All but 1 of TripAdvisor's 2024 top 10 NC breweries and cideries are in WNC
TripAdvisor revealed earlier this month its top 10 list of North Carolina breweries and cideries, based on online reviews from customers, and Western North Carolina dominated with nine on the list, including the top spot, Sierra Nevada Brewing in Mills River.
"We're honored that guests enjoy the brewery as much as we do," Robin Gregory, the communications director of Sierra Nevada Brewing, told the Times-News on Jan. 23. "It's a special place designed to show off the natural beauty of Western North Carolina. Beer is about bringing people together, and our favorite place to do that is our Mills River home."
The WNC locations making the list were Sierra Nevada in Mills River at No. 1, New Belgium Brewing in Asheville at No. 2, Highland Brewing in Asheville at No. 4, Appalachian Mountain Brewing in Boone at No. 5, Oskar Blues Brewery in Brevard at No. 6, Mountain Layers Brewing Company in Bryson City at No. 7, Bold Rock Hard Cider in Mills River at No. 8, Lazy Hiker Brewing Company in Franklin at No. 9 and Blowing Rock Brewing in Blowing Rock at No. 10.
The other brewery making the list was Old Mecklenburg Brewery in Charlotte at No. 3.
Below are the WNC locations on the list with a description of each brewery or cidery.
No. 1: Sierra Nevada
Description: Sierra Nevada began in Chico, California, in 1980 with founder Ken Grossman. In 2014, Sierra Nevada's second location opened in Mills River, and Grossman was there to give a tour. The brewery has a wide selection of craft brews and also offers tours.
Address: 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Mills River.
Hours: 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
More information: https://sierranevada.com/visit/mills-river, 828-681-5300.
No. 2: New Belgium Brewing
Description: The Asheville location opened to the public in May 2016, giving New Belgium two locations in the United States, with the other being in Fort Collins, Colorado. The founders were Kim Jordan and Jeff Lebesch, who were inspired by a bike trip in Belgium to bring Belgium-style brewing to their hometown, according to the New Belgium Brewing website. In addition to ales, lagers, IPAs and porters, New Belgium also has sour ales and hard seltzers. Tours are also available.
Address: 21 Craven St., Asheville.
Hours: Noon-8 p.m. daily.
More information: https://www.newbelgium.com/visit/asheville/, 828-333-6900.
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No. 4: Highland Brewery
Description: Touted as Asheville's original craft brewery, it began in 1994 with founder Oscar Wong, who was a retired engineer. According to the brewery's website, it was the first legal brewery in Asheville since prohibition. Brewing operations began downtown in a rented basement space under Barley’s Taproom. In that basement, Wong brewed for 13 years beers like Gaelic Ale, Black Mocha Stout and Oatmeal Porter. In 2006, Highland moved from the downtown basement to the former home of Blue Ridge Motion Picture Studios in East Asheville. When the movie studio folded, Highland was able to purchase the entire 40-acre property.
Address: 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville.
Hours: 2-9 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11-7 p.m. Sunday.
More information: https://highlandbrewing.com/, 828-299-3370.
No. 5 Appalachian Mountain Brewing
Description: It is known as the first brewery in Boone. It was founded in 2013 by cousins Nathan Kelischek and Chris Zieber. Two of its signature craft beers, Boone Creek Blonde and Down South Lager earned gold medals at the Great American Beer Fest in 2018. The brewery now also offers a variety of ciders. Last year, the Mills River location along N.C. 280 also opened.
Address: 163 Boone Creek Drive, Boone.
Hours: Noon-10 p.m. Monday-Thursday, noon-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday, 11 a.m.-9 p.m. Sunday.
More information: https://www.amb.beer/, 828-263-1111.
No. 6: Oskar Blues Brewery
Description: The brewery began in Colorado in 1997 with founder Dale Katechis and opened its Brevard location in 2012. It offers its popular Dale's Pale Ale, along with several IPAs, lagers and stouts.
Address: 342 Mountain Industrial Drive, Brevard.
Hours: Noon-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, noon-9 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
More information: https://oskarblues.com/, 828-883-2337.
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No. 7: Mountain Layers Brewing Company
Description: This craft brewery in Swain County opened in 2014. It offers a variety of beers, including ales, IPAs, lagers, porters, honey beer, Kolsch and a Belgian-style witbier. The brewery also offers wines and ciders.
Address: 90 Everett St., Bryson City.
Hours: Noon-9 p.m. Monday-Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Sunday.
More information: https://www.mountainlayersbrewingcompany.com/home, 828-538-0115.
No. 8: Bold Rock Hard Cider
Description: Opened in 2015, Bold Rock offers a wide variety of its own ciders as well as local craft beers at its property, located on 10 acres off School House Road in Mills River. In 2021, it opened a second location in downtown Asheville. The company was founded in Nellysford, Virginia, in June 2012 by John Washburn.
Address: 72 School House Road, Mills River.
Hours: Noon-8 p.m. Sunday-Wednesday, noon-9 p.m. Thursday-Saturday.
More information: https://boldrock.com/, 828-595-9940.
No. 9: Lazy Hiker Brewing Company
Description: Offering ales, porters and IPAs, the brewery has been in business since 2015. Located in the former town hall and fire department, the brewery in Franklin includes a taproom, an outdoor patio and an outdoor event space. In 2019, it expanded and opened a taproom with Mad Batter Kitchen in Sylva.
Address: 188 W. Main St., Franklin.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday, 11:30 a.m.-9 p.m. Monday-Tuesday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Wednesday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-11 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
More information: https://lazyhikerbrewing.com/, 828-349-2337.
No. 10 Blowing Rock Brewery
Description: Open to the public in 2013, the brewery now offers 12 taps of a variety of craft beers. Blowing Rock Brewing has expanded into Hickory as well, and now produces 26 styles of locally made craft beer.
Address: 152 Sunset Drive, Blowing Rock.
Hours: 11:30 a.m.-8 p.m. Sunday-Thursday, 11:30 a.m.-10 p.m. Friday-Saturday.
More information: https://blowingrock.com/blowing-rock-brewing-co/, 828-414-9600.
Dean Hensley is the news editor for the Hendersonville Times-News. Email him with tips, questions and comments at DHensley@gannett.com. Please help support this kind of local journalism with a subscription to the Hendersonville Times-News.
This article originally appeared on Hendersonville Times-News: WNC dominates TripAdvisor's top 10 NC breweries/cideries list
