate WW. It's a loud, over crowded spot, and not the best choice for a weekend if you want to actually sit around and enjoy a beer or 3.. I hate the idea of going there on a weekend myself, and simply slide in, grab some bottles and leave. But, maybe give it a break. Suggest a place to go other than WW, but no need to get all bent out of shape about it in every thread.

OP- there are plenty of places to go in town, just walk around and see what looks appealing. I haven't found a "bad" place yet.

Oh, and if you like scotch ales.. try Highlands anniversary one. It's probably the best I've had.

 

If you can go to one brewery in or around Asheville and you choose Highland over Wicked Weed, then you have failed, plain and simple.

Now Fonta Flora you could make an argument for, but that's not really Asheville.

 

Just go to WW around 3 PM, have a late lunch, drink a few, and avoid any potential crowds or hub-bub. I do not understand any enmity for these guys. They do a great job. There's never any lack of choices when you are in the vicinity. Believe it or not, there's more to Asheville than beer!

 

I'd hit Barleys for a make it your way slice or two of pizza, and wash it down with an French Broad IPA. Then onto WW and check out their board, nice barrel program too.

 

I get the sentiment for Highland, they still make my favorite Asheville Brewed Beer, and I love the entertainment while there when they have a band on stage. But, Highland (and I was there last week to try the Saison) is not where I usually send folks for a ONE stop in Asheville. Not that the selection is bad, the 20th anniversary Scotch Ale was also a top favorite of mine, but IF your sure you are going to only stop in 1 spot, then WW with its varied variety, larger selection, downtown location and solid food selection is just a better one stop. Also, the Asheville South Slope offers 5-7 breweries within walking distance (just in case, plus Thirsty Monk), you have to drive to Highland and it isn't in a location it is easy tell folks how to get to, nor are there other breweries near it, and you probably have to designate a driver.

Now if someone is staying in Asheville for a bit, now we are talking.

 

This is usually what me and my wife do.. we have two young (read: under 1 year old twins ) kids, and WW is usually too busy for us, or too long a wait. I run in, grab a case of bottles, maybe a quick pour of something while I wait around, and run out. Barleys is a great pizza spot to chill out. Usually no wait, plenty of room to breathe and spread out, good tap list, and great pizzas.

 

Never had to wait, really great pizza by the slice your way, terrific for kids I would think too. Then a 100 yard walk to WW, I wouldn't bring young kids to Weed, not that's it's not kid friendly, it's just so damn crowded. I buy growlers, have a brew then I split too.

 

WW is kid friendly.. for the most part. I've been able to take them during the week, and for an early lunch and not have to wait for a table, and can get in and out of them pretty easy.

That said.. weekends... don't try and bring young kids.

 

Ive been weekday, better, been there on a Fri, crowded out the ass, personally I wouldn't go on a Fri / Sat. 3 deep at the bar, not enough waiters to bring beers, outside is wall to wall, couldn't imagine ordering food. But... I didn't try the downstairs either, next time. Just doesn't strike me as a place I would bring young ones, especially in high chairs, or strollers. Love the beer but it's a younger guy beer drinking place first and foremost, IMO anyway. Their barrel program will grow to be great IMO, if it isn't already there.

 

So of all those places, where is it you'd eat? Since that was part of the original question. Jack of the Wood's food is pretty horrible, Highland only has food trucks I think when there's an event (at least there's never been a food truck there when I was there). The one places I'll give you is Green Man, which pretty much always has a food truck.

Pretty much if you're planning on eating and drinking, its going to need to be WW or ABC for breweries, or Barley's. Or food trucks at breweries (and for that Green Man and Wedge pretty much always seem to have food trucks).

As I said, if I were in the OPs situation, I'd hit WW for food, then hit Burial and Green Man. Now that I've been to Twin Leaf, I'd be willing to toss them into the mix since they're right there as well, but Burial and Green Man are both better than Twin Leaf (in my opinion).

 

Last time I was there was probably 6 months ago. After having been 5+ times in the last couple years and only liking about a third to half of their one-offs (which granted is a higher percentage than their main lineup), yeah, I've pretty much written off going back unless I'm going with a friend that just really loves their stuff (which I have a couple of).

It's great that they have their 20th anniversary saison on tap, but that's distributed as well. Don't know if it makes it to SC or not, but them having it on tap isn't going to get me to drive out to highland from downtown.

Since I was one of those first posters that you said was pushing WW, what from Highland would you put up against Burial Skillet Donut Stout, Burial Vice Melon, Green Man Destroyer, Green Man Patersbier, ABC Shiva, or ABC Ninja Porter? Those are all breweries that I recommended (even leaving out WW), everyone of which is better than pretty much anything I've had from Highland. So yeah, I recommend other places than Highland. And those places have better beers than the ones listed above, but those are beers I had in the last month or so and know are on tap right now.

 

I would never encourage anyone to go to Jack of the Wood. Just send them to Dirty Jacks to get Green Man Beer as it is their bar. Plus a food cart is better than Jack of the Woods food. If you go to Jack of the Wood early to drink or eat they might try and make you pay a cover to see a crappy band. I have stopped going there after they wanted me to pay to see Sons of Ralph.

I do like Highland, and that is the first place I tell a family oriented crowd to go. My kids love running around and playing there while I drink Highland's small batch beers.

With all that said, it is hard to come to Asheville and not go to Wicked Weed. You are pretty much guaranteed to find a beer you really enjoy. Then add on that the food is actually really good (Bison Burger, Trout Sandwich, or Fried Chicken sandwich. Plus you can sub out the Fries for a vegetable if you are part of the healthier eating crowd).

 

There is 12 Bones too, great BBQ and collards with a Shivy IPA, all day long on that one, but lunch only not really close to much.

 

Well, its close to Wedge and soon New Belgium...

 

There's 2 12 Bones, but I used my Gps to get there, no idea where I was except it seemed a bit out there. Asheville is a confusing using place to drive for me at least. Love the Arts District, very under rated IMO, love Wedge too.

 

Surprised Mellow Mushroom hasn't been mentioned; family friendly, 40 beers on tap, and 50 yards from Bruisin Ales.