Boone is known for many things, including its vibrant community of passionate artists, craftsmen, and adventurers. A visit to Booneshine Brewing Company captures the spirit of this inimitable town.
Including a tasting room and full restaurant, outdoor beer garden, and food truck, Booneshine is the perfect place to revel in the very best of mountain living while indulging in exceptional craft beer, fresh, local food, and exceptional company.
Some tasting rooms offer limited pours and call it a day. This couldn’t be further from the case at Booneshine.
Located just outside the hustle and bustle of downtown Boone adjacent to the Ted Mackerel Soccer Complex in East Boone, this destination brewery’s well-appointed tasting room lays claim to a full restaurant offering a thoughtful and creative menu of appetizers (AKA “smalls”), salads, sandwiches, flatbreads, and desserts (AKA “sweets”) made with fresh, locally sourced ingredients.
And while it may be a brewing company, Booneshine is ideal for families thanks to its fun atmosphere and kids’ menu. (The chicken nuggets are a big hit with the wee ones!)
And then there’s the draft menu. Featuring a long list of tasty and approachable beers ranging from light to dark and everything in between, there’s truly something for everyone amidst this beautifully balanced selection.
Boasting soaring ceilings, rich wood and stone, and a mountain lodge-type motif, the tasting room offers plenty of airy ambiances. Every detail is accounted for here; there’s even covered outdoor heated seating for colder or rainy days.
For a completely different yet equally appealing aesthetic, venture over to the Beer Garden. Open when the Booneshine truck is operating, this outdoor seating area features both sunny and shady spots, and offers a rotating selection of beer, along with wine, cider, and soft drinks accompanied by a small yet appetizing menu of “bar bites” and larger meals.
The Beer Garden also routinely plays host to live local musicians offering everything from boot-stomping Appalachian folk-grass and Southern Americana to soul, blues, and reggae. Check the schedule online to see who’s playing next!
A few of our favorite menu items included:
Soft Pretzel
A collaboration between local Stick Boy Bread Co. and Booneshine, this beer butter-brushed specialty comes with your choice of beer cheese, house mustard, or hot honey. (They’re all ridiculously tasty, but there’s something about beer cheese at a brewery.)
Three Little Buttermilk Ham Biscuits
What’s better than tender buttermilk biscuits? Tender buttermilk biscuits served with local Goodnight Bros. country ham, house mustard, and spiced apple butter.
Warm Grains Bowl
If you’re in the mood for something nourishing, this hearty salad is packed with goodness, including a medley of grains, roasted fennel, kale, spinach, beet purée, pickled cauliflower, and red onion—topped with shaved radish, lemon, and EVOO.
The Bolic Burger (Brookshire Style)
Made with local, sustainable, grass-fed beef from Bolick Farms, this next-level burger is smothered in caramelized onions, beer cheese, and candied bacon. It’s pretty much as deliciously decadent as it gets.
The Hot Honey Chicken Sandwich
You had us at “hot honey.” YUM.
Crispy Brussels Sprouts
If you thought the words “Brussels sprouts” and “sublime” were mutually exclusive, you haven’t had this candied bacon, malted barley, golden oats, and pickled pepper relish concoction.
And while narrowing down our favorite drafts was next to impossible, these brews stood out:
Palate Painter IPA
If you love a fruity IPA, this crisp and refreshing brew is guaranteed to delight thanks to vibrant notes of grapefruit and pineapple
High Country Honey
This easy-drinking American amber ale brewed with local North Carolina honey and honey malt is the perfect accompaniment to summer in the High Country.
Long Winter Mocha Stout
This imperial mocha stout is rich, full-bodied, and wonderfully aromatic with a smooth and surprisingly light aftertaste.
Not sure what to choose off the food or bar menu? The service at Booneshine is as exceptional as the food and the ambiance. Servers and bartenders are informative, enthusiastic, and helpful—so be sure to ask if you have any questions or need a recommendation.
Insider Tips:
-Traveling with a four-footed friend? Dogs are welcome in the tasting room’s outdoor seating area.
-While the tasting room maintains regular hours, the food truck is weather-dependent. If the sun is shining, they’re probably up and running. (You might want to call ahead to be sure.)
-Love BBQ? Plan your visit to take advantage of Saturday BBQ at the Beer Garden. Choose from pork butt and beef brisket sandwiches, plates, group meals, and even meat by the pound.
-While Booneshine Brewing Company is massive, it’s also very popular. While there may be a wait if you forget to make reservations, a convenient waiting “park” with a gas fire pit, games, and plenty of space for running and playing makes the time fly by.