BEER Cider, Distilled Beverages
Adventures From Micro To Macro
Photo by Katy Luquire courtesy of Urban Orchard Cider
@urbanorchardciderco
The Asheville beer industry receives plenty of attention on a national scale, to the point that you may feel a bit daunted by the challenge of navigating the scene once you’re here. With nearly 30 breweries within city limits — and a handful of them operating multiple taprooms — visitors looking to get the most out of their trip should consider trying one of the following approaches: MAXIMIZE YOUR TIME Downtown Asheville sports six breweries within a few blocks of each other, and you’ll find 10 more in the highly lauded South Slope brewing district just a few blocks away. And while the five breweries in West Asheville aren’t quite as close to one another, the neighborhood sights seen while walking between them are fine consolation prizes. TOUR THE MAJOR PLAYERS Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in nearby Mills River and New Belgium Brewing Co. in Asheville’s River Arts District are warranted destinations for beer tourists from across the country. Once you’ve locked down your vacation dates, go ahead and reserve your spots for a free tour at these nationally distributed breweries’ East Coast facilities. They fill up fast. GO ROGUE Not into crowds? Interested in brews that are all but unavailable at downtown bars and taprooms? Weaverville, Fairview and Black Mountain are all short drives away and feature their own distinct brewing scenes. If you want to see what the true microbreweries are up to, enlist a designated driver or ride-share service and go the extra mile — 9-to-16 miles per outing, to be precise. It’s well worth the effort.
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FIELD GUIDE TO ASHEVILLE
2020
