Green Man Brewery was started in 1997 in the brew pub Jack of the Wood in downtown Asheville. As Downtown Asheville’s oldest brewery, they developed the first sour program in the area. Initially brewed in dairy tanks at the brewery’s inception, the operations were relocated to a new brewery and connected taproom nicknamed “Dirty Jack’s” in 2005, located in the South Slope area of Downtown Asheville. Ownership switched from Joe Eckert to Dennis Thies in 2010, while original brewer John Stuart continued to brew for Green Man. As the company’s distribution footprint widened and popularity of Green Man’s beers rose, the production abilities needed to be scaled up. An upgrade in 2006 saw production grow from 7bbl to 14bbl, and was later redoubled in 2012 to a 30 bbl brewhouse. In 2015, expansion continued with the addition of a bottling line, packaging, shipping facility and beer garden.
On St. Patty’s Day 2016 the much-anticipated third expansion project of Green Man Brewery opened. The 20,000 square foot “Greenmansion” is located next to current operations on Buxton Avenue on the South Slope of Downtown Asheville.
Experience
Brewery is situated in a warehouse with views of the brewing tanks. A few tables and bar seating available. The bottle many of their beers and they are available around town. The place is full of images of the Green man. Great logo they have created. They probably had about six beers available the day we were there. Our beer tender was great. I understand they are working on an enormous new three story building to be open early in 2016.
The Asheville Downtown Aloft is probably the closest hotel to the Greenman. It is expensive and difficult to get in. If you don’t enjoy traversing very hilly streets, many more hotels within a $5.00 Uber ride.
