Many tourists to Asheville actually make visiting a microbrewery a priority, so it makes sense that the city hops to it when it comes to hosting beer-focused festivals and events.

For example, more than 30 American breweries from throughout the nation showcase more than 100 different beers every mid-September at the Brewgrass Festival. The popular event takes place at Martin Luther King Jr. Park, with food and water vendors in attendance along with live entertainment provided by a lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians.

Bavaria Meets Asheville

Only a few weeks later, the well-known Oktoberfest descends upon downtown Asheville on Wall Street. The city’s reputation as Beer City USA makes the downtown district an ideal place to enjoy this festival that blends Bavarian traditions with Asheville’s eclectic scene. Live music is also a major part of the festivities.

Meanwhile, local microbreweries are also a big part of Bele Chere, a festival that occurs in late July along a number of downtown streets. Bele Chere allows anyone in attendance to drink beer along the streets as long as they stay within the designated festival boundaries.

Fifteen Microbrews

And throughout the entire year, Asheville is home to an Asheville Brews Cruise that allows beer enthusiasts to ride in a roomy 12-passenger van to tour three local microbreweries in the span of 3 1/2 hours. For $40 a person, participants sample 14 or 15 microbrews during that time, with each beer sample only about four ounces. The participants drink about the equivalent of four full beers during the entire trip.