Asheville Dilemma

I'll second this a the first choice. Plus their food is good, they have plenty of space, and they serve flights so you can try multiple brews in one short visit.

 

You've obviously never driven I-95 between Fredericksburg and DC.

 

I lived in DC for 5 years and my family is north of Charlotte. I've driven I95 from Fredericksburg to DC (and the reverse) many, many times. I've also driven up I81 a handful of times, couple of times to DC, couple of times heading towards my wife's family in Pittsburgh or Buffalo. I81 is full of truckers, half of which drive about 10 mph under the speed limit and the other half aren't paying attention to what in the hell is going on around them. Driving 395 and 495 you get used to heavy traffic and sometimes sitting still is at least manageable compared to trucks almost running you off the road every now and again

I tell you though, the couple times that took US29 off of I66 down to Greensboro was really the way to go. It might take about 20-30 minutes longer, but the scenery is much nicer and you avoid the hell that is both I95 and I81 and are only on I66 for a very short period of time, which is manageable (and we usually avoided I66 altogether).

 

Thnks. All good to know. Thinking of making that drive rt in the Spring.

 

They tap outside at the event on the lawn out back, so it isn't an issue having to run inside. Highland is brewing small batches now, so you can get more than their usual just Highland brews. Is it as extensive as Wicked Weed, no. But what they do do, they do well.

 

Way too much crying in here to scroll through, but here's my two cents:

Wicked Weed - Solid beers, varied, good food. Wasn't blown away by anything, and it was damn crowded. I hate crowds, and we were seated at the corner of the floor by the main walkway. Absolutely sucked. Definitely try to go during the day or an off night if you want breathing room.

Altamont - Hard to find, tiny, zero parking unless it's in the neighborhood behind it, good beers, small, eclectic local crowd.

Oysterhouse - My fave of the visit (been before once), small, quaint, quite a large taplist for such a small place, great food, cool atmosphere. It's not the beer mecca though so most BAs will shit on it. Go ahead, more room for me.

Hi-Wire - Fist night they had a special event. No room, beers were pouring flat, all the good stuff was gone. Next try they have a barrel aged RIS on. Damn good beer. More choices, less crowded, I liked it.

Asheville Brewing - Solid beer list, nothing wild, and great pizza.

Thirsty Monk - Not bad food, good taplist. Silly you can't share tabs up/downstairs, but whatever.

Barley's - Much like AB, great pizza, room, good taplist, perfect for a chill meal.

Weinhaus - Good selection of shelf beers, stuff other stores didn't have, and cheaper.

Green Man - Great beers, great crowd, very good time.

Jack of the Wood - Green Man beers with good food (I love it, some don't) and live, cool music.

Burial - Small, good beers but no room to enjoy them unless you're outside sweating.

Wedge - Great beers for the most part, great spot, great for people watching.

Southern Appalachian - Small but nice brewery just outside Asheville in Hendersonville, typical beer list but well made. Nothing else to bring you there but music on some nights.

Pisgah - Hard to find but worth the trip. Solid beers all around, usually live music.

Highland - Beers you know (consistent too), but in a huge, professional atmosphere. A true working brewery.

French Broad - Good beers, cool space. Small but easily navigated.

Appalachian Vintner - Awesome selection of shelf beers, cheaper than Bruisin Ales, and they pour pints. Glassware shelf gave me wood, seriously.

Bruisin Ales - The original beer store, but small and pricey. Rare stuff doesn't linger here long, and what does stay is hard to buy at their prices.

Done. You guys keep fighting it out though.

 

Great solid opinions in here. Several I don't share, but hey, that's what makes the world go around!!!! Well done.

 

Well it appears I am going to have a busy few days.

 

Leave Ashevegas and drive to Morganton to Fonta Flora, then drive up to Boone and visit Peabody's for a bottle shop not filled with hipsters everywhere you look, you're welcome!

 

One of the more effective thread jacks I've seen actually. You got quite a bit of information and took the focus off the OP's original dilemma.

 

Well it seems this thread has really covered the bases regarding Asheville breweries, tap houses, and eats. Hopefully this minor thread-jack is not too far off base, if it is, please let me know and I'll start a new thread.

I have a dilemma too. My wife and I will be in the Asheville area for a week starting Oct 18th and we are bringing a sh#t ton of Florida goodies to share. Of all these places mentioned in this thread, which ones are 'bottle share friendly'?

Thanks in advance.

 

None that I've ever seen.

 

Never understood people that brought bottles to a bar/brewery. A festival I can see, as you're already paying to get in. So what do they care if you drink the beer. I know that a few breweries around here will tolerate it to a point, but they generally dislike the idea

 

Why would any bar invite a regular pattern of bringing your own beer into their place to bottle share? They are a business what's in it for them? Special events are different.

 

Thats how I roll. The question from the OP was answered, and I figured it would be easier to just tag onto this thread. If I would have posted a now one then I would have gotten the "cant you see the other thread on this page" comments. Damned if you do...

haha

This thread was very helpful though, so thanks everyone!

 

A small bar with a loyal group of patrons, in which the owner/employees also enjoy partaking in the bottle share. I can think of a couple of places by me that welcome it.

 

Doesn't sound like a sound business model where patrons bring their own beer to share, basically borrowing the guys bar. How's he make money? At a bottle share he's not selling a whole lot if any, unless is on food, and that's a variable. I doubt any restaurant would welcome bringing in your own food. I've seen special bottle shares arranged, been there done that, but it takes some planning not just a general lets go to X bar and share some brews.

 

I can't think of a one Brewery/Brewpub that will allow a bottle share at their brewery, at least not in the same general room with the general public. Hmm, I've spoken with 1/2 the owners at the Breweries I frequent here in town on multiple occasions and I would feel awkward asking any of them to do something like a bottle share. I know a couple of them read this forum, they can pop in and say something if they chose to.

Heck I GAVE beer (Deschutes Inversion IPA) you can't find in Asheville or NC to a local Bottle Shop owner and felt awkward afterward. Maybe I just have never been to a bottle share.

 

Thread jacked version 2.0 ; not my fault this time.

For what its worth though Ive been to at least 3 different places in Charleston while bottles were being shared. I do think its different being an out of towner showing up at a place for the first time, as opposed to someone who frequents a place very often and knows the owners/brewers/employees though.

 

What's wrong with a bottle shop filled with hipsters? And what is a hipster?