This brewery ranks as NC’s best. What makes it so special — besides a giant train car?
A Western North Carolina brewery boasts a train-themed twist — and was named the best in the state.
Whistle Hop Brewing Company tops the list of places making and serving beer in North Carolina, according to results published Monday, May 9.
To come up with the findings, the restaurant review website Yelp said it examined listings in each state and considered their health scores.
“We identified businesses in the breweries category on Yelp that brew their own beer, then ranked those spots using a number of factors, including the total volume and ratings of reviews,” the company wrote in a blog post.
In North Carolina, Whistle Hop Brewing Company earned the No. 1 spot after customers helped it receive a five-star rating. Several raved online about the taproom’s selection of brews and activities that ranged from mini golf to bowling.
Then there’s the on-site train caboose, which one Yelp user described as a “fun place to chug chug chug.” Whistle Hop Brewing Company said its customers can sit back in a “1969 Norfolk and Western caboose” or experience music and games in a “1941 Southern Railway boxcar,” according to its website and Facebook page.
“What started as our family’s old caboose and a dream has grown into Asheville’s most unique destination brewery,” the business wrote on Yelp. “We’re so proud to have created this special place for locals and visitors alike to gather and enjoy our unique craft beers in the heart of Fairview.”
Fairview is roughly 12 miles southeast of the mountain tourist destination of Asheville. It might not come as a surprise that the state’s top-ranking brewery is in the area.
That’s because Asheville was recently named one of the nation’s best places for beer drinkers. The city also received nods for its breweries when it landed on TripAdvisor’s list of trendiest U.S. travel spots, McClatchy News reported in February.
