This past weekend we took an overnight trip to Asheville. On the way, we decided to stop in Black Mountain. If you’ve never been to this small town, it’s nestled right at the foot of the Black Mountains (part of the Appalachian mountains). It is a quaint town just off I-40 with most of the business district straddling US Highway 70. At first glance, the artistic charm of this town might be seen as the main draw. However, there are a few hidden gems in this town.
Lookout Brewing Company – If you’re coming from the East, Lookout Brewing is the first brewery you’ll encounter. This little brewery is tucked away right off the highway and only a block or two right as you get into town. You’d never expect to find a brewery located here. The unassuming building it’s in is more like an old strip mall rather than a brewery. Inside is another story. When we arrived, they had 8 beers on tap. Being the curious people we are, we decided on a flight of all 8. We had a few favorites here. The Front Porch amber was smooth and right, with a hit of toasty malt. The Lookout Stout was very good with a bit of chocolate and coffee flavors being thrown around. The Irish Red ale was also very easy to drink, being slightly sweet with a light malty finish. The Session IPA was also very good, being slightly hopped with a nice fruity note up front.
Pisgah Brewing Company – If there’s one thing we can clearly say about Pisgah is that they have a dedicated following. They have a wide selection of beer, almost too many to choose from at first, but after more careful examination we settled on a flight of four. The beer was good, very easy to drink, and true to the form. Our favorite here was the Kölsch with a good bit of orange zest flavor throughout.
Black Mountain Ciderworks – Right around the corner from Pisgah brewing is Black Mountain Ciderworks. BMC operates with a staff of 3, so they are definitely a smaller operation. All of their ciders are dry, but that doesn’t mean that they suck in your cheeks and make you crave water. Instead, what you’ll find here is a half-dozen ciders that walk the line between slightly tart and mildly sweet. With all of the ciders comes a story about the name. It’s hard to pick a favorite here, but if we had to it would be the Zephyrus, made with orange peels and ginger making it zippy yet smooth. For second it would likely be a tie between the Viking Blood (made with cherry mead) and the Boadicea (a barrel aged cider blended with Irish Breakfast tea). Even if you’re pressed for time, you need to stop in here as everything is amazing.
Black Mountain is just a short 45 minute drive to the east of Asheville, NC. Plan a visit today!
[su_gmap address=”Black Mountain, NC”]
