Lazy Hiker Beer: Where To Buy And What To Know

The Lazy Hiker Brewing Company, located in the mountains of North Carolina, offers a range of beers that can be purchased at their taprooms in Franklin and Sylva, North Carolina. Their beers are also distributed across the 38 western counties of North Carolina and 37 northeastern counties of Georgia, available in various stores, bottle shops, and restaurants. The company invites hikers and travelers to visit their brewery, which includes an outdoor patio, disc golf, and an outdoor event space. The Lazy Hiker Brewing Company has been crafting beers since 2015, and their selection includes a variety of ales, IPAs, stouts, and sours, with creative names like Slack Pack IPA and Trail Candy.

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company locations

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company is located in Franklin, North Carolina, in the former town hall and fire department. The brewery includes a taproom, an outdoor patio, and an outdoor event space. In 2019, Lazy Hiker expanded and opened a second taproom in downtown Sylva, NC, which includes a game lounge and an outdoor patio.

The Franklin taproom is located at 188 W. Main St., Franklin, NC 28734, and is open Tuesday through Thursday from 11:30 am to 10 pm and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 11 pm.

The Sylva taproom is located at 617 W Main St., Sylva, NC 28779, and is open Tuesday from 11:30 am to 9 pm, Wednesday and Thursday from 11:30 am to 10 pm, and Friday and Saturday from 11:30 am to 11 pm.

Lazy Hiker beers can be found in stores, bottle shops, and restaurants throughout the 38 western counties of North Carolina and the 37 northeastern counties of Georgia. The company's beers are distributed by Skyland Distributing in North Carolina and Northeast Sales and Distributing in Georgia. If you don't see their beers in your favorite store, bar, or restaurant, you can always ask them to carry Lazy Hiker!

Beer types and flavours

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company is based in Franklin, North Carolina, with another taproom in Sylva, North Carolina. Their beers are distributed by Skyland Distributing in the 38 westernmost counties of North Carolina and by Northeast Sales and Distributing in the 37 northeastern counties of Georgia. You can find Lazy Hiker beer in many stores, bottle shops, and restaurants throughout Western North Carolina and North Georgia.

Now, let's explore the diverse world of beer types and flavours. Beer is one of the most widely consumed alcoholic beverages globally, with a rich variety of styles and flavours to cater to different tastes and occasions. Here are some popular beer types:

Ales and Lagers

The two main categories of beer are ales and lagers, differentiated by their fermentation temperatures and yeast types. Ales are brewed at warmer temperatures, resulting in a more complex flavour profile that can be fruity, spicy, bitter, or hoppy. Lagers, on the other hand, are brewed at cooler temperatures, yielding a crisp, clean taste and a smooth, refreshing quality.

IPAs (India Pale Ales)

IPAs are known for their bold hop flavours and aromas, with a distinct floral, citrus, or piney character. They range from the more hop-forward American IPAs to the resinous and dank Double IPAs, and the hazy, creamy New England IPAs.

Stouts

Stouts are dark, rich beers with a robust flavour profile and a creamy mouthfeel. They range from the well-known Irish dry stout, with its dry, roasted malt flavours, to oatmeal stouts, which are smooth and silky, and imperial stouts, which are bold and intense, often featuring dark fruit notes.

Porters

Porters are another dark and robust style, similar to stouts but with a complex flavour profile that includes notes of caramel, toffee, and dark fruit. American Imperial Porters amp up the intensity with rich roasted malt, chocolate, and coffee flavours.

Pilsners

Pilsners are light, crisp lagers with a clean, refreshing taste and a golden colour. They are known for their balanced bitterness and range from the classic American lager to the German Pilsner and Czech or Bohemian Pilsner, each with its unique subtleties.

Wheat Beers

Wheat beers are made with wheat as the malt, giving them a tangy, refreshing taste. Examples include the traditional German Berliner Weisse, which is light and often served with flavoured syrup, and Hefeweizen, a full-bodied, cloudy German wheat beer with banana and clove flavours.

Pale Ales

Pale ales offer a balanced mix of hoppy bitterness and malt sweetness. American pale ales lean more hop-forward, while blonde ales are a lighter, more delicate version, making them a great choice for those new to craft beer.

Bock Beers

Bock beers are traditional German brews known for their rich malt character and robust flavours. They range from pale to dark, with notes of caramel and toast, and are often enjoyed as winter warmers.

Brown Ales

Brown ales are malt-forward beers with a deep amber to dark brown colour. They showcase flavours of caramel, nuts, and toffee, and are smooth and easy to drink, making them accessible to a wide range of palates.

Belgian Beers

Belgian beers are characterised by their high alcohol content, low bitterness, and spiced fruity flavours. Styles range from the balanced Belgian pale ale to the stronger Belgian tripel and the rustic Belgian saison, each with unique yeast strains that contribute to their distinct flavours and high carbonation.

These are just a few examples of the diverse beer types available, each with its own unique characteristics, ingredients, and flavour profiles. Beer lovers can explore a wide range of options to suit their tastes, from crisp lagers to robust stouts and everything in between.

Distributors and stockists

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company has been crafting beer in Franklin, North Carolina, since 2015. The brewery includes a taproom, an outdoor patio, and an outdoor event space. In 2019, the company expanded and opened a second taproom in Sylva, NC, which includes a game lounge and outdoor patio.

Lazy Hiker beer can be found in many stores, bottle shops, and restaurants throughout Western North Carolina and North Georgia. The 38 westernmost counties of North Carolina are supplied by Skyland Distributing, while Northeast Sales and Distributing cover the 37 northeastern counties of Georgia.

If you're in Franklin or Sylva, or hiking the nearby Appalachian Trail, you can visit the brewery taprooms. The Franklin Taproom is located at 188 W. Main St. Franklin, NC 28734, and is open Tuesday to Thursday from 11:30 am to 10 pm, and Friday to Saturday from 11:30 am to 11 pm. The Sylva Taproom can be found at 617 W Main St, Sylva, NC 28779, and is open Tuesday from 11:30 am to 9 pm, and Wednesday to Saturday from 11:30 am to 11 pm.

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company invites hikers and travellers of all kinds to come and enjoy their beer and community spirit.

The brewing process

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company has been crafting beer in Franklin, North Carolina, since 2015. The company expanded in 2019 and opened a second taproom in Sylva, North Carolina. The beer is distributed by Skyland Distributing in the 38 westernmost counties of North Carolina and by Northeast Sales and Distributing in the 37 northeastern counties of Georgia.

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company uses a 2-vessel, 15-barrel system. The company sources parts from various places to ensure the system operates as desired.

The taprooms and outdoor spaces

In 2019, Lazy Hiker expanded and opened a second taproom in downtown Sylva, NC, in collaboration with Mad Batter Kitchen. This taproom features a game lounge and an outdoor patio. The Sylva taproom is open on Tuesdays from 11:30 am to 9 pm, and Wednesday through Saturday from 11:30 am to 11 pm.

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company invites hikers and travellers to visit their taprooms and enjoy their craft beers, which are distributed across Western North Carolina and North Georgia. The brewery is proud to host a variety of events, including concerts, tastings, and trivia nights, and also offers a food truck, Hiker's Kitchen, which serves a range of delicious dishes.

Whether you're a thru-hiker on the Appalachian Trail, a tourist from Atlanta, or a seasonal resident from Florida, Lazy Hiker Brewing Company welcomes you to come and 'Get Lazy' with them and enjoy their unique taprooms and outdoor spaces.

Frequently asked questions