Understanding the Asheville Brewery Scene, One Beer At A Time

By Sam Slaughter Published January 27, 2016

understanding the asheville brewery scene one beer at a time img 3127 — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Since the last time we wrote about the Asheville, North Carolina brewery scene as a whole, a lot has happened. National powerhouses like Sierra Nevada have set up shop, perennial local favorites like Highland Brewing and Wicked Weed have reached national attention, and—perhaps most importantly— a ton more breweries have opened, offering visitors even more opportunities to enjoy the boozy, boozy bounty of Western North Carolina.

Basically, the Asheville area is a malted and hopped heaven. With over thirty breweries to choose from, you could easily spend a week visiting each and every establishment. If, however, visiting thirty breweries in a few days seems a bit much (think of how many burpees that many samples is), the Asheville Brewers Alliance is here to help.

Related: How To Beer Fest In 3 Easy Steps

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This year, for the first time, visitors will have a chance to sample all that is great and good about Western North Carolina beer in one place on one amazing day. The Asheville Beer Expo, on Saturday, February 27, will feature more than thirty breweries and will serve up a wide variety of area beers at an event designed not only to let you taste some of the best the city and its environs have to offer, but to learn more about every step of the process as well.

“We hope for it to be a peak behind the curtain for folks,” ABA Executive Director Kendra Penland said of the event.

From brewing with local ingredients to how to start your own brewery, there will eight different educational sessions (four in the afternoon session, four in the evening) to round out your Asheville beer-sperience.

At only $25, there is literally no reason to not come to this event.

“Western North Carolina, and Asheville especially, is ground zero for craft beer in the state,” Penland said. “The Expo is a chance for people to see everything we have to offer.”

Heading to the expo, but know you’ll need more than just one day of Asheville beer in your life? Later in the year, Asheville Beer Week takes over the town for seven full days of some of the best beer and special beer events on the east coast.

For more information on the Asheville Brewers Alliance Beer Expo, or to purchase tickets, visit their website.

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Liquor, Beer, Wine & Drinks

Former Digital Trends Contributor

Sam Slaughter was the Food and Drink Editor for The Manual. Born and raised in New Jersey, he’s called the South home for…

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