Hey all, I'm thinking about taking a trip to Asheville for a couple of days. Any suggestions on lesser known beer spots? Or on affordable/no crappy/decent places to stay? Thanks!
Try Craggie, or take a trip to Bryson City and Nantahala. I like Barley's pizza and the Pisgah IPA was pretty good too. Foothills and Olde Hickory need a bigger presence IMO, Jade IPA by foothills IMO is the best in NC and Olde Hickory stouts are superior. Some nice restaurants in Waynesville too, Sweet Onion and Maggies Oyster House are superb, if your feeling spendy Ruth Chris is right around the corner kinda from Barley's.
If you go to the minor league baseball stadium for games, they have local craft beers for something like $2. Of course, you need to hit up Bruisin Ales - they have a mix 6 special for $6 on either Wednesday or Thursday (based on what they are trying to move).
The Downtown Inn & Suites on Patton Ave makes for a good base. Nothing fancy, just a nice, affordable and basic hotel (it was formerly a Days Inn, and still feels like one), but it's downtown and you're literally right next door to the Thirsty Monk, and walking distance from virtually every craft beer spot in Asheville (aside from Pisgah). All the oft-mentioned beer spots are fun and unique, but I was particularly fond of Wedge Brewing, Barley's Taproom, Green Man Brewing and, when there's live music, Craggie.
There are a few places downtown like four points and The renaissance. Both will probably be 100+ but right in downtown which will be walking distance to numerous beer spots like barleys, thirst monk, jack of the wood, LAB etc. or go to the double tree on biltmore. Short taxi drive.
-Second this. You'll be out on tunnel road (aka, not walking distance) before you find another hotel in its price range. I've had good rooms and bad rooms at this place and there can be questionable characters looming around it at night, however I've never been alone so that wasn't a problem. Taking the stairs is surreal because of the wallpaper. -I stay here every time I'm in Asheville.
I rented a cabin in Hot Springs about 150 a night, but great if you have your GF/wife with you. Asheville is 40 minutes, Waynesville 20, Bryson City maybe an hour or so. If your 22 and want to bar hop all weekend stay in Asheville so yo don't have to drive. There's a nice hotel right by the Biltmore, a Days Inn I think, close to barley's, Craggie etc. No idea of the room rate. you could walk to Ruth Chris from there too.
We are staying at renaissance downtown, it is very convenient and canine friendly. The location is excellent.
I was just in Asheville over Memorial Day weekend. We stayed in the Holiday Inn Downtown on Tunnel Rd. It was a short drive into town and parking was easy. Room was clean and affordable. Also had a small outdoor pool which was a good place to drink a beer and soak up the sun. I really enjoyed Green Man (particularly their ESB) and French Broad. A stop at Appalachian Vintners is a must too. Enjoy.
I'm planning a stopover in Asheville tomorrow en route to Florida from PA. I already have a room booked at Downtown Inn - the price and location is unbeatable. Now my dilemma is fitting-in as much as I want to do with an estimated ETA of 5:00 PM. My game plan is to stop at Thirsty Monk for some beers and cheap eats first. Then head down to Craggie, swing around to Asheville Brewing Co., walk the five blocks to Barley's Taproom, grab dinner at Lexington Avenue Brewery, and - time permitting - hit Oysterhouse and Jack of the Wood on the way back to the room. It's probably not all doable, but that seems like a pretty good plan of attack for anyone interesting in a walking brew-tour of Asheville, especially if you stay at Downtown Inn and have most of the day at your disposal.
It's very doable, I've made similar runs many times, but I guess it depends when you want to leave the next day. If you were short on time, you may want to cut Barley's out. They're great, but if you're just going to grab a beer, you've probably found the same or better at the Monk.
If your timetable is tight, hit Dirty Jacks (Greenman tasting room) instead of Craggie. It's right aroumd the corner, and you'll be much happier with what you find there. Craggie doesn't really have much to offer, and Greenman has several guest taps as well.
I had basically the same itinerary (about a week ago), except it was over a 4 day stay. I had had a great time.
