Mountain Layers Brewing Company (Bryson City)

The founders, Kim and Mark Pettit, moved to Swain County in 2014 and decided then to open a brewery. The Our Story page says the brewery's water comes from Great Smoky Mountains National Park and that it uses some locally sourced brewing ingredients. It welcomes families and offers non-alcoholic drinks for all ages.

The brewery pours beer, wine, frozen wine slushes, hard cider, hard seltzer, non-alcoholic beer and sodas, according to its FAQ page. The beer page does not list individual beers, so check the "Meet the Beers" section of the website or ask at the bar.

The brewery does not serve food itself. The Rice Wagon, a food truck serving Hawaiian and Asian-inspired dishes, is parked out back, and some local restaurants deliver. That arrangement works well: order from the truck and take it to a table in the beer garden.

Two outdoor spaces set Mountain Layers apart. The rooftop deck gives you elevation in the middle of downtown, and the beer garden out back is where the food truck parks and where non-service animals are allowed. Between them and the indoor taproom, you can usually find a seat that suits the weather and the size of your group.

Pets are not allowed inside the brewery or on the rooftop deck. Service animals are welcome, and other animals can join you in the beer garden out back. Smoking is allowed in the beer garden, so if that bothers you, sit inside or on the rooftop.

The taproom is open Sunday noon to 8pm and Monday through Saturday noon to 9pm. Call 828-538-0115 if you want to check hours around a holiday.

• Downtown Bryson City is compact, so park once and walk to the taproom.
• The rooftop deck is the pick on a clear evening.
• Bryson City is the quiet-side gateway to the national park.
• The FAQ page does not mention tours, flights or parking, so ask staff when you arrive.
• If you want to compare, walk a few blocks to Bryson City Brewing or the Bryson City Outdoors taproom.