Oskar Blues to open brewery in Brevard? Yes, please

by brewgasm on May 2, 2012

In a big brewery trifecta, Western North Carolina will get another new brewery—and fast. Per the Longmont Times-Call, Oskar Blues Brewery of Longmont, Colo., has signed a lease on a brewery space and adjacent restaurant/music venue in downtown Brevard. The brewery plans to be open for business by December.

From the newspaper article:
“In a statement released late Tuesday, founder Dale Katechis, a mountain biking enthusiast, said he has kept a bike in Brevard, on the edge of the Pisgah National Forest, for years, and travels there frequently to go mountain biking and to attend the annual Mountain Song Music Festival.

“This place rings true with the same eclectic mountain charm that inspired Oskar Blues to put Dale’s Pale Ale in a can back in the day in Lyons,” Katechis said in a statement announcing his plans.

His company has signed a contract on a 30,000-square-foot brewery space adjacent to a 6,000-square-foot restaurant and music venue in downtown Brevard, which he said, has a “small town main street tone” similar to Lyons.

The company has been looking at taking its Colorado operations “to the next level,” Katechis said in the statement, but opening a smaller venue in a community he has an affinity for struck him as “a lot more fun,” as well as allowing the company to save on shipping costs, as more than 35 percent of its beer is sold east of the Mississippi River.

The new venue should be up and running by December, the company said.”

Oskar Blues is well-known for being one of the first craft brewerys to can it’s brew. The brewery was started as a small restaurant/brewpub in 1997 in Lyons, Colorado, near Boulder.

Brevard Brewing Co opened in downtown Brevard just last week, with head brewer Kyle Williams focusing on lager beers.

Clearly, my wish that breweries stop opening in the area so I can finish my Asheville beer history book in a timely manner is not to be granted. Life’s tough. Cheers to Brevard! 

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Yay! New Belgium to open brewery two in Asheville

by brewgasm on April 6, 2012

So, it all went down yesterday. As The Beer Guy, Tony Kiss, wrote, “It’s as if Asheville landed two major league baseball teams in the same season, as if the Yankees and Braves both relocated here.” Or to be more geographically appropriate, as if the Giants and the Rockies both relocated here.

Kim Jordan toasted by some Asheville brewers

Yesterday, at around 4:30 p.m., Governor Bev Perdue and New Belgium CEO Kim Jordan announced that New Belgium Brewing will open their second brewery here in Asheville.

Here’s the story I wrote about the event for Mountain Xpress. I took these photos as well.

Lots of coverage in the Asheville Citizen-Times as well, but I’m not going to link to them, because they put their stuff behind paywalls after a week or so.

There will be more to come about both Sierra Nevada and New Belgium coming to North Carolina–both in my Brews News and in my book. So stay tuned. In the meantime, I’m gonna go drink a Shift Pale Lager.

Governor Perdue, Kim Jordan and ABA President Tim Schaller

Special tag listing some of the reasons New Belgium chose Asheville

 

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New Belgium Brewing to open brewery in Asheville? Seems so.

by brewgasm on April 4, 2012

While the writing hasn’t been formally released, it’s clearly on the wall.

There will be an event of some sort tomorrow involving North Carolina Governor Beverly Perdue down in Asheville’s River Arts District, and while I can’t confirm that it is indeed the announcement that New Belgium Brewing will be building an East Coast Brewery and Distribution Center at the site of the Western Carolina Livestock Market, it seems pretty damn likely that is, indeed, the case.

My educated guess is that there will be a number of press releases sent out in the morning, and that there will be lots of official back-slapping and beer lover celebrations throughout the day.

I have a number of thoughts about this. One, it’ll be a further economic boost for the city in terms of beer tourism. Having not one, but two, major craft breweries–Sierra Nevada and New Belgium–will draw tourists who want to come visit one of the big brewers, and while they are here, give an Asheville brew or two a try. From a purely selfish point of view, this will be good for sales of my Asheville beer history book (to be released next Fall) and offer me a chance to teach more Beer 101 classes that will feature local beer tastings. Thanks, as always, to the Asheville Brewers Alliance for supporting me in these endeavors.

Two, I think it will be interesting to trace the changes that these breweries bring to the region, especially to the small town of Mills River (where Sierra will locate their 2nd brewery) and to the still transitional but burgeoning River Arts District. My hope is that the RAD will stay funky and true to its roots as a place where artists can afford a little studio space and follow their creative dreams.

More tomorrow…time to go taste a New Belgium Shift Lager…

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I’m writing a book on the history of Asheville beer

by brewgasm on March 6, 2012

If you follow me on Twitter, you’ve probably seen me reference the book I’m writing a few times recently. But, here, for your delectation, is the official press release.

The History Press is pleased to announce the forthcoming title:

 Asheville Beer

An Intoxicating History of Mountain Brewing

Anne Fitten Glenn

Asheville has grown from a town with a taste for mountain moonshine to an international destination for beer lovers, renowned as Beer City, USA, in fewer than twenty years. Eleven established breweries operate within the city limits and another five call Western North Carolina home. At least six more are in the planning stages, including beer giant Sierra Nevada Brewing, which recently chose the area as a locale for their new East Coast brewery.

The history of ales and lagers in Asheville starts with a murderous downtown rampage by a drunken desperado at the turn of the 20th century and runs through the region’s explosion into a beery Mecca offering the gamut from sophisticated gastro-brewpubs to grungy warehouse breweries. It includes the story of F. Scott Fitzgerald writing at The Grove Park Inn while downing up to 30 beers a day. It includes one brewery pouring thousands of gallons of “not right” beer into the city’s sewers, a burgeoning brewery on the wrong side of the tracks (literally), one that fought a small town’s laws to open, and more.

 Foreword by Zane Lamprey, host of Drinking Made Easy.

 Asheville Beer will be published by The History Press in the Fall of 2012.

Media review copies, high-resolution photographs and interviews available upon request.

 Contact Katie Parry at 843.577.5971, ext 113 or katie.parry@historypress.net.

 Anne Fitten Glenn has been writing about beer and the beer business since 2005, although she’s been drinking beer for a lot longer. She currently writes the Brews News for Asheville’s newsweekly, Mountain Xpress, as well as frequent articles for CraftBeer.com, the national Brewers Association’s on-line magazine. She also developed and teaches Beer Education classes to servers and to the beer-loving public. She lives within walking distance of several of Beer City’s breweries.

I’m more than excited about telling stories and tales of beer and the beer biz from round here. Contact me if you have a relevant beer history tidbit. Meanwhile, I’ll be sitting here in front of my laptop, writing and drinking beer.

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Green Man Brewing Bottles Dweller

by brewgasm on March 4, 2012

I visited Green Man Brewing on Friday to watch them bottle–for the first time ever. They’ve put up about 100 cases of the lovely Dweller Imperial Stout, and they’ll start selling it to the public today at 2 p.m. at the brewery (23 Buxton Ave., $20 per bottle, 9.5 percent ABV).

The new bottler at Green Man

Brewers Mike Karnowski and John Stuart capping the pretty bottles of brew

The final result (love the Green Man snifters)

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My top beer stories of 2011 (written by me)

by brewgasm on January 1, 2012

I wrote a lot about beer in 2011, and damn, was it fun. I culled through and picked some of the stories that got the most attention, and here they are, just in case you missed one. Excuse my self-indulgence. That said, I can’t wait to write more beery news in 2012. Happy New Year, beer lovers.

1. Beer Region, USA? Is Henderson County considering incentives for Sierra Nevada?

The Henderson County Board of Commissioners will hold a public hearing tonight, Dec. 12, to consider granting economic development incentives for an unnamed company that wants to open a facility in the county. The speculation? That it’s Sierra Nevada Brewing, looking to build a new facility in WNC.

Written for Mountain Xpress, December 2011

2. Craft Beer for Mom

Mother’s Day is just around the corner, and the pressure is on. How can you celebrate the woman who birthed you, raised you, and has spent most of her adult life worrying about you?

With craft beer, of course.

For CraftBeer.com, May 2011.

Me tapping a Stone Brewing cask at Jack of the Wood with chef Jason Brian. See? Moms love beer! Photo by Sean McNeal.

3. Back to School for Beer: Brewing for Grades.

I attended college 20 years too early. Back then, not many folks brewed their own beer, and students certainly weren’t asked to do so in order to earn a passing grade. Nowadays, however, there are a number of colleges, universities and culinary schools offering classes and even degrees in beer and brewing.

As interest in brewing and craft beer has increased in the U.S., there’s been a corresponding explosion in beer education. More and more students are studying the science, art, and business of beer in hopes of landing a job in this burgeoning industry.

For CraftBeer.com, August 2011.

4. Foam & Fizz: the evolution of WNC beer (the complete timeline).

As part of this week’s cover package on the local beer business, I prepared an extensive timeline of the high points in its evolution, from when the Smoky Mountain Brewery first opened its doors in 1993 in Waynesville to Asheville Brewing Company’s current plans to start offering the area’s first canned brews.

For Mountain Xpress, November 2011.

A beautiful flight of beer. Photo by Anne Fitten Glenn.

5. The Return of the Micro-Maltsters: a locavore’s craft beer dream come true.

What’s old can become new again—from fashion trends to beer recipes to ways of producing the ingredients in those brews. While the return of bellbottom pants doesn’t warm my heart, the return of regional “micro” malt houses does give me a glow—and not just because they equal beer in my belly.

For CraftBeer.com, December 2011.

6. How does lil’ ole Asheville keep winning the Beer City, USA, poll?

That is the question. How has a small city with no nationally known beers won the BeerCity USA poll for three years in a row? The brainchild of National Beer Examiner and President of the Brewers Association, Charlie Papazian, the first poll took place in 2009. Though Asheville, N.C., tied with the bigger city of Portland, Ore., that year, the town of just more than 76,000 inhabitants and 9 craft breweries (plus a few more in the county and a few more on the way) won outright in 2010 and 2011.

The truth is, there are many answers. My favorite comes from Oscar Wong, president of Highland Brewing Company.

“Part of it is this community is relatively new to the craft beer world,” said Wong. “We’re like teenagers. We’re enthused, and we have lots of energy.”

For CraftBeer.com, May 2011.

7. Brews News: Water, Water Everywhere.

Beer is primarily a tasty water-delivery method: Water accounts for about 90 percent of what you’re imbibing in beer. And while beer lovers geek out about different varieties of hops, yeast and malts, we often ignore this crucial ingredient.

But water can make or break a beer — or a brewery. Indeed, one of the reasons we have so many breweries in Western North Carolina is the good mountain water that flows into their mash tuns. This soft, pH-balanced water requires minimal treatment before brewing, though some styles do need specific salts and minerals added to bring out their particular flavors.

For Mountain Xpress, November 2011.

8. Brews News: Interview with Greg Koch of Stone Brewing.

Stone CEO to visit Beer City
Stone Brewing Co. has one of those remarkable business success stories. Started by two guys in 1996 just north of San Diego, in its first year of brewing, the craft brewery produced about 2,000 barrels of beer. Compare that with 2010, when Stone brewed 115,000 barrels and was the 14th largest brewery in America. Its memorably named beers (Arrogant Bastard Ale and Sublimely Self-Righteous Ale, among others) are now distributed in 36 states and Washington, D.C. The company also plans to build a European brew-house in either Berlin or Bruges.

For Mountain Xpress, October 2011.

Julie Atallah of Bruisin' Ales, Greg Koch and me. Photo by Jason Sandford.

9. Brews News: Interview with Charlie Papazian.

I chatted with Charlie Papazian last week in advance of his highly anticipated visit to Beer City, USA (otherwise known as Asheville).

Papazian, whose home base is in Boulder, Colo., says he has yet to visit Asheville, despite spending up to two-and-a-half months a year on beer-related travel.

“I’m obviously excited about experiencing the great beers of Asheville and meeting lots of brewers and home-brewers and beer enthusiasts,” he says.

For Mountain Xpress, February 2011.

10. Broo Your Do: Beer Shampoo made with Asheville Beer.

Not sure why this article is credited to Webmaster. Regardless, it’s a interesting example of how a craft beer-related business sprang to life.

For Mountain Xpress, September 2011.

 

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Beer stories of 2011

by brewgasm on December 28, 2011

Most interesting Western North Carolina beer news of 2011–from a list I wrote for Mountain Xpress:
  1. WNC on short list for New Belgium Brewing east coast distribution center (Asheville?).
  2. WNC on short list for Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. east coast distribution center.
  3. Beer guru Charlie Papazian visits Asheville and gives a talk to members of the NC Brewers Guild and Asheville Brewers Alliance at Highland Brewing.
  4. Asheville wins BeerCity, USA, on-line poll for the hat-trick.
  5. Asheville Brewing Company gets a canning line. Canned Shiva IPA, Ninja Porter and Rocket Girl Lager!
  6. Appalachian Craft Brewery moves to Hendersonville, opens the town’s first tasting room, changes name to Southern Appalachian Brewery.
  7. Highland Brewing employee Trevor Reis wins first Asheville Beer Masters Tournament.
  8. The Thirsty Monk beer bar/restaurant opens nanobrewery at its south Asheville location with Norm Penn brewing.
  9. Riverbend Malt House opens in a warehouse space in Asheville, malting North Carolina-grown grains. to supply local breweries.
  10. Broo Shampoo, made with Highland Brewing’s St. Therese’s Pale Ale, starts selling from Asheville to retail outlets around the Southeast

What did I miss, y’all?

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Beer all the time: Riverbend Malt House, Brewgrass, etc.

by brewgasm on September 20, 2011

Just had this story about the first Southeastern Malt House published in Mountain Xpress.

Here’s an excerpt:

Brent Manning and Brian Simpson want to take drinking local to a whole other level with their new malt house in West Asheville.

Think about it. You may support local breweries by quaffing their beers, but some ingredients — i.e., the malts — typically are grown and processed 3,000 miles away, then shipped here.

Manning and Simpson are striving to change that with the Riverbend Malt House.

The business partners met in Wilmington where they both worked as environmental consultants. Almost two years ago, they set out to ascertain why none of the barley grown in North Carolina is used to make North Carolina beer. Until now, most of that grain has gone to feed livestock.

Now farmers Buddy and Chris Hoffner of Salisbury, N.C., are growing barley and one type of wheat for Riverbend. Manning and Simpson received their first 40 tons of Hoffner barley last week, and after months of permit wrangling, they’re now malting grain in West Asheville.

Let’s take it back a step for the non-brewers. Malt is one of the primary ingredients in beer. It’s basically a grain, typically barley, wheat or rye, that’s been germinated then dried in a kiln (it isn’t the same as hops — that’s a different plant entirely). The process of malting develops the enzymes necessary to turn the grain’s starches into sugars. Malted grains are used to make beer, whiskey, malt vinegar and the malted milk balls that most of us only eat in movie theaters.

Also, I’m still recovering from last week’s 15th Brewgrass Festival. Some of my favorite beers there? Pisgah Brewing Vortex II Russian Imperial Stout, Coast Brewing Blackbeerd Bourbon-barrel aged stout, SweetWater Happy Ending Imperial Stout, Southern Tier Harvest Ale (ESB), Outer Banks Lemongrass Wheat, and Green Man Coconut Coffee Porter. Though I tasted lots more amazing beers from all over, those are ones that really stood out from the crowd. What a beautiful, beery day!

More Brewgrass photos soon. Cheers, y’all!

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New Belgium, Broo Shampoo, and Back to School for Beer

by brewgasm on September 7, 2011

Life’s been full with travel and writing here in Brewgasm world.

I’m currently chasing a potential story based on rumors that New Belgium Brewing is considering Asheville as a possible spot to open their planned East Coast brewery. See my Twitter stream for regular updates @brewgasm.

I also wrote a story about a new beer product that’s hitting the Southeast markets–and which can be ordered via Amazon.com–Broo Shampoo: awesome shampoo and conditioner made with Highland Brewing’s St. Therese’s Pale Ale.

Here’s an excerpt:

If you’ve ever poured a beer on your head, you know this nectar’s not only good for drinking — it can give your hair body and shine. Beer contains protein, B vitamins and natural silicon — all of which promote healthy hair. But, let’s face it, beer straight from the fridge to your head can be cold and messy.

Brad and Sarah Pearsall of Asheville have come to the rescue with a new, all-natural shampoo, the primary ingredient of which is locally brewed craft beer. And no, Bröö Shampoo doesn’t make you smell like a brewery.

Also, visit CraftBeer.com to read my story “Back to School for Beer.” And hit the “like” button for me, please?

Here’s an excerpt from that tale:

I attended college 20 years too early. Back then, not many folks brewed their own beer, and students certainly weren’t asked to do so in order to earn a passing grade. Nowadays, however, there are a number of colleges, universities and culinary schools offering classes and even degrees in beer and brewing.

As interest in brewing and craft beer has increased in the U.S., there’s been a corresponding explosion in beer education. More and more students are studying the science, art, and business of beer in hopes of landing a job in this burgeoning industry.

And don’t forget about the “Too Hopped for TV” contest. See below.

I’ll update again soon about the rocking Beer Bloggers Con in Portland and about my talk there.

Me at Rogue Public House in Portland, Ore. Epic!

Happy beer day!

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Too Hopped Video Contest–UPDATE

by brewgasm on August 31, 2011

Think you can make a beer ad that’s “Too Hopped for TV”?

Asheville Brewing, Brewgasm, and DRAFT Magazine think you can. We want to put your ad on-line for the world to see AND let it compete for a cash prize in our first “Too Hopped for TV” beer commercial contest.

Prize for first place will be $500; second place will be $300; third is $150. And five honorable mention ad creators will receive a box of beer schwag of our choosing. Plus, all winners will receive a 2-year subscription to DRAFT Magazine.

Here are the rules and regulations:

*Submissions will be accepted until Friday, September 30, at midnight.

*Beginning September 5th, we will open the servers at ashevillebrewing.tv to allow uploading of your files. Please remember that all files must be under 100MB and in a .avi, .mov, or mp4 format only! *All entries will become the property of Asheville Brewing Company/Brewgasm.com.

*Your “Too Hopped” beer ad/commercial/infomercial should be between 15 and 30 seconds. *If you win, we may make your commercial into a major motion picture, but probably not. *Use your imagination but nothing sick, or at least not offensive sick. No underage drinking beer, no beer-porn, no one getting injured or dirty dancing with a goat (it’s already been done). We’re looking for commercials with a sense of humor that don’t break any laws.

*We DON’T have permission from any other breweries to show their products, logo, etc. So to avoid any legal crap, please use only generic beer images (bottles with no labels, etc,) or you can use ANY Asheville Brewing beer logo or product. You can download images of our logo and our beer labels at ashevillebrewing.tv

*Submissions that pass all the requirements will be put on Brewgasm.com, Ashevillebrewing.tv and YouTube. We will let viewers comment on the ads throughout the contest. Questions? Suggestions? Please send to [email protected]

Most importantly, have fun, drink beer and support your local craft breweries.

 

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