The best beer in North Carolina? This brewery ranks No. 1 in the state, Yelp says
A brewery sits next to a small-town North Carolina creek — and beer lovers can’t get enough of it.
So much so, it ranks as the No. 1 brewery in the state. Hillman Beer in Old Fort received the top honor after the review website Yelp said it studied comments that customers left over time.
“We identified businesses in the breweries category on Yelp, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews,” the website wrote in its May 1 report.
The brewery was named a fan favorite after the Asheville area’s food and drink scene earned repeated praise. The mountain tourist town recently ranked as one of the best places for beer drinkers and also received a nod for its restaurants and breweries.
Though Hillman Beer has a presence in the beer hub of Asheville, its other brewery about 25 miles to the east earned the recognition from Yelp. The winning brewery is in the town of Old Fort, described as a “hidden gem.”
“Nestled against the beautiful fresh water of Mill Creek the brewery boasts over 10,000 square feet of indoor/outdoor seating with over 32 taps” the business wrote on its website.
On Yelp, several users raved about the creekside setting, helping the business earn five out of five stars. Others were fans of burgers and of course, the selection of beer.
The Old Fort location said it got its start in 2020, more than a decade after Brad Hillman got into homebrewing. He teamed with family members to start the brewery, where the drinks on tap include a dry Irish stout and a blood orange creamsicle sour.
This story was originally published May 8, 2023 at 9:21 AM with the headline "The best beer in North Carolina? This brewery ranks No. 1 in the state, Yelp says."
