Planning a getaway that works for both the beer lover and the partner who would rather tour a mansion than a brewhouse? Asheville, North Carolina might be the perfect answer. In one weekend, you can explore America’s largest home, sip house-brewed ales in a cozy English-style tavern on the same estate, and spend the evening hopping between some of the best breweries in the country.
Call it a beercation. Here is how to plan one in Asheville.
Start at Biltmore Estate
George Vanderbilt’s Biltmore House is hard to describe without sounding like you are exaggerating. According to Biltmore’s own fast facts, the house spans about 175,000 square feet, which is more than four acres of floor space, and it remains America’s largest home. Construction began in 1889, and Vanderbilt first opened the house to family and friends on Christmas Eve in 1895.
The house was designed by architect Richard Morris Hunt, and the gardens were shaped by Frederick Law Olmsted, the landscape architect famous for New York’s Central Park. Today the estate covers about 8,000 acres of Blue Ridge Mountain scenery, with gardens, trails, a winery, and plenty of room to explore.
Plan on several hours just for the house tour, and wear comfortable shoes. Between the house, the gardens, and the grounds, you will log plenty of steps, which is the perfect excuse for what comes next.
Lunch or Dinner at Cedric’s Tavern
Tucked into Antler Hill Village on the estate grounds, Cedric’s Tavern is named after Vanderbilt’s beloved St. Bernard, Cedric. The tavern is designed as a tribute to the neighborhood pubs of Britain and Ireland, with a warm, relaxed atmosphere overlooking the village green.
For beer lovers, the highlight is on tap. Biltmore has its own house beers, Cedric’s Pale Ale and Cedric’s Brown Ale, styled after traditional English ales. When the tavern first opened, Mountain Xpress reported that the beer was locally brewed in partnership with Asheville’s own Highland Brewing Company. The pale ale is a smooth, easy-drinking choice after a long walk, and the malty, nutty brown ale is perfect alongside hearty pub fare like stew, shepherd’s pie, or fish and chips.
One important note: dining at Cedric’s Tavern requires a paid estate admission ticket, a stay at one of the estate’s hotels, or an annual pass, so plan it as part of your Biltmore day.
The rest of Antler Hill Village is worth a stroll too. The Biltmore winery tasting room is just a short walk away, which makes this the ideal stop for a couple where one person loves beer and the other loves wine.
Then Explore Beer City USA
After a day at the estate, head into Asheville itself, one of America’s great craft beer towns. The city’s reputation took off in 1994 with the opening of Highland Brewing, its first modern craft brewery, and Asheville has been crowned “Beer City USA” four times over the years.
Asheville’s beer scene has also been through a lot. In September 2024, Hurricane Helene caused catastrophic flooding across western North Carolina, and the city went without potable water for 54 days, shutting down breweries large and small. The local brewing community responded by using taprooms as relief hubs and helping one another rebuild. A year later, the North Carolina Craft Brewers Guild reported that most western North Carolina breweries had physically recovered, with all but five taprooms reopened, but that the region was still waiting for tourism to fully return.
In other words, there has never been a better time to visit and spend some money in Asheville’s taprooms.
Where to Drink in Asheville
Imbibe Magazine’s guide to drinking beer in Asheville is a great starting point for planning. A few areas and names to know:
- Highland Brewing: The city’s original craft brewery and a community anchor. Its taproom and event spaces make a great first stop.
- South Slope Brewing District: A walkable cluster of breweries and taprooms just south of downtown, perfect for a brewery crawl. Burial Beer, one of the city’s best-known breweries, started here in 2013.
- River Arts District: A neighborhood of artist studios, galleries, and breweries along the French Broad River. It was hit hard by Helene’s floodwaters, and many businesses there have been rebuilding.
- Newer breweries: Asheville keeps evolving. Ask bartenders for their favorite newcomers, and you are likely to discover something great.
Tips for the Perfect Beercation
- Balance the itinerary. Pair every brewery stop with something your travel partner wants to do, whether it is a garden walk, a wine tasting, gallery hopping, or shopping. Everyone has a better time.
- Book Biltmore in advance. Tickets are timed and dated, especially during busy seasons like fall foliage and the holidays.
- Go in the fall or spring. The mountain scenery is spectacular in autumn, and the spring gardens at Biltmore are famous. Biltmore’s holiday season is also a major draw.
- Walk or ride between breweries. Downtown and the South Slope are very walkable, and rideshares are easy to find. Never drink and drive on mountain roads.
- Pace yourself. Order tasting flights or smaller pours so you can try more beers without overdoing it.
Raise a Glass to Asheville
Asheville is proof that a beer trip can be romantic, historic, and delicious all at once. Between the grandeur of Biltmore, a pint of Cedric’s Brown Ale by the village green, and an evening on the South Slope, it is a weekend that both of you will remember.
Have you been to Biltmore or Asheville’s breweries? Share your favorite stops in the comments, send us your own beercation story as an article, and join the network to connect with fellow beer lovers.
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Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only. YourBeerNetwork.com is not affiliated with Biltmore Estate, The Biltmore Company, or any brewery mentioned. Hours, admission requirements, menus, and beer availability change, so please confirm details before you visit. Please drink responsibly, never drink and drive, and only consume alcohol if you are of legal drinking age.
