Appalachian Mountain Brewery — AMB for short — is the brewery that opened Boone’s beer scene: its taproom at 163 Boone Creek Drive has been pouring since 2013, which the company itself credits as the town’s first. It sits an easy few minutes from downtown Boone, making it one of the simplest additions to a High Country wine day for anyone who wants beer and cider alongside the wine stops.
How it started
AMB was founded by cousins Nathan Kelischek and Chris Zieber, who built the brewery around their German heritage, a love of North Carolina, and a shared interest in the outdoors and environment. That founding story still shapes the brand: AMB describes itself as brewing “Appalachian inspired beer & cider with a Southern twist,” and the company has since grown beyond the original Boone taproom to add locations in Mills River and Old Fort, NC — but Boone remains the flagship, and the one closest to the High Country wine circuit.
What’s on tap
AMB keeps a rotating lineup of house beers and ciders, and the Boone taproom publishes an updated tap list on its site so you can check what’s pouring before you go. Recent lineups have included IPAs across several styles (a resinous Long Leaf IPA, a hazy Hilly Haze, a New Zealand-hopped Think About It), lighter session options like the Boone Creek Blonde Ale and Mount Krushmore Session IPA, a Honeydew Honeysuckle wheat ale, a Down South American Lager, a French-style Saison Du Blanc, and darker options like the Black Gold American Porter. Several of their beers have picked up award recognition — the brewery notes a GABF silver medal for one of its IPAs — though as with any brewery, the exact lineup rotates seasonally, so check AMB’s current tap list before you go if you have a specific style in mind.
Because AMB brews both beer and cider, it’s a useful stop for mixed groups where not everyone wants wine — cider drinkers and beer drinkers both have real options here, which isn’t true at every stop on a High Country tasting run.
The taproom experience
The Boone location functions as a full taproom and pub rather than a bare tasting counter — AMB’s site references food, spirits and non-alcoholic options alongside the beer and cider list, plus a regular calendar of live music and events booked through the brewery. It’s set up for groups to settle in for a while rather than taste-and-go, which makes it a good midpoint stop on a longer day rather than a first or last one.
Nearby and worth combining
Because AMB sits right in Boone, it pairs easily with other High Country stops without adding meaningful drive time — it’s the kind of stop you can slot into an afternoon that already includes a winery or two on the west side of town. AMB also gives back locally: proceeds from certain releases go to community organizations, a detail that fits the brewery’s broader “of Boone, for Boone” framing.
Planning your visit
AMB’s Boone taproom is close enough to downtown that it’s rarely the reason to build a whole day trip — it’s the stop you add because you’re already nearby. Hours and the tap list change, so check AMB’s site directly before you go, especially if you’re coming with a large group and want to reserve space in advance for an event or private gathering.
Groups that want to bookend a wine-focused day with something more casual often use AMB as the last stop of the afternoon — a place to sit outside, order food, and let the group unwind before heading back to a hotel or rental. It also works well as a starting point if your itinerary runs from Boone outward toward Banner Elk or Blowing Rock, since it’s an easy first pour before the roads get twistier.
Wine Tour Transportation to Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery
Ashe County Livery offers private, chauffeured wine tour transportation to Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery from Boone, Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, West Jefferson and across NC’s High Country. Our Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery trip-planning page covers drive times, tasting-room hours, group sizes and pricing.
Travel in a luxury SUV, sedan, or Sprinter van with a professional chauffeur — everyone in your group gets to taste, nobody has to drive. Plan your Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery tour or call (336) 484-1350.
Other High Country wineries we serve: Alchemy Elixirs LLC · Eagles Nest Winery · Linville Falls Winery — or browse every High Country winery, cidery and meadery we provide transportation to.
Explore More from Ashe County Livery
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- Airport shuttles by town: Boone · Blowing Rock · Banner Elk · West Jefferson · Linville · Beech Mountain
- Ashe County Livery — Premium transportation in NC’s High Country
- Request a free quote — or call (336) 484-1350
🍷 Planning a Wine Tour in the NC High Country?
Ashe County Livery offers private, luxury wine tour transportation throughout the Blue Ridge Mountains. Skip the driving and let our professional chauffeurs take you from winery to winery in comfort and style.
Serving Banner Elk, Blowing Rock, Boone, and all NC High Country destinations • (336) 484-1350
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