West Asheville Vs. South Slope: Which Brewery District Wins?
Asheville has a long-standing reputation as a craft beer mecca, having taken home the title of “Beer City USA “ for four consecutive years, and over a dozen WNC breweries earning medals at the World Beer Cup and U.S. Open Beer Championships. In the spirit of friendly competition, we’re comparing two of Asheville’s most popular brewery districts: South Slope and West Asheville. In the first corner, we have South Slope, a seasoned heavyweight champion with a high concentration of the city’s top craft breweries. In the other corner, we have the resilient (and most likely tattoo-covered) opponent, West Asheville, community-centric with plenty of heart. Consider the gloves bumped and bell rung—let’s see how they stack up against each other. The local craft beer scene is a major pillar of the 28806 lifestyle; explore the rest of the neighborhood in our Ultimate Guide to West Asheville.
Downtown Asheville's South Slope
One of the most popular and concentrated areas for craft beer is downtown Asheville’s South Slope “Brewery District”—aka the most walkablebrewery district in Asheville. A couple of the most-visited and Asheville bucketlist-worthy breweries can be found in this corridor, including Burial Beer Co. and Wicked Weed Brewing’s Funkatorium. These two spots are the go-to for impeccable sours and funky styles. At the latter, try a sour flight to find your favorite (we’re partial to the Death By… and Angels Flights, personally). However, the list doesn’t end there; you’ll also find favorites like Asheville Pizza & Brewing, Twin Leaf Brewery, Green Man Brewery, and Hi-Wire Brewing. Right next door to Hi-Wire is Ben’s Tune Up, a beer garden offering sake, craft beer, and delectable Asian-fusion eats (their Pulled Pork Nachos with Wonton Chips paired with a sake flight are musts).
Burial’s rooftop bar VISUALS (located on the rooftop of their venue, Eulogy) serves up wine, cocktails, cider, and more and boasts an incredible view of downtown Asheville. It’s also conveniently close to Good Hot Fish (its neighbor) and Chai Pani—two award-winning culinary staples in Asheville. If cider is what you seek, South Slope’s Urban Orchard has acclaimed cider and immaculate taproom vibes. If you’re craving something with a bit more spirit, the South Slope is also home to the distillery, Chemist, and its cocktail bar, Antidote. This apothecary-themed joint has one of the best Gin & Tonics in the city (their limited edition Rose G&T with infused rose petals from Biltmore Estate’s Conservatory, released annually in spring, is an all-time favorite).
One of the South Slope’s most recent additions is Plant + Nightshade, a coffee and tea lounge by day and an NA social club by night with zero-proof cocktails and curated DJ and live music sets. The entertainment doesn’t end there on the South Slope. The aforementioned Asheville Pizza & Brewing has ties to Asheville Yards (previously Rabbit, Rabbit), which has hosted major music artists like Chappell Roan, Willie Nelson, Noah Kahan, Vampire Weekend, Leon Bridges, Bon Iver, and more. While in downtown, venture outside of the South Slope district to sample other favorites like DSSOLVR, White Labs Brewing Co. (home to the 72-hour brewers years slow risen pizza dough), Noble Cider & Mead, Botanist & Barrel, and Thirsty Monk. The latter is a renowned craft beer destination that is a 3-in-1 stop of sorts. The street level is home to their main taproom serving up house-brewed Belgian-Rooted Modern Ales, while the basement is home to Delirium Bar (a space dedicated to rare Belgian imports and sours), and the rooftop (aka Top of the Monk) is home to a sophisticated craft cocktail bar with stunning mountain views.
West Asheville + RAD Brewery Scene
Most of the prized breweries in West Asheville can be found on Haywood Road (aka the walkable “Main Street”) and in the River Arts District. On Haywood, you’ll find One World Brewing West, Cellarest Beer Project, Archetype Brewing, Oyster House Brewing Co., All Sevens Brewing (part of Westville Pub), Diatribe Brewing, and The Whale Craft Beer Collective. The latter allows you to drink around the world, specializing in internationally sourced beers and local favorites. This craft beer collective boasts one of the best outdoor "hangout" spaces in the city, and they host tons of events throughout the year, like the beloved Pickle Fest, Grown-Up Scholastic Book Fair, Oktoberfest, and Crafts & Drafts, to name a few. Their main goal? Help you land the “White Whale” of beers you’ve always wanted to try but have never gotten your hands on. Haywood Road is also home to amazing West Asheville dining spots to sample between sipping craft beer.
Venturing into the heart of the River Arts District (aka RAD), you’ll find some heavy-hitters in the world of craft beer. The Wedge Brewing (Foundation & Studios) was founded in 2008 and is a cornerstone of the West Asheville community. Notable beers from this brewery include the Iron Rail IPA and Golem Belgian Strong Ale. Other big names include Hi-Wire Brewing’s mural-adorned RAD Beer Garden, RAD Brew Co., and New Belgium Brewing Asheville. The latter is an expansive brewery that offers several tour experiences and hosts beloved annual events like Tour De Fat, Get in Gear Festival, and Pumpkin Pedaler. Did we mention they have a thing for bikes? The founder took an epic bike trip through Belgium, which inspired the brewery’s entire identity. Their top brews include Fat Tire Ale, Voodoo Ranger IPA, and Mountain Time Lager. Thirsty for more outdoor recreation? West Asheville offers proximity to the French Broad River & Carrier Park Greenways, so you can quench your need for sunshine and adventure any day of the week.
Just north of RAD along the French Broad River, you’ll find Zillicoah Beer Co. and Ginger’s Revenge (specializing in alcoholic ginger beer). Outside of craft beer, there’s Leo’s House of Thirst—a top-rated spot back on Haywood Road to grab small plates and a glass of wine. We love their unique Orange wines and weekend brunch.
Character Study, a literary-themed cocktail bar, is also right off Haywood Road near the iconic Westville Pub—a longstanding staple of the West Asheville community and home of the “mighty little brewhouse,” All Sevens Brewing. Another bar we love is Anoche, specializing in mezcal and tequila cocktails. There’s nothing more refreshing than a Chelada on their outdoor patio. Tucked in behind it on the aptly-named Mystery Street is RAD Brewing Company. Opened in 2023, it operates out of a century-old stonecutter’s workshop and maintains up to 16 variable house-brewed beers on tap at once.
Which Asheville Brewery District Wins?
So, is it the Urban Giant (South Slope) or the Vibey Artist (West AVL) that comes out on top? We know you’re looking for a winner from us, but being local, we just can’t choose. It’d be like picking a favorite child! Our suggestion? Go on a brewery tour of both districts for yourself and see which one you recommend and return to time and time again.
Whether you’re drawn to the high-energy, brewery-hopping convenience of South Slope or the laid-back, creative charm of West Asheville + RAD, there’s no wrong choice—just glasses raised in celebration of two uniquely Asheville craft beer experiences. Cheers!
So, is it the Urban Giant (South Slope) or the Vibey Artist (West AVL) that comes out on top? We know you’re looking for a winner from us, but being local, we just can’t choose. It’d be like picking a favorite child! Our suggestion? Go on a brewery tour of both districts for yourself and see which one you recommend and return to time and time again.
Whether you’re drawn to the high-energy, brewery-hopping convenience of South Slope or the laid-back, creative charm of West Asheville + RAD, there’s no wrong choice—just glasses raised in celebration of two uniquely Asheville craft beer experiences. Cheers!