The Whale A Craft Beer Collective

Stopped by on a Friday afternoon and had a great experience. The amount of beer offerings was amazing, though I would’ve loved a little more variety of the options On Tap. The bottle and can menu was outstanding. I love the layout and vibe and I love that you can grab food from Haywood Common and walk the 50 feet over. Will definitely be back

Love this amazing cozy place in. Good collection of beers on taps. Big fan of their Guinness on tap. The outdoor seating is fun when the weather is good and summer. Have indoor board games, that can keep everyone entertained like couples Or kids or a group. It’s is pet friendly. The food can be brought next door from Haywood common. It’s shared.

The Whale is one of the best beer scenes I’ve ever been to. They have some phenomenal craft beer! And the atmosphere is amazing! If you’re in Asheville and you love craft beer you have to come to The Whale!

I had a great time here. The staff was really nice and they had a great beer selection. There is plenty of seating and a great vibe to the whole place. The restaurant next door has good food, too. Definitely worth checking out.

Needing a good beer ? Need to find a hard to find beer? Well you’re looking in the right place. Great list of bottles and drafts from just about everywhere. Very impressed with the atmosphere as well and great selections. Plenty of outdoor seating and indoor options as well. We will be back!

My “home” bar after my weekly radio show on Sundays. The wonderful thing about the Whale is it feels very local. We have been going to the Whale for many years, prior to Covid in fact, because I host a weekly radio show down the street that ends at 6pm, So at 6:01 we take the guests, who are all poets and writers, to the Whale. At one point, the bartender joked that we should host a satellite version of our radio show there and call it “poetry and pints” so the Whale feels like home. This place is magnificent for so many reasons. The draft selection is excellent, and the bartenders are well acquainted with all of the offerings! Many places have a wonderful selection of beer. But what differentiates the Whale is the incredibly knowledgeable staff. Shout out especially to Josh! He knows I love a big, juicy IPA, but he knows I also like high gravity, and something with a little citrus. And something that’s a bit hazy, and not too grassy. I know that sounds a bit specific, but every single time, Josh knows exactly what I want. if he doesn’t have what I want on draft, he is not hesitant to recommend from the wonderful selection of cans and bottles that they have. When I’m not in the mood for a beer, there’s a gorgeous red wine that is available. They even have cold sakes when I’m not in the mood for either. And my husband is a cider fan, and they always have some interesting options. My only complaint is they used to have mead by the glass, and then there was a distributor situation or something, but I would love to see them return to a few affordable traditional meads by the glass. But that doesn’t diminish an excellent experience… Every… Single… Time. The music selection is wonderful! When we go on Sundays, they play a full album, often something fabulous like The Fixx. Inside it feels cozy in the winter, but we cannot forget about the magnificent patio they have with heaters. For three seasons a year we sit outside…and during Covid, we sat outside even if it was freezing, and cuddled up next to one of the heaters and just brought blankets. It was so nice to be able to go out, and feel safe outside, while still feeling cozy The Whale feels like home.

One word, GREAT. Awesome place with great service. Not to mention, what is a Whale in beer culture? Discover the answer yourself by visiting.😉 I will return one day and thank you to staff for recommending an amazing dry cider I purchased. It was superb!

This is such a cool place to visit. It is not a brewery however it does offer local and state specific beers along with other popular beers. They basically have it all. They have an entire 3 ring notebook filled with beers they have. It’s pretty awesome along with the atmosphere. We were there on a Dj night and it was so much fun.

Stopped here last week while int he area with my girlfriend. The beer selection is second to none. However, the menu is a 30 page folder. We stuck to the tap menu on Untappd for simplicity's sake. If you live there, direct the menu, but for a quick visit it is overwhelming. The atmosphere is neat, but it was cold, when they finally closed the big door, it warmed up a bit. The bartender was mostly disinterested and he was the only staff present. So Menu ... 5 stars ... but simplify it. Atmosphere ... 4 stars ... pretty cool, but cold and not that clean Service ... 3 stars

Cool place! Peach Slide sour was really good. They have a HUGE drink menu in a binder. Several things on draft and then a lot more available by the bottle. The inside is really neat with lots of plants and natural wood elements. They also have a large outdoor patio space which probably has more seating than inside actually. Really glad we got to check this place out while we were in town!

Great ambience a chilled vibe that suites the city well. Guinness is on tap which I adore in the mist of all the craft beer.

Friendly bartenders and an even better beer selection. From the Wu Tang graphic t shirts to the abundant options of beer, the whale never disappoints. All the great Asheville beer options and plus some. The Whale has one of the most diverse and best beer selections in NC! We've come here with many large groups and there is always an option for everyone! Must stop spot when in Aville.

The Whale is a great spot for groups or date night to grab a cocktail or local brew. It is super cozy & lots of outside seating available. It was a mellow night, but you could tell this place has the potential to get live! The staff is friendly and upbeat. Go check out The Whale when in West AVL!

So many hard-to-find beers here! My husband is a bit of a beer connoisseur and he's been on the hunt for harder to come by beers. He was stoked they had quite a few he's been wanting to try. Pretty much everything they offered was more on the "rare" side and they did not carry many of the typical local breweries. That's not really what this place is about (you can go literally anywhere else in Asheville for that lol). For gluten free folks they had some ciders and mead you could buy in bottles/cans. I don't recall them having any on tap. If you're wanting to make a six pack they have a huge binder of drinks to choose from. They also had a lot on tap. The place itself was really cool. I loved all the plants and the whale skeleton was a neat touch. It felt very unique and the people who worked there were very nice. We will definitely be back next time we go to Asheville!

A delightful menu of rotating taps that turn over quite frequently. Decent wine for those who aren't beer fans. If you want a cocktail, go next door. Super friendly service too. This was our favorite spot in Asheville and really felt like home.

Great beer bar and bottle shop! The decor alone is worth a gander! Inside & outdoor seating, knowledgeable beer staff, and awesome selections on draught and in can/btls to-go...what more could you ask for? Prices are fair for the quality of beer and the glassware is definitely collectible. One of my new fav spots in AVL.

California/New York prices...not North Carolina. I've been to almost every brewery in WNC with my kids and my family. This place is insanely expensive, a 8 ounce (3 sip beer at best) on tap was $9. That's nuts. These prices are so high it's going to turn off people from going out and people will stop going out if they think prices are this high everywhere. In contrast a similar beer in ABV and flavor @ Hillman Brewery (example) a 20 ounce beer is $5-$9...or any brewery in 30 miles costs on a high. That's an insane mark up. Go to fresh market/world market and get a 4 pack for the same price as 8 ounces.

Stopped in here for a quick glass of wine with my lady babes. We should know better. It's never a "quick stop"... it always turns into several drinks, countless laughs and wishing it wasn't a "school" night. The rose on tap is my favorite and they always pour generously. If the covered porch is available those twinkle lights ALWAYS suck us in. Last visit it was pouring rain and you'd never even know even sitting outside. They have plenty of outdoor seating and the tables are nice and solid so you don't have to worry about it wobbling over and spilling your drinks. I still haven't tried the beer but I've heard great things. Still love that you can pick your own records to spin.

Excellent beer selection that covers the Carolina's, including their very best. Buying by the can is super expensive though. Employee was super helpful and knowledgeable for the novice of the regional beers.

Cute atmosphere. Great decor. HOLY BEER SELECTION! Connected to Haywood Common - great food - fresh & local. You can bring food from Haywood into the Whale to enjoy.

I was skeptical of another beer place but this one has quickly become a fav. They have a great location (parking dicey. I always forget to try the church, tho!) and super kind staff. The rotation is a good mix of local and non local stuff. I like their rose and and sparkling spiked water selections. The outdoor seating could use a bit more shade but I do like that it's spacious and dog friendly. Great place to catch up with friends!

I'm so glad we walked a mile and a half up hill from New Belgium and landed at this place. Holy shit. A craft beer drinkers MECCA. Their draft and can list was one of the most extensive I've seen in recent memory with as many local beers as they can get along with some hard to find stuff from around the country and beyond. The owner was in when we came through and was able to provide unique options for us that neither of us had heard of when given flavors we were looking for. Gotta love a place like that. The decor is super kitschy and their logo is really awesome. Plus they have amazing indoor and outdoor spaces with lots of plants maximizing your experience. What's not to love?! Would definitely hike to West Asheville again just to show up at the Whale!

I really liked this spot. My husband and I stopped in for a round of beer and to pick up a few cans and had a fun time. The beer selection was fantastic and the outdoor seating area was spacious. If you are in Asheville, The Whale is a must visit.

Beautiful setup outdoor and cool deco indoor. Great beer selection. Definitely a cool place in west Asheville.

Great place! Grab some nosh next door at Haywood Common. The patio has plenty of seating for a friends get together. Well-behaved dogs are welcomed. My coon hound Ernie loved it! Nate helped me with the perfect beer choice. He is a real asset to this establishment:

Love the Whale. One of my favorite places in town to get a beer. Local beer but more important, a wonderful selection of beers from around the country (/world?) curated by the bar. Staff always friendly and willing to offer a suggestion. I'm here roughly once a week and I can say with utmost certainty that the level of service and quality never dips. Don't skip out on The Whale.

Super cute, hipster atmosphere. Service was fast, and very friendly. Ordered the Chicken and Waffles, which was amazing! I do wish there were more breakfast options; but honestly the menu looks unique and delicious enough that it doesn't really matter.

Really cool space. Also major props to them for offering unique gluten free beer options. I can't drink regular beer and the gluten free options get old after a while, but The Whale offered a ton of options, including a coffee stout! I've never been able to have more than a sip of a stout, so I was thrilled to expand my gluten free beer horizons. Staff was super friendly and willing to make recommendations, but not overbearing which I really appreciated.

Drinks: They have a huge selection of beers from all over the country so we just got what sounded interesting. Most of them are available in 5 or 8 oz pours depending on the kind of beer. The beers we got were super interesting and super yummy. Experience: Due to COVID, you have to have a mask while ordering and when not drinking. It was cold out but they do have space heaters outside with a bunch of picnic tables. The staff are wearing masks the whole time and people are spaced out when possible. Value: I tried 6 different beers at 5 oz pours and it came out to $30. Worth it for the vibe and the wide selection of beers. Def check em out if you're in town!

The bartenders were super nice and knowledgeable. The music was dynamite from Bauhaus to Bowie! The tables on the patio thru the side door under the heat lamps was a great place to hang. This is a "collective" that features hundreds of beers including many many Asheville brewed craft beers. Located in the grittier, off the beaten tourist path of West Asheville. We stopped here for a beer and perused the menu at the attached Haywood Common. We decided to to take a less than 10 minute walk to WALK for dinner instead ( see my review for that awesome spot!). After dinner at WALK we came back to the Whale. It was still chill with good music and our favorite table was open. This was a great experience for the 6 of us! Thanks to the guys at the Whale for being so cool and knowledgeable. The one criticism is that they were very low on t-shirt stock- we all wanted to buy and they were out of most in LG! Anyway they should be getting a new batch before the holidays so hopefully I will get a WuWhale shirt for Christmas!

I love going to The Whale. It has a great environment and the beer list is amazing! They have so many options for everyone who enjoys beer. My favorite thing about The Whale is that they have Sparking Rośe on draft!!! Sooo good! Definitely check it out if you are ever in the area.

Fun bottle shop with a large selection. Awesome service with a great outdoor seating area. Very cool merch section and loved the whale!

Great vibe and outdoor seating. They never make the same barrel of beer, which is pretty cool but when asked about the selection they couldn't make a good recommendation. Though we'll all ended up with very tasty beers.

The Whale was the first bar I went to in Asheville, so I didn't yet know what to compare it to. They have a great indoor space with a long bar and plenty of tables. They have a good sized patio that, while it faces the parking lot, is sheltered from the street noise of Haywood a bit. It's a little quieter and more pleasant, but that limits the people watching opportunities, so hopefully you like the people you're with (I did, so it worked out). They are not messing around with the whale theme. It's serious. They have a scale model of a whale skeleton across the ceiling. There are whale themed items everywhere. I was briefly married to a woman from Cape Cod and once spent a month driving from Cape Breton to Ptown, so I am accustomed to whale themed things, but there were tiny whale items that were new even to me. Later on in my time in Asheville I kept coming across beers I just plain did not care for, but the Whale treated me right. Coming from other cities, the prices seemed normal to me, especially since they have a fantastic beer selection. However, it's on the high end of drinking options in Asheville.

Absolutely one of my favorite places in Asheville to grab unique beers and have great conversation. The staff are fantastic and very knowledgeable about the plethora of beverages served. From the decor to the people who frequent this establishment, this place always brings a smile to our face. Dogs love it, the kids not so much. Much of the place is high top seating and not a lot of area for them to run. Nothing negative to say about that, just take it for what you think it's worth.

The Whale is quite the place to visit. Cool decor and love that they offer so many brews to choose from including sours (my favorite). I've been here many times and have always enjoyed the crew as well as all the nice locals that come here on a regular basis. It has a very friendly crowd of people. Today I happened to come during daylight hours. I noticed on their wall that they advertise parking at the church due to their tiny parking lot. I think this could be seen as misleading to customers. It could easily be taken as its free parking offered for patrons. Which its not. Its paid parking that if you don't notice the sign will cost you $30 in a ticket. Just a heads up to anyone coming to visit here.

Lots of beer to choose from and a cool ambiance. Right next to an area to get food. Kind of tucked away from the craziness of downtown which I enjoyed

Best bottle shop/tap room in Asheville hands down. The vibe is great and they always have solid beers on their taps. I went three times on my trip and my best experience was the first day. Ron helped me pick out some great unique cans to take back home to Arizona and also told me in detail about all the beers I had in house. Keep the old school hip hop alive!!!! Prost!

The beer selection here is by far the best in Asheville. You can get beers, on draft, from breweries all over the world. I love that, when you check in to a beer on the Untapped app, your check-in shows up on their digital beer menu screen displayed above the bar. The bartenders are happy to make suggestions based on what you tell them your favorite tastes are. This is a rare gem of Asheville. The location is convenient. Interior is unique- make sure to look up when you go in or you'll miss something beautiful. Parking is a little stressful. If their tiny lot is full, there is nowhere for you to turn around. I suggest not even attempting to park in their lot, but instead parking off-street or in a nearby lot. I *DEFINITELY* recommend this as a must-visit! I know I will be back for sure.

Completely in awe of what The Whale has done with this space. It is evident upon walking in the time, creativity, effort the owners have added. They have a good amount of beers on draft and then a huge list of bottles you can buy to enjoy there or take with you to go. What amazed me was the prices! You can get a small pour of most any drafts for $3-$4 bucks or a 20oz pour for $5-$8. The outside space will be amazing once this 17 degree weather situation passes. Belly Up will soon be opening their stand alone restaurant, Haywood Common, attached to The Whale. Once that happens, you can order food and get a number and have it delivered over at TW as you enjoy a beer. Soak up all the decor when you stop in. A giant whale skeleton graces the ceiling while intricate pieces adorn the rest of the spot. The glass light sconces are done locally at Lexington Glassworks. I can't wait to see this new, locally-owned venture grow!

Awesome spot. Very aesthetically pleasing with art , nice lighting , and plants all around. Opens up to a large outdoor seating area where I had two delicious beers on draft. Jesse and Nate were so sweet serving us.

After dinner at Haywood Common, my companion and I checked out The Whale, a newish bar that while unaffiliated with Haywood Common, shares a parking lot, a patio and a side entrance with the restaurant. (You can order food from Haywood Common and have it delivered to you in The Whale.) Frankly, initially I was a little confused by the place, as it has a large number of craft drafts and international bottled and canned beers, most of which were unfamiliar to me, and it features relatively few local brews. We asked a bartender to give us a quick explanation of the concept, and he did that very well, explaining that unlike most Asheville bars that focus on well-known local craft beers and ciders, this one gathers top craft beers from around the country and also the best of international beers. A "whale" in this sense is something that is unusual and hard-to-find, akin to a black swan. The bar has a large whale skeleton (not real, I presume) hanging from the ceiling and features the whale theme in designs throughout the bar. The Whale has a rotating selection of 20 draft beers on tap, plus a selection of bottled and canned beers, along with some wines, ciders, meads and sake. Prices are not low. A 5-ounce sampler of most brews is $4, with a 16 oz. class around $8. Bartenders seem knowledgeable. Service was prompt. At a little before 8 p.m. on a Saturday evening, the bar was busy but not completely full. At this point, I think The Whale may have to adapt its unusual concept to add more local craft beers at more competitive prices. Time will tell.

The dreadlock guy is very charming! The tap and bottle selection is fantastic! Don't tell anyone about this spot because I don't want it to get crowded!!! There is a great food truck and local restaurant available to customers! Cheers

Stumbled upon this hidden gem while on a walk in West Asheville. They have indoor and outdoor seating and offer a ton of hard to find brews on draft. The staff was incrediblely knowledgable and friendly. I was so stoked that they have a big selection of rare bottles. We ended up splurging on a bottle of Cantillon because it's literally the first place I've ever seen their beer available outside of Belgium. It was chilled, decanted and served with beautiful presentation. We met friendly locals who suggested other places to check out. Another local bought us a bottle to bring home. Great experience here! You can get food from the restaurant next door and eat it here.

Stopped by here as I've heard big things about this spot however I wasn't thrilled in relation to my expectations. They had a large beer list but really wasn't anything in my wheelhouse that I was raving for. It's connected to the other side of Haywood Common Market who they looked to have some pretty decent food. I did like the dinosaur bones hanging from the ceiling but that was about it for me.

Very cool place! As someone whose obsessed with whales and delicious beers, I was in heaven. We told the bartender what kind of beer we liked and made a six pack to take home. All were delicious!

Cute place but one side of bar they serve you an 8 ounce beer for price of 12-16oz. But beer is very tasty. Otherside of bar you order food and drinks and prices are on point.

The Whale has quickly become my favorite tap room in Asheville. With an incredible and frequently rotating selection of fine draft beers from local, regional, and international breweries, you never know what you may walk in to find on their flatscreen tv draft boards.... but you can be assured that if it's on the board, it's great! The folks that work at The Whale love their beer, and work diligently to find and serve the best beer. With that comes great pride, and knowledge. But it doesn't stop with their excellent beers and ales on draft, there's also a SUBSTANTIAL bottle and can case. Here's the thing... the bottles and cans rotate too! Most spots have a stagnant selection of beer in containers, The Whale is a creature of change. It moves with the seasons, bringing new offerings from the world over to tantalize you! The Whale has substantial seating both indoors and out, so grab a group of friends and set up shop around one of their outdoor beer garden tables, sharing in the delight of liquid bread!

What a great concept! Outstanding selection of beverages. While the draft selection is excellent, the depth of the bottled choices is overwhelming (in a good way). Loved the space and the outside seating area. Nice to have an option of getting food from the neighboring restaurant. Only had a small pour of a chocolate stout. Would very much plan to stop back if I were in the area.

This place is splendid. The only bar I've been to where the bar tender is happy to give you a recommendation or talk to you about the eclectic and expansive selection. Doesn't hurt that the restaurant next door is also fan-freaking-tastic. Also a great option if you want to avoid tourists

Such a cool, hidden spot for a beer. Not a brewery but they have lots of unique beer options from all over. The staff is super cool, knowledgeable and very chill. Places to sit outside. Off the regular path of touristy places fir beer in Asheville. Definitely check out. Love all of the plants and their logo too!

Great beer selection and with the shared patio with HC the food pairings are on point. The Whale is dog friendly inside and out on the patio so if you're looking for a place to hang out with friends, furry friends included this is the spot. Also there's a taqueria next door if you fancy tacos and beer. Thumbs up

Wow! So many great beers to choose from. Seriously wow. Staff was very nice and they let me bring my Yorkies in (they also loved it). Will be back.... Lyn

What a great local beer spot focusing on hard to get "whales" and rares. Connected to a little eatery with outside seating. Must stop in for great craft beers. The bartenders are nice and knowledgeable. Had numerous hard to find beers

What a beautiful Saturday. So many beers so little time. The Mahr's Brau Helles lager is perfect for the day. Friendly bartender Ross is extremely helpful in making your next selection. U will love this place. They also have Mead and Sake.

Must visit spot when visiting Asheville! Especially if the weather is nice. Great beer selection, friendly staff, great atmosphere.

Inviting and welcoming space. Very low-key vibe - when we visited, at least. Open air. A lot of natural light inside. Attentive, knowledgeable, and friendly service. Several parking options in a very walkable part of town. I highly recommend checking it out.

Beer snob? This is your spot, one hundred percent. It's a cornucopia of exotic brews, and it's perfect. The beertenders know everything about everything, and can suggest/recommend anything you could ever dream of. As a sour girl, this is heaven. They always have at least four or five. Dreamy. Plus this spot is dog-friendly, which makes Luigi a happy pooch!