Asheville Brewery Trip

Yep, I'll bet he was an excellent 6th grade hall monitor.

 

Definite spots to hit up:
Wicked Weed
Sierra Nevada
Burial
Green Man
Hi-Wire

Breweries worth hitting if you have extra time:
Oyster House
Highland
Asheville Brewing
French Broad
Catawba

Breweries you should only go to if you have an excess of time and are willing to put up with shitty and/or infected beers for the sake of being a completionist:
LAB
Atwater
Twin Leaf
OneWorld

Breweries that are out of town, but are worthier of visits than the previous category:
Oskar Blues
Boojum
Innovation
Pisgah
Nantahala

 

I'd rank Highland the #1 must-visit brewery in Asheville.

Highland
Wicked Weed Funkatorium
Burial
Green Man
Wicked Weed
Wedge

Those would by the 6 breweries I would prioritize, in order. If you have time, then Sierra Nevada.

 

Nanatahala is a great spot if you head west from Asheville and wanna get out doors.

 

Interesting debate, I would remove Hi-Wire and add Highland to n2185's list of "Definite spots to hit up". Hi-Wire is still a bit spotty for my taste. Great list, great debate. Also, Wedge would make it into my second tier, but more for the vibe than amazing beer reasons. Will be easier to hit up once New Belgium gets up to full speed.

 

Ah, forgot about Wedge. I'd put them in the middle as well, though in the winter when they have their raspberry stout on nitro, it's definitely worth going. Hi-Wire's staples aren't anything special, but their specials and seasonals have been really good lately. Lion Tamer, Strongman, Hop Circus, Tropical Fruit, Twice as Nice, the barrel-aged stout, etc. They just released a Baltic porter than I'm excited to try.

 

In the winter when Wedge has Raspberry Stout, Golem, and 3rd Rail, I'm pretty friggin' happy to chill out at Wedge!

 

It's always nice for me to read the locals' takes on the Aville breweries. As someone who gets out there 3-4 times a year, I often miss out on a lot of brewery only draft stuff and am sometimes not as up on the current state of things (particularly during the winter). But it seems to me like there are several that it really just depends on on the taplist at that particular time. The Wedge, Green Man, Hi-Wire, even ones like Oskar Blues and Pisgah. These breweries all make great beers, but there is a huge difference between their best couple beers and their normal range. If they have one of those on when you go then it makes for a great visit, if not then maybe you wish you would've spent that bit of sobriety elsewhere.

As a frequent visitor, the ones that at this point I'm always making it a specific point to hit because they have never let me down are Wicked Weed (both locations), Burial, and Highland. And of course Fonta Flora on the way home, my favorite brewery in the whole state.

 

As a local there are typically 6 breweries that I go to.

Wicked Weed/Funkatorium and Burial are the main two I go to. I personally just think they brew the best beer and when I do get out that is where I go.

If I have the whole family with me then we go to Highland. We only really go there during the warmer months when we can hang out in the field. I used to be able to walk to it through the woods and have a beer in my hand within 5 minutes.

I will also trek down to Sierra Nevada every now and then to sample some beers and eat. I like the food there but it is a bit overpriced.

I will occasionally go to Hi-Wire as well. A longtime friend owns it and I like to support his business. I will say that I feel their beers are improving drastically.

The last one is Green Man, and it normally only comes squeezed into a Burial and Funkatorium trip.

The other ones I will maybe visit once a year for various reasons. I think the great thing about Asheville is that there are so many breweries and that they do all appeal to their own crowd. I do feel we are about to hit our saturation point though.

 

I guess its a good thing then that another 1 or 2 are getting ready to open!

I wasn't surprised at all to see Craggie go a couple years ago. More surprised that Twin Leaf and Hi-Wire are still around, though reports of the beer getting better is encouraging.

Pisgah used to always be my 'going home' brewery (I'm only in Hickory, so not far). Fonta Flora could become that but its close enough to me that I go to Fonta Flora as is without going over to Asheville, so not sure if it'll get there or not.

 

Burial.

Although their bar sucks out loud. If you are sitting there, people will be reaching over you constantly, and if you aren't, you'll be reaching over people constantly.

 

Hi-Wire has a completely different model. The owner of Hi-Wire was Entrepreneur of the Year in Asheville this past year. They have focused on distribution and getting their beer out and about for everyone. More people drink Highland, Green Man, and Hi-Wire than any of the "great breweries" of Asheville. I would assume with Wicked Weed's expansion and increased distribution they have started matching that group.

I agree. They should always have the second bar open to minimize this problem.

 

I agree with your list, pretty much... What worries me, New Belgium. I can only consume so much beer in a week, what am I going to have to cut out to incorporate New Belgium, forgetting the fact that the other "new" brewery opening up behind Wicked Weeds main location may or may not make amazing beer. Or the fact Weaverville has a new brewery opening up that I'm dying to try.

 

From Wicked Weed you can easily walk to five or more breweries - Green Man & Burial are very near.

Now - for food - I cannot recommend these two joints enough - both tapas places...

http://zambratapas.com/Zambra (sit at the bar and request their handwritten special menu)

http://www.curatetapasbar.com/

 

Surprised Hi-Wire hasn't closed yet? They just opened another much bigger location. Their beers are all over Charlotte (someone must be buying it).

While Hi--Wire's year-round core beers are fairly "boring", their other stuff is usually pretty good/interesting. Had a Pulcinella bomber the other night and it was outstanding. Strongman is da bomb.

 

Grab that window seat to the right, or sit in the back, or outside if it's nice.. Because you are right.. that tiny ass bar SUCKS.

 

Yes, the challenges of living in Asheville... 20+ breweries to go to, only 7 days in a week . We have had some weeks where we have visited one or more breweries every day some weeks, exhausting.

Then there are the dozen or so that are within a 30 - 40 minute drive. Still haven't made it to Hi-Wire Big Top, their expansion location, Sweeten Creek Brewing, New Belgium opening in the spring, Burial's expansion opening in the spring and Bhramari Brewhouse still to open sometime, though it didn't make its original 2015 opening.

 

I agree, someone must be buying it as they're still around. But considering the competition in town I don't get it at all. I've had a dozen different beers of there. The only one that I rated above average was Ringmaster's Reserve Barrel-Aged Russian Imperial Stout. And average doesn't really cut it in Asheville.

 

It moves off the shelves in Ingles in Bryson City at a good clip- I know it's down to the last sixers or two when I've been there. Admittedly, it's generally during a boom in people being in town, but still.. I often wondered myself.

 

Well, in my book, Hi-Wire has two drinkable regular beers, keeping in mind my distaste for IPA's. The Brown and the Lager. I must admit, the Brown Ale is rather enjoyable with the Lager offering a nice change of pace, albeit a bit sweet. But, like I've said before, they hold my personal record for the most left behind 1/2 full glasses at any single brewery in Ashevillle.

But like we have all posted, there are is a LOT of breweries to try and enjoy in Asheville. Those of us who are local... Well, lets just say there is barely a reason to keep a mini fridge in the house.

Edit: #2, how did this turn into a Hi-Wire thread?