Coming full circle: BearWaters Brewing opens Waynesville location

On a recent mid-May morning, Kevin Sandefur spent five hours spreading gravel in the parking lot of the brand new BearWaters Brewing location on South Main Street in Waynesville. 

Pint of passion: WNC brewery sparks camaraderie

Growing up in Detroit, Michigan, Greg Wasik saw firsthand that trademark sense of community at neighborhood taverns around the Motor City.

Breweries west of Asheville

Andrews 

Hoppy Trout Brewing Company 828.835.2111 • www.hoppytroutbrewing.com

Snowbird Mountains Brewery 678.419.3035 • www.snowbirdmountainsbrewery.com  

Bryson City 

Mountain Layers Brewing 828.538.0115 • www.mtnlayersbeer.com 

Nantahala Brewing 828.488.2337 • www.nantahalabrewing.com 

Canton 

BearWaters Brewing 828.246.0602 • www.bwbrewing.com 

Cashiers 

Whiteside Brewing 828.743.6000 • www.whitesidebrewing.com

Cherokee 

Native Brews Tap & Grill 828.497.2739 • www.native-brews.com 

Dillsboro 

Innovation Brewing 828.586.9678 • www.innovation-brewing.com 

Franklin 

Currahee Brewing 828.634.0078 • www.curraheebrew.com 

Lazy Hiker Brewing 828.342.5133 • www.lazyhikerbrewing.com 

Hayesville 

Hayesville Brewing 828.835.6010 

Nocturnal Brewing 828.305.7337 • www.nocturnalbrewing.com 

Highlands 

Satulah Mountain Brewing 

828.482.9794 • www.satulahmountainbrewing.com

Maggie Valley 

BearWaters Brewing (Outpost) 828.944.0009 • bearwatersbrewing.com 

Murphy 

Valley River Brewery 828.837.2337 • www.valleyriverbreweries.com 

Sapphire 

Sapphire Valley Brewing 828.743.0220 • www.sapphirebrewingcompany.com 

Sylva 

Balsam Falls Brewing 828.631.1987 • www.fb.com/balsamfallsbrewing 

Innovation Brewing 828.586.9678 • www.innovation-brewing.com

Lazy Hiker Brewing 828.349.2337 • www.lazyhikerbrewing.com 

Nantahala Brewing (Outpost) 828.641.9797 • www.nantahalabrewing.com 

Waynesville 

7 Clans Brewing 828.454.5664 • www.7clansbrewing.com 

Boojum Brewing 828.944.0888 • www.boojumbrewing.com 

Frog Level Brewing 828.454.5664 • www.froglevelbrewing.com 

Staying true to your roots: Lazy Hiker Brewing celebrates milestone, pushes ahead

It’s an unusually warm and sunny day for late November in Macon County. The patio tables at Lazy Hiker Brewing in downtown Franklin are filled with locals and visitors alike, each enjoying the concoctions pouring out of from the large warehouse behind the taproom. 

For whatever ales you: Blue Ridge Beer Hub navigates beverage market during pandemic

While society continues to adapt to ongoing shelter-in-place orders, many folks would jump at the chance to be in the presence of endless shelves and coolers filled with craft beer. But, for Marlowe Mager, all he can think about is how to get rid of all the bottles and cans that currently surround him.

Crafting together community: How craft beer impacted WNC

According to recent numbers, there are around 75 breweries within Asheville and greater Western North Carolina. And 19 of those breweries are located west of Asheville. 

But, back in 1999, when The Smoky Mountain News launched, this was the number of breweries in our jurisdiction — zero. None. Not a single one. The idea of craft beer, let alone something concocted in your backyard, was not only somewhat unheard of, it never was thought to be something of an economic driver. 

Combining the culinary arts: Mad Anthony’s pairs craft beer, fine dining

Just off Main Street in Waynesville, tucked down the hill below Bogart’s, and across the street from American Legion Post 47, sits Mad Anthony’s Taproom & Restaurant.

Originally opened on Branner Avenue some three years ago, the business relocated to Legion Drive in July 2017. With 50 continuously rotating taps, it’s the largest selection of draft craft beer west of Asheville (aka: “Beer City USA”). But, in recent months, the taproom has transitioned into one of the most talked about gourmet farm-to-table restaurants in the area. 

Tapping into the past, present of Appalachia

In the six or so years I’ve lived and worked in Western North Carolina, the amount of craft breweries in our region has literally quadrupled. And as someone who has written extensively about craft beer, industry trends and so forth, it’s pretty impossible to keep up with it all. 

Nantahala Brewing to open Asheville outpost

Following the announcement of its upcoming Sylva outpost, aimed at a fall opening, Bryson City-based Nantahala Brewing will launch an Asheville location by the end of this month. 

Located at 747 Haywood Road in West Asheville, the two-story outpost was formerly The Anchor Bar (and Buffalo Nickel before that). It will feature a downstairs restaurant that will offer a farm-to-table “cosmopolitan country” style menu. The upstairs taproom will also be poised to become a music venue, primarily focusing on bluegrass and Americana acts. On opening day, there will be 20 Nantahala brews on tap. 

Brewing success: Two WNC craft breweries win national medals

With sunshine spilling into the taproom of Currahee Brewing Company in Franklin one recent afternoon, brewmaster Taylor Yates is all smiles. A hearty beverage raised high, the sun’s rays are a cherry on top of the news currently floating around the facility.

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