Seeing Red

Pisgah Brewing Company is at at again. Asheville's most adventurous brewery is celebrating their 200th batch with what can best be described as a 'Cherry Blonde Ale'. Aptly called the Red Devil, this golden ale was fermented with a healthy dose of cherries and raspberries and blended with some of their Solstice Tripel. This isn't the first time that Pisgah has defied style guidelines. Their Cosmos was a Baltic Porter fermented using Belgian yeast, and they practically invented their own style with the Equinox, a 'harvest ale'. And then there was the Baptista, which combined many elements of different Belgian style beers into one fantastic tasting brew. In just a couple of years they have pushed the envelope farther than any other local brewery, ignoring convention and crafting inventive beers instead of only brewing what is expected. It seems to be working out pretty well for them.

The Red Devil was delivered yesterday to Carmel's in the Grove Arcade, and it should be arriving at Barley's sometime later today. Look for for these kegs to be tapped soon, and it's possible that this beer could find its way into a bottle.

Update: It is now on tap at both Carmel's and Barley's. Enjoy.

The Session #5 - Atmosphere

For the past 5 months, beer bloggers around the globe have gotten together on the first Friday of the month to post about a specific beer style or theme. This month’s theme, chosen by the guys at Hop Talk, is atmosphere. Specifically:

“Beer is about more than flavor, IBUs, and the debate over what is a craft beer and what isn’t. It’s about Life. It’s the proverbial icing on the cake.

So, we want to know about the “Atmosphere” in which you enjoy beer. Where is your favorite place to have a beer? When? With whom? Most importantly:

Why?

Because while life isn’t all about beer, beer is all about life”

Atmosphere can mean many things to many different people. It can be a quiet Sunday in your backyard, a lounge chair on a sunlit beach or a cabin overlooking the mountains. It can be any place that evokes a sense of calm and relaxation, where everything is right in the world.

Perhaps my favorite place I have ever had a beer is the back ‘porch’ of the Pelican Pub & Brewery in Pacific City, Oregon. Sure, their beer is fantastic. The India Pelican Ale is a delight, with a lovely citrus hop finish that competes with many of the best IPA’s in the country. But the beer is the proverbial tip of the iceberg. The view from the back of the brewpub is extraordinary. It sits on the Oregon coast, in one of the most beautiful parts of the country. Rock outcroppings jut out of the cold Pacific Ocean, and the sandy beach awaits you. A short walk away you can scale a 60 foot sand dune, or you can explore tidal pools teeming with starfish, anemones and other sea creatures. I remember saying to my wife that I did not want to leave. Ever.

Unfortunately, I live some 2500 miles away from that beer paradise, so I have to get my atmosphere closer to home. In my opinion, there is no better place in Asheville to have a beer than in front of Jack of the Wood. Granted, the benches in front are not for everyone. Since the bar is non-smoking, you will definitely encounter your share of smokers which could potentially ruin your ideal atmosphere. But I think the pros outweigh the cons. You have a front row seat to the city, and on a nice leisurely afternoon you can watch the world, or more specifically, Asheville go by. By far the greatest benefit of sitting outside is that it practically forces you to interact with the people around you. Unlike sitting at a table or even at the bar, the benches, with their open seating arrangement, invite conversations with strangers. I have met all kinds of great people there. One night, an older couple from Ireland was in town for their son’s wedding, and we spent a couple of hours talking international politics, culture, food, and of course, beer. Another night my wife and I met a couple on their seventh wedding anniversary, and we got to live vicariously through their celebratory evening. While I certainly appreciate nights with close friends and family, there is something totally unique about meeting a friendly person for the first time that is from across the street or across the pond. It reminds you that human beings are a pretty good lot for the most part.

So I hope all of you have a special place to enjoy a pint of beer and fellowship, and take a moment to think about how special those times are.

A Challenge to Asheville Beer Bars

I have been contemplating making a public challenge to Asheville beer bars when I came across some news today. It’s not that we don’t have some fine places to drink. Barleys, Bier Garden, Hannah Flannagans, and others offer plenty of taps to choose from, not to mention our brewpubs. However, I have been disappointed in the lack of variety in their Belgian draft offerings. Well it looks like my dreams have come true. The Thirsty Monk is set to open in September at the current site of Hookah Joes, and they will be offering 8 Belgians on tap, and a large variety of bottled Belgians. To say that I am excited is an understatement of epic proportions. I have been to the Brick Store Pub near Atlanta which was a heavenly experience. They had a variety of Belgians on tap to choose from, such as St. Bernardus Abt 12, Saison Dupont, Cantillon Gueze, La Chouffe, and others, all served in their respective glassware. Let's hope that the Thirsty Monk is able to match the variety that I saw while at the Brick Store. My only concern about our new pub is that they will be serving only Belgians and not other beers. I'm crossing my fingers that there will be enough people like me to appreciate it.

And while I’m on the subject of challenging our local beer bars, I would love to see more beer events. We have the Brewgrass Festival, and Bruisin’ Ales has brought us beer tastings and beer dinners. But what I don’t see are beer themed nights at any of our pubs. There are bars in other places like Durham and even Greenville, SC that have special nights devoted to a beer or brewery. Tyler’s in Durham has a weekly pint night, where you get to try a new brew and take home a glass. Barley’s in Greenville has been having the occasional Freaking Firkin Friday, which features a cask ale from a selected brewery (I could probably start an entire new post on the need for more cask beer in Asheville). I would also love to see special nights for our local and regional brewers when they come out with a new or limited release. It’s these kinds of events that foster and perpetuate the growing beer culture here in Asheville.

Jolly Pumpkin

Brettanomyces. The word alone will send shivers through any winemaker. But what is considered a mistake in wine, with beer it can yield some fantastic results. Jolly Pumpkin Artisan Ales out of Dexter, Michigan is taking the use of this so called pest to new heights. Russian River, Lost Abbey, and other brewers are experimenting with this wonderful, complex yeast and giving beer lovers an entirely new taste sensation. Here in Asheville, the availability of Jolly Pumpkin opens the door to a whole new world of sour, funky goodness.

Jolly Pumpkin is one of the few brewers in the United States that ferments their beer in the open. This allows any number of wild yeasts to help in the fermentation process, including our friend Brettanomyces (which can also be found growing on the inside of the oak barrels that Jolly Pumpkin uses for aging). While this may seem experimental, it actually harkens to the way beer used to be brewed for centuries. When most people think of beer, they think of hops and malt, but the yeast can impart all sorts of interesting flavors. Open fermented beers, or wild ales as they are called, are often sour, earthy, spicy and full of funk.

Thanks to our good friends at Bruisin' Ales, Jolly Pumpkin is now available in the Asheville area. If you are looking for something unusual and different, be sure to give them a try. Feel the funk.

On Tap - Barley's

This will be a semi-regular feature, in which I, your intrepid blogger, ventures out to a local Asheville bar or brewpub in search of good beer. Most of my focus will be on seasonal releases and rare microbrews from near and far. Hopefully this will inspire the thousands of people who read this blog to set forth on their own beer odyssey.

Today's featured bar is Barley's Taproom. Barley's has long held the title in Asheville for most beers on tap with 43 in all, and they do an excellent job of highlighting North Carolina breweries. If you go there hungry, you can grab a table downstairs and order a slice of pizza, a pita wrap, or a beefalo burger to go with your beer. Recently, they have undergone an expansion of their kitchen, so there should be a couple of new things on the menu in the coming months. If you don't feel like eating, you can always go upstairs and hustle your way into a game of pool or throw a few darts. Barley's also features live FREE music three times a week and trivia on Monday nights.

Okay, now that the obligatory introduction is out of the way, let's move on to the beer. If the summer heat is getting to you, our very own French Broad Brewery has a beer to quench your thirst. Go ahead, wipe the sweat off your brow, and order a Gateway Kolsch. Germany is most famous for its lagers, but if you order a beer in the city of Cologne, they will pour a top fermented ale known as Kolsch. Light in color and body, it certainly looks like its lagered counterpart, but the ale yeast lends a slightly more fruity character. The Kolsch actually tastes like a hybrid of the two, as the Kolsch yeast ferments at slightly lower temperatures than most ale yeasts and many Kolsh's are lagered for a short period of time. I had a pint last night and it was light and refreshing, and it made me want to book a plane to Cologne so I could try the real thing. Donations will be accepted.

Speaking of beer traveling, on my list of things to do before I die is to go to Belgium. Since that isn't in the cards in the near future, I have to settle on drinking Belgian style beers here at home, and Barley's just so happens to have one on tap downstairs. Brooklyn Brewery has recently been releasing some special draft only Belgian style beers, and the current selection is the Abbey Singel. While most Belgian style beers I drink are high gravity, this one could be described as a Belgian session beer, weighing in at a modest 6 percent. Light in body, fruity, with a definite Belgian yeast presence that is slightly spicy with hints of banana. This goes down easier than its higher alcohol brethren.

My last featured beer is one that has been on tap upstairs off and on for awhile. Foothills Brewing has been churning out some great beers lately, and the beer that first really peaked my interest in them is the Seeing Double IPA. A sweet sipper with more malt than you find in a lot of Double IPA's, but the citrusy hops remind you of why this is called an IPA. There is also a pleasantly mild alcohol burn that reminds you that you are drinking a beer that is 9.5% alcohol. Go easy on this one kids.

Another beer that I didn't get around to drinking was Catawba Valley's Bier D' Clam. If you didn't catch the double entendre, I suggest reading that last sentence again. This is an Oyster Stout. Yes, they make beer with oysters. No, it doesn't sound appetizing, but I have had an oyster stout from Rogue that was fairly tasty. I shall try to have this on a return trip, and if anybody has any insight on this beer let me know.

Observed in Little Rock, AR

Location: The bar at the Little Rock Hilton.

Setting: A quiet Monday evening. Five or six customers are sitting at tables, being attended to by a blonde server with hair that falls well below her shoulders. Her low-cut black dress is slit almost to the hip, revealing much hosiery-covered thigh as she moves around the room. The bar has nobody sitting at it and the obese female bartender has stepped out for a few minutes.

Two young men enter and take seats at the bar. They bear a strong physical resemblance to Beavis and Butthead. They sit for two minutes without speaking.

Beavis: Duuuuuuuuude! Domestics, four-twenty five...for a Bud Light!

Both get up and begin to leave.

Butthead: This must be Paris Hilton's private bar. heh, heh!

Beavis: Paris Hilton. Heh, heh.

They disappear into the lobby.

END

New brewery coming to River Arts District

Today's Asheville Citizen-Times reports on the new brewery coming to the Wedge Gallery. The brewer will be Carl Melissas, formerly of Green Man. You can read the article here. We look forward to welcoming the new brewery and tap room.

Another brewery is in the works for the old T.S. Morrison store downtown on Lexington Avenue, with opening a year or so away. Is Asheville a contender for having the most local breweries per capita in the country? We think so.

Pisgah one of fifty top breweries in US

I received the June issue of Beer Advocate in today's mail. On the first page is an editorial by editors the Alstrom brothers, commenting on the annual Brewer's Association list of the fifty top breweries in the US based on sales. The editors created their own list based on ratings, and number 32 on the list is Pisgah Brewing, Black Mountain, NC.

Congrats to "Pisgah Dave" Quinn and Jason Caughman. Given that their brewery has been in operation for only three years, this is praise indeed. Keep up the good work guys.

The only other North Carolina brewery on the list is Duck Rabbit Craft Brewery, coming in at number 39. We in NC should be proud of our craft beer industry. They can compete with any breweries in the country.

edited: clarification

For the love of lagers

So my dog took me out for a little hike on Saturday, and it didn’t take me long to feel the heat. Summer has yet to ‘officially’ begin, and it’s already in the mid to upper eighties. It’s times like these that I reach for a cold lager. Nothing quenches your thirst after a couple of hours in the hot June sun.

Unfortunately, when most people hear the word lager, they immediately think of Budweiser or Miller, pale comparisons to their more flavorful cousins. These beers have caused many a craft brew lover to cringe whenever they hear the word lager. Thankfully, there are several German, Czech and American craft brewers that are dedicated to making great all-malt lagers.

Lagers lend themselves to outdoor drinking. Whether drinking a pilsner in the hot sun or warming yourself with a sip of dopplebock in the dead of winter, the crisp finish of a well-brewed lager satisfies like no other style of beer. Generally not as hoppy as ales, they tend to be subtle, with hints of malt sweetness combined with the spicy finish of a noble hop. Too bad these beers are often ignored by beer nerds who are always searching for the latest big brash Imperial Stout or Double IPA (both styles that I love, mind you). Brewing a great lager is actually more difficult because you can’t hide behind loads of hops or roasted malts, so it’s all the more special when you find a good one.

Speaking of big and brash, several American brewers have decided that a regular pilsner is just not enough, and they have invented the new style of ‘Imperial Pilsner’, which is a regular Pilsner jacked up with more malt and hops reaching the 8 or 9 percent range at times. This is one time where I think bigger is not necessarily better, but to each their own. You lose the subtle complexity when you use that much malt and hops.

Asheville brewers have ignored lagers for the most part, with the exception of French Broad Brewery, which has a Pilsner, a Marzen, and a Bock in their rotation. Asheville Brewing recently released their Bulldog Bock, a Maibock which is a german spring lager that packs plenty of punch. But other than that, locally brewed lagers are hard to come by, and I hope one day to see a few more offerings.

I have made it a point this year to explore lagers and reconnect with this great style. A cautionary note on light lagers: you want to drink them fresh, and that makes it hard with certain imports and other beers that don’t have any kind of dating system. Be sure to look at the bottle to see if it has a freshness date. Here’s a list of some of the beers that I have been able to get locally that are worthy of purchase:

Victory Prima Pils: My favorite American craft brewed Pilsner. Slightly more hops than its German counterpart, the lovely spicy finish will make you reach for another one.

Brooklyn Lager: The sweet malt shines in this pre-Prohibition style lager.

Mahr’s Pilsner: A quintessential example of a German Pilsner. Crisp and refreshing. (Mahr’s other offerings are great as well.)

Kulmbacher Pils: Another fine example of a German Pils. Drink it cold after mowing the lawn or some other sweat inducing activity.

Klaster Premium Lager: A great Czech alternative to the now mass produced Pilsner Urquell.

Aecht Schlenkerla Helles Lagerbier: I haven’t seen this in awhile, but this is one fantastic beer. A smoked lager, but the smoke doesn’t dominate like a Rauchbier.

Celebrator Dopplebock: This beer is my wintertime favorite. A classic of the style, with sweet caramel and hints of molasses and chocolate. Will definitely warm you up.

Clipper City Loose Cannon

Clipper City Brewing Company of Baltimore produces their "Heavy Seas" line of bottle-conditioned brews which are now available in western North Carolina. I first enjoyed these beers at the Classic City brewfest in Athens, Georgia. When I saw them on the shelves at Bruisin' Ales I had to buy a six-pack of Loose Cannon.

Billed as a double IPA, the beer is more accurately described as an American West Coast IPA, athough the octane is a healthy 7.5 ABV. Brewed with Magnum, Centennial, Chinook, Amarillo and Palisade hops, the beer is a hophead's delight. The nose is full of grapefruit with hints of bread yeast which suggests that the beer is well-balanced. Initial bitterness lingers on the tongue though undertones of malt are always present. The bitterness lingers for some time. There's also a good alcohol bite.

The mouthfeel is medium-light, and the beer poured with a medium head that lingered, leaving a nice Scottish lace in my Barley's imperial pint glass. The beer would also be appropriately served in a tulip glass and shared. Since it's bottle conditioned, it would be appropriate to pour the beer carefully, leaving sediment in the bottle. However, I forgot to do that with one bottle and found that the yeast complimented the hops and alcohol well. I think next time I'll leave the yeast in again!

Overall, an excellent beer. Recommended.

Welcome, Kilgore Trout

I want to extend a warm welcome to my co-blogger, Kilgore Trout. As some of you will recall, when I started the blog I intended to have a group of people who would contribute regularly. Please welcome KT to the blog. I've already enjoyed reading his posts and I hope you will, too.

New brewery at the Wedge Gallery

This is a follow up to one of Mark's previous posts. If you haven't already heard, Carl Melissas, former Green Man brewer, is going to be the brewmaster at a new brewpub that is looking to open in the fall of this year if everything goes well. It will be located at the Wedge Gallery in the River Arts District. If you haven't been to the River Arts District, this weekend would be an excellent opportunity, as they are having their biannual Studio Stroll from 10-6 Saturday and Sunday.

Anyway, on to the beer news. I spoke with Carl about a month ago, and he is very excited about the new space. They plan on having 8 taps, which will feature his Pale, IPA, Pilsner, Oatmeal Stout, Organic Porter, Gollum (yum), and 2 rotating seasonals, one of which will be Belgian style. Needless to say, I am certainly looking forward to seeing Carl brewing again in Asheville.

If you have read this before, it was probably a post by me at Beerinator.com, a great forum for North Carolina beer drinkers.

Please allow me to introduce myself

Thanks to the graciousness of Mark, I have been allowed to become a part of the Asheville Beer Blog team. My name is James, aka Kilgore Trout. If you drink beer in Asheville, it is very likely you have seen me. I've lived in Asheville for almost 10 years and watched the craft beer scene in town literally explode. This is perhaps the best beer town in the South, and arguably the best of its size in the United States, so I feel darn lucky to live here.

My posting philosophy is simple. I want to celebrate the great beer scene that we have, while adding any news that I may encounter about the goings on of our little beer world. I will also try to point out any great beers that may be featured on the local taps or in bottles at your friendly neighborhood beer store. Occasionally I may ruminate on the craft beer scene in general. I hope that I can add to what is already a great blog, and that eventually this will be a place for Asheville beer lovers to connect and communicate.

Again, thanks to Mark, and I look forward to being able to contribute.

My absence

Yes, folks, I'm still alive. It's been a rocky few weeks. First, my springtime allergies laid me low and forced me into taking some serious meds that shouldn't be mixed with alcohol. I've also been teaching a graduate course which adds an extra 15-18 hours per week onto my usual 50+. Things should quiet down after next week and I'll be back in business. I'm also looking into bringing a co-blogger on board which will help with posting frequency.

Thanks for e-mails asking if I was still here. It's good to know I was missed.

Belgian Dinner at La Caterina!

Courtesy of Bruisin' Ales:

Bruisin' Ales is partnering with Millennium Beverage, Global Beer Network, and Asheville restaurant La Caterina Trattoria for an exciting culinary extravaganza -- a six course Italian menu. This special beer dinner will be paired with a six-beer Belgian beer line-up with commentary by Johnny Fincioen, president of Global Beer Network.

Cost is $45/per person including tax and gratuity.

For reservations, please call La Caterina Trattoria at 828-254-1148.

More details at our event calendar: www.bruisin-ales.com/beerblog.

CARCIOFI Artichoke Heart, Extra Virgin Olive Oil, Shaved Parmigiano Reggiano

Wittekerke

FRITTO MISTO Fried Shrimp, Monkfish, Cauliflower, Zucchini, Garlic-Lemon Ailoi

VEGETARIAN Fried Cauliflower, Zucchini, Garlic-Lemon Ailoi

Piraat
Flemish IPA Triple

INSALATA BELANZONE Sweet Sicilian & Spicy Calabrese Sausage, Olive Oil poached New Potatoes, Vinegar, Peppers, Onions

VEGETARIAN Olive Oil poached New Potatoes, Vinegar, Peppers, Onions

Poperings Hommel Ale

COLLO DI MAIALE Pork Neck Bones & Lentils, Sweet Potato Gnocchi

VEGETARIAN Sweet Potato Gnocchi with Grated Romano

Kapittel Abt

MANZO ARROSTO Smoked, slow roasted American Kobe Beef Roast, Roasted Tomato, Shoestring Potatoes

VEGETARIAN PASTA ALLA NORMA Tossed with Roasted Eggplant, Roasted
Tomato, Basil and cheese

Gulden Draak Triple Dark

ZEPPOLI Sicilian fried Doughnut Balls, Lavender Honey

Cherish Kriek Lambic

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++

At $45/person this is a steal. For more information see the Bruisin' Ales blog.

Bon appetite!

Homeless man breaks into bar

From WLOS: a homeless man broke into a Pennsylvania bar, cooked himself a few burgers and had some beer to wash them all down. Police arrested him after he tried to re-enter the scene of the crime.

With bail set at $50k and given his homeless status, it's doubtful if he'll be doing it again soon.

Full story here.

Weyerbacher Double Simcoe IPA

Simcoe, is a registered trademark of Select Botanicals Group, is new hybrid hop variety similar to Cascade. It's all the rage in American craft brewing, due to its powerful, citrusy aroma and astringent bitterness. So when I saw this beer as the monthly special at Bruisin' Ales I jumped to buy a 22 oz. bottle. Having had other brews from Weyerbacher I knew I was in for a treat.

The beer poured with a rich, foamy head that filled half the imperial pint glass despite my gentle pour. It took a few minutes to subside, which I occupied by noshing on some exellent 'za from Digable Pizza of West Asheville. If you haven't tried this West Asheville pizza joint, go there now.

Back to the beer. The nose was redolent of ruby red grapefruit, a citrus I absolutely love, and the color was a medium, rich reddish-gold. In case it's not obvious from the above paragraph, the brew is very well carbonated. The initial sip was very smooth, with an alcoholic bite coupled with powerful hop bitterness. Registering 9 % ABV, and with the citrus hoppiness, this beer is heaven in a pint glass. A beer worth sharing and savoring.

South Carolina pops the cap!

On Wednesday, South Carolina Governor Mark Sanford signed legislation raising SC's legal alcohol level in beer to 14% by weight (that's 17.5% by volume, placing the new limit a full 2.5% above that of North Carolina). This is great news for brewers and beer drinkers in the Palmetto State, many of whom have been making regular trips to North Carolina and Georgia to obtain speciality beer. Many of us in Asheville recall the hassle of travelling to Georgia and Tennessee to get select beers prior to NC's repeal in 2005 of similar arcane legislation. With the latest lifting of these nonsensical laws, only three states still impose arbitrary limits on beer alcohol levels: Alabama, Mississippi, and West Virginia.

It will be awhile before the higher-alcohol beers begin showing up on SC shelves, as distributors must go through a permitting process. But please join me in raising a glass to the folks at popthecapsc.org who made this happen.

Saturday Belgian tasting at Asheville Wine Market

I chanced to meet Mark Yonce of Duvel Moortgat at Jack of the Wood a few weeks ago. He'll be pouring samples of some fine beers at the Asheville Wine Market this Saturday.

From the AWM e-newsletter:

Saturday May 5th., 2007

Free Tasting; 1 to 4pm. Belgian Beers-the Champagnes of the Beer World! Join Mark Yonce of Duvel Moorgat, USA at the AWM Tasting Bar.

Belgian beer varies from the popular pale lager to the esoteric appeal of lambic beer, Monastic ales, brown ales, doubles and on to triples. Belgian beer-brewing's origins go back to the Middle-Ages, when monasteries began producing beers. Belgian beer production was assisted by the 1919 Belgian "Vandervelde Act", that prohibited the sale of spirits in pubs, inducing the market to produce beers with a higher level of alcohol. The Vandervelde Act was lifted in 1983. Although beer production in Belgium is now dominated by Inbev and Alken Maes, there are approx 125 craft breweries in the country, producing about 500 standard beers for the world's enjoyment. Join us on Saturday as we showcase the following beers:

Ommegang Hennepin A rare Farmhouse Saison Ale- pale, hoppy, crisp, and rustic. It's named after Father Louis hennepin, A Belgian missionary who was the first European to visit and describe Niagra Falls.$5.99/750ml

Duvel Belgian Golden Ale Refreshing and golden like a Pilsner but with the flavor, depth and complexity of an ale. Mellow, balanced and beguiling flavor as well as Duvel's intensity and oomph. A world classic$9.49/750ml or $13.49/4pack 11.20oz.

Maredsous 10 Tripel Abbey Ale brewed according to traditional methods of the Benedictine Monks of Maredsous. Light golden in color, refreshing and sneaky with its power. Cellar matured!$7.49/750ml

Maredsous 8 Dark Brune Abbey Ale brewed according to traditional methods of the Benedictine Monks of Maredsous. Dark brown color, nice malty nose, spices and even a hint of smoke in this intriguing brew.$6.99/750ml

Rodenbach Grand Cru Flemish Sour Ale aged in oak casks for 18 months. The unique and refreshing sourness is balanced beautifully by the hint of oaky sweetness. $8.99/750ml

Rodenbach Redbach Soothingly sweet, wickedly sour, Redbach is a tantalizing blend of Rodenbach Flemish Sour Ale and 100% natural cherry juice.$8.99/4 pack 11.2 oz.

Special tasting prices: 10% off the bottle and 15% off by the case, mix or match, unless already discounted via sale or promotion!

New Holland Mad Hatter IPA

I found this Michigan beer at Whole Foods in Mount Pleasant, SC. It reminded me of Shiva from Asheville Brewing, but it was slightly less hoppy.

The beer poured nicely into a pint glass, with moderate head and good carbonation. A hoppy blast on the nose paved the way for more hoppiness both up front and on the finish. In other words, a perfect beer for me. The color was medium amber. Mouthfeel was medium. Overal, it was an excellent example of an American IPA. I look forward to trying other beers from this brewery.

I'm back

I can't believe I last posted something on March 20. My bad. It's been extremely busy on all fronts (home, work, and beer) but I'll try to post at least once a week.

I attended the Classic City Brew Fest in Athens, Georgia on April 1. It was a great time and I was able to sample some new beers I hadn't had the opportunity to try before now. If you have the chance to hit this event next year, go! It's just three hours away, and the new four-lane highway between I-85 at Commerce and Athens is now open, except for a short stretch that looks to be about finished.

There's a lot of rumor on the Asheville scene about new breweries and brewpubs. Here's what I've been busy gathering instead of blogging:

• Carl Melissas, formerly head brewer at Green Man, is reportedly involved in a new brewpub to be located in the Riverlink Arts District. We'll stay alert for more info on this one.
• As previously reported, another brewpub is planned for the old TJ Morrison building on Lexington Ave. The partners are lining up the details and this should be up and running in a year or so.
• A new brewpub is rumored for Haywood Road in West Asheville, across the street from the Westville Pub. We haven't gleaned anything more so far.
• Root Bar #2 is planned for Haywood Road, across from the Ingles.
• An Irish-themed bar is planned for the old Ideal Market on Haywood Road.

If all three West Asheville bars open as rumored, that neighborhood will rival downtown as the place to go for beer.

Last night, I attended the monthly MALT Pint Night at the Mellow Mushroom. They had some excellent beers on tap, including Rye Ale from Terrapin, Duck Rabbit Milk Stout, Great Divide Titan IPA, and another IPA from Avery. The pizza was pretty good too, along with the company. Thanks, Kelly, for pulling this together. I'm already looking forward to next month.

Tasting at Bruisin' Ales

Thanks to Screwie for bringing this to our attention. I'm on the Bruisin' Ales mailing list but I don't always get the announcements in time to post them here.

LINK: "March 22, 2007 4:00 pm to 6:00 pm Free beer at Bruisin’ Ales, tasting thanks to Newcross Distributing! Stop by and sample these fine gems:

EKU Pilsner (Germany)
Gavroche (French red farmhouse ale)
Wee Beast (Scotch ale, Scotland)
Goliath (Tripel, Belgium). "

I hope to see some of you there.

The Lucky Otter

The wife and I sometimes catch a quick bite at the Lucky Otter, located at 630 Haywood Road in West Asheville. On our most recent visit earlier this week, I was much impressed by the beer choices which seem to have grown recently. There are now 8 taps, pouring such excellent brews as 420 Pale and Storm King from Sweetwater Brewing Company, 13 Rebels from French Broad, and Highland Gaelic. About 30 bottle choices featured several beers each from Sam Smith's and Flying Dog.

The Otter is really a restaurant, but I'll be adding it to my pub crawl site as the beer selection is excellent. Staff members I spoke with said it would be OK if someone sat in the bar area and had only a beer, but I recommend you have some food as well. The burritos are excellent.

Incidently, many people aren't aware that the owners have a sister restaurant in Boone called The Black Cat. I eat lunch there regularly. Same menu as in Asheville with some good beers as well.

Troeg's Nugget Nectar Ale

I got this one courtesy of Deuane and Caroline of Pubcrawlin' when they visited a couple of weeks back. Troeg's Brewery is in Harrisburg, PA, and their beers aren't available in western NC. Having enjoyed some of these brews while passing through Pennsylvania, I was eager to try this one.

The beer poured nicely into an imperial pint glass and had a moderate head. The color was an attractive amber and the beer had good carbonation. The nose was pure hops, grapefruit-like and flowery. I set the glass on my couch-side table and continued to get whiffs of hops with the glass two feet away. The initial sip was smooth-bodied, mildly malty, and with a moderately-high hop finish that lingered on the tongue. I let the beer warm up awhile and it was even better at about 60 degrees.

According to the brewer's web site, the beer is made with Nugget, Warrior and Tomahawk hops and is brewed to maximize the malt and hop character of the finished product. The beer is well-balanced and is a classic example of an American IPA. If this beer was available in Asheville I'd buy it often.

Raleigh World Beer Fest party

Here's a great idea for those of you who just can't wait for the annual Brewgrass festival next fall. Asheville's own Brews Cruise is running a van to the World Beer Festival in Raleigh on April 28. If you've never been to a WBF you are really missing out. Sponsored by the folks who publish All About Beer magazine, the festival takes place twice a year, in Raleigh in the spring and in Durham in the fall. It's at least twice the size of Brewgrass. It usually has beers not commonly available in western North Carolina along with special cask ale tastings, speakers, and workshops, and some great live music.

According to Mark Lyons at the Brews Cruise, this is what you'll get:

• Roundtrip transportion from Asheville to Raleigh
• One night stay at the Sheraton in downtown Raleigh (2 blocks from festival)
• Festival pass for day event 12-4 pm
• World Beer Festival Pint Glass
• Brews Cruise T-shirt/ Brews Cruise tote bag
• Bagels/ coffee upon departure
• Snacks and water for the ride (roundtrip)
• Brewery tour/ sampling at Catawba Valley Brewing Company enroute back to Asheville
• GOOD TIMES

The rates for this package are $225 per person (based on double occupancy),
or $410 per couple (any two people booking together are eligible for the couples rate) We have blocked 8 doubles and 4 kings and will be booked on a first come, first served basis. Come and Play!
http://www.brewscruise.com/

I've been to both the spring and fall WBF several times. An added feature Mark doesn't mention is that the Sheraton Raleigh is within walking distance of several good beer bars, so you can keep having fun all evening and not have to worry about getting back. You even get a stop at Catawba Brewing for some "hair of the dog" party flu cure on Sunday.

This is a great deal. I strongly encourage you to call and sign up NOW!

Sam Adams LongShot Old Ale

The beer poured with a creamy head and was reddish brown in color. The nose was malty, with hints of caramel, cherries and chocolate. The initial impression on the tongue was malt with butterscotch, quite nice and smooth on the palate. The finish was tinged with a slight alcoholic bite but nothing like you'd expect from a beer of over 10% ABV. The head was still slightly present by the end and left a slight Scottish lace in the glass. This is by far the best of the beers from the series and is most enjoyable. It's another fireside beer and one to make me slightly regret the arrival of warmer weather.

On the road

I'm sorry I haven't been posting more often. It seems like I've been running 16 hours a day for the last week or so between one thing and another. All work and no play (well, at least not a lot) makes for a dull blog. Right now I'm in Athens, GA attending a conference. Some of us hit Copper Creek Brewing and the Globe to sample the beer at these fine establishments.

Last Saturday we spent a fine evening with Deuane and Caroline of Harrisburg, PA who write and maintain the Pubcrawlin' blog. Check out their Asheville trip reports. They write a great beer blog.

FUBARed!

I haven't been too pleased with the new blog format being pushed by Google since they took over Blogger. My inital mistake was taking the bait to change to the new format. Then today I made the cardinal mistake of clicking on one of the blog administrator links under the guise of "I wonder what this does?"

What it did was f*** up my blog template beyond all repair. I finally had to reselect the template which wiped out all my customization, hence all of my links to breweries and other blogs are gone. I'll get them back on here as soon as I can.

Craft beer enjoys double-digit gain in 2006

BOULDER, Colo.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The continuing growth of craft beer entered double-digit territory in 2006, with sales by craft brewers up 11.7% by volume for the year. This comes on top of strong growth in each of the prior three years and illustrates the ongoing surge of consumer interest in craft beers.

“American tastes are clearly changing thus the demand for more flavorful and diverse beers is exploding,” said Paul Gatza, Director of the Brewers Association, which tabulates industry growth data.

The Brewers Association estimates 2006 sales by craft brewers at over 6,600,000 barrels (one barrel equals 31 U.S. gallons), up from an adjusted total of just under 6,000,000 barrels in 2005. The increase totals over 690,000 barrels or 9.5 million case-equivalents. For 2006, craft beer posted a retail sales figure of $4.2 billion.

----snip-----

Read the rest of the article here.

Courtesy of Ash, posted at BlogAsheville:

Ashvegas City Council tonight will vote on the following resolution. This is why it's important to keep abreast of your local government:

Resolutions making provisions for the possession and consumption of malt beverages and/or unfortified wine at the following 2007 Special Events:

-Mountain Sports Festival on May 4-6

-Asheville Downtown Association’s Downtown After 5 events on May 18, June 15, July 20, August 17, and September 14

-Fourth of July Celebration on July 4

-76th Annual City of Asheville Open Tennis Championships Picnic on July 19-20

-GoomBay!Festival on August 25-27

-Lexington Avenue Arts and Fun Festival on September 9

-Fiesta Latina Festival on September 22

-11th Annual Brewgrass Festival on September 22

-Asheville Greek Festival on September 28-30

-The Asheville Grizzlies home games on various dates during the summer.

Samuel Adams Longshot Dortmunder Export

I was in my local Ingles on "Lee-chester" Highway and spied a pile of Longshot mixed sixers in the aisle near the beer cooler. These beers are the winners of the 2006 home brewing contest sponsored by the brewery. The whole thing has generated some controversy in the beer blog world since the recipes produced by Boston Beer Company are allegedly not completely true to the submitted entries. As the price was right at $6.99 I decided to see for myself.

The six-pack contained two bottles each of three brews: the Dort, an old ale and a boysenberry wheat. The winning brewer's picture was on each label along with his name and hometown.

The Dort poured a medium-yellow color with average head and good carbonation. The aroma was a bit like freshly-mown grass with a hint of malt. The taste was malty with a hoppy finish, well balanced, and a medium body that was heavier than I expected. The hops are readily apparent as the bitterness lingered on the tongue. Overall, it's not bad but not outstanding. I'm looking forward to trying the other two beers in this box.

50 Beers to Try Before You Die

Our friends over at The Brew Site have been busy compiling a list of beers that a true beer lover should try at least once. Now that the final installment has been posted we offer the list for your enjoyment.

American West Coast (Part 1)

1. Anchor Steam
2. Widmer Hefeweizen
3. Shakespeare Stout
4. Sierra Nevada Bigfoot
5. Alaskan Smoked Porter

European Icons (Part 2)

6. Celebrator Doppelbock
7. Paulaner Oktoberfest Märzen
8. Lindemans Framboise Lambic
9. Guinness Extra Stout
10. Pilsner Urquell

Extreme Beers (Part 3)

11. Samichlaus
12. Cave Creek Chili Beer
13. 90 Minute IPA
14. Midas Touch Golden Elixir
15. Samuel Adams Utopias

United Kingdom (Part 4)

16. Young's Bitter
17. Fuller's London Porter
18. Theakston Old Peculier
19. Samuel Smith's Nut Brown Ale
20. Orkney SkullSplitter

Belgian (Part 5)

21. Saison Dupont
22. Jenlain Original French Ale
23. St. Bernardus Witbier
24. Rodenbach Grand Cru
25. Trappistes Rochefort 8

American East Coast (Part 6)

26. Sam Adams Boston Lager
27. Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout
28. Victory Prima Pils
29. Black Radish Dark Lager
30. Edmund Fitzgerald Porter

German (Part 7)

31. Weihenstephaner Hefeweissbier
32. Reissdorf Kölsch
33. Aecht Schlenkerla Rauchbier Märzen
34. Köstritzer Schwarzbier
35. Aventinus

"On the scene" picks (Part 8)

36. Düsseldorf, Germany: Altbier
37. Belgium: Lambic
38. Munich, Germany: Oktoberfest
39. Burton upon Trent, England: Bitter (and others)
40. Portland, Oregon: Varied

Around the World (Part 9)

41. Sapporo (Japan)
42. Sheaf Stout (Australia)
43. Flying Horse Royal Lager (India)
44. Singha (Thailand)
45. Baltika Porter (Russia)

The Final Five (Part 10)

46. Arrogant Bastard Ale
47. Style: Sahti (Finnish)
48. Style: Kvass (Russian)
49. Homebrew
50. Your local brewery's beer

All in all a fine list indeed. As there are a few brews we haven't yet tried (mostly from Parts 7, 8 and 10) we need to get busy tracking these untasted nectars down. After all, life is short and it looks like trips to Germany and the West Coast are in order.

Thanks to The Brew Site for putting the list together.

De Proef Knock Out (K-O)

I picked up this beauty at Bruisin' Ales a couple of weeks ago. It's a Belgian tripel weighing in at 10% ABV. The cork stopper was secured by the usual wire cage. The stopper was tight and after unsuccessfully trying to remove it by using a towel for friction I finally had to resort to a pair of pliers. A slight twist and the cork let go with a satisfying pop.

The beer poured into a tulip goblet a yellow-orange color with a rich, meringue-like head. The nose was of slightly sour yeast and mild apple. The taste is classic Belgian yeast with prominent bananas, mild citrus, and apple. Mouthfeel was creamy and smooth. The finish was moderately dry with an alcohol bite. It left a beautiful lace in my glass. Classic and recommended.

Weyerbacher Winter Ale

This beer poured a dark, reddish-amber color with a moderate head. The nose had plenty of malt with hints of chocolate and candied cherries. The initial impression was of vanilla and toffee with a malty finish and slight alcohol. Overall, a decent winter beer, and particularly appropriate for consuming with the current Asheville weather where high temps today didn't break freezing.

Beer for Dogs

We thought we'd seen it all, but the media is having a field day with the news that a Dutch company has released a beer for dogs. Brewed with malt and beef extract (!) the non-alcoholic beer is for Fido's enjoyment following a long hunt or game of fetch. No one in Asheville seems to have it yet but it's available in South Carolina and Georgia.

At left Bailey poses with a bottle of Shipyard and wonders when he'll have his own beer available here.

http://www.doggienews.com/2006/07/beer-for-dogs.htm

Big Beer Bash

We attended the annual Mountain Ale and Lager Tasters (MALT) Big Beer Bash in Tryon yesterday evening. About 35 or so club members and significant others sampled some outstanding beers (mostly brewed by club members) and gnoshed on some most excellent food. Carl Melissas of Green Man Brewing was there as was "Pisgah Dave" Quinn of Pisgah Brewing. Carl brought a party keg of his fine Dragon while Pisgah Dave brought some of his Baptista, a Belgian-style winter brew that weighs in at over 11% ABV. Only about 100 gallons were produced and this was among the last of it.

Gracious hosts Jay and Arlene deserve lots of thanks for again opening their beautiful home to us for this event.

Here are some pics:

Sampling some of BatDave's outstanding Scottish ale, cask-conditioned and poured from a genuine handpump.

I would love to have Jay's living room bar, not to mention his brewing room downstairs.

Rumors and happenings

Ashvegas scooped us on some rumors making the rounds about some possible new developments on the local scene. However, we can report that the stories about a new brewpub going into the former TS Morrison building are anything but "pure speculation." We know who the brewer will be and we have the facts direct from the source. We'll post further info as it develops but don't expect to see brewing here for at least a year. But plans call for a restaurant and brewing operation which will join Asheville Pizza and Brewing as Asheville's second brewpub (Jack of the Wood technically no longer qualifies for the label since the brewery is now a separate operation and is more of a "tied house")

We can't yet confirm or deny Ash's other rumors about the Wedge Gallery or possible developments on Buxton Avenue except to say that the fine folks at Green Man Brewing don't know anything about the latter. While we prefer to post facts we will report a fourth rumor we've heard about possible brewing activity on Haywood Road in West Asheville. We believe that this may be a skewed report of the new Root Bar that will be opening across from the Ingles on Haywood Road. While no on-site brewing is planned we do anticipate that the beer selections will rival the outstanding choices available at the original location in East Asheville.

In any event, if the rumored breweries do get up and running it's quite possible Asheville could become known for having the greatest number of breweries per capita. How about it? Does anyone know of another city of 65,000 with eight breweries? Or six? Or even four?

Finally, the new second location of Ruby's BBQ Shack has opened on Tunnel Road in the old IHOP building. We haven't visited yet but if their beer selection is anything like that at the Haw Creek site then it should be a winner. We know from the ads in the Mountain Xpress that it's smoke-free but that's it. If anyone has been there post a comment and tell us about it.

Blog Asheville Reunites

Cross-posted from BlogAsheville:

Blog Asheville will reconvene after too long a hiatus. Come one blogger, come all y'all bloggers to Joli Rouge, Saturday, January 20, 8pm until the last gasp is gasped. If everyone who's coming will please make comments on others' blogs about the gathering we'll get to meet a lot of these new bloggers who've emerged since the Extravablogiversapaloozathon.

Joli Rouge map is HERE.

We'll regrettably be missing this gathering as it coincides with the annual MALT Big Beer Bash. Hopefully the gathering will become a regular event. We were at Joli Rouge during last month's Drinking Liberally pub crawl and were impressed by the atmosphere and the beer selection.

Shipyard Blue Fin Stout

The final selection from this collection. The stout poured with an excellent head, in fact slightly overflowing my glass. It had a malty nose and a wonderful roasted coffee taste with undercurrents of dark chocolate and a hint of citrus. The head lasted to the end. The mouthfeel was a bit watery but that didn't detract from the experience. An excellent beer. I'd buy this one again.

Shipyard Export Ale

Another selection from my "Captain's Collection," Shipyard's export is a golden American pale. It had a malty taste up front that was redolent of honey and caramel. The finish was suitably hoppy. Overall, a typical American beer that was perfectly drinkable but not outstanding in any aspects.

Bell's Winter White Ale

Beers from Bell''s of Comstock, Michigan have recently become available in Asheville and I was eager to try some offerings from this brewery. I visited Bruisin' Ales this morning and while looking over the winter beer selections the Winter White caught my eye so I bought a sixer.

The beer poured nicely into one of my wheat beer glasses. It's a cloudy, blond-colored beer with a creamy head and medium carbonation. The nose immediately called to mind various German wheats and hefes but the name spoke Belgian. According the the brewer's web site it is brewed with a combination of hefe and Belgian yeasts so there you go. Bananas and bread yeast are first noticeable on the palate and they linger along with cloves and spices at the finish. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied.

Overall this is a decent beer that combines two well-known styles. I wouldn't rank it as a usual winter beer since it would make a better choice after gardening or mowing the lawn than for relaxing by a fire. But it works well today as the weather is unseasonably warm and we have the doors and windows wide open. I look forward to trying other beers from this brewery.

Cropton Rudolph's Revenge

As I continue working through the last of my Christmas beers I find myself paying unusually close attention to the labels. They often contain a few gems buried in fine print among the usual alcohol warnings and returnable deposit info. This one has a humorous story about how Rudolph got drunk while taking a break in Cropton, England following his long journey, which caused Santa much annoyance when the presents were delivered to the wrong addresses or not delivered at all.

The beer is a medium-dark amber color and poured with a nice head. It's a bottle-conditioned beer so I was careful not to disturb the sediment or pour it into the glass. The beer is moderately carbonated. It's described as a "dark bitter, using finest Cascade and Styrian Goldings hops and English malt providing a unique hoppy beer with a fruity aftertaste." The malt was readily apparent but the hop character was lacking though it was true to the bitter style. With two excellent hops included I just expected more hop taste to show through. The finish was subtle blackcurrant and cherry with a hint of apple and perhaps citrus in the background. The head was still present by the bottom of the glass and formed a nice Scottish lace in my Barley's imperial pint glass. Recommended.

Nice article on Asheville brewing

Each year the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce puts out a glossy tourist rag in conjunction with Journal Communications. I received a copy of the 2007 edition the other day and the first thing I noticed was a cover blurb about the breweries of Asheville. Authored by Kevin Litwin the article focuses on Asheville's four microbreweries and brewpubs. Asheville Pizza and Brewing and French Broad Brewing each get prominent coverage while brief mention is made of Green Man and Highland. The local Brews Cruise brewery tours are highlighted, too. The theme of the article is how the booming local interest in craft beer has benefited these brewers as well as bars like Barley's. The article includes some nice photographs, but I was a bit surprised to see a pic showing Mark Lyons of the Brews Cruise posing with a full pint while sitting behind the wheel of his van! It's obviously a posed shot but the message inadvertently implied was undoubtedly not considered by the editors.

Congratulations to our local brewers and kudos to the Chamber for including a beer article in a tourist publication.

Shipyard Longfellow Winter Ale

This was another Orlando purchase. I picked up a 12-bottle "Captain's Collection" which included three bottles each of four beers including Longfellow. Named after poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, the beer is this brewery's winter warmer.

It poured into a glass with ample head. The color was dark and almost opaque. The nose was overwhelmingly of malt as was the taste. In style and appearance it seemed more like a porter. There were very strong caramel-like flavors with little spice. The finish was bitter and lasting.

Overall the beer was disappointing. I would describe it as a cross between a weak old ale and a porter with neither style predominating and with no outstanding characteristics other than the malt. When I brewer is as successful as Shipyard and produces as many beers as it does I guess ones luck turns occasionally.

Winterkoninkske ("Winter King")

I bought this beer in Orlando, attracted by the peaceful winter village scene on the label. The brew is a product of the Kerkon Brewery in Belgium, a family-owned brewing operation whose stated goal is "to bring real hops back into Belgian brewing." Belgian beers aren't noted for heavy hoppiness today but traditionally brewers used far more hops than is now common and brewer Marc Limet wants to return to that earlier time.

The beer as poured into a pint glass appeared dark reddish-brown, translucent and with modest head which didn't last long. The maltiness was noticeable on the nose even through mild congestion from a lingering cold. The initial sip had distinctive malt taste along with a medium alcohol bite. Hops were detected but played second fiddle to the malt. The beer is flavored with juniper berries which were most apparent at the finish. Other flavors included plums, raisins, molasses, and cloves. The beer is unfiltered, unpasteurized and bottle conditioned. Alcohol content is not listed on the label but the brewery states it's a healthy 8.3 ABV.

As I write it is snowing in Asheville and the wind is whistling in the chimney. I can't do better than quote from the brewers' web site: "The ‘Winterkoninkske’ is the ideal beer to make a cold and chilly winter evening pleasant." They will get no arguments from me.

Happy New Year!

A very happy New Year to all you beer drinkers in blogland. Please be responsible and don't drink and drive. We want you to be around to read us during the coming year.

I apologize for the lack of recent activity. I developed a sinus infection over Christmas which became an ear infection that's resistant to antibiotics. The meds preclude drinking so I haven't had a beer since the day after Christmas. I'm dizzy and off-balance from the inner ear involvement so the effect is about the same, though . Someone please have a flute of lambic for me tonight.

Here's to a positive and happy 2007.

Post-holiday humor

I hope everyone had a most enjoyable holiday. I'm still in not-so-sunny Florida where a F2 tornado about 30 miles from here blew away a bunch of homes yesterday. I'll be posting some beer reviews soon but in the meantime here's a bit of humor from Tuborg. Thanks to Hop Talk for this one.



Drink 'till she's cute.

New beer store opening today

Bruisin' Ales is scheduled to open today. This is Asheville's first and only all-beer store and is located at 66 Broadway across from Lark Books, about a block north of the Mellow Mushroom.

The beer selection and future plans both look fantastic:

http://www.bruisin-ales.com/

Unfortunately I'm away for the holiday and will not be able to visit until next week. If anyone gets down there please post a comment and let us know what you think.

I expect this store will a big success.

Pubcrawl report

Some of us at Asheville Beer enjoy a good dose of liberal politics along with our beer. So for almost a year now we've been attending the weekly get-togethers of our local Drinking Liberally chapter on Thursdays at Asheville Brewing on Coxe Avenue. Last evening we led a pub crawl of downtown Asheville which attracted 12-14 people.

We began at the Wild Wing Cafe on Biltmore with Syntax, Felicity, and Kathryn. The atmosphere here is typical sports bar/pickup joint but I may have to put it back on my pub crawl page since the beer selection has improved. Bass was on special for $3 including the glass. I took the bait, commenting that it would be interesting to see how long the glass lasted before breaking or being inadvertently left behind along the way. More on that later.

Moving on to ED Boudreaux's we were joined by several more folks including Kyle and Jen, Screwie Hoolie, Nicole and her husband, and Kate. Good BBQ and other food was enjoyed along with excellent beer. I had a Pyramid Snowcap which was the seasonal special. Boudreaux's always has suprises in store for beer lovers and this visit was no exception.

Plans tentatively called for the next stop to be the Ebony Grille since I had met the owner at Brewgrass and was told that she expected to reopen by Thanksgiving. A quick check on the fly showed that the place is gone. Evidently another case of the best laid plans going awry. We quickly moved on to the Smokey Tavern where we hung out awhile and were joined by Edgy Mama and Ash. I drank a Rolling Rock since I wanted to see if it had changed since being taken over by A-B. The bottles still state that the beer comes from the "mountain springs" and "Old Latrobe" although it now actually comes from "Joisey" where there are few mountain springs.

Feeling increasingly mellow we headed for Fred's Speakeasy, located in the basement of Fiore's restorante. I had a Sweetwater 420 and played fooseball or the first time ever. Yep, it's true. I always played air hockey or pinball (now I'm dating myself) way back when and this was a new one for me. Felicity won but I managed to score 4 goals. The mens room here should be preserved as a monument to the art of graffiti. I especially enjoyed the limerick about Dick Cheney to the left of the urinal.

On to Joli Rouge, one of Asheville's most avant-guard clubs. Member Felicity signed us in as her guests. Here we also hooked up with fellow library IT person Luke and his new wife. I enjoyed an excellent Maudite. The atmosphere was relaxed and enjoyable with sofas and tables spread around in nooks and alcoves and the regulars seemed like a friendly group. This bar made the evening for me.

Our next stop was Scully's. The Scull-man wasn't in but there was a good crowd. Several people in our group hadn't visited before and thought the old Gypsy Moon was still operating in this location. I enjoyed an Allagash White and good conversation with Nicole who is also originally from Maine. It was here that Felicity, EM and Ash left us, with others having departed earlier. By this point we were down to Kyle and Jen, Syntax, Screwy, Pete (where did he join up?) and me. We moved on to BoBo Gallery but there was a cover charge. The Brazilian band would have been great on another night but for now we had "other priorities" as the VP would say.

Pushing on to the Bier Garden we hung out awhile, just gnoshin' and sipping a fine Old Foghorn barleywine. Screwie did a live blog post as we debated whether to continue. Consensus being reached to call it a night Kyle and Jen left in a cab while Syntax and I left in Pete's VW Rabbit. As we dropped Syntax at his home I exited the car to move into the front seat only to hear the sickening sound of breaking glass as my Bass ale souvenir slipped out of my jacket pocket and shattered in the middle of Syntax's driveway. Well, it almost made it! I picked up as much of the glass as was possible in the dark and Syntax promised to deal with the remnants in the morning. Pete dropped me at my house shortly thereafter and did me the undeserved kindness of not breaking anything in my driveway. Thanks for the ride, Pete. The next beer is on me.

The crawl was a great success and people seemed to enjoy themselves. Is anyone up for a summer crawl on a steamy evening?

Great Divide Ridgeline Amber

The beer pours nicely with abundant head but not enough to overflow the glass. The sweet maltiness hits the tongue initially before quickly fading to a mild hop taste ahead of a slightly dry finish. Mild fruitiness is noticeable. The mouthfeel is smooth and there is moderate carbonation. A rich Scottish lace lines the glass as its contents disappear. A most excellent beer that I last drank in May during a tour of the Denver brewery. Available in Asheville as part of the 12-pack brewery sampler. Recommended.

Great Divide Saint Bridget's Porter

The beer when poured into a pint glass left about a three-quarter-inch head which dissipated quickly. The color was dark brown and opaque, with little light transmission when held to a lamp. The nose was of burnt wood with malty undercurrents. The mouthfeel was of medium consistency, with the taste an initial impression of roasted almonds and warm chocolate which transitioned to a malty finish. The beer seemed more like a stout and reminded me of a more watery version of Guinness. An interesting beer from an excellent brewery. Worth a try.

Wychwood "Bah, Humbug!"

One of the beers I picked up at Peabody's yesterday was a Bah, Humbug Christmas Ale from England's Wychwood Brewery, the same folks who brew the well-known Hobgoblin dark ale. ("What's the matter Lagerboy, afraid you might TASTE something?") With snow coming down hard and the roads becoming slippery we decided to stay in tonight. After building a fire I went to ye olde beer fridge and pulled out the Humbug thinking that a cold, windy, snowy night would provide a perfect backdrop.

The beer poured nicely into an imperial pint glass, displaying a rich reddish-brown color with modest head. The initial sip produced a watery mouthfeel with abundant maltiness. There wasn't overpowering spice taste but a noticeable trace of cinnamon was present. I also detected a bit of pepper at the finish. The beer comes in at only 6.2% ABV but there's a noticeable alcoholic presence. There wasn't any detectable hoppiness. The beer was very mildly carbonated. The head was long-lasting and was still present when I finished the brew.

Overall, a drinkable beer but a bit weak for the Strong Ale style. With all the other seasonals available I doubt I'll buy it again soon.

Road trip

Occasionally we make a road trip to see what the beer scene is like elsewhere in North Carolina. Work took me to Boone for a couple of days where I had occasion to visit Peabody's Wine and Beer Merchants. What a find! This place probably wins the award for the best beer store in the Carolinas. With all due respect for Asheville's fine stores Peabody's can't likely be beat for the scope and variety of their beer selection.

Some highlights noted during a feeble attempt at focusing through our delirium of excitement included a selection of bottle-conditioned ales from J.W. Lees of Manchester, England. Also seen were several Jolly Pumpkin ales. These beers are rare finds in the southeast and I haven't seen them in Asheville yet. Another interesting beer is Appalachian Ale, a pale ale brewed by Carolina Beer Company and only sold in Boone. It's available in bottles at Peabody's and on draft at the Boone Saloon on King Street. Winter seasonals were prominent and included Festive Ale from Atlanta's Sweetwater Brewing Company. This beer is also available in Asheville and will make a good consolation prize for anyone who loses out on obtaining this year's Cold Mountain from Highlands.

There were a lot of other prizes hidden here and there among the many shelves, coolers, and boxes stacked on the floor. Chances are if Peabody's doesn't have a beer then it isn't widely available in North Carolina. I could have easily dropped several C-notes in here if not for my excellent self-control (not to mention a finite beer budget and a wife.) If you are a serious beer enthusiast and want to experience once again the excitement you felt as a small child when you saw your gifts under the tree on long-ago Christmas mornings then get in the car and head for Peabody's soon.

Peabody's Wine and Beer Merchants

1104 Highway 105

Boone, NC

(828) 264-9476

'Tis the season......

.....to be jolly, and a good beer or two can help make us feel warm all over as well as lessen the symptoms of seasonal affective disorder. This is also the season when brewers release those beers known as Christmas beers and winter warmers. Christmas beers are spiced with nutmeg, cinnamon, or coriander and are intended for consumption over the holidays, though many remain available throughout the winter months. Winter warmers tend to be higher in alcohol and take their name from the warm glow the drinker achieves.

Best known of these beers in the Asheville area is Highland's Cold Mountain Winter Ale. This year's release has been delayed slightly by the move of the brewery to East Asheville but the owners assure us that it will be out just before Christmas. Like many winter seasonals the recipe is changed a bit each year so no two releases are alike. Cold Mountain has become so popular that people often pre-purchase the bottles through area specialty stores which makes it increasingly hard to obtain. It is usually found on draft at Barley's and selected other area bars, but will go fast.

Another favorite of mine is Hampshire Special Ale from the D.L. Geary Brewing Company of Portland, Maine. In Asheville it is only available at the Grove Market in the Grove Arcade. This classic winter warmer was for many years "only available while the weather sucks" but is now brewed year round. While Ashevillians would have to travel to Maine to try the wonderful cask-conditioned draft on handpump, the bottled version should not be missed.

Other seasonals include Samuel Smith's Winter Welcome Ale, Sierra Nevada Celebration Ale, Anchor Christmas Ale, Avery Brewing's Old Jubilation, Young's Winter Warmer, Corsendonk Christmas Ale, and Great Divide's Hibernation Ale. Pick up a few bottles and share with friends in the spirit of the season.

May good cheer reign.

Why doesn't Asheville have one of these?

Courtesy of the Blue Ridge Blog.

New beer store coming to Asheville

Asheville Beer has learned from a reliable source that a new store dedicated to fine beer will be opening by Christmas at 66 Broadway. This location is across from the Lark Books building. The store will feature fine beers from the US and around the world.

Asheville has a number of establishments offering impressive retail beer selections but this will be the first store dedicated exclusively to our favorite beverage. We wish the owners much success and look forward to visiting. We will post additional information as opening day approaches.

Sam Smith to beat the skunk

I've long been a fan of the fine beers produced by Samuel Smith's in Tadcaster, England, near York. One my visits to the UK I've enjoyed many a cask ale from this brewery, drawn on handpump and more often than not consumed in one of the many fine pubs also owned by this brewer. At home in the US I always look forward to each seasons' Winter Welcome with its new label. In fact there's some '06-'07 in my beer fridge now. The biggest problem with Sam Smith's has always been those clear bottles which cause beers that have been on the beer store shelves for any period of time to become "skunky," caused by the exposure of the beer to ultraviolet light. For this reason I often forgo buying these beers unless I know they've recently arrived at the store.

Now, Stephen Beaumont reports that Sam Smith's has started shipping its beers in brown glass! I haven't seen any in the Asheville area yet but these reportedly have the same look as the old bottles except for the color. This is great news and should address the long-standing shelf life issues. Hopefully other British brewers will take note and begin a mass migration away from clear glass. Wychewood, are you out there?

Beer warning

Police are warning all men who frequent clubs, parties and local pubs to be alert and stay cautious when offered a drink from any woman. Many females use a date rape drug on the market called "Beer."

The drug is found in liquid form and is available anywhere. It comes in bottles, cans, or from taps and in large "kegs". Beer is used by female sexual predators at parties and bars to persuade their male victims to go home and sleep with them. A woman needs only to get a guy to consume a few units of Beer and then simply ask him home for no strings attached sex.

Men are rendered helpless against this approach. After several beers, men will often succumb to the desires to sleep with horrific looking women whom they would never normally be attracted. After drinking beer, men often awaken with only hazy memories of exactly what happened to them the night before, often with just a vague feeling that "something bad" occurred.

At other times these unfortunate men are swindled out of their life's savings, in a familiar scam known as "a relationship." In extreme cases, the female may even be shrewd enough to entrap the unsuspecting male into a longer term form of servitude and punishment referred to as "marriage." Men are much more susceptible to this scam after beer is administered and sex is offered by the predatory females.

Please! Forward this warning to every male you know. If you fall victim to this "Beer" scam and the women administering it, there are male support groups where you can discuss the details of your shocking encounter with similarly victimised men. For the support group nearest you, just look up "Golf Courses" in the phone book.

Barley's

IMG_2237b
Originally uploaded by wncln_ms.

Lots of Pisgah brews on draft right now.

Beer shopping Sunday

I made the rounds of the Asheville beer stores this afternon, stopping at Greenlife, Fresh Market and the North Asheville Ingles. The haul included Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale, Terrapin Rye Squared, Samuel Smiths IPA, Mendocino Talon Barleywine, and Framboise Boon. The orange cans contain a soft drink called Moxie. If you aren't from New England you've probably never heard of it. It contains gentian root as a flavoring ingredient which makes it very bitter. I grew up drinking the stuff and it's undoubtedly responsible for my acquiring a taste for beer at a young age. I didn't buy the Moxie in Asheville, unfortunately.

MALT road trip

Yesterday, a group from the Mountain Ale and Lager Tasters (MALT) made a road trip to the wilds of east Tennessee for a joint gathering with the State of Franklin Homebrewers. We met at the Depot Street Brewery in Jonesborough where we were warmly welcomed by owner/brewer Michael Foster. Michael gave us a tour of his brewery and offered plenty of beer. Styles included a lager, a Belgian, a pale ale, a couple of porters, and a scottish. I had sampled Michael's fine beers at Brewgrass and he recognized me from that event. We played games outside in the unexpectedly warm weather, met new friends from the other club, and swapped information about the respective beer scenes in Asheville and the Tri-cities. It was an excellent way to spend an afternoon, and we look forward to welcoming the State of Franklin-ites to Asheville.

Excellent news for beer lovers in NC

This came across MALTmail, The homebrew clubs' email service, this morning:

"I am proud to tell you that Tryon is the official state wide distributorfor Bell's Brewery as of today. Please pass this information to everyone you know. Bell's should be in NC on a soft roll out before Christmas."
Jeff LeVine
Tryon Distributing
State Beer Brand Manager

This is certainly good news for any of you out there who are fan's of Bell's products! I myself can't wait to stock up on these excellent beers!!!

Oi Vey! Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.

One of the best double IPA's I've had is Bittersweet Lenny's RIPA from the Schmaltz Brewing Company. Marketing their products under the He'Brew label, this Jewish-owned brewery produces some of the finest beers this side of Jerusalem. All are eminently drinkable but for a hophead like me Lenny's wins hands down.

The label states that Lenny's is brewed with "an obscene amount of malts and hops" as a tribute to the late Lenny Bruce (Leonard Alfred Schneider) 1925-1966. Brewed on the 40th anniversary of Bruce's death, the beer celebrates the legendary comedian who died at age 40.

The beer begins with a smooth mouthfeel, the result of the 10% alcohol content. A malty initial hit from the rye malt quickly changes to a hoppy finish. It is very well balanced, though the hoppiness stays with you due to the lasting aftertaste. As I write this review it is in the 30's outside and there's a warm fire going in the fireplace. This is a great winter beer to share with friends over good conversation. A nice product from a unique brewery, available at specialty beer stores in the Asheville area.

L'Chaim!

New meaning of "Beer Blast"

Kegs can be dangerous. I remember someone was killed at a frat party years ago when he tried to pressurize one by using an electric compressor. The keg top blew off, striking him and killing him instantly.

NEW MILFORD, Conn., Oct. 23 (UPI) -- A 22-year-old New Milford, Conn., man was killed and seven others injured after a beer keg thrown into a fire barrel
exploded at an outdoor party.

The blast at 3:13 a.m. Sunday was powerful enough to shake windows a mile away from the field where between 50 and 100 people in their 20s were attending an annual pig roast, the Danbury (Conn.) News-Times reported Monday.

Sean Caselli, 22, was killed by a jagged piece of shrapnel to the neck, while seven others were hit by shrapnel or burned, New Milford police said.

Investigators would not reveal who had thrown the barrel into the fire barrel, the newspaper said.

[snip]

Ruby's Tap House

This past Thursday saw the renewal of MALT's regular social gathering know amongst Club Members as "Pint Night". We had the pleasure of meeting this time at Ruby's in the Haw Creek Area of Asheville. This was my first opportunity to visit and the atmosphere was wide open and friendly and we were fortunate enough to have chosen a night when free chicken wings were being served. There was plenty of seating including a covered "porch" area in front and the traditional bar seating. There were somewhere in the neighborhood of 15-20 beers on tap including 5 or 6 local beers and the bottle selection was expansive to say the least. The wings we were treated to were sauced with Ruby's Ragin Cajun and were quite delicious. So if you're on the East side of Asheville and are looking for an easy going place to relax with a few pints of excellent beer and some great BBQ to go along with it Ruby's presents a fantastic choice!

Acme Pale Ale

So I stopped by the Ingles on Merrimon yesterday on the way home from work. Deciding to check out the beer section, I scanned the shelves as usual for something I haven't had before. What caught my attention was a leggy blonde cartoon model in the 1940's pinup style, on a six-pack of Acme pale ale. The name Acme signalled "crap" since I remember those old Wile E. Coyote cartoons from my childhood. That name appeared on all the gadgets and explosives Wile E. used to maim himself. Looking closer I saw it came from California's North Coast Brewing so decided to take a chance (plus I never could resist a great pair of legs). The price was a bit high at $8.59 but not unreasonable.

The beer poured nicely with a good head. It had a light golden hue, lighter that some pales but nice. Taking a sip I noticed a clean taste with a hint of malty sweetness and maybe a bit of lemon. The finish was dry with noticeable hoppiness but nothing excessive or lasting. Overall, very much like a British pale.

Hopheads will find it too bland, while Budsuckers might find it a good beer to try as they expand their horizons beyond American pilsners. This would make a fine session beer and also go well with food at a backyard cookout. Recommended.

Brewgrass report

The 2006 Brewgrass festival has come and gone, and what a time it was. The weather cooperated and things went well in spite of the somewhat cramped location in "the Block." Space limitations made it next to impossible to approach booths on the upper level without forcing one's way through crowds. Despite this, people milled throughout the area enjoying fine brewgrass music and beer from over 40 breweries.

Highlights in my book were Allagash Double, a new double IPA from Oskar Blues, and Pisgah Pale from our own Pisgah Brewing in Black Mountain. I enjoyed the chance to try some other beers that aren't usually available in this area.

I saw Asheville bloggers Brainshrub and Screwie Hoolie but missed Edgy Mama. I also enjoyed meeting other folks, including a fellow University of Maine alum who noticed my Gritty McDuff's T-shirt. Gritty's is a brewpub in Portland, Maine which has the distinction of being Maine's first.

Despite shortcomings with the location this fest was the best of the eight I've attended. I'm already looking forward to next year.

Fall is here

The last few days have seen cool, dry air and clear blue skies that remind us once again that we're lucky to be in western North Carolina. As one of my politically incorrect friends in college used to say, it's Pearl Harbor weather - there's a nip in the air. It's time to drink up those hefeweisens, pilsners, and wheats and make room in the fridge for Octoberfests, stouts, porters, and barleywines. It won't be long before we'll be sipping a winter warmer beside a crackling fire while listening to the wind outside.

My growing supply includes:

Victory Hop Devil
Cottonwood Endo
Allagash 11th Anniversary Ale
He'Brew Bittersweet Lenny's R.I.P.A.
Weyerbacher Autumnfest

What's in your fridge?

Asheville beer stores

Living in Asheville offers a number of advantages not available to many other similarly-sized communities around the US. Not the least among these, in my view, is the sheer number of stores offering great beers. Just a partial list would include:

Greenlife Grocery
Weinhaus
Asheville Wine Market
Earthfare
Six Pack Smoke Stack
Fresh Market

Even my local Ingles on Leicester Highway has a good section of imports and craft beers. Contrast this situation with many communities around the country where good beers simply cannot be easily obtained. On my recent trip to Florida even the otherwise-outstanding Publix supermarkets in Orlando had only Sierra Nevada and a few other common beers alongside the ubiquitous BMC.

Congratulations to all the Asheville store owners and managers who make these beers available to us, and thanks especially to the Ashevilleians who buy them, enjoy them, and keep the demand strong.