North Carolina Home To One Of The Best Brewery Tours In The U.S.

In our free time we usually try to find great new restaurants or breweries and wineries to try with friends. And, when I saw that North Carolina is home to one of the best brewery tours in the U.S. I took note. USA Today published their “10 Best Brewery Tours in the US.” And, after nominations and voting from readers, the list is out. And, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in North Carolina came in at number 3!
The nod from USA Today points out that Sierra Nevada Brewing has facilities in California and Mills River, North Carolina. And, the interactive tours last anywhere from 45-60 minutes. Plus, guests get a chance to see the whole process from the start to ending up in your favorite bottle of brew. Also, there’s even a tasting. I mean, what’s a tour without a tasting?
The North Carolina Sierra Nevada Brewing website recommends making a reservation for the brewery tour. And, if you have a special event you can even book a private tour. I’m thinking bachelor/bachelorette parties or birthdays. Plus, there’s different varieties of tours available at this North Carolina brewery that made USA Today’s Best Brewery Tours in the U.S.
The “Beer Geek Tour” goes deeper into the process for a 3 hour tour. And, visitors get a behind the scenes look at things. Then, there’s the “Hop Head Tour.” This Sierra Nevada tour is about 90 minutes and explores the world of IPAs. And, other tours include the “Beyond The Pale Tour,” “Trip in the Woods Hiking Tour,” “Frontiers of Flavor,” and “Beers & Blueprints.” This tour takes guests on a look at the architecture of the Mills River facility.
So, check the website for more info on the North Carolina brewery that landed on USA Today’s 10 Best Brewery Tours in the U.S. And, take a look at their full list to see other best brewery tours around the country.
North Carolina's Best Whiskey Distilleries

I came across a story this morning that had two words together that immediately piqued my interest: bourbon tourism. Uh, where do I sign up?! Attendance at distilleries along the Kentucky Bourbon Trail surpassed 2 million in 2022 for the first time ever. Total visits exceeded 2.1 million last year, easily beating the pre-pandemic record of 1.7 million stops in 2019. In the past decade, the “amber adventure” has had a 370% surge in attendance. The distillers’ association created the Kentucky Bourbon Trail in 1999 to give visitors an intimate, educational look behind the state’s most historic distilleries. Total attendance at its 18 participating distilleries nearly reached 1.4 million last year. But, what about North Carolina’s best whiskey distilleries?

Hey, wait a minute. Nothing against Kentucky, but there is PLENTY of whiskey joy right here in the Tar Heel State to keep you sated. My wife and I have a set of friends that we spend “Sunday Fundays” exploring North Carolina breweries and wineries. This year, we’re branching out into craft cocktail spots and distilleries. In no particular order, here are five spots that are on our list to visit, tour, sample their wares, and pick up a bottle or two for our stock. So, enjoy our list of North Carolina’s best whiskey distilleries.
Debbie Nance is the afternoon co-host along with her husband on "The Charlie and Debbie Show" at WSOC, Country 1037 in Charlotte, North Carolina. She has been with the station for 18 years. Debbie is a CMA Award winner for Radio Personality of the Year. And, she has worked in radio for 40 years. Before her current afternoon position, Debbie spent more than a decade as co-host on morning shows in several markets across the Southeast. As a content creator for Country 1037, Debbie writes articles about food, new restaurants in the Carolinas and travel experiences.