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