Asheville, North Carolina is known for its beer, and for good reason! When you visit the city, there’s a craft brewery around every corner. Located on your way to Asheville from Orchard Inn, the Sierra Nevada Brewery in NC has made a name for itself nationally. You’ve probably seen their brews in the grocery store or on draft at your favorite bar, but a Sierra Nevada Brewery tour will take your tasting to the next level.
The History of Sierra Nevada Brewery in NC
The Sierra Nevada Brewing Company was officially founded in the 1980s. Back then, most of the equipment needed to brew beer had to be custom made. Not long after its founding, the brewery began to produce its first Pale Ale, and in 1981, crafted one of the first “American” IPAs with its Celebration Ale. Fun fact: The early recipe for the American Stout made back then is still very much used today!
Over the decades, the brewery continued to grow and expand. Demand skyrocketed. In 2014, they opened the brewery in Mills River, NC. A year later, they opened the Taproom and Restaurant, also in Mills River, fully completing the East Coast brewery. Today, the Mills River brewery continues to be a leader in innovation. It was recently awarded a LEED Platinum Certification in 2016! In 2017, they made a few changes to go Green. They installed a Tesla Powerpack battery system and some other innovations to allow the brewery to be incredibly efficient with the energy it uses.
Choose Your Sierra Nevada Brewery Tour
The Sierra Nevada Brewery is just a half hour away from Orchard Inn, so you need to put it on your list of things to do while you are here! The brewery offers so much to do for visitors. Here’s a rundown of the tours you can take:
- You can take the basic Brewery Tour for free. This tour shows the production facility and beer-making process ends with a tasting.
- The Heritage Tour provides more in-depth details about the history of the brewery, its founding, and its vision.
- For a longer tour designed for beer-lovers and those familiar with the process, take the Beer Geek Tour. This three-hour tour offers an incredible look into the minute, intimate details of what makes Sierra Nevada such a success.
- For something different, try the Trip in the Woods tour, a two-hour nature walk exploring the entire property. You’ll get to learn about the natural resources surrounding the brewery and how Sierra Nevada works to create beer with minimal environmental impact.
- Finally, if you’ve got a bit of a sweet tooth, try the Chocolate and Beer Pairing held only during March. You’ll get a selection of chocolate to pair with samples of limited-time brews. Try them out and learn which combos make your taste buds sing!
Book Your Getaway Today
Our area is full of activities like a Sierra Nevada Brewery tour! Our mountain location is just 30 minutes from the brewery and 40 minutes outside the city of Asheville. When you stay with us, you get the best of both worlds. Set back in the small town of Saluda, you’ll get to enjoy fresh air and the peace and quiet of our secluded location while still being close enough to enjoy Asheville. Browse our accommodations to start planning your stay! We can’t wait to see you.
