Sierra Nevada Taproom & Restaurant — Restaurant in Fletcher

An obsession with design, materials, and the smallest of details pervade everything at SN. As you enter the gates of Sierra Nevada and begin to approach the brewery, it feels as though you are entering a private estate or resort. The bridge that you cross, as you drive up the winding road, is heated so that it doesn't freeze on cold, wintry days. SN is incredibly busy during the summer/fall months and on weekends, so it's best to arrive just as they open to ensure that you are seated in an expedient manner.

If you do have to wait, check out the self guided tour that is just up the stairs to the right of the bar. On weekends, the High Gravity Taproom (which is also upstairs) is open. During the summer months, they have live music, in the amphitheater out back, on Friday/Saturday evenings. Long story short, be sure to walk around and explore all that the brewery has to offer.

You'll discover that both the food and beer are exceptional here. With 23 beers on tap, you are sure to find something that will make your taste buds dance with delight. If you enjoy getting your hops on, as I do, try the Hop Hunter or Torpedo Extra IPA. SN is one of the only breweries in the country that exclusively uses whole cone hops vs. the pelletized variety. This is an audacious claim, but I would put the Hop Hunter up against any IPA in Ash. It's that good! It also pairs very well with the Joyce Farms torpedo wings. All of the tapas are delicious, but I can personally vouch for the aforementioned wings, house pizza, harissa rubbed lamb ribs, duck fat fries, and the Carolina bison short rib. And if you are in the mood for espresso, take advantage of the $35,000 La Marzocco machine that they have. That said machine is only responsible for two items on the menu indicates the degree to which SN obsesses over the smallest of details. The menu changes frequently, so you are sure to find something that you love.

Be sure to avail yourself of one of several tours that they offer here. The free tour takes you on a 60 minute journey through the brewing process where you get up close and personal with hops, learn a bit about the history of SN (the founder only sold 4 beers on his 1st day in business), get a glimpse of their ultra secret lab, and more. At the conclusion of said tour, you end up in their private tasting room where you get to sample 8 different brews. It's best to book reservations for your tour in advance, but if you forget to do so, place your name on the waiting list and enjoy a beer or two while you wait. They have multiple cancellations each day. For an intimate, 3 hour tour into the depths of what makes Sierra Nevada tick, check out the Beer Geek tour. It's well worth the modest cost, as a t-shirt and growler are included with the purchase of your ticket. In 2016, this location was awarded LEED Platinum, making it the first production brewery in the US to achieve LEED's highest honor. Take the LEED tour to learn more.

If you've delved into non-alcoholic brews at all, you might enjoy trying SN's two new NA offerings. I recently tried their Trail Pass IPA, and it's a hard pass for me. Said brew lacks the body, character, and complexity found in all great IPAs and compares very poorly vis-à-vis NAs from Athletic Brewing, Best Day Brewing, etc. With Sierra Nevada brewers being so innovative and creative, I'm sure they'll improve their NA beers immensely over the coming months/years. 

Sadly, I have noticed that the customer service on offer has declined dramatically, since SN reopened following the chaos of the covid pandemic. Whereas, I used to receive a 'Stranger Things' 11 (on a scale of 1-10) on every single visit from 2015-2020, it's now closer to an average of 7.0-7.5 with an 11 nowhere to be found.

Finally, if you're interested in limited-release, barrel-aged beers unavailable anywhere else in the world, inquire about SN's Alpha Hop Society. Access to special tours & events is included...

⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ “A Frothy Fairytale at Sierra Nevada Taproom — By: Grumblewick Underhill, Wandering Ale Scholar and Professional Snack Enthusiast Ahhhh, good sirs and madams, gather ye ‘round and lend thine ears (or whatever appendages you listen with)! For I, Grumblewick Underhill, humble gnome of great thirst and even greater appetite, have returned from the mortal realm of Mills River, North Carolina — where stands a temple of taste and foam so divine, it might as well be carved into Mount Hoppymore itself: the Sierra Nevada Taproom. Let me paint ye a picture — though my brush may wobble a bit, for I’ve had a fair few of their Narwhal Imperial Stouts (praise be to its dark majesty!). The moment I set foot in that grand hall of hops, I could smell the roasted malt and charred oak singing in harmony. The bar gleamed like a dwarven forge, and behind it, the staff bustled with smiles so warm you could toast bread on them. Not a sour face in sight — just cheerful humans (and possibly one halfling) pouring pints like alchemists of joy. Ah, the Narwhal Beer! By the mossy beard of my grandfather, what a brew! Deep, rich, and dark as a moonless burrow, yet smooth enough to make a river weep. Each sip was like being hugged by a slightly dangerous bear wearing a velvet robe. Notes of chocolate, roasted coffee, and mystery — the kind of mystery that makes you want to tell secrets to strangers. I started with one. Then another. Then, somehow, there were three. I suspect wizardry. Now, as for the ribeye, sweet stars above — scrumptious doesn’t even begin to describe it. Perfectly seared, tender as a gnome’s conscience, and seasoned with what I can only assume was the dust of fallen angels. It arrived on a hot plate that hissed like a friendly serpent, and when my knife touched it — oh, it parted like dawn through fog. Juices shimmering, flavors dancing, I almost stood on the table to sing. (Thankfully, one of the bartenders gently persuaded me otherwise. Delightful lad. Strong grip.) And the beet salad! Great glades of green glory, that salad was to die for. Sweet, earthy beets mingling with creamy goat cheese and crisp greens — it was like nibbling on the color purple itself. Refreshing and elegant, it sobered me up just enough to appreciate my next stout properly. The entire staff — from the barkeeps to the servers to the smiling host by the door — was absolutely delightful. Kind, witty, patient with tipsy gnomes, and quicker with a refill than you can say “one more round.” So if you ever find yourself wandering the misty forests of North Carolina, do yourself a favor: follow the scent of hops and merriment to Sierra Nevada’s Taproom. Drink the Narwhal. Eat the ribeye. Praise the beets. And raise a glass to the fine folk who make magic in mugs. Now, if you’ll pardon me… I believe my hat is still under the bar. 🍺✨ — Grumblewick Underhill, Drunk...

First off, let me give a shout out to our server Jimmy (James B), he really took care of us, made great suggestions and his positive attitude was infectious.

Second, let me say this brewery is casual and fun with lots of things to do. You can book one of several free or pay brewery tours, but you have to make reservations well in advance. If you don’t book a tour, you can take a walking tour yourself just without the guide, most of the areas have descriptions or are self-explanatory, but I highly recommend you do toward the brewery because it is really cool. You can also hang out on what they call the back porch, which has fireplaces, lawn games, live music (sometimes) and food can be held by the back window. There’s also a cool gift shop, with the Sierra Nevada labeled gear. That is perfect. If you’re taking gifts home to somebody that wasn’t on the trip with you.

But the prime spot is in the tap room and restaurant, where you can sample flights of beer and have some really amazing food, most of them cooked with some aspect of their beer.

They also have an allergy menu, so if you have a food allergy or sensitivity, they have you vivered.

But you really want to hear about the food don’t you?

Water - I know it’s only water, but they bring it in this cool Mason jar so that you don’t have to wait for somebody to pour your water. Beer - I don’t drink but my wife loved her chocolate stout (Norwal) which was seasonal, infused with espresso and chocolate. Olives - wonderful olive appetizer, with your kids of olives in a deep marinade. Good starter. Chicken Wings - AMAZING - we chose the soy ginger, served lollipop style, and it was my favorite dish of the night. Good portions, so don’t be scared to make this your meal. Duck Fat Fries - on previous visits, this was my favorite side dish, but for some reason, it fell flat on me today. Shrimp - sweet and spicy this was the Dish that gave the WOW factor. So good, really, so good. Burger - solid choice, plus you have the ability to add a patty if you are really hungry and 86 the bun if you want it gluten free. Brussels - good, but seemed to be missing something to make it pop. You may love them, so don’t be scared to order them.

After dinner, we set up by the fire, met some folks, including first responders who were up there to continue to provide service for the flood victims. But overall, just a...