Sierra Nevada in Asheville

Beer lovers, here are five reasons to head to Sierra Nevada in Asheville, North Carolina- also known as Malt Disney World.

5 reasons to take a road trip to Sierra Nevada in Asheville:

1. It’s an Easy Drive to Sierra Nevada in Asheville
2. Go for the Live Music
3. DIne at the Sierra Nevada Asheville restaurant
4. The Sierra Nevada Brewery Tour is awesome!
5. Obviously, they brew excellent beer 🍻
- Sierra Nevada Asheville Photo Gallery

1. It’s an Easy Drive to Sierra Nevada in Asheville

Travel Time from Myrtle Beach: 4.5 – 5 hours

Where to stop: The Beacon in Spartanburg

What to book: Restaurant reservations + brewery tour

Where to stay: We stayed at the Fairfield Inn & Suites Asheville Airport/Fletcher because we are Marriott Bonvoy fans, and it was less than 10 minutes from the brewery. It was a great choice!

What to wear: Plaid. And some sort of hipster hat like a beanie or trucker hat. Whether it’s freezing winter, warm summer, or crisp fall… this look will remain relevant at the Sierra Nevada Brewery.

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2. Go for the Live Music

The open ampitheater and patio with the pretty trees as a backdrop is the best spot to enjoy a beer and live music. The brewery has plenty of seating, an outdoor bar, and bathroom facility to make this a fantastic music venue. Plus, it’s dog-friendly!

3. DIne at the sierra nevada asheville restaurant

The Mills River Taproom is reason enough to visit the brewery. The dining room is buzzing with conversation (and probably buzzed patrons….) the beer-friendly menu pairs perfectly with the beer list, the open kitchen adds energy to the atmosphere, and the service is impeccable. We loved our dinner experience.

What to order first: Y’all, if you don’t order anything else, you have to try the Joyce Farms ginger soy chicken wings. The combo of a ginger soy glaze, sriracha aioli, pickled carrots, scallions, sesame seeds is perfection.

We also ordered the duck salad (delish) and the lamb shank. The lamb shank was massive and I laughed out loud when I saw our server bringing it from the kitchen. Our table neighbors also gawked at it and we had a conversation before I tried it… and let me tell you: incredible. It’s like a pot roast but with lamb on a bone. Go for it!

We did not order the brownie desert and I have major FOMO. Will be back to try!

Check out the Sierra Nevada Asheville restaurant menu

4. The Sierra Nevada Brewery Tour is awesome!

99 bottles of beer on the wall has nothing on Sierra Nevada in Asheville… 900 bottles of beer are bottled per minute in this facility. Crazy.

Some may be tempted to skip the brewery tour – but don’t. It’s a quick tour, and you’ll learn about the history of Sierra Nevada, which was founded decades before craft beers and breweries were popular. The guide will take you through the brewing areas, the bottling areas, and the labs.

The facility produces a crazy amount of beer and the scientific detail to make it consistent is fascinating, which includes making sure the main ingredient – water – is chemically the same exact makeup as their water at their other brewery in Chico, California.

You’ll be able to feel the hops, see the brewery science staff in the lab, and view the huge bottling facility.

The tour takes less than an hour and concludes with a tasting in the bar area – you will have a much greater appreciation of the behind-the-scenes look at the operations of the brewery after the tour!

5. Obviously, they brew excellent beer 🍻

Obviously, you’ll have the chance to try a variety of incredible Sierra Nevada beers while listening to live music outdoors or strolling around inside the brewery. Some of the beers are only available at the brewery – and they have a cool gift shop so you can take your favorites home.