Around Town

There was quite a crowd at Bruisin' Ale's for last nights special Avery tasting. They showcased a good selection of Avery's high gravity offerings, and Adam Avery himself was on hand for a meet and greet. It was nice being able to meet him, as well as Nate Merchant from Hart Distributing. Tony Kiss was there early to do a podcast interview with Adam, so be on the lookout for the article and podcast on Citizen-Times.com.

In other news, work continues on the the Wedge Gallery brewery. I spoke with Carl last night, and he is hoping to have the brewery open sometime in January, but that date is just a floating target right now. We'll just have to be patient for the return of Carl's Belgian inspired ales. When he does open, he plans on putting some of his beers in 750 ml corked bottles, which will make him the third Asheville brewery to bottle their beer, joining Highland and Pisgah, which bottles special releases intermittently.

Speaking of Pisgah, Jason Caughman was on hand at the tasting as well. Forgive me for my bad memory, but they should be releasing a special stout soon, and I am wanting to think it was a coffee stout (I need to carry around a note pad). Plans are also in the works for the second release of the Red Devil, which should be in the tanks soon. They literally ordered a ton of fruit for this one, and this should be around longer than the first time. On the horizon is the December release of the Baptista. They brewed twice as much this go around, but I still suspect that it will sell out rather quickly, so keep your ears open for the release date. That will be followed up by the Vortex III, an oak aged Belgian Strong Pale (which may pick up some darker hues from the barrels). This is already brewed, and Jason says it could be served right now, but it is destined to sit on wood for the next 3 months or so. This will should come out some around the first of the year.

Next week, the Biltmore Estate is sponsoring a Highland beer dinner on November 7th. Its great that we are seeing more beer dinners throughout town, and I will do my best to add them to the calendar. The real interesting part of this beer dinner is the debut of Cedric's Pale Ale, a special beer brewed by Highland for the Biltmore Estate. I unfortunatley do not know much information beyond the name, but I will pass along anything that I find out about it. Unbeknownst to me, the Biltmore House has already had a special beer brewed in the past for them by Highland, but I have never seen it, nor could I find any other information on that beer. Also, be on the lookout for this years Cold Mountain release, which could be released as early as next week.

French Broad has released their Altbier as a fall/winter seasonal. Altbiers are one of the few German style ales that are produced, but they still maintain some of the characteristics of their lager counterparts. Look for it at the Mellow Mushroom, Bier Garden, Stone Ridge Tavern, and Carraba's, in addition to other locations. One of my favorite French Broad brews, the Flander's Abbey Ale is being brought back to life. It is currently in the tanks and should be released some time after Thanksgiving.

Well I think that about covers it. It's a good time to be a beer drinker in Asheville.

Asheville's Beer Goddess

Asheville's own Edgy Mama is featuring a Beer of the Week. Edgy is a writer, blogger, photographer, parent, and beer lover who had a great write-up on local breweries in the Mountain Express leading up to Brewgrass, in addition to her weekly parenthood column. I surely hope that she continues her Beer of the Week video. Unfortunately (or fortunately) you will not seeing my mug on a YouTube video any time soon. As for her featured beer, I too enjoy the Roland's ESB. My favorite Asheville Brewing Company beer is the Shiva, wonderfully hopped with a restrained bitterness and very drinkable.

Odds and Suds

Some news of interest.

A once beloved beer from the now defunct Heavyweight Brewing Company is making a return. Perkuno's Hammer is a highly regarded Baltic Porter, which is sort of a hybrid between an Imperial Stout and a Dopplebock. Naturally, this style emerged in the Baltic region of Europe in the 18th century, and traditionally uses a lager yeast instead of an ale yeast, which is what gives it the dopplebock-like characteristics. The Hammer is being reborn as the Victory Baltic Thunder, and was brewed back in May. I got word from Victory that we may see this beer here in North Carolina in the early part of next year. If you don't want to wait this long, you can try the Okocim Porter, which is a geographically true Baltic since it is brewed in Poland. I have seen these at the European Market on Patton Avenue.

Bruisin' Ales announced today a special beer tasting this Tuesday evening. Adam Avery, brewer and President of Avery Brewing Company, will be on hand to sample a wide variety of his bigger beers. Adam is highly regarded in the craft brew world, and it is a testament to the beer culture in Asheville that he is paying us a visit. The tasting is free, and you will get a chance to meet one of the preeminent brewers in the country. You don't want to miss it. They also are the only North Carolina beer store that is carrying the Sweetwater Donkey Punch Barleywine (cringe), so you might want to pick up a bottle while you are there.

As already covered in the Mountain Express and Citizen Times, Hops and Vines has recently opened in West Asheville on Haywood Road across from Digable Pizza. They carry a variety of craft beers as well as Pabst Blue Ribbon for your non-craft drinking friends. In addition, they also stock a nice variety of wines, and have hired a part time wine consultant who will assist in stocking the store, wine tastings, and is available for creating your own wine event (hmm.... beer consultant has a nice ring to it.) Owner Alex Buerckholtz's true love is homebrewing, and he has everything you need to get you started. He plans on having beer brewing classes, where for a fee you can learn to brew beer with a small group and then get to take home the finished product. Hops and Vines is having their official Grand Opening on November 3rd from 2-8. Their will be beer tastings from Highland and Pisgah, wine tastings, and a homebrewing demonstration.

And finally, for you science geeks, I was sent a link to a podcast by my good friend. The Naked Scientists explore several different aspects of brewing (sorry, they aren't really naked). The podcast itself covers several subjects, but there are direct links to the interviews on the lower right hand side of the page. I thought the Natural History of Beer was quite interesting.

Ghost Hunting

I couldn't wait any longer. I'm currently sipping on a Fantôme de Noël, from one of the most elusive breweries in the world. Fantôme is a Belgian brewery that crafts unique farmhouse ales, most notably the Fantôme Saison. Dany Prignon started the brewery in 1988, and in the past few years they have developed a cult following for those who love funky Belgian ales brewed with a plethora of local herbs and spices. Not unlike Jolly Pumpkin that I featured in a post a few months ago, Fantôme brews their beers with an open fermentation and oak aging that allows wild yeast and bacteria to 'infect' their beers with a funky aroma and a tart flavor. The Noël showcases this type of brewing beautifully. It pours a nice deep mahogany color, and has notes of candy sugar, chocolate, spice, and that ever present dark fruit tartness. Every sip bursts with flavor.

Now onto the bad news. Why isn't this beer featured as a 'Beer of the Moment'? Because you can't get it in Asheville. I picked up my bottle at Sam's Blue Light in Durham when I was there for the World Beer Festival. The only time I have seen a Fantôme in Asheville was at Greenlife, and it was tucked away in a corner, limited in number. Alanis Morrisette wouldn't argue with the irony that this brewery is the french name for ghost. These beers are hard to get anywhere, but I hope that a local distributor can step up and procure some bottles so we can enjoy this beer here at home.

Beer of the Moment - Unibroue La Terrible

Its funny how things work. I had bought another beer with the intention of doing a 'Beer of the Moment', but then I opened up this bottle of Unibroue's La Terrible that I picked up on my trip to Durham. After one sip, I knew this was going to be the beer I was going to write about.

I have professed my love for Belgian style beers here before, and this beer hits all the right notes. There is the fruity, slightly funky aroma that is often associated with Belgian beer styles. The aroma gives just a few hints to what you are in store when you taste it. Before I go on, let me talk a little bit about Unibroue. First of all, they are not located in Belgium, but instead in the very French influenced city of Montreal. This brewery has been making Belgian style beers for nearly two decades, and they are most famous for their exceptional Belgian strong pale ale, La Fin Du Monde (and I'm feeling fine). They offer a wide variety of Belgian inspired beers, and for anyone who wants to dip their toes into Belgian beers, they are an excellent starting point.

Back to the beer. The taste is sublime. It pours a dark, nearly black color, with an effervescent head that tests your patience as it settles. As it hits your tongue, you can taste a little anise, a bit of caramel, and some fig like notes, which all come together in a very pleasant aftertaste that leaves you begging for another sip. This is one of those beers where I immediately wished that I had another one in the fridge. Run, do not walk, to your nearest specialty beer store to see if they have it in stock. I know for sure that it is at Bruisin' Ales, and this is a beer that should not be missed, and goes well with the cool nights that we are finally experiencing.

World Beer Festival Roundup

Two beer festivals in two weeks. I've been spoiled. This was my first trip to the World Beer Festival in Durham, and I must say I was quite impressed. It was another hot day, but the clouds, the tents, and the beer made for a wonderful afternoon. The WBF is a bit different than our hometown Brewgrass Festival, with a more national and international flair. Breweries from Oregon to Sri Lanka were represented, but there was also a large contingent of North Carolina brews as well. Another difference from Brewgrass is that the WBF is seperated into two four hour sessions. I do like the extra time allotted at Brewgrass, but four hours was still plenty of time to soak in most of the beer offerings. I'm not sure, but I think there was music there as well.

As for the highlights, first and foremost was the Cask and Barrel Tent run by Pop The Cap. There was an additional one dollar charge per sample, but the money raised will go further to help raise the beer culture in North Carolina. It was great getting to try the Wee Heavier on cask, but what had me most excited was getting to have some 2004 Ommegang Three Philosphers. The age really deepened the flavors on an already tasty beer. The other great thing about the Cask Tent was that it was air conditioned, which provided a nice respite from the summer like weather outside. At the end of the evening, our very own Drew Barton of French Broad was pouring samples of the Wee Heavier for the masses (picture by Sean Wilson of Pop the Cap, and you can see the rest of his photos here, where you can find yours truly in one of the pictures).

Two breweries from Michigan really stood out at the festival. Kuhnhenn Brewing Company, located in a suburb of Detroit, really went out of there way to bring some rare treats down south. Their Creme Brulee Java Stout was divine. You could really taste the carmelized sugar and that paired well with the chocolate and coffee flavors and it all added up to a unique and wonderful stout. Another unusual beer that was being served on the down low was the Tenacious Cassis, a black currant dessert beer that was sweet and fruity, with an unbelievable aroma. At fifteen percent it was a sipper, but I could see myself enjoying a good amount of it with its excellent drinkability. They also featured the Simcoe Silly, a belgian ale hopped with American Simcoe, and a Double Rice IPA, with the rice lending an interesting crispness, putting a twist on the Double IPA style. I would return to next year's festival based on this brewery alone. Alas, they only distribute locally, and it will be years before we might see them make their way to North Carolina.

The other brewery from Michigan that I really liked was Founders Brewing Company. They offer a solid lineup of beers, ranging from their Centennial IPA, a nicely balanced beer with plenty of citrusy hops, to their Red's Rye Ale, a moderately hopped amber with a spciy finish complements of the rye. The beer that I salivated for was the Kentucky Breakfast Stout, a hearty Imperial Stout that has been aged in Bourbon barrels. The bourbon finish really takes this beer to another level. The good news is that Founders is looking to expand to North Carolina sometime early next year. The bad news is that it will be awhile longer before we see any special releases like the Kentucky Breakfast. So do your part and drink some of their beers when they come out, and hopefully we will get a chance to see some of their more interesting seasonals.

I hesitate to post this because I don't want to let the secret out, but the best place to stay if you want to go to the WBF in Durham next year is the Duke Tower and Condominiums. Each room is a suite, with a kitchen, living room, and a seperate bedroom (bring extra pans if you plan on cooking though). They also have a nice pool to relax at, and it is a ten minute walk to the festival. I definitely plan on staying there again next year (see picture on the right).

Odds and Suds

Just a quick roundup of beer tidbits.

Pisgah Brewing had three beers featured in the Beer Review section of Beer Advocate magazine this month. I was disappointed to see that the Baptista scored a C+, even though the review itself had very little negative to say about the beer. It is one of my favorite beers brewed in North Carolina and stands up to many of the best from across the country. Pisgah also received a B+ for their Cosmos and an A- for their Vortex II. A sample from the Vortex II review reads, "The rolling smoothness from its deep crisp carbonation is unlike any beer we've ever tried". I do hope that Pisgah considers brewing this again. Pisgah was also featured in the most recent edition of Southern Brew News with an article written by our own Tony Kiss. You can check these magazines out at Bruisin' Ales, Barleys, and a few other locations in town.

In an update of a previous blog entry, to no one's surprise, the half million dollar bid on an 1852 bottle of Allsopp's Arctic ale fizzled. The bottle is now sitting in a safety deposit box and it has yet to go back on sale. While the seller claims that the bidder retracted his bid and he may 'donate the bottle to charity', I suspect that he was in on the shenanigans to begin with. Another buyer helped to drive up the cost, and if it was worth so much he would have surely sold it the next highest bidder. Anything for a little bit of publicity I guess.

If you didn't get a chance to pick up some Highland Imperial Kashmir IPA at the brewery a couple of weeks ago, you now have a second chance. Bruisin' Ales should be have some available today. I have already had 2 of my allotment, and while it is a fantastic beer, I think it will be even better in about 3-6 months of being in the bottle. Again, this beer is limited, so don't wait too long to buy some.

I failed to mention in my post about fresh hop ales that Barleys in SOUTH CAROLINA is having a Hop Harvest celebration on the 24th, featuring the Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale, Great Divide Fresh Hop Pale Ale, Rogue Hop Heaven, and Victory Hop Whallop (this one is not a true harvest ale). I'm happy for the folks in Greenville, but why in the heck is this not happening here in Asheville? Do I have to issue another challenge to our local beer bars?

Rumor has it that the Thirsty Monk, Asheville's first Belgian beer bar will be opening in the next few weeks. Anybody with any additional information on this, please shoot me an email. I would love to be there for opening day.

And last but not least, tomorrow I am heading for Durham to attend the World Beer Festival. This is heralded as the premier Beer Festival in the Southeast, and it will be the first time I have attended. I am especially looking forward to the Cask and Barrel tent, which I am proud to say will feature two Asheville brews on cask, the Highland Gaelic Ale and the French Broad Wee Heavier (kudos to Green Man's John Stuart for loaning the cask equipment to French Broad, you gotta love the cooperative spirit of our local brewers).

Beer of the Moment - Sierra Nevada Harvest Ale

A quick aside before I move on to the beer. Every time I sit down to write a Beer of the Moment, I inevitably start singing it to the tune of Asia's oh so catchy 80's super hit, Heat of the Moment. And now you can do the same. Maybe I can work up an entire song. "It was the beer of the moment, telling me what those hops meant". Well that's all I got so far.

Speaking of hops, (segue!) this moment's featured beer is a showcase of fresh hop taste. Eleven years ago, the folks at Sierra Nevada decided to brew a pale ale with 'wet' hops. How is this different you ask? Beers are traditionally brewed with dried hops that have been kilned to remove the moisture so that they can be preserved for use at a later date. This works out very well, but the drying process removes some of the natural resin and oil that is present. By brewing with freshly picked, or wet hops, you are able to retain the full flavor profile of the hop, which gives the beer a fresher, more oily hop taste. This is not an easy process, as hops begin to degrade as soon as they are picked. In order to retain the freshness of the hops, they are picked and shipped to the brewery where they must be ready to use the hops immediately. In Sierra Nevada's case, they get their hops from Yakima, Washington, which in turn are loaded on a truck that drives straight to Chico, California where they are unloaded and added to the boil, and all this usually happens within 48 hours. A few other brewers have followed suit, but there is obviously a catch. You have to be within close proximity to the hop source, so most fresh hop beers are produced by west coast breweries where a majority of the hops are grown.

Sierra has traditionally only released their Harvest Ale in kegs, but this year they decided to brew enough so that they could bottle it and distribute it nationally. Fortunately, we here in Asheville can pick up the special 24 ounce bottles, which are currently available at Bruisin' Ales and may be available elsewhere in limited quantities. The beer itself is a great testament to fresh hop taste. This is not a 'hop bomb', so those expecting some huge IPA may be disappointed. However, this beer is not lacking in hop flavor, and displays a wonderful herbal and grassy aroma. The hops dance on the tongue with an ever so slight bitterness, and a mild oily finish. This is a well balanced beer, and the malts provide a nice backbone to complement the hop flavor. Unlike some other beers, this is not meant to be laid down for any length of time. Drink this one as soon as possible, as the fresh hop taste will degrade over time. I have also seen this on tap in years past at both Barley's and Westville Pub, but this year you don't have to leave the house to try this wonderful beer.

Here is a direct link to Sierra Nevada's Harvest Ale page, and if you scroll down you can watch a video that talks about the history of the beer. I am only aware of one other fresh hop beer that we will see here in Asheville, Great Divide's Fresh Hop Pale Ale, which should be available in the next couple of weeks.

On Tap - Barleys, Part Deux

This is the second edition of 'On Tap', and in the first one I promised to occasionally post about what's pouring in local beer bars. Well, I haven't exactly gotten around to doing that yet, and I'm featuring the same bar that I posted about in the first one. I will eventually make it to another bar, but there were a couple of notable beers on tap at Barley's last night that I needed to share.

As I mentioned in the Brewgrass writeup, the Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse was scheduled to be tap at Barley's soon, and I am happy to report that it is pouring downstairs right now. It uses the Schneider Hefeweizen yeast, so it has some of the familiar banana and clove tastes that you would associate with a German hefe, but it is dry hopped with Amarillo and Palisades hops, giving it a citrusy aftertaste. This is bigger than your traditional hefe at 7.8% alcohol, but you can hardly tell it is there. If you are a fan of German hefeweizens I would suggest giving this unusual rendition a try. It will only be available for a limited time.

Closer to home, Pisgah's Fall seasonal, Equinox is now available upstairs. This one is not easy to classify, with Pisgah dubbing it a 'Harvest Ale'. It is amber in color, with a sweet lightly toasted malt flavor that is combined with an earthy, slightly spicy finish. A very interesting beer to say the least, which is no surprise coming from the brewers at Pisgah. Another big beer, this one clocks in at 7.5%.

Last but not least, one of my favorite regional breweries, Terrapin Beer Company out of Athens, Georgia, has brewed an 'India Brown Ale'. As the name suggests, this beer is a marriage between a hoppy IPA and a sweet brown ale, and the pairing seems to work. As with most browns, this one has a nice caramel/chocolaty sweetness, and the addition of 5 types of hops plays a wonderful contrast with its bitter finish. This will eventually find its way into bottles, but in the mean time you can head upstairs at Barley's to find it. Speaking of Terrapin bottled beer, we should also be seeing the fall release of this years version of the Big Hoppy Monster, a big, moderatley hopped 'red' ale that has some interesting malt characteristics that play well with the hops.

Brewgrass Roundup

Another Brewgrass festival has come and gone. It was a beautiful sunny day, and probably the hottest Brewgrass that I remember. The temperature reached 84, but it felt hotter with the lack of shade at the Martin Luther King ballfield. In fact, the only shade to be found was next to the port-a-johns, or the “dark caverns of plastic” as my wife referred to them. Thankfully there were plenty of bathrooms to go around this year, and I saw nary a line to speak of. The heat did not deter the crowd though, and plenty of good beer, food, and music helped to make it another successful festival.

There were a few surprises and some great beer at this years festival, several of those coming from North Carolina breweries. As mentioned in my last post, Foothills Sexual Chocolate was on tap, and the extra few months of aged have mellowed the beer a bit, making it even more drinkable. Again, one of my favorite North Carolina brewed beers. Foothills also had their Hoppyium IPA, a wonderfully hopped west coast style IPA that unfortunately has not seen too many visits to Asheville taps (it has been on at the Lobster Trap before). Duck Rabbit brought some aged Baltic Porter, one of the highest rated beers from North Carolina, and it was exceptional. Expect to see this years version coming out later in the fall. French Broad produced an easy drinking Pale Ale that will make a fine session beer. Whether it becomes a permanent addition to French Broad’s lineup will depend on how popular it becomes. The Kolsch was in such demand that it has become a mainstay for French Broad. John Stewart of Green Man Brewing debuted a Belgian Golden Ale. After a few sips, I immediately thought of Duvel, and it turns out that Stewart had that in mind when he brewed it. It might not make it to Jack of the Wood, but it should be available at Dirty Jacks. Catawba Brewing Company featured their Blackwater Uber Pale Ale, a big beer with a nice smoky malt flavor and moderate hops that defies style categorization (there is nothing pale about this beer). The Blackwater is currently on tap downstairs at Barleys. And last but not least, Highland rolled out the Imperial Kashmir IPA, and they were perhaps the most popular tent during the day. This is a huge beer, very sweet and hoppy, and should get even better with a couple more months in the bottle. I picked up a case on Sunday and hopefully there will be some available at local stores in the coming weeks. Get some while you can though, as it won’t last long.

There were some notable beers from outside the state as well. Brooklyn Brewery had the Brooklyner-Schneider Hopfen-Weisse. Another beer that is hard to put in a category, it can best be described as a hoppy weizenbock. It was created as a joint effort between Brooklyn Brewery and G. Schneider and Son brewery in Germany. Two versions were released, one a few weeks ago that was in bottles and was brewed by Schneider, and this latest version brewed here in the states using American hops. Both beers are very good. The Brooklyn version will be on tap at Barleys within the next couple of weeks if you want to try it. Perhaps the biggest surprise of the day came from our neighbors to the south. R.J. Rockers Brewing out of Spartanburg brought a Double IPA that was brewed in celebration of South Carolina finally popping the cap on their alcohol limit. Another South Carolina brewery had one of my favorite beers of the day. Blue Ridge Brewing in Greenville is making some great beers, and the Double Ball and Chain IPA was fantastic, a well balanced, flavorful DIPA that wasn’t too over the top. The regular Ball and Chain IPA was very good too. Head brewer Jay Simpson came up with the recipe for the original Ball and Chain for his wedding day and for his 2 year anniversary, he brewed the Double Ball and Chain. His wife should be proud, they are both excellent brews. I will definitely seek them out the next time I am in downtown Greenville. Lastly, Sweetwater Brewing Company out of Atlanta gave beer lovers their first taste of Donkey Punch barleywine. The name itself makes me cringe, but the beer was good, a bit overly hopped for the style, and may be available in bottles in the coming weeks. I just wish they didn’t have to resort to juvenile names for their beers.

Overall it was once again a wonderful festival. I do want to mention one thing about the music. This could get me run out of Asheville, but I have to be honest, I am not the biggest fan of Bluegrass music. But the one band that made me turn my attention away from the beer tents was the Carolina Chocolate Drops. They had an amazing energy and were a great closing act to the festival, bringing hundreds of onlookers to their feet. It was a great day reuniting with old friends and discovering new ones.

I'm too excited to sleep

The countdown to Brewgrass has begun. Tickets have been sold out for a couple of weeks now, and judging by the posts on Beer Advocate and craigslist, there hasn't been a ticket this hot since the Smashing Pumpkins played here earlier in the summer. So I hope everyone has their tickets, and if you don't, you may need to pray to the beer gods and hope that someone will be scalping them somewhere outside of MLK Park.

This year's Brewgrass has returned to its original home after meandering throughout various parts of downtown, some good (McCormick Field), and some bad (last year). Regardless of where it is held, the festival still provides an ample amount of beer, music, and camaraderie. In the past we have seen rainstorms, chilly weather, and a lack of port a johns, but that still does not deter from the fun. The most memorable Brewgrass for me was in 2001. It was four days after 9/11, and the entire country was still in a state of shock. I am glad that Doug Beatty decided not to postpone the festival, as it provided a wonderful respite from the terrible events that occurred just days before. We emerged from out in front of our TVs that day to interact with our fellow neighbors and friends over the fellowship of a cold beer.

One of the exciting aspects of a beer festival is that some brewers will often debut a new beer or offer something special for the festival, and this year will be no different. Highlighting the list will be the Imperial Kashmir IPA from Highland. You will probably want to make this tent one of your first stops, as the IKIPA will likely run out in the first hour or two of the festival, not unlike the Imperial Gaelic last year. Of course you can drag yourself out of bed the next morning to pick up a couple of cases for drinking at home. Another beer I am looking forward to is French Broad's debut of their Pale Ale, an unusual style for this brewery that has been known for its eclectic lineup.

If you like whiskey, be sure to swing by Catawba Valley's tent, as Scott Pyatt will likely have one of his barrel aged concoctions, perhaps being the only brewer to bring a barrel aged beer. The Whisky River IPA is fantastic if you like a boozy whiskey finish to your beers (I loved it). If you are a fan of Imperial Stouts, I would suggest checking out Foothills brewing early in the day. They are bringing a very limited amount of last years Sexual Chocolate, one of my favorite new beers of last year, and it should only have gotten better with a few more months of aging. I am sure there are going to be even more surprises at this year's Festival.

If you need some practice before the big day on Saturday, the folks at ratebeer are organizing an Asheville pub crawl Friday afternoon and evening. I will likely take part in the beginning of the crawl before I head on over to the Grove Arcade to shake my posterior to the grooves of Yo Mamma's Big Fat Booty Band for the last Downtown After 5.

O'zapft is!

Has anybody noticed the slight change in the weather over the past couple of days? Fall is almost here, and low temperatures this weekend are going to approach 50. It is time to dig into the closet for the long sleeve shirts and jackets, and also to explore some seasonal beers. No other beer style says fall to me like Oktoberfest lagers.

Oktoberfest is a nearly two century German tradition, dating back to an 1810 celebration of the marriage of Prince Ludwig (later to be King) and Princess Therese. While it was certainly a part of the celebration, beer would not play a prominent role for several decades. Spaten is credited with brewing the first Oktoberfest beer in 1872, a Vienna style red lager with its characteristic caramel malt and crisp finish. As the festival grew, many other breweries joined the fray with their own special Oktoberfest releases. Today the festival is associated more with beer than it is with King Ludwig, and every September breweries in Germany and beyond still brew a seasonal beer to commemorate the festival and the onset of Fall. This years festival, held annually in Munich, begins on September 22 with the traditional cheer of O'zapft is! (It’s tapped!). It is definitely on my short list of things to do before I die.

The good thing is that you don’t have to fly to Germany to experience this great traditional beer style. Several offerings are available here in Asheville, both from German brewers and brewers here at home. I’ve spent the last week or two trying to sample as many Oktoberfest style beers as possible. Seasonal beers are a great way to branch out from your normal purchases, and you are almost always guaranteed a fresh beer.

If you want an authentic Oktoberfest beer, there is no better way than to go to the source. My personal favorite so far is from Ayinger, who not so coincidentally also brews one of my favorite dopplebocks. Their version is crisp, slightly sweet and almost nutty, and eminently drinkable. Other German versions to look out for are the aforementioned Spaten and Paulaner.

American brewers have also taken a stab at the style. I have had the Samuel Adams Octoberfest, the Brooklyn Oktoberfest and the Victory Fest beer, and they all do a pretty good job with the style. If you are adventurous, you might look into trying Avery’s The Kaiser Imperial Oktoberfest, which is a regular Oktoberfest on steroids. Honestly, I thought it was a bit too much and it strayed away from the subtle balance that I normally expect from the style, but that doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good beer. You should also seek out our own local version of Oktoberfest beer from French Broad, which offers a more hoppy but still wonderful tasting version of the beer.

Beer of the Moment - Pannepøt

If I had to be confined to drinking beers from one particular country, I would probably choose Belgium. Now granted, the U.S. is a very close second, as we have a much larger variety of beer styles to choose from. But there is a complexity and depth of flavor that I experience with Belgian beers that is rarely reproduced in this country, with a few exceptions of course.

America's love for Belgian beers can be traced back to one person. Michael Jackson single handedly helped foster a love for Belgian beer in the states. Of course we are not talking about the one-gloved pop singer, but the English born beer writer whose books, the World Guide to Beer and The Great Beers of Belgium introduced the American drinking public to a whole new array of beer styles and tastes. He once called Belgium the 'Disneyland of beer', and having had many a Belgian ale I cannot disagree with him. Unfortunately, Michael Jackson passed away last Thursday, and his contributions to beer culture cannot be quantified.

I believe that if Michael Jackson had not written about the great beers of Belgium, I may not be sitting here drinking this wonderful Belgian strong ale today. Pannepøt is brewed by de Struise Brouwers, a relatively new brewery in Belgium, but the taste is reminiscent of other, more established Belgian breweries. The beer could be labeled a Quadrupel, which is a strong Belgian ale brewed with dark candied sugar, spices, and Belgian yeast. There is definitely an element of dark fruit to go along with the sweet sugar and a subtle but nice alcohol burn that is often associated with this style. At ten percent, it is a sipping beer, one to be savored with a good meal or a cool autumn night, which I hope will be here shortly. There are two versions of this beer, the Pannepot and the Pannepøt. The only difference on the bottle is the 'ø', which was especially brewed for the Danish market, but can be found here in the states. There are differences between the two beers, and the one with the regular 'o' is one of the highest rated beers on Beer Advocate and on Rate Beer, and from reading the reviews they are very similar in taste.

I hope that everyone will tip a glass of beer to Michael Jackson, who was instrumental in opening our eyes to great beers from around the globe.

Pinch me, I must be dreaming

Whew, where do I begin? Saturday’s beer tasting was fantastic, and it was a great showcase of beers from both coasts and points in between. It is hard to pick a favorite, but I really enjoyed the Green Flash West Coast IPA, which packed a ton of grapefruity hop taste without a lot of bitterness. It was truly an excellent representation of the West Coast style of IPA's. The Port Hop 15 was the most aggressive of the bunch, and I think I can still taste the hops this morning. Sadly, these beers are only available out west, so you have to book a trip to get some, or better yet, strike up a trade with someone.

Meeting Lee Chase was a beer geek’s dream, and I tried my best not to fawn over him too much. He is a great guy who not only has a great beer palate, but also has a profound understanding of the science of brewing. Since leaving Stone Brewery, Lee has started a brewery consulting business, which allows him to travel the world helping new breweries to get up and running.

Speaking of helping breweries, Lee will be an initial consultant for a new brewery in Durham. Sean Wilson, founder of Pop the Cap and hero to craft beer drinkers throughout the state, is in the beginning stages of opening a production brewery. Fullsteam Brewery will feature a talented homebrewer, Chris Davis, with Lee Chase providing consulting work in the beginning stages. Keep an eye on this brewery, as Sean has some interesting ideas on brewing and he has a soft spot for cask and barrel aged beers.

I would be remiss if I didn't mention that the proceeds for the tasting went to support the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. Federal money to maintain the parkway is often not enough, and that is where this organization steps in. They have a variety of programs including trail and overlook maintenance. In particular, their Save the Views program is working hard to maitain the integrity and beauty of the parkway overlooks. If you ever drive on the parkway and want to help preserve it, give some thought to donating your time or money with this excellent organization.

Following the tasting, French Broad Brewing Company hosted a dinner that included most of Asheville’s brewing community. Highland, Pisgah, French Broad, and the new Wedge Gallery Brewery were represented, as well as local beer writer Tony Kiss and Southern Brew News editor Bob Townsend. Dinner was provided by the always excellent 12 Bones, and all of the brewers brought some beers for everyone to sample, including a few special offerings. Be sure and check out the Bruisin' Ales blog for their writeup and a couple of pictures.

Here’s a summary of what’s going on with some of our local breweries:

Highland: Let’s just say that I think the Imperial Kashmir is going to be a home run. Its still a bit young, but wow, this is one big wonderful hoppy beer. There will be about twice as much of the Imperial Kashmir than there was for the Imperial Gaelic release last year. They are still working out the details on the packaging, as they are looking to avoid having to hand bottle such a large amount. Make your plans to get up early after Brewgrass to go by the brewery and pick some up. Highland is also considering a summer seasonal, possibly a wheat beer.

Pisgah: Wow, it was certainly a treat getting to sample some Baptista from last year. The beer is holding up very well, and if you are lucky enough to still have some it will be interesting to see what it tastes like in the coming months and years. This year’s Baptista has been in the tanks since June, patiently awaiting its December release. This will sell out very quickly, and I will definitely be keeping you informed when it gets close to the release date. Another great way to keep up with Pisgah is by visiting the brewery on Thursday evenings to pick up a growler and to meet the guys behind the beer.

French Broad: Drew Barton is doing a great job since he took over the brewing operations at French Broad. In addition to their standards, Drew has brewed his own recipes as well. His bock was exceptional, but unfortunately there is very little of it left. The Kolsch, another of Drew’s beers, is doing really well, and is a great summertime thirst quencher (it’s back on tap at Barleys). His newest beer is the Rosebud Porter, and he is also working on adding a Pale Ale to the lineup as well as bringing back some of the Belgian style beers from the past. I highly encourage folks to swing by the brewery to sample some of these great beers. French Broad is in good hands. In additon, this Thursday’s beer tasting at Bruisin’ Ales will be featuring French Broad.

The Wedge Gallery Brewery: Carl is hard at work, as he gets ready for the opening of the brewery in November or December. I plan on making a visit soon to check out the progress of the brewery and hopefully to get a few pictures. This will be a wonderful addition to the growing River Arts District.

Other tidbits: Plans are still in place for a new brewpub at the old T.S. Morrison’s site on Lexington Avenue. It will certainly be a while before it is up and running, and I will try to get more details as things progress. There is also another possible brewery in the works, but they are still only in the planning stages and have yet to secure a location. Also, look for a new beer/wine/homebrew shop to be opening in the next month or so on Haywood Road in West Asheville, across from Digable Pizza.

The dinner was a great showcase of the talent and diversity of Asheville’s brewers. We are fast becoming one of the best beer destinations in the country.

Coming Attractions

First of all, I had a great time last night meeting the folks from Foothills Brewery and drinking their Oktoberfest. It was a great beer, and it was interesting to compare the cask and the draft versions. The draft version is on tap downstairs at Barley if you want to try some yourself.

Forgive me for mentioning this again, but I just want to stress how great this Saturday's event at Bruisin' Ales is going to be. For ten dollars advanced (15 at the door) you get to sample a wonderful variety of beers from both coasts. Lee Chase is bringing along a couple of extra beers from the West Coast that were recently added to the beer list. I am particularly looking forward to trying Port Brewing Hop 15 Double IPA. What does the 15 mean? Thats the amount of different kinds of hops that were used to make the beer. The Green Flash West Coast IPA and the Ballast Point DIPA were also recently added to the beer list, both of which are only available out west. One last reason to go on Saturday: Its a fundraiser that benefits the Friends of the Blue Ridge Parkway. So you get to drink good beer and feel good doing it. Not that you wouldn't feel good anyway.

If that isn't enough beer for you, Bruisin' Ales is also hosting a beer dinner on Monday night. Dogfish Days of Summer celebrates one of the best craft brewers in the country. The menu showcases their versatile lineup, beginning with the Festina Peche, a slightly tart peach ale that is quite refreshing and finishing with a 'mystery beer'. It is a very intriguing menu, and Bruisin' Ales has been doing an excellent job in helping to open peoples eyes about beer and food pairings (pairings aren't just for wine drinkers anymore).

Hopefully we will see you out at the event tomorrow. Happy drinking.

Beer of the Moment - Mikkeller Beer Geek Breakfast Stout

Belgium. Germany. England. The United States. Each of these countries can arguably lay claim to be being one of the best beer regions in the world. But Scandinavia? Well something is brewing in the land of fjords, and it isn’t just socialized medicine. There is a craft beer movement afoot, one that would make Aegir, the Norse god of brewing, proud.

Would anyone have guessed that the number one rated beer on RateBeer.com would be from Sweden? The Närke Kaggen Stormaktsporter has gotten rave reviews for both its complexity and balance. Unfortunately, this is not available in the states. But there are a couple of other Scandanavian breweries that have made their way across the Atlantic, and they are available here in Asheville. Nøgne Ø is brewed in Lillesand, Norway, and has adopted several American beer styles into its repertoire (check this blog to read up on the Norwegian beer scene). I have seen their pale ale on the shelf at Bruisin’ Ales, but I have yet to pick one up. However, I was able to grab another beer from Scandinavia that has whetted my appetite for more beers from Northern Europe.

Mikkeller is a Danish brewery, the name being an amalgamation of the names of the homebrewers who started the brewery, Mikkel Borg Bjergsø and Kristian Klarup Keller. Within a year of brewing, they were named Brewery of the Year by the Danish Beer Enthusiasts, and after having a few sips of their Beer Geek Breakfast Stout, I can see why. The initial smell alone tells you what you are in for, with a coffee aroma that will definitely perk up your nose, and eventually your taste buds. This stout is as well crafted as any American Imperial Stout that I have come across. The coffee taste is prominent, but not overwhelming, and is complemented by hints of dark chocolate and toasted malt. This is a fine brew, and I hope to see more of Mikkeller’s offerings come to the states. The Beer Geek Breakfast Stout is available at Brusin’ Ales and Greenlife.

A friendly reminder to look at my calendar to the right to see what beer events are happening in the area. I will be attending both the Foothills Oktoberfest on Thursday night at Barleys, and the West meets East beer tasting event at Bruisin’ Ales on Saturday. If you see a bespectacled, tall, hairy blonde guy, be sure and say hello.

Looking into my crystal ball

Last Monday was the two year anniversary of North Carolina getting rid of its archaic 6 percent limit on beers, and since then we have seen a great influx of new breweries that have never distributed here before. But there are still plenty of interesting breweries that have yet to step foot in our state. Here is a trio of breweries that I think we might be seeing in the next year or so. My personal wish list would include a few more choices, but breweries like Russian River and Lost Abbey are not likely to be making their way here any time soon.

Stone Brewing Company

Just reading the label on their flagship brew, Arrogant Bastard, tells you everything you need to know about this brewery:

“This is an aggressive beer. You probably won't like it. It is quite doubtful that you have the taste or sophistication to be able to appreciate an ale of this quality and depth. We would suggest that you stick to safer and more familiar territory -- maybe something with a multi-billion dollar ad campaign aimed at convincing you it's made in a little brewery, or one that implies that their tasteless fizzy yellow beer will give you more sex appeal. perhaps you think that multi-million dollar ad campaigns make a beer taste better. Perhaps you are mouthing your words as you read this.”

Stone concentrates on making big, assertive beers including their hop loaded Ruination IPA, the fantastic Russian Imperial Stout, and their annual Anniversary Ale which changes each year. An excellent opportunity to try some Stone is coming up next week at the West Meets East event at Bruisin’ Ales (this is a ticketed event). If you can’t make it then, you can always drive an hour to Johnson City and pay a visit to One Stop Discount Wines and Liquors just off the interstate, where they have the Arrogant Bastard, Ruinitation IPA, Stone IPA, and occasionally some of Stone’s special releases.

I think we stand a pretty good chance of Stone moving into our market sometime in 2008.

Stoudt’s Brewing Company

Located in eastern Pennsylvania, this brewery recently celebrated its 20^th Anniversary. They brew a wide variety of styles, everything from a Pilsner to an Imperial Oatmeal Stout. I personally have tried their Double IPA in Florida of all places, and it was a great and different take on the style, with a big malt backbone that took center stage away from the hops. There were rumblings a few months back that Stoudt’s would be down here this year, but that has not happened yet. We are on their radar, and they already distribute to Virginia, Florida, and Georgia, so I suspect we will see this beer soon.

Lagunitas Brewing Company

This northern California brewery does not shy away from controversy or from brewing big aggressive beers. Like most west coast breweries, hops are often center stage, and Lagunitas has a wide variety of beers that showcase them, including their regular IPA and IPA Maximus. One of their most interesting releases was the Undercover Investigation Shut-Down Ale. This beer was brewed to honor their 20 day suspension, a result of a marijuana bust at their brewery. They are definitely not afraid to push some buttons. One of my personal favorite Lagunitas beers is a seasonal release called Brown Sugga, a barleywine style beer with a lovely sweet sugary finish. Currently Lagunitas can be found in Virginia and Georgia. I have not heard anything about them possibly coming to North Carolina, but given our burgeoning craft beer scent I would not be surprised if we were high on their list of places to expand.

There are certainly plenty of other breweries that may find their way to our state soon. A good idea to get some of these beers here is to email the breweries to let them know that you love their beer and you would like to see their beer on our shelves.

Would you pay half a million for a bottle of beer?

I'm a man of modest means, and sometimes I cringe when I pay over ten dollars for a bottle of beer, even when that is a deal compared to expensive bottles of wine. Well, ten dollars is certainly a bargain compared to this $500,000 bottle of beer sold recently on ebay. Of course the skeptic in me thinks this may not be a real bid, but the bottle is certainly special. Allsopp's Arctic Ale was brewed in 1852 for an arctic expedition by the same brewery that is partially credited for brewing the first IPA's, beers strong enough to last the long harsh travel conditions to India from the British Isles (incidentally, beer blogger and author Pete Brown is recreating this trip for a new book). The beer must have been huge, both high in alcohol and with enough hops to survive the long trek (although certainly not as highly hopped as todays West Coast IPA's). A small brewery in England even went so far as to try and recreate the beer, and it went on to be a Champion Beer at the Cambridge Winter Ale Festival.

I am sure that the person who bought this bottle is a collector, but I have to wonder what the beer would taste like. It would not be the first time such an old beer was sampled. Last year, an 1869 Ratcliff Ale was discovered among a few other old beers found at a brewery in England. That beer was opened, poured into a glass, and the beer tasted "absolutely amazing". Now that was a once in a lifetime sip of beer. I wonder if our big spender will do the same?

Beer(s) of the Moment

I can't promise a regularly scheduled beer review column, so I have aptly titled this post as 'Beer of the Moment'. I am hoping to occasionally post on beers available in the area that are worth taking a look at. So without further ado, on to the beers.

Sierra Nevada is celebrating their 27th Anniversary this year. It is amazing to think about how long they have been going at it, and their Pale Ale is partially responsible for the craft beer revolution we are experiencing today. Its nice to know that if I step foot into any town in America, it is likely that I can find a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale amongst the Bud, Miller, and Coors offerings that are so ubiquitous in grocery stores and gas stations everywhere. To celebrate their anniversary, they have released their Anniversary Ale, a highly hopped IPA that showcases the Cascade hop that Sierra Nevada has utilized for years. This is not an over the top IPA, but it shines with the fresh taste of the citrusy Cascade hops that has defined the West Coast style of beers for the past decade or so. At just under 6 percent alcohol, it is sessionable and tasty as well. I was able to pick up a 6 pack at Earthfare, but I imagine it could be found at most of the good beer stores in town over the next several weeks.

My second featured beer is Ommegedon, brewed by Ommegang, perhaps the best American example of Belgian style ales. This is a Belgian Pale Ale, not unlike a Duvel, but with a twist. It was bottled with a dose of Brettanomyces giving it an ever so slightly sour and funky finish that complements the subtle spices and candied sugar. The Brett is in the background now, but with a month or two of aging it should give this beer a more earthy finish. This is a limited release, so get it while you can. I bought mine at Bruisin' Ales.

I have added a calendar to the right side of the blog, and I hope to keep it updated with beer related events in the area.

Au revoir

I haven't posted in awhile because I've been running back and forth to and from Little Rock, Arkansas, where I'll be moving later this week. It's a career advancement decision, not one I made lightly. So, this is it for my posts here. Kilgore Trout came aboard as co-blogger several weeks ago and has done an outstanding job. He's been taking the blog into areas I had envisioned when starting out, but never really found the time to do right. So I wish him the best. I'll still be reading regularly to keep up on the local beer scene. With family in the Greenville, SC area, we'll be passing through a couple of times a year. I look forward to all the developments in the works, such as the Wedge Gallery brewery, the brewpub in the former TS Morrison building, and new pubs in West Asheville, not to mention new brews from existing breweries.

Please give KG your support, and feel free to contact me if you ever pass through Little Rock and want to grab a beer.

P.S. If anyone would like to take over my Asheville Pubcrawl website please send a note to hiker33 (at) hotmail.com.