The High Country’s Beer Tasting Trail
The High Country Beer Tasting Trail brings together stunning scenery with unique beers. So slip on some hiking boots or grab a chair, and prepare to sip.
Experience craft beers while supporting App State’s fermentation sciences program. Begin your adventure in Asheville before heading northward to Boone for the peak experience of mountain town living!
Asheville
Spend your High Country days sampling local cuisine, touring vineyards or experiencing mountain bike trails and there’s no better way to round off the day than with a cold one from one of the region’s many breweries – some offering tours!
Asheville is known for its craft beers. Highland Brewing Company was one of the original breweries that kicked off Asheville’s craft beer movement back in 1994 and offers some well-known beers such as Gaelic or Kashmir brews as well as seasonal specialities and limited releases.
Next stop should be Asheville Brewing Co, located in an old tobacco kiln. Their motto is “People, Pride, Passion”, with beers such as Cane Creek Belgian Wit (sweet and spicy) malty English Mild or Asheville Ale with subtle hop notes reflecting this sentiment.
After sampling some of Hi-Wire Brewing’s beers, enjoy lunch from Foothills Local Meats (FLM). FLM specializes in using locally raised meats that pair perfectly with its beers!
Asheville has many original craft beer gangsters, such as Green Man Brewing. This natural beer company is beloved by Asheville locals, producing beers sold throughout North Carolina bottle shops. Their two taprooms (Dirty Jack’s on Buxton and Green Mansion) welcome families, dogs, and boast full menus of tasty foods – such as their award-winning burgers!
Sierra Nevada’s East Coast production facility in Mills River will round off your brewery tour perfectly, with many different tours of their production facilities to be found here. Spend some time here sampling delicious beers as well as their menu of pork belly rillettes or steak tartare with chips – it won’t disappoint!
City Brew Tours can take your brewery exploration to the next level by providing tours that visit three or four breweries and include beer samples.
Boone
Boone is a college town known for its vibrant brewing scene. Home to Appalachian State University Fermentation Sciences program and bustling with activities from hiking and biking to snow skiing and perusing galleries; Boone has also recently become a destination for beer enthusiasts.
Boone offers several popular breweries to visit, but a great place to begin exploring is Appalachian Mountain Brewery. Established in 2013, this family-run brewery prides themselves on using local ingredients in producing high-quality beer that won’t break the bank! Their Tropicpale Ale and Molasses Porter make them fantastic options for any beer fanatic!
Sustainability is also at the core of their business ethos, supporting local non-profits through the donation of profits, while working closely with farms to use spent grain that otherwise ends up in landfills, diverting 50 tons of feed annually from being wasted.
Their taproom offers an inviting space where friends and you can unwind while sipping on something refreshing. Their beer garden provides ample seating in which to soak up some sun on weekends; live music can also be heard here on certain weekends! You can order food directly from their food truck which uses only premium and fresh ingredients from a local chef.
Lost Province serves as Boone’s premier microbrewery and gastropub, serving delicious beer as well as tasty meals in an inviting environment. They even host trivia nights and running clubs so there will always be something fun happening at their brewery!
Lost Province IPA is a favorite among visitors and Tropic Pale Ale is perfect for anyone who appreciates citrus flavors. Both beers feature locally grown hops for optimal brewing!
Boone Brewery is an award-winning family business located in downtown Boone. They serve locally-brewed beers and spirits sourced locally as well as seasonal/one-off special brews as well as wine/cider. Their staff is friendly and knowledgeable, happy to recommend their favorites to visitors.
No trip to the mountains would be complete without witnessing an amazing sunset, and Moses Cone Park offers breathtaking views of the Appalachian Mountains. After taking in this view, stop at Appalachian Mountain Brewery for their latest release: Low and Hazy IPA.
Franklin
Franklin is known for its neighborly ways, charming historic downtown district and unique Scottish heritage – making it a destination all its own in Macon County in Western North Carolina. Home to just 4,000 residents, the charming downtown area and mountain range provide outdoor adventure, diverse cultures and an exciting craft beer tasting trail that is sure to get your taste buds singing with delight!
Lazy Hiker Brewing Company, situated just minutes away from the Appalachian Trail, has quickly become a favorite stop among thru-hikers for its refreshing beers such as Slack Pack IPA and Trail Mate Golden Ale. Established in 2015 and situated within a former fire department and town hall building with truck bay now hosting taproom for locals to enjoy pints of Lazy Hiker with homemade fries from Hiker’s Kitchen Food Truck while listening to live music either indoors or outdoors on either of two stages –
Currahee Brewing provides an immersive brewery experience in its spacious, cavernous tasting room adorned with gorgeous hardwoods and an oak bar – complete with an outdoor beer garden overlooking Lakeside Drive! Offering flights of beers such as Lucky Scars Wild IPA or Franklinstark.
Innovation Brewing, a craft brewery located in Jackson County and with two locations – one a microbrewery and restaurant in downtown Beechworth and the other on WCU campus in Cullowhee – boasts its flagship line of brews as well as offering delicious meals featuring fresh local ingredients as well as an expansive wine and spirits selection.
Breweries of the High Country capture the spirit and flavor of their mountains through their products, from high quality varietals and vintages, to moonshine making moonshine so much fun here – they all reflect this region’s individuality in wines, beers and spirits produced here.
Highlands
Asheville may be known for its beer scene, but Highlands also offers delicious craft brews of its own to satisfy every beer-lover’s palate. You’ll find everything from malty Irish stout to lighter pale ales at Highlands’ brewery in the heart of town. In addition to local breweries, Highlands boasts wineries, distilleries and cideries offering a range of spirits and beverages for tasting pleasure.
Pour Tour 4.0 is being hosted by GO Laurel Highlands to highlight 52 craft beverage makers located across Fayette, Somerset and Westmoreland counties. Participants can pick up their passport at participating locations or download the new GO Laurel Highlands app to start their journey; guests will collect stickers at every stop they visit to earn prizes; plus there’s a map featuring participating destinations with contact info included within it!
Highland Brewing stands out among Asheville’s growing number of breweries as one of the premier examples of quality and sustainability. Utilizing solar panels for power, Highland is also the largest family-owned brewery in Southeast, boasting 40 acres hilltop campus featuring walking trails, performance stage, volleyball courts and disc golf – something no other brewery in Asheville could match!
Traveling the High Country’s craft beer tasting trail is an excellent way to discover Western North Carolina. There’s something here for every budget and palate – from family-friendly wineries and craft breweries, to hike trails at North Carolina Arboretum that border Pisgah National Forest or tour George Vanderbilt’s lavish 19th-century escape at Biltmore Estate.
Once you’ve seen and tasted America’s local beers and liquors, why not head straight for Asheville – America’s mecca for microbrews! Breweries seem to pop up everywhere here but there’s also plenty to see and do here such as visiting Biltmore Estate or touring North Carolina Arboretum or paddling down French Broad River – any trip to Asheville will leave you with both full glasses and happy stomachs!