Black Mountain Brewing
We came to Black Mountain for the brewery, but somewhere between the red rocking chairs, mountain views, local art and a few very good beers, we discovered a town we already want to visit again.
ROAD TRIP
Ben and Rebecca Marmaduke
9/19/20265 min read
Finding the Brewery
Black Mountain Brewing occupies a multi-story building on Broadway Avenue, with the Blue Ridge Mountains providing a spectacular backdrop. A large mural of Black Mountain native Roberta Flack covers the north side of the building, an especially fitting bit of public art for a brewery that is so closely connected to its mountain-town surroundings.
Painted by Chapel Hill artist Scott Nurkin, the mural is part of the NC Musicians Mural Project and is based on a 1969 portrait of Flack by photographer Jack Robinson. Flack was born in Black Mountain and lived there until she was nine years old.
Inside, front-of-house manager Mike Robinson greeted us warmly, and we quickly realized that we weren't simply sitting in a taproom with a brewery somewhere behind the scenes. We were sitting right in the brewery. Black Mountain Brewing is small enough that, as Mike explained, the brewery tour is a "very short" one because you can take it "right from your bar stool."
The Basics
Location: 131 Broadway Avenue, Black Mountain, NC 28711
Parking: large lot
Website: https://blkmtnbrewing.com
Social media: Facebook, Instagram
Vibe/Atmosphere: Outdoorsy • Friendly • Relaxed • Cozy • Mountain-town casual
Beers We Tried: Eagle Lager, Kodachrome American Pilsner, Echoes Below Helles, Blanket Astrology Dark Ale, Aetheric Meadow
Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends! Follow these simple tips for safer consumption.
We liked that.
The indoor seating area is cozy, while the back patio and upstairs deck provide more room and beautiful views of the surrounding mountains. When we arrived in the early afternoon, another couple was enjoying beers at the bar and taking an obvious interest in both the beer and the brewing operation. The overall atmosphere was exactly what we had hoped for: friendly, relaxed and outdoorsy, with the easygoing character of a small mountain town.
Beer Made for the Mountains
Black Mountain Brewing was founded in 2017 and opened in 2018. Owner John Richardson and co-owner Amadeus Hill operate the brewery, with John Irvin serving as brewmaster. The brewery focuses particularly on lagers and other lighter, highly drinkable beers, which makes perfect sense for a place where customers regularly arrive after hiking, biking or exploring the mountains.
As Mike explained, the brewery sees an interesting mix of customers: Appalachian Trail hikers, cyclists, tourists and a steady stream of local regulars. During the warmer months especially, those customers tend to gravitate toward crisp, refreshing beers.
We sampled five: Eagle Lager, Kodachrome American Pilsner, Echoes Below Helles, Blanket Astrology Dark Ale and Aetheric Meadow Festbier.
All were strong examples of their respective styles. The Eagle Lager was balanced and dry, with a crisp, light mouthfeel and lively carbonation that made it exceptionally crushable. The Kodachrome American Pilsner brought more hop character, with bitterness floating above the malt and a touch of sweetness underneath. Its slightly creamy mouthfeel and bright citrus note led to a pleasantly light bitter finish.
The beers also have a local connection. Black Mountain Brewing uses locally grown grain, with Asheville-area suppliers such as Riverbend Malt House helping connect the brewery to the broader craft-beer community of Western North Carolina.
A Little Town with a Lot of Charm
We had been looking forward to visiting Black Mountain Brewing since meeting one of the brewery's owners and its brewmaster at the North Carolina Brewers Guild Conference last year. When we began planning our Asheville adventure, Black Mountain was conveniently on our way—and neither of us had ever spent much time there.
That turned out to be a happy coincidence.
Located about 15 miles east of Asheville in the Blue Ridge Mountains, Black Mountain has a population of roughly 8,500 and a distinctly different personality from its larger neighbor. It feels a little slower, a little folksier and very comfortable with its identity as a small mountain town. After spending only a few hours there, we were already charmed.
We started at the quaint visitor center, where we chatted with Glen about the town and its brewing scene, then wandered downtown among the red rocking chairs that have become one of Black Mountain's signatures. Several small galleries were open despite it being Monday, offering an impressive collection of local art and crafts. The Old Depot Arts and Crafts Center was closed, as was the Berliner Kindl German restaurant across from the brewery, but we made a mental note to come back on a day when both are open.
One gallery yielded an especially memorable discovery. Rebecca, who has a well-established weakness for critters, fell in love with a portrait of an adorable opossum dressed as Marie Antoinette, painted by artist Patricia Cotterill. Naturally, the opossum—and a pair of handmade earrings—came home with us.
Only then were we ready for the beer.
Like everything else in Black Mountain, the Visitor's Center was friendly and furnished with red rocking chairs.
More Than a Brewery
By the time we finished our beers, it was becoming clear that our original plan had underestimated Black Mountain. We had come specifically to visit a brewery, but we'd spent the morning discovering galleries, admiring public art, talking with locals and getting a feel for a town that seems to invite visitors to slow down and wander.
Mike also told us about the Black Mountain Blues Experience, taking place September 25–27, 2026, at White Horse Black Mountain and other walkable downtown venues. Organized by the Black Mountain Blues Society, the event is an intimate, multi-venue celebration of blues rather than a sprawling outdoor festival. Unfortunately, we're a little late to the game for this year's event, but we've already made a mental note for next year.
And we'll have another reason to return: Black Mountain is also home to Lookout Brewing and Pisgah Brewing, two breweries still waiting for us to pay a visit.
Our Takeaway
Sometimes a brewery visit leaves you thinking about the beer. Sometimes it's the people you meet that stay with you. And sometimes, if you're lucky, the brewery becomes your introduction to a place you didn't realize you were going to love.
That's what happened to us in Black Mountain.
Black Mountain Brewing delivered exactly what we'd hoped for: carefully made, highly drinkable beer; a cozy taproom; welcoming people; and those gorgeous Blue Ridge views. But the bigger surprise was the town itself—the galleries and local artists, the red rocking chairs, the music, the walkability and the unhurried mountain-town character.
We arrived in Black Mountain because we wanted to visit a brewery we'd been curious about. We left already wondering when we could come back.
The beer gave us a reason to stop. The town gave us a reason to stay.
Black Mountain Brewing has a great-looking logo as well as great-tasting beer.
We enjoyed our fun and educational conversation with front of house manager Mike Robinson.
NCBE's Beer Notes -
Eagle Lager, 4.5% ABV*
Appearance: fluffy white head, straw color, brillian
Aroma: doughy
Taste: bready, starchy, sweet, lightly bitter
Mouthfeel: crisp, light
Finish: bitter/malty
Overall: highly crushable
Koadachrome American Pilsner, 4.5% ABV
Appearance: straw, clear, bubbly, generous foam head
Aroma: bread crust, hops
Taste: hop bitterness over malty sweetness
Mouthfeel: light, creamy
Finish: bitter, citrusy, zesty
Echoes Below Helles Export, 5.8% ABV*
Appearance: light gold, light foam, clear
Aroma: bread, honey, toast
Taste: follows aroma, lightly sweet, off-dry
Mouthfeel: light body, medium carbonation
Finish: tangy/bittery
Blanket Astrology Dark Mild Ale, 3.8% ABV
Appearance: dark brown, opaque, beige foam
Aroma: smoke, malt
Taste: chicory, chocolate, coffee, sweet/bitter - classic English ale
Mouthfeel: medium body, medium carbonation
Finish: dry, astringent
Aetheric Meadow Wiesnbier, 6% ABV
Appearance: gold, generous foam head
Aroma: graham cracker, sweet, toast
Taste: crisp, malt-forward
Mouthfeel: medium body, medium/high carbonation
Finish: balanced
