Really enjoyed this place. The piece of wood the sampler came on was pretty unique! Thought it was great when we pulled up needing to change our baby in the back of the SUV, and there was a guy outside doing the exact same thing. Haha, there were at least 3 of us inside with kids, it was very inviting. There's a little room down below with some dart boards. The beers were varied. I didn't like them all (who ever does), but the types I usually enjoy were great. They were out of one I really wanted, but it was one they brew and people had just sucked it all down, so can't blame them for that! read more

Outdoor and indoor seating at this brewery. Very warm day, so we decided on inside for the air conditioning. Outdoor seating allows you to overlook the creek that runs right next to the brewery. We were greeted warmly at the bar an we opted for the BLACK BALSAM PORTER 5.5% and the TACTICAL CORSET SOUR BLONDE ALE also 5.5%. We were very pleased with our choices, refreshing and nice different flavors. We had sandwiches in our cooler in the car and asked if they minded if we ate them there, they were totally cool with it. They do have what looks like a permanent food truck on site, so we thought that was very kind. Looked like they had a pool table and tv's to watch. We bought a brewery t-shirt and will definitely return if we're in the area again. This is a must do if you're in the Maggie Valley, Cherokee and Smoky Mountain National Park area. Highly recommend. read more

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Location is pretty nice. It sits on a creek with a rustic romantic feel if you go at night and sit outside! I'm from Florida and we visit this brewery because my brother in laws loves his beer and around this gem. The sitting is cute too and they have a food truck that I wish I tried but I wasn't too hungry. But my family said their burgers was pretty good. read more

Innovation Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Sylva, North Carolina

What a lovely spot! If you aren't familiar with Sylva (that's where this brewery is), it's a bustling little old town not too far from a college, so folks are out and about even on weeknights. We stopped here on a Thursday and it felt like everyone was already celebrating the weekend. Bartenders were prompt and friendly but not overbearing. There are a variety of beers to pick from, ranging from simple & easy to drink to more complex & bold. A food truck was located outside with plenty of options (veggie ones too!). There's also a pizza place next door that you can order from and eat in the brewery. It was cold out but from what I could see their patio is super nice. Definitely a fan. read more

Definitely one of Sylvia's favorites. INNO is a great place to hang out with friends and simply socialize. They also have a good truck right outside their bar as well as a pizza place next to it. The beer choices on tap are usually pretty good and fairly local! Most staff has been respectable and have provided great service but I do recall very rude staff who threw my ID and card back after paying rudely and was not professional at all which is why I take away the 5 stars but degrade it to only a 4 star. read more

Beer was ok. No parking. Only food available needs to be ordered from food truck or pizza restaurant next door,( where you can't take your beer). read more

My husband and I each had a flight. All beers were good! There's a food truck and pizza joint next door, if you want to pick up something to eat while there. Bartender was friendly, plenty of outdoor seating, many beer options and great atmosphere. I'm really glad we stopped in on our drive through town. read more

Wide selection of beer(check), open mic (check), laid back (check), outdoor seating (check), food truck (check), kind people (no doubt a check), you need to stop here...ABSOLUTELY! read more

I'm from Indianapolis, IN, but I visited this brewery once or twice a week for the entire month of June last summer when I was completing requirements for school in Cherokee, which is nearby to Sylva. Innovation was our go-to place because the beers were excellent, the bartenders and owners were so nice, and the local live music was fun! They don't have food of their own, but they have a food truck onsite most evenings & I always enjoyed the burgers & tacos I usually got from those! I typically am not a big beer drinker, but I really got into sours and fruit beers while trying new things at Innovation & I'm thankful for all the evenings I spent here. I just can't wait for the opportunity to go back someday! read more

Innovation Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Sylva, North Carolina

They have a lot of options for drinks. I really enjoyed the apple cider. The prices are pretty fair. Place is very unique.

What a great find. The environment is unique and fascinating with the woods and running water. The beer assortment is great! I tried a few and was pleased with each. Service is great, everyone is kind. Was visiting Sylva for 4 four days and went twice. read more

Wonderful place to spend a snowy afternoon. Their Red IPA is delish and the bartender was helpful and very knowledgeable!

After wanting to try out Innovation for what felt like ages, I made it out last weekend on a beautiful, sunny day. I loved the relaxed atmosphere here. Most everyone was sitting outside and we scored a picnic table right next to the river. I tried an IPA which was great and their cherry sour which was even better. My partner had the Nitro Irish Stout which was so smooth it was insane. We grabbed some food from the permanent food truck and I was all about those french fries as was the golden retriever sitting next to us. They were so salty and perfect after a long day of hiking (just kidding - we were playing mini golf). I can't wait to make another stop at Innovation. read more

I would rate 0 stars if i could. Woman inside was extremely rude the entire time we came. The man behind the counter sent us outside in the rain to sit because there was "too many people" by the entrance. Went up to order 3 cans of soda that were $1 each and she grabbed my money put in the tip jar and handed me 1 soda. I told her I wanted 3 sodas not one and she rolled her eyes and huffed because she had to take the money out of the tip jar. I would not visit this place again. read more

Ok, one of my favorite things is to stop in a brewery for pint. My second favorite thing is finding an out of the way brewery (or at least one I wouldn't normally stumble upon) and having a pint. Which is what Innovation was for us. We went to Sylva for the kids park. En route we passed Innovation. So after the kids played for a bit, we stopped in. It's mid day on a Monday, and most of the patio was taken. We grabbed a table inside, layed out the checkers set for the kids, and the wife and I each had a flight and the kids had a cane sugar soda (hey, at least it was natural!). Also need to mention the flight of 5 oz pours I think was only 4.50 or so. Burial in Asheville was $8! Of all the breweries in this general area, Innovation might actually be my favorite. Hoping to return again when I'm out in the NC area. read more

A lot of different beers to choose from as well as wines and ciders .. our bartender ( beer enthusiast ) Phil was amazing .. very patient with me .. I tasted many before finding THE ONE .. the also have a food truck outside .. good time read more

It was actually really tough deciding on whether or not to give this brewery a 4 or 5 star rating. 4.5? Can we do that. The vibe was great. Live music that was great for the most part (was a little irritated at how long the band went between songs at times). Beer selection is amazing for this part of North Carolina. I was a little bothered by how many "funky/sour" beers were offered in relation to dark beers. I'm happy to see some variety and some unique brews, but they only had 1 porter and 1 stout. For how many beers they offered, it seems unreasonable to have nearly 10 sour beers and only a couple dark beers. I'm biased though I guess since I prefer dark beers. The service was great. The staff was friendly and attentive. My one qualm is that they seemed kinda busy for the amount of employees working. I'd like to see at least one more employee working. Outdoor patio seating was great. Lots of space. For the area, it's really a 5-star place I suppose, but I really would like to see more dark beer options and an extra employee, whether it be a bartender or a floor person so that the bartender doesn't have to find momentary gaps to go clean up between serving beers leaving the bar unattended. 4.5 stars. I'll round it up to 5. read more

Great atmosphere. Great environment. Friendly people. Fantastic selection of brews. If you can't find something you like, start drinking wine. Spoiler alert: they have wine too. read more

Excellent selection of good beers. All beers that I had (mostly porters and stouts) were very well done. I would call this the best brewery, beer quality wise, in Sylva. read more

I've been to this brewery both times I was in Sylva on a business trip and both times I have thoroughly enjoyed their beers. The brewery itself is fairly small with a rustic interior and a patio outside for when the weather is warm. Both times I was there it was very busy and there was a food truck outside. Though I don't remember the details about each beer I tried, I do remember liking them, especially because they are so unique in flavor. One in particular, a peanut butter ale, was so good it has me searching in vain trying to find something similar here in Denver. I definitely recommend trying this brewery if you're into beer and in the area. read more

I love coming here every time I am in town. Bartenders are always amazing. Great beer and the food truck is great.

Was having a great day on the GSMR until we walked in here. Ordered the Raspberry Sour which tasted horrible. Asked if I could exchange for another bev that was a less price and was told no. In a very rude and condescending manner. First and last time here. read more

Great local brewery with awesome bar tenders and numerous tasty beers on tap. The permanent food truck (cosmic carry out) parked there is also worth mentioning- best burgers in town without a doubt! read more

Stopped in & was greeted by a friendly guy behind the counter. The selections were enticing & many...first choice was a beet & basil 5.7% pale then a rosemary 5.8% pale both of which were delicious, the rosemary being my favorite of the two. The outdoor seating is nice, seems separated for smokers down by the Cosmic Carryout food truck (cheeseburgers, hamburgers, hot dogs, chili dogs, grilled cheese, fries & has a 98% sanitation rating) & the upper outdoor area for nonsmokers. Indoors the seating is cozy & there is a dart area & a unisex bathroom read more

This is a pretty cool place to stop in Dillsboro, NC (new location). The servers are knowledgeable of their beers and the beer is pretty good. I prefer darker beers but can enjoy a Blonde Ale, or wheat beer. I do not like IPAs. I tried the Brett Blonde and it was good. The Peach-a-Peno has an odd flavor that I cannot put my finger on right now. The Midnight Ryeder is a dark IPA and is too hoppy for a dark beer. The Black Balsam Porter has a nutty flavor and is not as smooth as smooth as some porters I have had. Over all, IB is a pretty good micro-brew experience. Be sure to try Foragers next door. read more

Such a great little place. We brought our dog and they had water bowls all around to accommodate the four legged companions outside on both of their patios. The beer selection was well rounded and the bartender was extremely friendly and helpful. The seating outside on the full covered patio can feel a little crowded but overall it was a nice experience. They had a food truck that we did not try but it was nice they made accommodations to have food available. The restaurant next door, Pie Times, will deliver to your table at Innovation Brewing. Innovation will definitely be added to our must revisit list when in the area. read more

I attend the local university and this is by far my favorite place to hangout have a delicious beer and grab a burger from the local food truck (best burger in town). My favorite beer is the lemon drop saison 6.3%. I come here to hangout with friends or do homework. I wish I had innovations back in my hometown. Anyone who comes to visit I immediately bring them here. Innovations is the best! I highly recommend. read more

Innovation Brewing - Love to grab the food truck burger (best burger in town) and a delicious beer at innovations - Breweries Near Me - Sylva, North Carolina

On a recent trip to Franklin, this was one of two brewery pit stops for me. The place was packed full, some locals and some hipsters. I fit in the old man who likes beer category. It looks like there's a seasonal outdoor area that had been cleared out. The tasting room is fairly small and has a large garage door at the front - I'm guessing they open it during the warmer months. This evening, there were 21 beers on tap. That's an impressive number, I thought to myself. I ordered a flight of 5 ($8) - 5 oz pours served on a giant wooden coaster. Let me say it took a long time to order. A male bartender clad in ballcap and plaid shirt with a greenish tattoo on his neck chose to ignore me completely, until a female bartender finally noticed me. I tried multiple times to make eye contact and get his attention (I was 5 feet from him). I did notice a trend = if you were a young pretty girl, he was on you like white on rice. The beer: The Nitro Irish Stout was stellar. The Oatmeal Stout, Nitro "The Java" and Black Balsam Porter were either "one note" or forgettable. The ESB was enjoyable but not particularly bitter. Sylva is way out there and it's really cool have a place like this. I'd rather go somewhere that only had 6-10 beers and do them well than trying to "shotgun" the craft beer market. I would also recommend that they find some better representation for the front of the house. Your bartenders, their attitudes, their willingness to talk about your product can make a big difference in how patrons view your beer. read more

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Oh my goodness! What a wonderful experience. We walked in hungry and were given perfect advice to go to Haywood smokehouse. We grabbed take out and brought it back. I had a black balsam porter and my husband had phat chance amber. Most definitely a great stop. Thanks innovation! read more

Definitely the best brewery in Sylva. Excellent beer and very cool the way they built it right on the river with great outdoor seating area. Also their bar is super cool and the servers are great to talk to. The food truck outside is just OK so I suggest getting something to go from one of the many restaurants down the road instead. I've supported Innovation Brewing ever since their dust up with Bell's a few years back. We make a stop every time we're in Sylva. read more

Happened to try it out for the first time on Triva night, was super fun and friendly ! Great staff. We played darts and had some really great beer. read more

Innovation Brewing - Darts ! - Breweries Near Me - Sylva, North Carolina

In the Cherokee area for the weekend and wanted to try a few local breweries. Innovation was one of the closest to where we were staying so the wife and I headed over after lunch at a local area restaurant. First impression was great. Outside seating located overlooking a creek provided a relaxing atmosphere for a fall Friday. Ordered two flights so my wife could try two sours and the other eight were for me to sample a wide variety of beers. Everything was fantastic and I even grabbed a 32oz growler of the Super Pepper Pablano Stout for the road. Certainly will be back for more next trip as I expect many new beers each time. Based on their name, I feel they are continually creating and rotating selections. read more

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Must go place in Sylvia. Tried the Soulvation IPA and it was great. Would recommend getting a pizza next door while having a drink. I have heard the food truck is also great to get a bite to eat. If I'm ever in town again will definitely be stopping by. read more

The beers here are absolutely amazing. The bar attracts a cool, intellectual sort of crowd with a lot of grad students, unlike a few of the college bars in the area. Circumnavigation is my favorite beer there. You've got to try it! The joke they always say is they'll cut you off once you're no longer able to say the name! read more

Very cool spot. Tons of choices to drink. Awesome Pizza next door and permanent food truck with incredible burgers are available. Planned on getting a drink and leaving. Ended up eating pizza and burgers and tried several beers and ciders, stayed over three hours. Chris the bartender was absolutely the best, helpful, funny and made us not want to leave! read more

I love this place, it's right along the river, very relaxing, we usually stay for about 2-3hrs, I tried the black ipa and pumpkin, delicious! I will be back! read more

Innovation Brewing - Breweries Near Me - Sylva, North Carolina

We were looking for a new brewery to try in Western NC. Sure enough we found this one through Yelp. It was a Sunday afternoon and we headed right over and pulled into their small lot. They had a lot of interesting beers. I remember there being a beet beer on tap, which my boyfriend tried and enjoyed. But ultimately he preferred what I was drinking, which was their Nut Brown. We sat outside under the covered patio. There was also more picnic tables without cover but it was a bit too warm of a day for that. There was a food truck parked on the other end of the picnic tables. We ordered some french fries and they were delicious. They got more crowded as we sat there. It was nice to see that and I hope to see them thrive. Before taking off, we decided on buying a growler full of the nut brown ale (which we enjoyed a few nights later) read more

If you enjoy a craft brewery with a wide variety of on-tap options and laid-back vibe with friendly staff, Innovation Brewery is worth a visit. Whenever visiting a new brewery, I usually entertain the idea of a flight if one is offered before going straight for a pint. Innovation not only offers a flight, but they do so to a tune of 5 5oz pours for $8.. not a bad way to test out some of their eclectic selections (cucumber mint saison anyone??), sours (5-6 on tap) and numerous IPAs. I was a fan of Innovation's overall aesthetic- chill music, subtly awesome bar top, high-top tables made from wood pallets and barrels, walls that open to the outside during fair weather, and a space in the back for games and darts. And being a lover of water (both in beer and purified form), I was appreciative of Innovation's offering of self-serve drinking water on it's own beer tap. One of the highlights was our bartender who was more than willing to explain the different drafts, give suggestions on what to try, and be sure all of our needs were being met. And while we weren't there in the evening, their monthly calendar reveals their lineup of nightly live events. I'd definitely come back for some live music and during warm weather when it's open to the outside. read more

Really cool place with some crazy-unique brews! Sooooo worth the stop in for a flight or a few pints! read more

Love the casual, funky atmosphere. We often take our family here because not only can you get a great micro brew, but you Cal also get some really good food read more