Wednesday, 25 April 2012 00:25

Communities: Asheville's Beer Culture

Written by theAVL.com

THIS IS THE 2012 EDITION - UPDATES FOR 2013 COMING SOON!

Asheville's craft beer community is steadily gaining renown & causing a stir on the national beer front. Voted "Beer City USA" for the past three years, Asheville most recently caught the attention of Sierra Nevada and New Belgium Brewing, who will be both be opening east coast operations in the area. Asheville is already home to ten microbreweries, hosts several beer festivals each year, and has a thriving homebrew scene. Whether you're more of a spectator or want to jump in and brew your own, there's no shortage of ways to get involved...

Local beers on tap at Oysterhouse Brewing / Lobster Trap Restaurant – Asheville

VISIT A BREWERY

[See our handy guide to --> the Breweries & Beer Destinations of Asheville]

Breweries abound in Asheville, many of which are members of the Asheville Brewers Alliance: Highland, French Broad, OysterHouse, Asheville Brewing Company, Craggie, Pisgah, Lexington Avenue Brewery, Wedge, Green Man, and Thirsty Monk.

Further out, Brevard Brewing (in Brevard, of course) and Headwaters Brewing in Waynesville just opened their doors. There's Heinzelmännchen in Sylva, Southern Appalachian Brewery in Hendersonville, Catawba Valley Brewing Co. in Morganton, and Nantahala Brewing in Bryson City.

MORE BREWERIES ON THE WAY

Blue Mountain Pizza in Weaverville plans to start brewing later this year. Oskar Blues Brewery (of Colorado) just signed a lease on a brewery space in downtown Brevard (expected to be operational by Dec. 2012). Closer to home, Pack's Tavern will begin brewing this Fall, and Altamont Brewing Co. is getting closer to having their own brews on tap. Sierra Nevada plans to break ground in Mills River by the end of the year (operational by 2014), and New Belgium's east coast operations should be up and running in the River Arts District by 2015.

BEER CITY USA

Help Asheville retain the title of "Beer City USA" for a 4th year! Polling will take place May 1-13, 2012. Don't forget to vote! --> http://bit.ly/JjIU6l

ATTEND A BEER FESTIVAL

Several festivals are coming up in the next few months...

The Best Firkin Beer Festival - Saturday 4/28/12, 3-7pm

in the meadow beside Highland Brewing

http://thebestfirkinbeerfestival.eventbrite.com/

Asheville Beer Week - 5/24/12 through 6/3/12

various locations & events around Asheville

http://www.ashevillebrewersalliance.com/beer-week-events

Just Brew It! - Saturday 5/26/12, 2-5pm - outside the Wedge Brewery in the River Arts District

Tickets = Just Brew It is a “membership perk” for Just Economics members; $16, $25, or $75 levels

http://justeconomicswnc.org/just-brew-it/

Beer City Festival - Saturday 6/2/12, 12-6pm - Downtown Asheville @ Roger McGuire Green

Tickets = $40 cash only

http://www.ashevillebrewersalliance.com/beer-city-festival

Brewgrass Festival - Saturday 9/15/12, noon-7pm - Martin Luther King, Jr. Park

Tickets = on sale 5/1

http://brewgrassfestival.com/

Oktoberfest - Saturday 10/13/12, 10am-6pm - on Wall Street in Downtown Asheville

Tickets = $25 advance / $35 day of

http://www.ashevilledowntown.org/Asheville-Oktoberfest.html

BREW YOUR OWN

MALT (Mountain Ale & Lager Tasters)

Asheville's Homebrew Club has a monthly meetup, organizes events and tours, and hosts "Brew-Ins" where members brew together. Visit http://maltsters.org/ to find out how to become a member.