VA/NC Itinerary

Hit Olde Hickory on the way to Fonta Flora, it's about 1/2 hour east of FF.

Breakfast at Sunny Point in Asheville comes before breakfast anywhere else (IMO).

Skip LAB. It's pure tourist trap and their stuff is inferior to almost everything else in the area. Visit One World instead.

Forget Twin Leaf, make time for Brahmari instead.

 

One World is the worst brewery in Asheville IMO...at least LAB has amazing food and sometimes a good beer or 2. But you could do better by staying longer at the Funkatorium, Burial or Green Man and skipping both really. I'm with you about skipping Twin Leaf and hitting BharMari instead, much better beer brewed there, excellent guest taps and good food too.

 

Quick stop at The Answer is an injustice. You need to eat a meal with a couple of beers next door at Mekong Restaurant & Pub ( great tap list ) then go to The Answer Brewery for a few beers ( even better tap list ).

 

Your C'Ville stops are on point. Champion, Three Notch'd and Beer Run are the must stops. Since you will downtown I would recommend South Street as well. They are literally a couple tenths of a mile from Champion. Beers are excellent since Blue Mountain took over last year and their food is very good as well. They usually have 12-13 on tap. For the price of their burgers, Citizen does not do it for me. They only have a small number of local taps on rotation. Their burgers are simple but Jack Brown's is my favorite burger in town. And they have 4 taps with a few hundred bottles. if you have time then check out C'Ville Brew Co too. They have been my last choice of breweries in the area in the past but they have a new brewer and new management. What I have had from him so far is really nice.

I'm sure you are aware but The Answer's tap list can be found on Untappd. If you have not been then definitely order their Andalls

On Wednesday you may also want to check out Starr Hill if you have time. Ever since Robbie took over last year they have had a huge resurgence on the quality of their beers and have been pumping out a lot of new stuff regularly. They just had their IPA Festival a couple weekends ago and have a lot of brand new IPAs. Good thing about many of the CVille breweries is a lot of them (outside of downtown) open at 11/Noon during the week.

If you will be coming back by Charlottesville on Sunday you may also want to swing by Three Notch'd again. They are releasing Bourbon Barrel Biggie S'mores on the 15th and will probably still have bottles in the Tap Room.

 

This looks like an amazing trip; good for you! I think you've hit on what exactly your challenge will be: timing! Good news from @TomCat11 that more places are opening earlier but I'd double-check when Pro Re Nata opens. Devil's Backbone's new outdoor area is amazing but if you are heading down there along 151 from 250 and then have to go back to 250, the drive alone will add close to an hour to your day.

Asheville's breweries (or at least many of them) close at 10 pm on school nights so you may wanna figure that into your schedule/timing as well. Safe travels; cheers!

 

I had a good experience at One World... really liked the atmosphere and beer was far better than LAB (again, opinion). But I cant disagree with the notion of more time at the other three.

 

Pro Re Nata is closed on Tuesday but every other day during the week they are open 11am-10pm. At least that is their current Summer Hours.

Agree with the long drive down 151. That trip to DBB is a long one just one way but their new outdoor area is really amazing and worth it if you have the time. You also pass right by Wild Wolf and they have really good food & beer as well.

 

+2
I would tend to put Fonta Flora over Olde Hickory, hours of operation and your schedule might come into play

Yes, avoid the LAB, and Twin Leaf is OK, but I highly recommend Brahmari as an option.

Oyster House is also an option, especially if you like oysters. The fried blue cheese oysters are excellent.

Hours can vary from place to place, some closing at 8 (Highland, New Belgium, French Broad), others a 10, 11, midnight. Those that serve food tend to stay open later. Even as a local I have found that Google Maps is a good source to find hours. Just search on "asheville breweries". We even used it yesterday (July 4) as a few tasting rooms were closed to give employees a day off, and it proved accurate.

 

I've visited One World a few times and always detected off flavors and the beers were just lacking IMO...but each to their own and at least there are other top notch breweries worth visiting close by!

 

If you don't have reservations for Curate as of two week ago then you will need to find another restaurant.

Another option is Bull and the Beggar (one of my favorites in town). It is next to the Wedge as well. If you don't like Carolina BBQ (vinegar based sauce) then I wouldn't go to Buxtom. If you do, enjoy!

Another breakfast spot is King Daddy's. It is the same owners as Early Girl with half the wait time.

If I were you I would cut out some of the breweries you plan on attending and focus more time at the better breweries.

 

I don't think they reliably post a taplist, though occasionally they'll put on one up Facebook or Instagram. Regardless, you should go. Lots of interesting beer.

Weaverville isn't quite on the way to/from Mt Mitchell from Asheville, but you could also consider hitting up Zebulon in Weaverville. Only open Friday and Saturday 1-6, but that might fit into your schedule. Very new brewery by a brewer that's been at Green Man for a while, putting out some good stuff. But I'd be hard pressed to pass up Pisgah (an old favorite of mine), Highland (OG Asheville), or Wedge (another old favorite) from your Friday breweries to get to it considering your limited time.

 

There are a bunch of great lunch/brunch spots in downtown Harrisonburg, about a mile and a half off the interstate. Let me know if you need recommendations.

 

I just went through Charlottesville on mini beercation a few weeks ago and really didn't enjoy Champion much, eh beers and not very friendly bartenders. I did however have a great time at Kardinal Hall and loved Blue Mountain (especially at sunset). If I were going again, I would skip Champion and spend more time at other places in town.

 

When I was in Asheville over Memorial Day Weekend we ate at Buxton Hall one night for dinner. Definitely enjoyed it but it was the only place in town where I was able to get my hands on Westbrook Gose which was the real highlight. It's on the online menu still so if you are a sour guy make sure to grab one.

 

If you stop by Harrisonburg Sun for lunch then swing by the Three Notch'd Tap Room there. They should get several cases of BBA Biggie n Fri/Sat.