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!