I just returned from a 3 day trip to Asheville with my girlfriend, and thought I'd share some highlights from our quasi-beercation. We stayed in a cabin in Fairview, about 15 miles SE of town, but made it into town each day. Night 1: Dinner at Tupelo Honey Cafe (with a Pisgah Pale)...then walked down to Asheville Brewing Company. Started with their Double IPA - Shiva Rakti, then did a standard flight of their beers. Thought the jalapeno infused pale was interesting. Cool place to sit and have a few on a nice evening. From there, visited Thirsty Monk for Chimay pint night. Great stuff. Back at the cabin, worked on a sampler of Highland. Day/Night 2: First stop was Wedge. Did the tasting flight and was blown away by the Super Saison. Thought the Iron Rail IPA was good as well (though Asheville seemed to have an obsession w/ English style IPAs, which is not my preference). Properly lubricated, we hit up Bruisin Ales. Great bottle shop, but I was slightly underwhelmed to find that much of what they offer is available here in DC. Spent much less than I was expecting to. After dinner at Salsa's, final stop was Pisgah Brewing out in Black Mountain. Had the tasting room to ourselves on a rainy Tuesday. Good times - loved the Pale, and the Nitro stout. Also, their Blueberry Wheat surprised me, mostly in its aroma. Sampled a few other odds n ends along the way...and ended the trip w/ a visit to Nantahala Brewing Company in Bryson City. This place is worth a visit. Hop forward philosophy with a great IPA, pale, session IPA and very drinkable double-ipa (only 8%!). Picked up a couple bottles of their Trail Magic Bourbon Barrel Imperial Stout - can't wait to try that. All in all, a fantastic time with 4 breweries in 3 days, which seems like the right amount. This was my first attempt at a beercation, and really enjoyed the way in which visiting breweries that close together gives you a sense of each one's style. I loved the atmosphere of some of the taprooms, particularly Wedge and Nantahala. Just really solid places to hang out. Wish there was something like that here in DC (oh, and paying only $4 on average for a pint was refreshing as well).
I've only done an Asheville beercation once, but your post reminded me that I need to make it back soon. Did you make it to the Thirsty Monk? Love the vibe and selection of that place. Besides all the breweries you mentioned, Green Man and Craggie were also great stops for me. Ha, coming from Los Angeles I just couldn't get over how absurdly cheap craft beer was everywhere in NC!
We did stop at the Thirsty Monk, good stuff. Was hoping to try Craggie...did not realize until too late that the taproom was literally a block away from Asheville Brewing.
I need to get around to doing a beercation in Asheville soon. Asheville is such a great town to visit.
Nice trip recap. I'm glad you made it out to Nantahala. Great atmosphere and really cool folks working there. Also, I'm happy to hear the Trail Magic stout is still available; I actually posted a thread about it earlier. What are they charging for it?
Asheville is pretty cool. I too was underwhelmed by Bruisin' Ales.. Pretty lack luster, and the prices were much higher than expected. I found most of what I could in Atlanta as well, save for at the time Evil Twin, and Greenflash. Went and visited a few spots, really enjoyed Greenman Brewery. Picked up their "Dweller" stout, pricey but should be killer from what I hear. Asheville Brewings Escape Artist Pale Ale was pretty good, and while in Bruisin Ales' the owner of Catawba Valley Brewery was there and bought me their Firewater IPA, which is an awesome canned IPA. Kudo to him! Nantahala.. good IPA's, infact, I think they have the best IPA's in the area.. past that... well.. see my other thread on their trail magic stout. I really liked Barleys Tap Room.. Good pizza and good beers on draft. Greenmans Porter was legit, as was the French Broad IPA.. enjoyable. I was there during the start of their beer week, around memorial day.
You bought a Dweller at the brewery?? Didn't realize they had any left. I try to warn people about Bruisin Ales... It's simply not worth visiting and most tourists walk away underwhelmed and dissapointed. Did you not go to Appalachian Vintner? A quick read through any of the past couple months worth of "Headed to Asheville" threads will spell out for you that it's a must for any beer tourist.
Many thanks for this -- we have a day and a half in Asheville coming up in three weeks, and I was just going to put out an "ask" about venues. Gonna clip and save this thread!
