Boone NC is perhaps best known for its iconic Blue Ridge Parkway overlooks and the easy access it offers to excellent campgrounds, hiking, snow tubing, and downhill skiing options.
But thanks to the area’s continual growth, in recent years Boone has also become home to a number of popular breweries that are frequented by locals and visitors alike.
Boone is a bustling college town, so perhaps it should come as no surprise that the area has a proud brewing scene.
But actually, Appalachian State University deserves some of the credit for the rapid rise in Boone brewpubs.
The college offers a unique Fermentation Sciences program, and various alumni have gone on to open new breweries in Boone and beyond.
The program has proven a great success for students who aspire to enter the brewing scene right out of college.
Whether you’re planning to visit Boone for a vacation or just stopping in for a day, the breweries on our list are sure to have the beers and accompanying foods that will pair perfectly for your visit to the NC High Country!
Read on for our in-depth guide to the best Boone NC Breweries, including the Appalachian Mountain Brewery, Booneshine Brewing Company, Lost Province Brewing Company, Blowing Rock Brewery, and more…
READ MORE: 20 Best Things to Do in Boone NC (Blue Ridge Parkway MM 291.8)
Best Best Boone NC Breweries Guide
- Appalachian Mountain Brewery
- Booneshine Brewing Company
- Lost Province Brewing Company
- Blowing Rock Brewing Company
- Kettell Beerworks
- Beech Mountain Brewery
1. Appalachian Mountain Brewery
163 Boone Creek Dr • (828) 263-1111
Co-founded in 2013 by head brewer Nathan Keilschek, a Boone native and product of App State’s Fermentation Sciences program, Appalachian Mountain Brewery is a homegrown establishment in every sense of the word.
The first brewery to ever call Boone NC home, AMB’s prime location a mere five minutes from downtown has made it a must-see for beer lovers who visit the NC High Country.
The AMB team have firmly rooted themselves in the principles of community, philanthropy, and sustainability. They’ve also set themselves apart as strong supporters of the local community.
Every time you buy a drink here, you’re helping to support one of the countless local non-profits in the area that have partnered with the brewery!
Appalachian Mountain Brewery Facility
AMB resides in a rustic facility that offers indoor seating, plus ample outdoor space equipped with games and more than enough room for live music.
The outdoor area also features a 120-foot-long outdoor bar. It’s a perfect place to experience Fall in North Carolina, and there’s a covered, heated porch for those chilly winter evenings.
Best Appalachian Mountain Brewery Brews
AMB has won awards from the Great American Beer Festival for many of their brews, including Boone Creek Blonde, Not An IPA, and their extremely popular Lager.
If none of these brews are quite right for you, then the seasonal Thunder Cloud Pleaser is another local favorite that we highly recommend.
While this Boone brewery is most widely known for their craft beers, they also offer a wide variety of delicious hard apple ciders that are perfect for those who prefer a slightly sweeter option.
Appalachian Mountain Brewery Food
Though the Appalachian Mountain Brewery does not offer food made in-house, they do have a food truck on the premises.
The Farm 2 Flame Food Truck offers a wide variety of deliciously thin wood-fired pizzas and other gourmet items, all of which are sustainably sourced from local farms.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Restaurants in Boone NC
2. Booneshine Brewing Company
• (828) 278-8006
The Booneshine Brewing Company is one of the larger breweries on this list. But that certainly hasn’t stopped them from staying true to their small batch brews and community-based roots.
The founders were inspired by how the town of Boone thrives on outdoor adventure and community, and they aim for their beers to reflect how the local people truly “shine.”
Booneshine has grown considerably in recent years, moving to a larger location and growing an ever-expanding audience for their craft beers.
No Boone NC brewery tour is complete without stopping in to see what the shine is all about!
Booneshine Facility
Booneshine operates out of a gorgeous 3,500-square-foot facility complete with a fully operational restaurant, tasting room, huge amounts of outdoor space, a food truck, and modern Americana styling.
It’s arguably one of the best spots in Boone to wind down after a long day of adventure, no matter what time of year you may choose to visit.
Best Booneshine Brews
When discussing the very best Booneshine beers, it’s impossible not to mention their infamous Space Pegasus New England- Style IPA.
This hoppy, but light IPA truly lives up to its out-of-this-world name. Due to its immense popularity, it is always quick to sell out, so be sure to give it a try early on in your visit!
The East Boone Pils, Grandaddy Gold Kolsch, and Booneshine IPA are also fantastic options to try.
Booneshine Food
Booneshine’s kitchen offers thoughtful New American gastropub fare, with options ranging from finger food to dinner entrees, all at a reasonable price range.
Some of the highlights of the menu include their Warm Grains Bowl, and their popular, light and crispy Sourdough Pizzas.
If you’re looking for a high quality meal to pair with your craft beer, Booneshine is without a doubt the place to be.
READ MORE: The 10 Best Waterfalls Near Boone NC
3. Lost Province Brewing Company
• (828) 265-3506
The Lost Province Brewing Company has been producing tasty microbrews and serving delicious gastropub fare in downtown Boone since 2014.
What started as a simple home-brewing hobby quickly turned into a 30-year journey for owners Lynne and Andy. Over time their home brews evolved, even winning a number of awards, and so did their expansive brewing set-up.
After years of pursuing this passion from home (dedicating their entire basement to the operation), the pair retired from their traditional careers and embarked on opening the Lost Province Brewing Co.
The popularity of Lost Province beer has grown so much that they expanded into a second location, just a few minutes down the street from the original, in 2021 in order to keep up with the ever-increasing demand.
If what you’re looking for is a true micro-brew experience and a delicious meal, Lost Province should be at the top of your list.
Lost Province Facility
The Lost Province gastropub is located on N Depot St, right in the heart of downtown Boone.
Inside you’ll find a vibrant atmosphere, with lower and upper level seating. Out back there’s a two-story porch with views of the surrounding North Carolina mountains.
If you go on a Friday or Saturday night, you’re likely to be greeted with the sound of live music filling the air as well.
Best Lost Province Brews
With their humorous names and poppy style, it can be a daunting task to choose just a few Lost Province brews to sample. But the hazy and flavorful Hipster Juice IPA is always at the top of our list.
This hazy, bright yellow, New England-style IPA is dry-hopped twice with Citra, El Dorado, and Mosaic hops to produce a rainbow of pineapple, passion fruit, and mango flavors.
Other popular Lost Province beers that are certainly worth a taste include Just Bee Nice, Dave’s Not Here, Man!, and Tyrannosaurus Mex.
Lost Province Food
Lost Province is also one of those great farm-to-table restaurants where everything is locally sourced to support Boone-area farmers and ensure fresh ingredients.
They are perhaps most well-known for their delicious, Neapolitan-style thin crust pizza. But If pizza isn’t your thing, they also serve a variety of delicious gastropub-style dishes, such as their Portabella Burger and Hot Fried Chicken Sandwich.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Boone NC Hiking Trails to Explore
4. Blowing Rock Brewing Company
152 Sunset Dr • (828) 414-9600
https://blowingrockbrewing.com/
Just 8 miles south of Boone, in the historic town of Blowing Rock, you’ll find the Blowing Rock Brewing Company’s Ale House.
Established in 2013 by owners Jeff Walker and Todd Rice, the Blowing Rock Brewery was born to accomplish a simple mission: to create a craft beer that captured the finest qualities of the NC High Country.
Through the use of clean mountain water and unique ingredients, Blowing Rock Brewing has become well-known for their exceptionally high quality artisan beers, both in the High Country as well as across the state of North Carolina.
Blowing Rock Brewing Facility
All of Blowing Rock Brewing’s operations are based in a single location, including the brewery, the Ale House restaurant, and even a year-round hotel for travelers who want to spend a night or two in downtown Blowing Rock.
The building is plenty large enough to handle the immense popularity of the brewery, and the atmosphere is never lacking!
Best Blowing Rock Brews
Many of Blowing Rock Brewery’s beers have won awards from the Carolina Championships of Beer, such as their Midnight Raspberry Wheat Ale and Grandfather Breakfast Stout.
The Midnight Raspberry Wheat Ale is perhaps the most interesting of the bunch.
It utilizes two-row barley, pounds of red raspberries, and specially roasted Midnight Wheat to produce a beer that’s full of bright flavors coated in a dark, dreamy hue.
If you’re looking for some slightly less experimental options, then the Cloud Rise IPA and Fresh Trail Lager are also fantastic options worth trying.
Blowing Rock Food
The Blowing Rock Ale House Restaurant has an ever-changing menu to match their ever-changing beer line up, and they offer a wide variety of high quality options.
If you’re only looking for a quick bite, their Soft Pretzels and Hummus make for a perfect paring with a fresh pint.
If you want a full meal, their Brisket Tacos and Carolina Bison Burger are bound to leave you wishing you had room for more.
Like many others on this list, much of the Ale House’s menu proudly consists of locally-grown, organic ingredients.
READ MORE: Things to Do at Moses H. Cone Memorial Park Near Blowing Rock NC
5. Kettell Beerworks
567 Main St E • (828) 898-8677
Though Kettell Beerworks owners Mark and Yumiko Ralston have been brewing and selling beer since 2013, it wasn’t until 2017 that the duo decided to open their brewery up full-time in the beautiful mountain town of Banner Elk NC.
Inspired by the crisp mountain water sources and Banner Elk’s high country setting, Kettell Beerworks began serving high quality craft beer and food.
It didn’t take long for the Ralstons to prove that they could produce small batch craft beer that was capable of contending with the larger operations just 16 miles up the road in Boone and Blowing Rock.
If you’re on the hunt for a smaller, family-run operation that places an emphasis on quality rather than quantity, then Kettell Beerworks is the perfect place for you!
Kettell Beerworks Facility
Operating at 3715 feet above sea level, all of Kettell Beerworks’ brews are produced in-house.
By keeping operations on the smaller side of the micro-brewing spectrum, the brewery is able to connect with locals and visitors on a more personal level.
Their small facility includes a taproom with ample games and activities, as well as a small kitchen that produces a host of food options to pair with your beer.
Best Kettell Beerworks Brews
All of Kettell Beerworks’ brews are honestly well worth a taste.
But some of our favorites include their Vonderbier, a contemporary Munich-style lager, and their Supernova IPA, which is brewed to have low bitterness and hoppy fruit flavors with muted hints of mandarin oranges, apricot, and mango.
For those who are into unique varietals, their Velvet Panda is a smooth and creamy oatmeal stout that’s bound to please.
Kettell Beerworks Food
Though Kettell Beerworks doesn’t double as a fully operational restaurant, they do offer a small menu of classic pub-style dishes and snacks, ranging from thin crust pizzas to warm pretzels.
READ MORE: The 15 Best Treehouse Rentals in the North Carolina Mountains
6. Beech Mountain Brewery
1007 Beech Mountain Pkwy •(828) 387-2011
https://www.beechmountainbrewingco.com/
Located on Beech Mountain, one of the premiere destinations for snow skiing in North Carolina, Beech Mountain Brewing produces some of the best beers the area has to offer.
Nestled in the village of Beech Mountain Resort, which offers year-round activities ranging from skiing to downhill mountain biking, the unique brewery provides the perfect atmosphere to relax after a long day of fun in the mountains.
As one of the only US breweries owned and operated by a ski resort, Beech Mountain Brewery takes pride in their homegrown mountain roots. So it’s always a treat to stop in for a quick pint or a bite to eat!
Beech Mountain Brewery Facility
The Beech Mountain Brewing Company’s central operations are based out of a bi-level facility located in the base village of the skiing area.
Their taproom and restaurant features a large fireplace and hardwood flooring throughout.
They also operate what they call the Skybar on the summit of the mountain, offering fresh brews and expansive views for those who are willing to embark on the short ride up the chairlift.
Best Beech Mountain Brews
The Beech Mountain Brewery produces a wide range of delicious and highly esteemed brews, but perhaps the most admired of them all is their Downhill IPA.
The light malt profile and vibrant citrus tones are key aspects of its hazy-like taste, which has created a high demand.
Some other great options to try are their Tilted Tartan Scotch Ale, which pays homage to Appalachian Culture and the Scottish migrants who settled in the Blue Ridge Mountains so many years ago, and their First Chair Coffee Blonde.
Beech Mountain Brewery Food
The Beech Mountain Brewery’s fully operational restaurant offers a variety of high end pub eats, ranging from gourmet burgers to smoked brisket sandwiches.
If you prefer something a little more green, their Grilled Portabella Spinach Salad is also a delicious option to satisfy your hunger.
All are sure to hit the spot after a long day of skiing or tubing on the hills! –all text and photos by Dawson Tozier unless otherwise noted; featured image via Canva
