About Innovation Brewing (Sylva)
Innovation Brewing's taproom at 414 West Main Street is where Sylva goes for a beer. It is a busy, local place with a dog-friendly attitude, a food truck on site and late hours. If you are driving between the Smokies and Cashiers, it makes a good break.
What you will find
The Innovation Brewing website lists the drinks you can expect: Paws Pilsner, described as the official beer of Western Carolina University, local cider, wine, hard seltzer and a housemade spicy ginger ale. The tap list changes, so check with the staff when you arrive.
Food
Cosmic Carryout is a food truck at the taproom every day, so you can eat without leaving the building. The truck keeps the focus on the beer, and it means groups with different tastes can still order together.
Dogs and the setting
The taproom has a large seating area inside and outdoor seating along the creek, and the staff are used to a steady stream of locals and visitors who treat the place as a hangout, not a quick stop. That is part of the charm: you can linger, order another round from the truck and watch the evening fill in.
The website invites visitors to bring their dog and stay a while, so the taproom is a good stop on a road trip with pets. The website does not say whether children are welcome, so call (828) 586-9678 if you are bringing kids.
Hours
The taproom lists Monday through Thursday noon to midnight and Friday through Sunday 11am to midnight. Call ahead if you are traveling on a holiday.
A second taproom
Innovation also has a taproom in Dillsboro, in the town's former train depot at 40 Depot Street, with daily rotating food trucks and creekside views. The two locations are a short drive apart, so an afternoon between them makes sense. See our Dillsboro listing for details.
Wine, cider and more
Not everyone in your group has to order a beer. The taproom pours local cider, wine and hard seltzer, and the housemade spicy ginger ale is a good pick for a designated driver or for anyone who wants something with a kick but no alcohol. That variety makes Innovation an easy compromise stop when a group cannot agree on where to eat.
Private events
The brewery takes private event bookings through its private events page. That is useful if you are planning a wedding party, a reunion or a family gathering in the Sylva area.
Tips
- Sylva's downtown is compact and walkable, so park once and wander. West Main Street has restaurants and shops within a few blocks.
- Late hours make this a good option when other places in town close early.
- Dogs are welcome, so bring water for yours and keep it leashed.
- Another Sylva stop to try is Balsam Falls Brewing Co., also on West Main Street.
- Sylva is on the road between the Smokies and Cashiers, so it works as a lunch stop on a day of driving.