Best Breweries in Asheville (and watering holes)
Presenting the best breweries in Asheville. Diamond Brand Gear is proud to be nestled in the Carolina Mountains near the teeming city of Asheville, North Carolina. In the past years, Asheville has matured, grown, and exploded to be a renowned destination for good food, good beer, good art, and good hiking. Because more and more breweries are popping up, visitors and locals can simply wander down the street and encounter laid-back bars with bluegrass music to chase down those delicious craft brews.
What are the best breweries in Asheville? It is hard to nail down the top 3 breweries and watering holes with smaller gems like Burial Beer and One World Brewing to larger establishments like Sierra Nevada and Highland Brewing. (Also, you should visit all those places!) However, we do have a couple favorites! We are offering you a variety of our favorite watering holes, including a classic pub, cider distillery, and local wine joint.
Go enjoy these local establishments in this beautiful fall weather. We would love to hear from you about your favorite places!
Urban Orchard
Cider anyone? Certainly, the fall is a perfect time to enjoy a crisp and refreshing cider. Urban Orchard hosts various types of locally crafted delicious ciders. All Urban Orchard Ciders are aged at a minimum of 8 months, crafted from Hendersonville, NC apples, and utilize a variety of yeasts to give each cider a unique flavor profile. From sweet, spicy, and tart there is something for everyone. Because of the laid-back vibes, open windows, fresh snack menu, and outdoor area, this is easily one of our favorite establishments. You can check out their full list here!
Named #1 Best Place to Drink Cider in America 2017 by Food & Wine Magazine and #1 Best Cider Establishment in South East 2017 by United States Association of Cider Makers, there is a reason Urban Orchard is a local favorite and one of the best breweries in Asheville. Not to mention, our chilly bag and double take is a great way to transport your yummy growler to go.
Hillman Brewery
So good. Because Hillman Brewery is a family run business that has love, passion, and the pursuit of good beer, there is no question why this joint has become so successful. In our opinion, ones of the best breweries in Asheville. Hillman boasts a true pub atmosphere with beers brewed in-house, the environment is inviting, bartenders friendly, and plenty of indoor and outdoor seating. Because the brewery is situated slightly off the beaten path on Sweeten Creek near Biltmore Village, it is a well-deserved destination for beer enthusiasts across the Carolina Mountains.
Serving you eighteen in-house brewed beers with a blend of classic styles ranging from Belgians to English to American styles. (You can check out their full menu here.) Our personal favorite right now is the Golden Strong; a mixed culture Belgian Golden Strong. Apples and pears on the nose with a touch of funk from the wild yeast. Hillman Brewery partners with Rise Above Deli who specializes in delectable slow-cooked meats, fantastic vegan options, and their renowned bread. Most importantly, everything is made in-house, including the bread. It has us drooling just thinking about it!
Pull up a stool, grab a cold one, eat delicious food, make new friends, and play some cornhole. That is the typical experience at Hillman Brewery. Thank you Hillman for being one of the best breweries in Asheville.
5 Walnut
We are throwing you are a curveball. Because we can not forget about the wine! We know, we know this isn’t a brewery. But, we can’t help but include this gem in the mix of our favorite watering holes. 5 Walnut is conveniently located in the heart of Downtown Asheville. This wine bar has an undeniable commitment to keeping it local, authentic, and spicy. 5 Walnut hosts a wide variety of fine wines (and beer), local cheese, and booming live music 5 nights of the week. You heard that right folks. 5 days of jazz, swing, folk, blues, and good old fashion Rock N’ Roll.
Right now, 5 Walnut has also teamed up with Black Mountain College Museum and Art Center for a public art project that’s on the wall along Carolina Lane.
That wraps up our list of best breweries in Asheville. Our amazing town in the Carolina Mountains has a lot to offer, and we are proud to call it home. We hope you can come to visit sometime! Our Micro-Factory is conveniently located in Downtown at 69 Broadway Street. We would love if you stopped by to say hi. We invite you to grab a beer and come to see how our craft gear is made.