best kid friendly asheville brewery

Discussion in 'South Atlantic' started by Bcrowe224, Jul 18, 2017.

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  1. Bcrowe224

    Bcrowe224 Aspirant (200) Jul 2, 2013 New York

    Hi all. sorry, another asheville thread.

    Visiting asheville this weekend, getting in on Friday. I have two small kids (6 month, and a 2 year old) but i still want to hit up a one or two breweries..

    I think we are going to squeeze in one brewery visit friday night... around 7ish. Does anyone have any reccommendations on a kid friendly venue? I would describe kid friendly as simply not overtly crowded. May a little space for a 2 year old to run/walk around.

    Seems by going through the threads.. wicked weed is great (especially if we do dinner there). Also hear good things about burial (but looks smaller?). Just trying to gauge which might be less crowded on a friday night, and more kid friendly. Or perhaps neither is a good option.

    thanks..
     
  2. lateralusbeer

    lateralusbeer Savant (1,222) Feb 7, 2010 North Carolina
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    Hi Wire's newer (and bigger) location, has plenty of space inside and out for kids to roam, including a beautiful shady area out back that's fenced in. Only one way in and out so your kids can't go running off.

    Doesn't hurt that they make the best beers in town, IMO.

    For pure kid friendliness, Asheville Brewing is a pizza joint with a large outdoor seating area. Beers are hit or miss, but nothing bad.

    Wicked Weed isn't particularly kid friendly and can get shoulder to shoulder busy on the weekends (although I haven't been since the sale; maybe folks are staying away now).
     
  3. HeilanCoo

    HeilanCoo Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2014 North Carolina

    I wouldn't take kids to WW on a Friday night actually. It'll be banging.
    I was going to say go to Highland and let them run around in the meadow, but they are having a major band that night, so it will be closed until 7 and then crowded after that.
    Tell you what: Try Sweeten Creek. Joey makes good beer, the food is awesome (try the reuben), and the littles can run around in their large grassy outdoor space.
     
  4. Bcrowe224

    Bcrowe224 Aspirant (200) Jul 2, 2013 New York

    thanks all! this is great info. much appreciated.
     
  5. jjboesen

    jjboesen Pooh-Bah (2,054) Feb 1, 2002 Maryland
    Pooh-Bah

    My kids loved the Mellow Mushroom.
     
  6. Dil_thebeerdrinking_do

    Dil_thebeerdrinking_do Savant (1,192) Jan 21, 2014 Georgia
    Trader

    There is a thread for this....but don't
     
  7. treznor

    treznor Pooh-Bah (1,814) Dec 20, 2006 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    I'd say its more about where not to go:
    - Wicked Weed, on the weekend it'll be too busy more than likely. They're kid friendly, but there's only so much you can do when there's people everywhere
    - LAB - First off, the beer isn't particularly good. Second off, its more of a traditional sit-down restaurant so wouldn't be at the top of the list of 'kid-friendly'
    - Wedge - They generally aren't particularly kid or dog friendly

    Maybe:
    - Sierra Nevada - This one could go either way. On one hand they have a lot of space outside and are generally kid friendly and I've heard my friends with kids say their kids like hanging out there. On the other hand, its absolutely mobbed on the weekends. Plus its further outside of town. But if you just want to hang out outside, and the weather is nice, then maybe? This is solely based on the kid friendliness by the way, I'm a fan of the place in general.

    My best options:
    - If the weather is good, Burial. They have tons of outdoor seating so it isn't too crowded usually. The line to get a beer can get a bit long at times, at least at the front bar. So get your beer at the back bar where there's typically less people (and typically a slightly different selection). If the weather isn't good, everyone will pile inside and it gets very cozy
    - Asheville Brewing - Laid back, pizza, decent beer, plenty of room, never seen it crowded.
    - Highland - If there isn't a concert going on in their meadow. If there is, they'll be closed until near the end of the concert (and mobbed after the concert). Sounds like there's a concert on Friday, but Saturday could be a good option.
     
    fehrminator likes this.
  8. RKP1967

    RKP1967 Savant (1,150) Sep 26, 2010 Virginia

    We hit a bunch of NC places with our 10 year old in April. Sierra Nevada, Hi Wire (new place I think), Funkatorium, New Belgium, Pisgah, Fonta Flora, Appalachian Mountain Brewing, and Olde Hickory. She was fine at all of them.

    My kid's favorite, by far, was New Belgium. Chilling outside on the big lawn, sitting inside with a river view, free sparkling soda, and lots of dogs. She even tolerated her parents going on three beer tours (SN, NB, Funkatorium.)

    I have to say that New Belgium was my favorite too. Just love the overall vibe and love those sours too.
     
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  9. Miracle_Whips

    Miracle_Whips Initiate (0) Mar 28, 2017 Georgia

    We visited Asheville when my son was about 18 months, we went to Burial, Asheville Brewing and WW.

    Burial was by far the most enjoyable and the best beer. The outdoor seating was great for kids and set a good ways off the road. And don't sleep on the food cart there.

    Asheville Brewing was easy with the boys and my son enjoyed the outdoor patio area, which is set on the corner of two not very busy streets. I had an excellent burger there and the beer was decent.

    We tried to get to WW before the dinner rush, but the downstairs seating was already full by the time we got there so we sat on the front patio. It was a little to close to a very busy road for my taste and my son was particularly energetic at this time. We ended up only staying for 2 beers, because it was too much of a hassle.
     
  10. Dil_thebeerdrinking_do

    Dil_thebeerdrinking_do Savant (1,192) Jan 21, 2014 Georgia
    Trader

    Why take kids to breweries...Unless a brewpub for a meal etc. Kids look miserable there.
     
    atothesquiz likes this.
  11. andyctree

    andyctree Zealot (663) Apr 20, 2010 North Carolina

    On a Friday night, Highland or Asheville Pizza.
     
  12. Dil_thebeerdrinking_do

    Dil_thebeerdrinking_do Savant (1,192) Jan 21, 2014 Georgia
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    Subcontrabass likes this.
  13. Bcrowe224

    Bcrowe224 Aspirant (200) Jul 2, 2013 New York

    I respect your opinion. But there is a lot of nuance around this. One point being age of the children. For example, I have a 6 month baby. Trust me - a 6 month infant could care less. I also have a two year old... as long as we have some open space.. not a problem entertaining her. We try to incorporate our kids into a lot of the more 'adult' type travels that we take..
    (but i can understand how someone might have a different opinion) but i'm sure i will change my mind perhaps as my kids get a bit older. For now we tend to travel a lot of with our young kids and they seem to pretty adaptable..
     
  14. SteveTerp

    SteveTerp Initiate (0) Jul 20, 2017 North Carolina

    Depends on which Wedge. The original has a small tap room and you sit outside in the parking lot on picnic tables. The newer Wedge at Foundation (next to the new 12 Bones location) has a nice outside area behind it that kids might enjoy.

    Catawba and Twin Leaf both have outside areas too.
     
  15. Chubz77

    Chubz77 Devotee (311) Apr 11, 2017 Michigan
    Trader

    ^^^^^ Im with you, I don't understand taking kids to breweries. Nothing grinds my gears more than not being able to get a seat at the bar because there are kids sitting there(faces stuffed in electronic devices) while their parents drink and ignore them.
     
  16. treznor

    treznor Pooh-Bah (1,814) Dec 20, 2006 North Carolina
    Pooh-Bah Trader

    To the OP:
    If you're getting outside of Asheville, I'd absolutely say that Pisgah, Fonta Flora, OHB, and Appalachian Mountain are all perfectly fine as @RKP1967 mentioned. I didn't mention them originally as they're outside of town. OHB doesn't have an actual tasting room (okay, it actually does but it isn't open to the public), but they have 2 restaurants nearby that are perfectly fine with kids.

    I'm going to go out on a limb here given that the OP is from out of NC and say that he'll be on vacation in Asheville with his/her children. And would like to go to a brewery as well. So, they should just lock them up in the hotel room while they're out? Or just not visit breweries while in Asheville? Maybe you've noticed that there's a TON of beer tourism in Asheville. And some of those people will have kids. Speaking as someone that doesn't have kids, I don't really see an issue there.
     
  17. Bcrowe224

    Bcrowe224 Aspirant (200) Jul 2, 2013 New York

    OP here. First, thanks all for the great info! Yeah we are coming from out of town (out of state). Like I said, its a nuanced issue. But as a parent (some might disagree) we try to strike a balance between events/outings catered towards our children and things we would like to do (and involve our children).
     
  18. HeilanCoo

    HeilanCoo Initiate (0) Sep 11, 2014 North Carolina

    Maybe we should try to end repetitive posts. (see post #9)
    Too many people interested in this information to 'end these types of threads'. I don't have kids, have mixed feelings about kids in pubs, and have definitely seen situations where kids are given the wrong idea of what the taproom is for (and aren't supervised appropriately), but I can't fault a traveling family for wanting to try a place or two. Why not just suggest a place that you don't go?
     
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  19. Bfairhurst74

    Bfairhurst74 Initiate (0) Nov 16, 2014 North Carolina

    I think bringing kids to taprooms is up to the adult. If you are going to let your kids run unsupervised, then don't bring them. If you are going to pay attention to your kids and make sure they behave themselves appropriately, I have no issues. But that's pretty much everywhere.
     
    AngusOg, dbrauneis, NickCaff and 3 others like this.
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