12 Bones Smokehouse & Brewing in Arden

When BBQ and Craft Beer come together under one roof, 12 Bones in Arden delivers the kind of meal that can turn an ordinary lunch or dinner into an experience worth repeating.

Located at 2350 Hendersonville Road, 12 Bones Smokehouse and Brewing brings together slow-smoked meats, scratch-made sides, creative sauces, and a brewery producing ales, lagers, seasonals, and experimental batches. The South Asheville/Arden location is open seven days a week from 11 AM to 8 PM, making it an easy stop for locals, visitors, families, groups, and anyone craving barbecue with a distinctly Western North Carolina personality.

Slow-Smoked BBQ with Plenty of Personality

12 Bones does not treat barbecue as a one-style-fits-all tradition.

The Smokehouse says its meats are cooked low and slow over select hardwoods, including oak and cherry, while recipes draw inspiration from across the South and beyond. Everything is made from scratch, and the menu reflects a willingness to experiment with flavors rather than follow strict BBQ rules.

Baby back ribs are available in several styles, including Nekkid with salt and pepper, Brown Sugar dry rub, Blueberry Chipotle, and the much hotter Pineapple Habanero. Pulled pork, pulled chicken, smoked turkey, wings, and brisket round out the meat-heavy side of the menu. Brisket is available daily while supplies last.

For diners who want something handheld, sandwiches include pulled pork or chicken, smoked turkey, the Hogzilla with bratwurst, bacon, pulled pork, and pepper jack, and a BLT featuring sugar bacon and fried green tomato.

Scratch-Made Sides Worth Ordering

The meat may get most of the attention, but the sides are a big part of the 12 Bones experience.

Current options include Damn Good Corn Puddin’, mac and cheese, baked beans, cucumber salad, mashed sweet potatoes, collard greens, smoked potato salad, jalapeño cheese grits, sweet vinegar slaw, and buttered green beans. Most plate meals include two sides and cornbread.

The side plate, which includes four sides and cornbread, also gives vegetarian diners another way to build a meal.

12 Bones notes that all of its meats and sauces are gluten free, and several sides are identified as gluten free on the current menu.

Craft Beer Brewed Right Next Door

The brewery is not an afterthought.

12 Bones Brewing operates in the same Arden facility, with a 15-barrel brewhouse, a smaller pilot system for experimental batches, and a taproom designed around a rotating selection of house-made beer. The brewery focuses on both traditional and current beer styles while using fresh ingredients and supporting local suppliers whenever possible.

The taproom features more than a dozen beers on tap, and the brewery describes its lineup as a mix of ales, lagers, seasonals, collaborations, and experimental releases. Customers can enjoy beer on draft or take home Crowlers and four-packs.

Beer from the brewery can also be ordered in the Smokehouse, while Smokehouse food is available in the taproom, making the two sides of the business feel like one complete BBQ and Craft Beer destination.

A Relaxed Place to Eat, Drink, and Hang Out

The Arden location offers a spacious dining room, an open-format taproom, and a large covered outdoor patio with picnic-table seating. The taproom is family-friendly, and well-behaved dogs are welcome there and on the patio, though Health Department rules keep pets out of the restaurant dining area.

Weekly happenings add another reason to return. Current specials include discounted flights on Sundays, Taco Tuesday, Wednesday four-pack specials, and rotating Thursday beer discounts. The Smokehouse also hosts live music and other events.

That combination makes 12 Bones as much a hangout as a restaurant. You can stop in for ribs, meet friends over a flight, grab dinner after work, or spend an afternoon on the patio.

Catering and Private Events

12 Bones also offers catering and private-event options for groups throughout Arden and Western North Carolina.

The private event room is approximately 1,000 square feet and can accommodate around 40 seated guests or 60 standing. It includes a television, colorful wall art, and easy access to the outdoor patio. Depending on the event, the taproom and outdoor area may also be available.

That makes the space a fit for birthday parties, company gatherings, rehearsal dinners, and other celebrations where BBQ and Craft Beer feel more appropriate than a formal banquet hall.

If you would rather bring the food to your own location, 12 Bones also offers catering, with smoked meats and sides available for groups and events.

Visit 12 Bones in Arden

If your idea of a good meal includes ribs, brisket, pulled pork, scratch-made sides, and a locally brewed beer, 12 Bones brings all of it together in one relaxed Arden destination.

The combination of BBQ and Craft Beer gives the restaurant plenty of range. One visit might be a quick pulled-pork sandwich and iced tea; another could mean ribs, corn pudding, a flight of beer, and live music on the patio.

12 Bones Smokehouse and Brewing is located at 2350 Hendersonville Road in Arden and is currently open daily from 11 AM to 8 PM.

Visit https://12bones.com/ to view the current menu, check what is on tap, order online, explore upcoming events, or learn about catering and private gatherings.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is 12 Bones located?

The Smokehouse and brewery are located together at 2350 Hendersonville Road in Arden, North Carolina.

What are the current hours?

12 Bones is currently open seven days a week from 11 AM to 8 PM.

Does 12 Bones brew its own beer?

Yes. 12 Bones Brewing operates on site and produces ales, lagers, seasonal beers, collaborations, and small-batch releases.

What BBQ is available?

The menu includes ribs, pulled pork, pulled chicken, smoked turkey, wings, and brisket while supplies last, along with sandwiches and scratch-made sides.

Is there outdoor seating?

Yes. The Arden location has a large covered outdoor patio with picnic tables.

Is 12 Bones family- and dog-friendly?

Yes. Families are welcome, and well-behaved dogs may join guests in the taproom and outdoor area, though not inside the restaurant dining room.

Does 12 Bones host private events?

Yes. Private-event spaces are available for birthdays, company events, rehearsal dinners, and other gatherings.

12 Bones is proud to host IBN Evening Social on the 2nd Monday of each month at 5:30 p.m.