Welcome to Beer City USA! Asheville has an amazing selection of bars, brewpubs, micro craft breweries, and restaurants for a city of its size. Sample some 50 local brews from nine brewing companies. Asheville (per capita) has one of the highest rates of craft brew consumption in the Southeast. In May 2011, readers of Examiner.com voted Asheville as Beer City USA for the third year in a row. Sample some excellent brews, enjoy some great food, and meet some very interesting people along the way.

Here are our top picks for beer the Asheville area. Many of the spots are located downtown Asheville within walking distance of each other.

May 24-June 3, 2012: Asheville Beer Week!

Coming in 2014: Sierra Nevada opens its east coast brewery with tours in Asheville!

Coming in 2015: New Belgium Brewery opens in River Arts District near downtown

Pack’s Tavern (20 South Spruce St): Opened in 2010 after an extensive renovation of an historic building downtown by Pack Square Park, in front of City Hall. Much care was taken to expose the original brick, original tongue and groove ceiling and wood trusses, and to uncover the 100-year-old flooring. Pack's Tavern carefully pair beer styles with food items on the menu and rotate 30 or more local, national, and international craft beers to offer the best selection available. The large eclectic menu features over 60 items; everything from signature salads to hand-pattied burgers, from wonderful appetizers to fresh cut steaks and seafood.

Lexington Avenue Brewery (39 N. Lexington Avenue, downtown Asheville): Also known as the LAB, this brewery pub and restaurant opened in early 2010, after three years of planning and construction. A 92-foot serpentine bar snakes the brewing equipment that glow with changing colored lights. Enjoy typical a typical pub menu and a variety of brews: Belgian wit, a golden pilsner, dark chocolate stout, an American pale ale, an India pale ale and a marzen (or Oktoberfest).

Jack of the Wood (95 Patton Avenue, downtown Asheville): This lively, Celtic-style pub features handcrafted English style ales are brewed at their nearby brewing facility and served fresh daily. At any given time, the mash tun and fermenters are giving life to a new batch of handcrafted brew under the watchful eye of our resident brewer John Stuart, who is producing up to 21 thirty-one gallon barrels of beer a week. The beer flows almost non-stop in the pub. Using English and Belgian yeasts and specialty grains gives the beers their unique appeal and distinctive style. On a typical evening at Jack's, you will find many of the patrons gathered around the black walnut bar or at long tavern tables, engaged in conversation through which the taboo subjects of art, religion and politics are heavily woven. Others play darts or scan the papers while sipping pints of ale or munching on a plate of fish and chips, while local musicians are fiddling away on Irish reels or picking some olde time mountain music in the corner.

Barley's Taproom (42 Biltmore Avenue, downtown Asheville): A renovated 1920s appliance store is home to Barley's Taproom, where fresh sourdough pizza, lasagna, and sandwiches are served up daily. The stage showcases live bluegrass, jazz, and Americana music 3-4 nights a week with no cover charge. The downstairs bar has 24 taps featuring the South's best selection of American craft brewed beers. Upstairs is the Billiard Room with four regulation slate billiard tables that are available by the hour. Five regulation dart lanes are available for private and tournament play also. An additional 19 taps are highlighted at the upstairs bar.

Hannah Flanagan's (27 Biltmore Avenue, downtown Asheville): Across and just up the street from Barleys is feisty Irish atmosphere and authentic Irish food. Hannah Flanagan's serve some of the finest Irish draft (40 taps) and bottled beers around. Some of their specialties include authentic fish ‘n’ chips, corned beef and cabbage, shepherd’s pie, steaks, and more! Hannah Flanagan’s was named after the owner’s grandmother, whose picture still hangs above our bar. Experience their authentic 20th century themed interior or enjoy the breeze on an outside terrace which is surrounded by walls beautifully draped with ivy. Come sing and dance to some live music on Thursday and Saturday nights.

The Bier Garden (46 Haywood St, downtown Asheville): The Bier Garden has had the best beer selection in Western North Carolina since 1994. With a selection of over 200 beers of the world including some local microbrewery favorites, they also have a full bar and a large selection of fine wines. Complementing their wide selections of beers is an extensive food menu featuring American fusion cuisine. A late night menu is also available until midnight. Enjoy 16 televisions including a 15-foot screen to catch the big game or news event with all your friends!

Craggie Brewing Company (197 Hilliard Avenue, downtown Asheville): Craggie is a brewery with a heart. They sell beer with a conscience – organic in craft and whenever possible, brewed with local ingredients. From building the brewhouse with as much reclaimed or recycled equipment as possible, to discounting Willibechers for those who choose to donate to select non-profits, Craggie Brewing’s Public House is a place where the community can gather to have a good time while doing good for others. Craggy is brewing beers with a lower alcohol content. They are also brewing up some pretty interesting beers, A strawberry porter, a maple blueberry porter, an India pumpkin ale and a civil war era recipe beer with molasses and pine needles.

Highland Brewing Co (12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville): Stop by their Tasting Room to sample tasty brews and hang out with staff. The Tasting Room is open to the public Thursday-Saturday, 4-8 PM, offering food & live music 6-8 PM Fridays and Saturdays. Next to the Tasting Room is the brewers' favorite toy, the three-barrel pilot system. Here, you get to try out new recipes for fun or for future large scale brews. They even have an outdoor stage in the field adjacent to the brewery for entertainment. One hour guided tours are Monday-Saturday at 4 PM with a brief overview of both the brewing and packaging process. Although tours are free, they accept and appreciate cash donations and/or canned food donations for Manna Food Bank.

Troy and Sons Distillers‎ (12 Old Charlotte Highway, Asheville): Located next to Highland Brewing in the former Southern Railway Wheelhouse, the distillery houses a custom-made 2000 liter copper Kothe Still and state of the art distilling equipment needed to produce high quality spirits. Tours are offered at 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 PM on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays. With Troy's Good Boot Tour, your tasting shots will be offered with your choice of spring water. These waters come from some of the most pristine water sources in America, located in the Blue Ridge Mountains. Try water from Mt. Pisgah, Big Butte, or Whisper Springs with your Troy & Sons Moonshine, or drink it straight at 80 proof. Drop by the distillery and join them in the tasting room following your tour.

Wedge Brewing Co (125 Roberts Street, Asheville): Wedge uses the best available ingredients to brew in the lower level of the Wedge Studios situated in the River Arts District. The building is a classic brick warehouse adjacent to the railroad tracks. The space the brewery is in at onetime stored slaughtered hogs. Tasting room open Monday-Thursday 4-10 PM, Friday 3-10 PM and Saturday/Sunday 2-10 PM.

Mellow Mushroom (50 Broadway Avenue, downtown Asheville): The decor is funky with lots of 50's memorabilia. This location features over 50 taps, making it the Asheville bar with the highest number of draft selections. They also offer outside seating on the front patio in warm weather. The location attracts a varied crowd, including students, professionals and families who bring the kids for the pizza. The atmosphere inside is that of a pizza joint but the Mellow Mushroom should not be missed because it has a great choice of beer selections. It's also a very popular spot late at night.

Thirsty Monk (50 Commerce Street, corner of Patton and Coxe, downtown Asheville): This spot specializes in Belgian and Belgian-style beers. Fourteen Belgian beers are available on tap, with a whopping 140 varieties in bottles. For those looking for an education in Belgian brews, sample flights are available. The Thirsty Monk also features light food, including baguettes sandwiches, crepes and Belgian chocolates. The pub opens every day at 4 p.m. with the exception of Tuesdays.

Green Man Brewery (23 Buxton Avenue, downtown Asheville): Around since 1997, Green Man is now crafting seasonals and specialty brews like “The Rainmaker” Double IPA, and “The Dweller” Imperial Stout. The tasting room is open seven days a week at 4 o'clock, or maybe earlier. It is also a renowned haven for soccer fans. Their pub offers a variety of its own Green Man ales, casks (on authentic beer engines), specialty brews and guest taps, as well as those famous pretzels and mustard and assorted oddities.

Bruisin’ Ales (66 Broadway Ave, downtown Asheville): Asheville’s first and only retail store just for beer lovers. No wine, just beer. It’s pure “beerlanthropy™” for the greater good. They specialize in Belgians, Belgian-style, high-gravity, craft brews, microbrews, and the best from around the globe. With over 600 different beers from across the country and around the world, you’ll find a delectable line-up sure to please any beer lover’s palette. From ales to stouts, lagers to bitters, Bruisin’ Ales is Western North Carolina ’s stop for the tastiest beers available. You’ll also find a wide selection brand merchandise, including beer glasses, apparel, hats, magazines, bottle openers, beer guides and more.

Asheville Brewing Company (675 Merrimon Ave, about 1.5 miles north of Asheville, & 77 Coxe Avenue, Downtown Asheville): The Merrimon location (Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company) is one of the most unique brewpubs anywhere. Several well-crafted brews are usually on, including other regional craft beers with pizza, specialty sandwiches and pub appetizers. A unique feature is the movie theater showing $3 movies. There is a second bar in the theater so customers don't need to miss any of the movie to get another beer or to pick up a food order. The theater seats are very comfortable, and tables between each row make eating and drinking a non-messy affair. Another back room opposite the theater has a large-screen TV and several pool tables and video games. The downtown location features indoor and outdoor seating and well-stocked bar. Both are open until Midnight seven days a week.

Westville Pub (777 Haywood Road, West Asheville): This local favorite has about a dozen taps pouring a frequently-changing variety of local and regional craft beers. This neighborhood bar in West Asheville is a bit off the tourist path but well worth a visit. The pub is entirely smoke-free and offers live music many nights.

French Broad Brewing Co (near Biltmore Village, Asheville): The unassuming exterior belies what is going on inside: a booming microbrewery business that is part of the backbone of the Asheville craft brewing scene. French Broad beers can be found on tap in many establishments around the Asheville area and in 64 ounce glass “growlers” on the shelves of local markets. Taps can also be found in selected bars and restaurants in the Raleigh/Durham area, upstate South Carolina and eastern Tennessee.

Pisgah Brewing Company is located in Black Mountain, NC about 10 miles east of Asheville. They specialize in brewing hand crafted certified organic beer. Try the Pisgah Solstice, a Belgian-style ale, or the darkest ale, the rich and smooth Pisgah Porter.

Heinzelmännchen Brewery is a microbrewery in downtown Sylva, about 45 miles west of Asheville. German-born brewermaster Dieter Kuhn and his wife Sheryl Rudd are creating light and refreshing German beer made with wholesome grains, fresh hops & no preservatives. All beers are keg conditioned and non-filtered, making them smooth and lighter in body. Stop by the brewery for a tasting and a tour. Take home one of their unique, German 2-liter growlers, or a keg.

Appalachian Craft Brewery is located in downtown Hendersonville (822 Locust St) and specializes in making small batches of craft beer.

Nantahala Brewing Company is located in downtown Bryson City. Nantahala Brewing Company’s inaugural beer is made with pale malt and a generous amount of crystal malts. Appalachian Trail Extra (ATX) Pale Ale is a lighter golden version of the Nantahala Pale Ale with a crisp dry flavor and a touch of bitterness. Their tasting room opened in 2011.