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Asheville Beer Blog (83 items)

May 08, 2008
21:48
Its Coming!
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It was almost a year ago when I made my first post about the upcoming brewery at the Wedge Gallery. Well, our wait is finally over. Almost. According to Tony Kiss, the Wedge has begun brewing beer and they hope to be open sometime by the end of the month. That could mean the end of this month, the end of June, or the end of September, but I'm hoping it is sooner rather than later. I myself have driven by more than once to take a look at the project, and until now the only thing I knew for sure was that they were working hard and they had signs on the bathrooms. The other thing I know for sure is that the beer is going to be great. Most of you are probably already aware that the brewer is Carl Melissas, former brewer at Jack and a lover of Belgian style ales. His first beer though is going to be an IPA, with a pilsner, bock, and the oh-so-good Gollum soon to follow. I hope to be able to talk to Carl soon to see if he has anything else up his sleeve.

I'm going to have a little bit of fun with statistics, and make the claim that Buncombe County has the most breweries per capita in the entire United States. Portland, Oregon has been making this claim, but they only have 30 breweries to serve the over 2 million people in the Portland Metro Area, for an average of 1 brewery per 66,000 people. Asheville/Buncombe has 1 brewery to every 37,500 people. Of course Black Mountain can claim one brewery to every 7650 people. Okay, so throw out the statistics, but I still like to think of us as the best small city for beer in America.

(picture taken from River Arts District webpage)
April 29, 2008
21:24
Pisgah Celebrates Three Years
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It seems like it has been longer, but Pisgah Brewing Company has only been around for three years (April 15th is their official anniversary). Jason Caughman and Dave Quinn moved here from South Carolina with a shared love of beer and a plan to open a small brewery, and three years later they are brewing perhaps the area's most loved beers. The first beer they rolled out was the Pisgah Pale, a fine beer in its own right, but it only hinted at what was to come. When the pop was capped on alcohol limits in North Carolina, it also seemed to pop the cap of creativity, as Pisgah has since brewed a variety of beers of different styles and strengths that have captivated the beer drinkers of Buncombe County and beyond. They are highly rated on both RateBeer and BeerAdvocate, and they were named one of America's top 50 breweries by BeerAdvocate back in June of last year. More recently, Pisgah was even featured in an article in USA Today about the economy.

In order to celebrate their anniversary, the folks at Pisgah held a customer appreciation day this past Sunday, inviting over 300 of their friends and customers for the affair. While the weather was a bit on the wet side, it didn't seem to dampen the spirits of those in attendance, who were enjoying the great food, great music, and great Pisgah beer. To get out of the rain, many people were hanging out in Pisgah's brand new tasting room, which can deliver up to ten taps of Pisgah goodness. One of the special beers they had was the Pisgah Pale run through a Randall, which you should recognize if you are a long time reader of this blog. For those not in the know, a Randall is basically a canister full of hops, and the beer is routed through the fresh hops right before it enters your glass. Needless to say, this was excellent, and the fresh hop taste made the Pisgah Pale soar. Another special beer on tap was the James Brown Ale, an easy drinking brown ale with just the right amount of roasted malts giving it excellent character without being either too sweet or too hoppy. Look out for the James Brown Ale around town at a special price as a gift to Asheville beer drinkers (Barleys should definitely get it).

Pisgah didn't have to throw this party, but it really shows just how much they appreciate their customers. Return the favor by visiting them at their new tasting room on Thursdays from 4-8, or by seeking out a pint, growler, or bottle at your favorite bar or beer store.
April 20, 2008
17:18
Beer of the Moment - Green Flash West Coast IPA
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It looks like people are not the only things coming from California to Asheville these days. This week marked the introduction of two California breweries to the Asheville market, Lagunitas Brewing Company out of Petaluma and Green Flash Brewing out of Vista, near San Diego. San Diego has become quite the beer city over the past decade or so, and they are home to such heralded breweries as Stone, Port Brewing, and Ballast Point. Well you can add Green Flash to this list as well.

An interesting aside is how Green Flash Brewing got its name. A green flash is an optical phenomenon that occurs when the sun sets, and is best seen with a good view of the horizon on a clear day when certain atmospheric conditions are present. As seen in this picture, a hovering green 'flash' occurs just over the setting sun for a few fleeting seconds. We may not be in the right locale to see a green flash, but we are fortunate that we can drink a great San Diego export while we dream about sitting on a west coast beach at sunset.

The appropriately named West Coast IPA is an excellent example of the tradition of highly hopped beers coming from that part of the country. The beer is unfiltered, so don't be alarmed by its hazy appearance, and it has a beautiful copper color. The taste is all about the hops, and it exhibits both grapefruit and piney flavors that make for a beer that any hop head will love. The malt is slightly sweet which helps to counteract the hop bitterness. This is truly one of the best 'west coast style' IPA's that I have had, and it is an excellent addition to our growing availability of good beers.
April 17, 2008
22:31
On Tap - The Thirsty Monk
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Time for another round of On Tap. Okay, so my other On Tap posts have never left the confines of Barleys, but this time I wanted to turn my attention to a bar that has added a whole new element to the Asheville beer drinking scene. I will admit that I have not been going to the Thirsty Monk nearly as much as I would like, but personal circumstances have limited my budget so far this year, and I have really missed going into one of Asheville's best beer bars. The Thirsty Monk seems to be doing really well, and that is a testament to the great beer drinkers in this town.

On to the beers. Upon quick glance at their beer menu, I noticed two special beers that are available for a very limited time. The first beer I tried was the Ichtegems Grand Cru, brewed by Brouwerij Strubbe in Ichtegem, Belgium. This is a Flanders Red Ale, a Flemish sour beer that is a blend of an oak aged beer with a young beer, with the intention that the taste will be both sour and sweet. This beer is much like a Duchesse de Bourgogne, with a playful mix of sweet and sour, with a slightly more dry finish. It's a beer to have your wine drinking friends taste, as the interplay of the flavors only heightens the complexity.

The second limited-time only beer was the La Rulles Triple, brewed by Brasserie Artisanale de Rulles. Belgian Triples (or Tripels) are beers that are light in malt but full of flavor, deriving their higher alcohol content from an addition of Belgian candi sugar. The taste profile of this style is often spicy and fruity, and this beer was one of the more flavorful varieties that I have tried. It has a wonderful finish that had a hint of bubblegum (in a good way), and the soft water used to brew this beer created a great mouthfeel to go with the slightly spicy, earthy finish.

My last beer there was not a limited release, and is a beer I hope to see as a regular in their rotation. The Houblon Chouffe Dobbelen IPA Tripel is an amalgam of beer styles, combining the aforementioned Tripel style with an American double IPA. The result is a heavily hopped Belgian ale that perfectly melds the pioneering spirit of both American and Belgian style beers. This is definitely a beer to seek out if you are a hop lover, a Belgian beer lover, or both.

I'm hoping my next visit to the Thirsty Monk is sooner rather than later, and you should hope that too.
April 15, 2008
18:17
Mark Your Calendars
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Its never too early to start planning for the Brewgrass Festival, Asheville's annual seven hour ode to bluegrass and beer. This year's festival will be held on September 20th, and tickets are already on sale at the Brewgrass website. Yes, I know it is early, but tickets for this event will sell out well ahead of time, so its not a bad idea to make your purchase early this year. For those of you that go for the music, three acts have already been announced, including local favorites The Biscuit Burners and Grammy Award winning Jim Lauderdale. We'll see you there in five months.
April 14, 2008
19:24
Bottom of the Barrel
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I love barrel aged beers. One of my first forays into barrel aged beers was on a trip to Kentucky, where I got to sample the Kentucky Bourbon Barrel Ale, and upon the first taste of vanilla and bourbon I was hooked. Beer has been aged in barrels for centuries, but it is only recently that brewers have decided to select used barrels from various fermented and distilled beverages to lend an extra layer of complexity and taste. Bourbon barrels seem to be the most commonly used, but any barrel will do, from plain old oak barrels to wine barrels and more.

One of the more interesting barrel aged beers available right now is the t' Smisje Calva Reserva, given to me by my good friends at Bruisin' Ales. This is a fascinating beer, a Belgian Strong Ale that has been aged in Calvados barrels for six months. What is Calvados? It's French Apple Brandy, having been distilled in France for almost 500 years. The beer certainly has hints of Apple Brandy, and some vanilla that is picked up from the oak barrels. It is a big beer at 12 percent, but it is well hidden behind a wall of taste including dark fruits and candi sugar. This is one to definitely seek out for a special purchase.

Speaking of special purchases, one of the finest examples of barrel aged beers that I have tasted recently was just released in the past month, and it is definitely a treat. The Scottish brewery Harviestoun has released a series of ales that are a marriage of an already fine beer, the Old Engine Oil, with the drink that most people associate with Scotland, which is naturally Scotch Whiskey. The three beers in the series where aged in 12, 16, and 30 year old Highland Park Scotch barrels, producing a superb beer that is complex and begs to be paired with hearty foods, strong cheeses, or a nice cigar. I have had both the 12 and the 30, and they both were fantastic beers, and it is interesting to see the differences. The 30 year does seem to be more complex, but both beers have quite a bit of Scotch Whiskey presence, that goes really well with the chocolaty roasted malts of the Old Engine Oil. The Scotch makes it presence known with a taste of vanilla, some peat, and a hint of spiciness. This beer is on the expensive side, but if you like Scotch and beer, or you just want to try something unique, I suggest breaking open the piggy bank to sample one of them.
April 07, 2008
18:51
Long Time No See
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Yes, I am still here. After getting called out by the Bruisin' Ales blog and the Mountain Express, it is high time I made another post or two. Here's a quick summary of the beer happenings around town.

Highland is going to be releasing seasonal beers throughout the year, and the first one on tap is the Shining Rock Lager, a Bock that will be Highlands first ever lager. I am a great fan of lagers and am looking forward to trying this out. It will be followed by the Cattail Peak Wheat in the summer, and the Clawhammer Oktoberfest in the fall. The Tasgall is taking a backseat for now, but may be available as a seasonal release at a later time. You can sample the new lager at Bruisin' Ales beer tasting on May 1st. In other Highland news, the Highland Cup homebrewing competition happened over the weekend. In a promotion similar to the Samuel Adams Longshot beers, the winner will have his beer brewed and sold by Highland. This year's winner was a cream ale brewed by Aaron Schenk, and the beer should be available this August.

Pisgah will be unleashing some new bottle offerings shortly, as both the Solstice and the Hellbender barleywine will be available soon. The Solstice will be a year round offering, and I am really excited to finally get to try the Hellbender, as I always seem to miss it when it comes around. The Hellbender is on tap at Barleys right now if you want a chance to try it.

Green Man brewing has released an Abbey Ale that is on tap at Jack of the Wood, and probably at Dirty Jack's as well. It is inspired by the Chimay Grande Reserve (the one with the blue label), and it is an excellent interpretation of the style. This is a limited release so be sure to swing by to try one.

Word on the street is that the Wedge Gallery brewery should be opening soon, hopefully this month. As soon as it opens I will write a full report on it.

So, goodbye for now. I promise my next post won't be a month from now.
March 05, 2008
22:33
An Addendum
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And now I am up to three posts in one night, a new record.

I failed to mention that French Broad Brewing Company is installing a bottling operation, and the first beer to be bottled on the new setup will be the Dunkel Witte, one of Drew's latest creations that was unveiled at the Asheville Winter Warmer Beer Festival. He also hopes to have the Wee Heavy-er available in bottles soon after that.

Also, Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company has a new beer, the Rocket 77, a light easy drinking beer brewed with lager yeast that should go over well as the days get warmer.
21:34
Around Town
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No, you are not dreaming, nor is the apocalypse imminent. This is my second post today. I figured I would give a round up of some things happening around town in the world of beer.

First of all, get off your butt and drive out to Black Mountain for Pisgah's weekly open house tomorrow night. What is so special about tomorrow night? Bruisin' Ales is bringing over the Randall. Randall the Enamel Animal is an invention of the off-centered folks at Dogfish Head Brewery, and it is an experience that any true hophead should try. Draft beer is run through a cylinder loaded with fresh hops, delivering an oily hop sensation. They had the Randall at the last Pisgah beer tasting at Bruisin, and it really enhanced the already hoppy and wonderful Pisgah IPA. Speaking of Pisgah, the Cosmos is back and bottled for your pleasure.

There also has been a couple of new beers announced for distribution in North Carolina. The first is already here, New Holland Brewing from Michigan has made its way to Asheville. They are probably most famous for their Dragon's Milk Oak Barrel Ale, of which I have only had a sample of at a beer festival. I hope to have a full report on this one soon. The other new beer that should be here in a few weeks is the always interesting Lagunitas Brewing, which I mentioned as a possible addition in 2008. One prediction down, two more to go. As an aside, I would love to add Troeg's Brewing to my wishlist. My friends Deuane and Carolyn brought some down from Pennsylvania a couple of weeks ago, and the Nugget Nectar is an excellent beer for hop lovers, and their Scratch series explores different beer styles with one time only brews. The Scratch 4, a barleywine, was one of the better west coast style versions that I have tried.

If you haven't been to the Thirsty Monk in a while, you should really go back and check it out. Their taps are changing constantly, and they recently have begun to offer food. I think I went to the Monk for the first 5 days that they were open, and I need to make a return visit soon. Have I mentioned before that I love Belgian beer?

The brewery at the Wedge Gallery is still a little ways off. I drove by last week and they were busy working away on the interior, so hopefully by sometime later this spring we will all be able to drink Carl's beers again.

Looking outside of Buncombe County, beer festival season is almost upon us. Kicking off the season on April 12th is the Sixth Annual Hickory Hops Brew Festival, just a short hour and fifteen minute drive down the mountain, although I imagine the drive back will seem longer. It will feature thirty breweries from around the region, including most if not all of the breweries in Western North Carolina. Two weeks after that is the World Beer Festival in Raleigh. The WBF has expanded to two festivals, a spring version and a fall. I went to both last year, and I highly recommend attending either one. Tickets are already on sale for the festival in Hickory, and they should be soon for the Raleigh festival.

That's about it for now.
20:58
When a Brewery Isn't a Brewery
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I happened to glance at the beer aisle at Ingle's today and noticed a beer that I haven't heard of. It is called Wild Blue Blueberry Lager, brewed by the Blue Dawg Brewing Company. This was not a brewery I had heard of before, but its location next to the Stone Mill Pale Ale clued me in on its actual origin. It is brewed by Anheuser Busch.

This isn't the first time one of the big three brewers has deceptively invented a brewery name for marketing purposes. Perhaps the biggest example of this is the very successful Blue Moon Belgian White, brewed by the Blue Moon Brewing Company, aka Coors. Coors also produces Killian's Irish Red, a bastardized version of a recipe for an Irish Red Ale that was changed to a lager for sale in the United States. Anheuser Busch has recently used the phantom brewery trick to cash in the increase in organic products by releasing the previously mentioned Stone Mill Pale Ale and Wild Hop Lager from 'Green Valley Brewing'.

Hey, I think it is great that some of the bigger brewers are attempting to make beers that actually have taste and substance, but I'm not a big fan of them hiding behind pseudo-breweries that tend to trick consumers into thinking they are supporting a small craft brewery.
February 28, 2008
20:51
Beer(s) of the Moment - Samuel Adams Longshot
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First of all, a confession. I don't drink Samuel Adams that much. I tend to support smaller craft breweries and local beers, but that doesn't mean I don't respect what they do. They sometimes get a bad rap for being too commercial, but I think that they should be applauded for both their history and their support of the craft brewing industry. Their television commercials are educational and emphasize ingredients and quality over misogynistic themes that accentuate the lowest common denominator. And it doesn't stop there. Recently, Sam Adams offered a very generous sale of hops to smaller brewers to help them out in the current hop shortage, and they offered the hops at cost, with no profit for themselves. I have to tip my hat to them, and the Longshot beer releases are just another way that Sam Adams supports brewers.

The Longshot contest occurs every year as a homebrewing competition, where the winners are announced at the Great American Beer Festival and Sam Adams promises to brew their beers to be released in a special six pack. Typically there are three beers in the six pack, two from the open competition between homebrewers and one beer for the best homebrew from a Sam Adams employee. This year was a little different, as only two beers are in the six pack. One of the winners this year was Mike McDole's Double IPA, but due to the unavailability of certain hops (there were seven in the recipe), it was not able to be included with this year's beer, but should be included in next year's batch.

Let's talk about the beer. First up is the Grape Pale Ale, a recipe created by Sam Adams employee Lili Hess. As the name suggests, this is a pale ale brewed with grapes and a surprising addition of maple syrup. The syrup lends a bit of sweetness to the beer, and of course there is a grape fruitiness as well, but overall the flavors are fairly mild and it makes for a pretty easy drinking pale ale that would be nice on a warm summer day.

The star of the six pack is the Weizenbock, brewed by Illinois homebrewer Rodney Kibzey. Weizenbocks are a fairly rare style of beer, sort of an amalgamation of a Hefeweizen and a Dopplebock, basically a strong dark wheat beer. Probably the best known beer of this style is Aventinus, a beer I love, so it's no surprise that I really liked this beer. It is dark, fruity, with a wonderful spicy finish. I would love to see more commercial representations of this style.

So the next time you walk into a grocery store and see a six pack of Sam Adams, just try to remember all the good things they have done and are doing for craft beer.
February 25, 2008
18:02
Night of a Thousand Beers
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There are some nights as a beer drinker that really stand out. It could be finding a brewpub in a new town. Or maybe attending a festival and trying a new beer for the very first time. Or it could be when seventeen people get together with a common love of beer, and everyone brings a special beer to share with friends. That night was this past Saturday, and over the course of several hours, upwards of 40 beers were sampled from across the country and beyond (yes, the 'thousand' was a bit of a stretch).

Our friends John and Melissa were kind enough to host the tasting, not to mention digging deep into their beer cellar for some rare treats. The special tasting was scheduled to coincide with the arrival of two intrepid beer travelers who have incorporated Asheville into their beer travels, having come down from Pennsylvania three times in the past year. You can read all about Deuane and Caroline's beer travels at Caroline's blog, and you can also get a run down of just about everything we sampled on Saturday night. Jason and Julie from Bruisin' Ales and Mark and Trish from the Asheville Brews Cruise were on hand as well to take part in the festivities.

Now, on to the highlights. Deuane and Carolyn brought down several great beers from Pennsylvania, one of the best states in the country for craft beer lovers. One interesting beer was the Voodoo Love Child from Voodoo Brewery in Meadville, PA. The Love Child is a Belgian Golden ale aged on passion fruit, raspberry and cherry, and Pisgah's Red Devil comes to mind when drinking it. Another beer from up north that stood out was the Southern Tier Choklat Imperial Stout. This beer had the most intense chocolate flavor that I have ever had in a beer, with a semi-sweet chocolate finish that lingers on your tongue after a couple of sips. Moving away from American micros, there was also a 3 Fonteinen Oak Aged Kriek, with plenty of tart cherry to go with the ever present farmhouse funk associate with Belgian lambics. And finally, Dave from Pisgah Brewing brought along an old and a new Baptista for an impromptu vertical tasting. The aged Baptista was superb, and if you have an extra one or two in your cellar from last year, now would be a good time to compare it to the new one. And speaking of Pisgah, be on the lookout for a possible customer appreciation day in April.

I can't say enough how much I enjoyed both the quality of beer and the quality of people that I experienced at the beer tasting. Nothing beats good friends and good beer.
February 13, 2008
21:29
Special Beers at Barley's
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Are you looking to treat your special someone to a nice beer on Valentine's Day? Head on over to Barleys for this years Sexual Chocolate Imperial Stout from Foothills Brewing. Really, the name alone screams Valentines Day, and the beer is one of my favorite North Carolina brewed beers. This is the second year it has been released, and once again Barley's has gotten the only keg in Asheville. Foothills recently had a very limited bottle release, and individual bottles are going for over 75 dollars on ebay. Thankfully you can avoid the scalpers and get a glass of it for 4 bucks.

Another rare beer on tap at Barley's is the Brooklyn Extra Brune, a Belgian dark abbey-style ale. This beer is released as part of the Brewmaster's Reserve, which are draft only beers that are only released to a limited number of bars throughout the country. The beer is brewed with and addition of belgian dark candy sugar, and has notes of plum with a spicy and banana like finish. It is a great belgian style ale, and perfect for a cold winter's night. This can be found upstairs at Barleys for a limited time.
January 28, 2008
16:35
Beer of the Moment - Bell's Hopslam
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While I have been professing my love for all things Belgian recently, I still consider myself a hophead, and I love a good double IPA. Thankfully, Bells has recently released this year's version of their Hopslam, a delectable double IPA that more than satiates my love for hops. Bells has been in the North Carolina market for a little over a year now, and they have proven to be quite a popular brewery, making some excellent stouts and also their Two Hearted Ale, a great hop showcase itself. But that beer only hints at the hop bomb that the Hopslam is.

The Hopslam pours a light orangish hue, and the smell only hints at the intense hop taste that explodes in your mouth upon the first sip. The hops are citrusy with tons of fresh hop flavor, but it is not as bitter as some and there is just enough malty sweetness to create some balance with the hops. This is truly one of the best Double IPA's in the country, rivaling some of the more well known West Coast versions of the beer. The beer is a whopping 10 percent alcohol, but it lacks any alcohol burn, making it surprisingly easy to drink for such a big beer.

This beer is a limited release and will likely only be available for a couple of weeks. If you love hops, I would definitely suggest picking up a six pack of this great tasting beer.
January 21, 2008
12:46
Local Beer Cures the Winter Blues
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The weather outside was frightful, but a beer festival featuring local beers, food, and music sure was a delight. The first Winter Warmer Beer Fest this past Saturday was a great success. Held at The Garage at Biltmore, the four hour fest featured Highland, Green Man, French Broad, Catawba Valley, Heinzelmannchen, Pisgah, Asheville Brewing, and a surprise visit from little known Appalachian Craft Brewing. Appalachian has been around since 2003 when it started up in Rosman, and since then they have moved their brewery to Fletcher, but it has been slow going in getting past all the legal hurdles of opening a brewery. They featured three beers at the fest, Copperhead Ale, Mad Bear Stout, and an ESB, and they hope to have some taps available locally in the coming months.

Beer highlights included Green Man's Imperial Stout on cask, which takes the already delicious beer to new heights with the creamy mouthfeel added by the naturally carbonated cask. Pisgah brought along their Red Devil, which I've wrote about before and is currently on tap at Barley's. French Broad went all out and debuted two new beers for the festival. The first was an Imperial Porter, perfect for the cold temperatures outside. The other beer was a Dunkel Witte, a combination of a Belgian wheat beer and a German dark wheat. Drew's creative thinking paid off, and the beer turned out very well. Drew hopes to bottle the Dunkel Witte in the next few weeks, and I would definitely seek it out, or just drop by the French Broad tasting room.

Mark and Trish from Asheville Brews Cruise and Chris from the Garage should be commended for putting on a great festival that showcased our local brewers. It wasn't just locals that attended though, as I met people from the Triangle, Georgia, South Carolina, Tennessee, and even Alabama. In addition to the beer, a portion of the proceeds for the festival went to the Alzheimer's Association, and its great when you get to drink beer and help out a worthwhile cause. There is talk of having another event in the Spring, so keep your ears open for that.
January 16, 2008
10:56
Asheville Meets Belgium
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Mark your calendars boys and girls, because a week from today, Asheville gets its very own Belgian beer bar. The Thirsty Monk will open its doors on Wednesday, January 23rd, adding an entirely new dimension to the beer scene in Asheville. While I have seen the occasional Chimay tap around town, nothing compares to walking into a place and seeing 14 Belgian or Belgian style beers on tap, with over 100 bottles to complement the draft selection.

I was fortunate enough to attend the pre-opening last night, and it is everything that I could have hoped for. The draft selection was a good representation of different Belgian styles, and over half of them have not been seen in Asheville before. A particular highlight was the Kasteel Rouge, a Belgian ale that bursts with a sweet cheery flavor with nary a hint of the 8 percent alcohol content. This is a wonderful beer that would go great with chocolate and other desserts.
Every beer on tap was served with its own glassware, even the unusual Kwak glass that sits in its own wooden stand. Legend has it that the glass originated in the 18th century from coachmen who could not leave their coach and horses while they waited for their passengers. Mugs were not practical, so Pauwel Kwak had a special glass made for them to hang on their coaches, so they could enjoy his beer while they waited. Come to think of it, this may have been the very first cup holder. Of course in today's age, I personally would avoid using any taxi drivers that are drinking beers while waiting for a fare.
Another great thing about the Thirsty Monk is that they will also feature local Belgian style beers that will be served right alongside their imported counterparts. They currently have the Pisgah Solstice, but will include others in the future, including beers from the upcoming Wedge Gallery Brewery that should be opening soon.
Having a Belgian beer bar in Asheville is a great testament to the beer culture that has been fostered here over the past decade or so. To my knowledge, the only other Belgian beer bar in the south is the Brick Store Pub in Atlanta, which has a metro population that is 25 times that of Buncombe County. I truely hope that our beer community can support such a great establishment.
January 08, 2008
22:26
Beer of the Moment - Fantôme Saison
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You may recall a post of mine back in October, where I talked about the Fantôme de Noel and lamented because I couldn't get beers from this brewery in Asheville. I'm proud to say that there is a new ghost in town.

I've had several Fantôme beers before, but I was never able to find their signature brew, the Saison. I certainly never expected it to be on the shelf at Bruisin' Ales on my return to North Carolina. But lo and behold, there it was, and after pinching myself several times, I quickly grabbed a couple of bottles.

First, a little bit about Saisons. Often called farmhouse ales, saisons were originally brewed for farm workers to be drank in the summertime, but thankfully for us, they are now available year round. One of the most unusual characteristics of Saisons is the high fermentation temperature that yields an often spicy, peppery finish. Up until just a few days ago, my favorite beer of this style was the Avec Les Bons Voeux, brewed by Brasserie Dupont. But I think I have a new favorite.

Fantôme's interpretation of the style is just about perfect. A melange of fruit, earth, spice, and sour combine to form a wonderfully complex taste without any one element overpowering the other. This is a fantastic beer, and my long wait to try it was not disappointing in the least. I suggest you pick up a bottle of it while it is available, because when the ghost disappears it might be a long while before you see it again.
21:44
Happy New Beer, I mean Year!!
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Yes, we are already eight days into the new year, so I am a little late. I also have been very busy during the holiday season, including a long trek to Florida for Christmas. There is nothing like being able to wear shorts on Christmas Day. Of course upon my return to the mountains, I was greeted with snow and temperatures in the teens. I guess it all balances out. While in Florida I sought out the beers from a new brewery in Tarpon Springs called Saint Somewhere. They are currently brewing just two beers, both belgian styles which is indeed a rarity in the land of light lagers. If you ever head down that way, check them out, particularly the Saison.

During my month long hiatus, there have been several beer happenings of note, and my friends at Bruisin' Ales had an excellent round up of everything. First and foremost, the new Green Man Imperial Stout is a hit, and tastes really good on a cold winters evening (if it does indeed get cold again). And of course you can have your choice of local beers at Asheville's Winter Warmer Beer Fest on the 19th. I hope this becomes an annual tradition, and it truly is a local showcase of good beer, good music, and good barbecue.

It seems Asheville is adding new places to drink left and right lately. The latest place is something I never expected to see in Asheville, an honest to goodness Tiki bar. While the emphasis is on mixed drinks, the Yacht Club has about 8 or so taps of local and national craft beer for those who prefer not to have an umbrella in their drink (I went for the Celebration Ale before giving their Mai Tai a whirl). This is an interesting place that promises to be one of the most original bars in all of Asheville, and they also plan on providing food that is a step above your average pub fare. This is a trend I wholeheartedly endorse, and it is good to see the Yacht Club and the Admiral both looking beyond your typical battered and fried plates.

I'll try to be better about posting now that I have settled back down into my normal routine.
December 09, 2007
5:19
West Asheville is happening
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As promised, I made a trip out to Tolliver's for a beer. The beer list is what you would expect from an Irish pub, with Guinness leading the way, along with Beamish, Smithwicks, and several other brews from Ireland and the British Isles. I had a Twisted Thistle IPA from Bellhaven, a Scottish brewery. It was good, but don't expect it to be an American version of an IPA, as the hops were more muted in this one. They also featured Highland on tap and had several micros in bottles. The menu was also what you expect from an Irish pub, but I did not get a chance to sample the food. Other features of the bar include two or three flat screen TV's, darts, and a foosball table that is presently out of order. Smoking is allowed inside during the later hours of operation (I think after 9).

Not only did Tolliver's open up last week, another bar in West Asheville has also opened up. The Admiral is located across the street from Harvest Records, and it is definitely a unique place. I would describe the interior as 'dive bar chic', with old school stools lining the bar on one side, a small sitting lounge in the corner, and booths and tables for eating. This isn't a beer geek destination, but they do have some micro bottles to choose from. The menu is fantastic though, and we sampled the Gaelic Ale pimento cheese spread and the steamed mussels, both being very good. As far as drinking, I actually gravitated to the Admiral's Grog, a tasty concoction featuring rum and cheerwine. Overall, I really liked the place, even if they don't have the greatest beer selection.

And lastly, I did walk by the Thirsty Monk downtown, and it does appear that progress is being made, so I am optimistic that we will see it open sometime in the near future.
December 05, 2007
15:21
He's Alive!
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Yes, I am still here. Sorry for the lack of posts lately. Between traveling for the holidays, and my normal life schedule I haven't gotten around to posting. Bad blogger. I even missed out on the bottled Highland Cold Mountain, which came and went in a flash. I've had several pints of it at Barleys however, so all is not lost. Now, on to some local beer happenings.

I've been anxiously awaiting the release of this year's Pisgah Baptista, and it is finally here. Bruisin' Ales got some in today, and I hurriedly rushed out to get it after work. This beer sold out quickly last year, and I expect it to do the same again. They did brew more this time around, about 100 cases or so, and I suspect that it will only be available for a couple of weeks. I am sipping on this year's batch as I type this, and it is as fantastic as I remember it. This is one of the better American brewed belgian style ales in the country. Yes, I said the entire country. Be sure to pick some up, and you can have a chance to taste some at Bruisin' Ales on the 13th for their beer tasting.

Speaking of Bruisin' Ale's beer tastings, be sure to check out the vertical tasting of the Brooklyn Chocolate Stout and Monster Barleywine tomorrow night. It is indeed a rare treat to be able to taste side by side different vintages of beers, and to see how the aging process effects the taste. This tasting costs five dollars and the proceeds will go to Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway.

Another local brewery that has been delivering some extra special goodies has been French Broad Brewing Company. Hot on the heels of the Wee-Heavyest, they are hoping to have another as yet unnamed special bottled release by Christmas. I hope they can keep this up, although I know that they are spending a lot of time hand bottling these beers. Show your support by picking some up on the next release. French Broad has also resurrected their Flander's Abbey Ale, which is available at the tasting room and soon in other locations in Asheville. It is nice to have a sessionable belgian style ale to drink while out on the town.

Hops and Vines, West Asheville's newest beer store has a website now. They have beer tastings on Friday evenings from 3-6, and they are holding a homebrewing 101 class on Sunday, December 30th. This is an excellent opportunity to see what goes into making beer, and the best part is you get to take home some of the finished product.

And speaking of West Asheville, Tolliver's Crossing is finally open. I've been peeking in the window for the last couple of months, and when I drove by tonight I saw it packed with people. If my dog wasn't in the car with me, I would have hopped in for a pint. A full report will be issued as soon as I get a chance to drop in. In other bar news, I have heard nothing about the Thirsty Monk downtown. They were supposed to be open in October, but I understand that these things take time. Hopefully things are still on track there and they will be opening soon.

That's all for now folks.
November 21, 2007
17:51
Two lumps, no cream
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Coffee. Its a staple of my morning diet, and now it can be added to my evening diet as well. The fine folks at Pisgah Brewing Company have created another interesting concoction. In celebration of their 300th batch, they have released a Coffee Stout. If you are a fan of strong coffee and good beer, be sure to head on over to Barley's to try their latest release. And you can drink with a clear conscious knowing that it is free trade coffee that went into the recipe. The wonderful bitterness of a good cup of coffee dominates the taste, and this is another in a long line of their special releases which displays their willingness to push their beers to the edge.

And with that, I bid you all a good Thanksgiving. I'm headed back to the great state of Alabama, and I look forward to a few more special releases as the holidays come upon us.
November 20, 2007
15:20
Beer of the Moment - French Broad Wee Heavy-est
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