Sierra Nevada Brewing Company: Green Chili and Summer Veggie Pizza

For someone who doesn’t drink beer, I sure spend a lot of time at breweries.

You always feel welcome at a brewery - at least the ones that I’ve visited and I’ve visited a fair few. They either have great food or a shitty food truck parked outside and there’s always something to do - be it cornhole, giant Jenga or trivia.

Breweries don’t put on airs, have dress codes or VIP sections. They’re cozy and comfortable in the same way that Irish pubs are.

I have this theory that Irish pubs are prevalent all over the world - there’s an Irish pub in Namche Bazar in northeastern Nepal in the shadow of Mt. Everest - because they’re the only places that feel like home, regardless of where you’re from. I think I should start including breweries in this theory too.

Case in point - the Sierra Nevada Taproom and Brewery in Mills River, North Carolina.

Sierra Nevada is fucking huge - as a company and a taproom. Family owned and operated since 1979, it’s the third largest craft brewing operation in the States (after Yuengling and Boston Beer Company). It’s headquarters is in Chico, California but Mills River, North Carolina is home to a staggering 300,000 square foot brewery/taproom which sits on 200 acres and features a garden, a small playground, a stage for live events and a kickass restaurant.

The seasonal Green Chili & Summer Veggie Pizza with wood-fired crust at Sierra Nevada Taproom.

Vibrant purple and red wildflower garden outside the Sierra Nevada Brewing Company taproom in North Carolina.

The family-friendly outdoor patio and sandbox playground at Sierra Nevada Brewing Company.

The Spot: Sierra Nevada Brewing Company Taproom

• Location: 100 Sierra Nevada Way, Fletcher, NC 28732

• Vibe: Sprawling taproom and brewery - open kitchens, gardens, a patio, a playground, a fire-pit. This place is as close to heaven as it gets for me and again, for the cheap seats, I don’t drink beer.

 

The Bite: Green Chili and Summer Veggie Pizza

• Price: $14.50

• Vegetarian Status: Vegetarian

The Flavor Breakdown

A seasonal item for the end of summer, this dish is no longer on the menu but it was a celebration of summer flavor - raw zucchini, corn and fresh poblano peppers (I understand that pickled peppers have a longer shelf life than fresh but God, fresh peppers taste so much better on pizza) covered in a salty, comforting blend of mozzarella and cotija.

The crust is crunchy and malty (one of the benefits of being attached to a brewery), the toppings are fresh and I devoured the entire thing.

Whenever I make pizza at home, I usually load it up with roasted zucchini, corn, onions and peppers so this pie hit close to home with some of my favorite flavors and I loved it. Genuinely sad it’s off-menu now but if you’re ever in the area - definitely check out one of their artisan pies. They know what they’re doing

The Bonus Bite: Porch Mix

My love of bar mix is documented and Sierra Nevada does a fantastic one - it’s a salty, sweet and savory combo of beer nuts, maple caramel popcorn, pretzels, sesame sticks and asiago crisps.

Sierra Nevada's addictive Porch Mix: maple caramel popcorn, beer nuts, pretzels and asiago crisps.

Note the terrible picture? Yeah, that’s because I inhaled about ¾ of it before remembering to take a picture. I also love that they serve it in a recyclable beer cup.

The Beverage: Agua Azul Spiked Agave Seltzer

• Price: $7

Tasted like a watered down margarita. Probably perfect for a hot day at the beach or by the pool but I should have made the smarter decision and ordered the Trail Pass Lemon Radler instead.

Sips at the taproom: Agua Azul Spiked Agave Seltzer inside Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. in Mills River, NC.

One Mouthy Sandwich Girl Rating:

• Flavor & Freshness:

  • 🥪 🥪 🥪 🥪 🥪 - Pizza and Porch Mix

• Value for Buck:

  • 🥪 🥪 🥪 🥪

  • Prices were super reasonable considering the quality and freshness of the food and the size of the portions.

• Vegetarian Variety:

  • 🥪 🥪 🥪 🥪

  • Lots of vegetarian options with the option to veganize pizzas with plant-based mozzarella and more so than that, creative dishes involving fresh vegetables. You love to see it.

• The Verdict:

  • 🥪 🥪 🥪 🥪

  • I have visited this taproom three out of the four times I’ve been to Asheville and plan on making it a staple of every visit. Again, I am not a beer drinker. Hell, I would rather drink room temperature tap water than an IPA, but I love this place, I love the food, I love the vibe and cannot wait to come back. Hopefully for Christmas next time. Mulled wine sitting by a roaring fire pit sounds pretty perfect to me.