Special Friday Beer Tasting at Brusin' Ales

March 27, 2015 from 5 PM - 7 PM at Brusin' Ales, 66 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville NC: Lagunitas Brewing Company beer tasting. Join Lagunitas' Don Chartier who always brings fun along with the great beer.

A Lil' Sumpin' Sumpin': "A truly unique style featuring a strong hop finish on a silky body. A filtered pale wheat ale that is great for both IPA and wheat beer fans." [7.5% abv]

Lagunitas IPA: "This is our unique version of an ancient style. A style as old as the ocean trade routes of the last centuries Great Ships. Not as old as the equator they had to cross twice enroute, nor as old as the 10,000 or so miles of Di-Hydrogen Oxide and Sodium upon which they sailed, but older than the Circulithium-4 Lentloid that binds the Lupulin Quartnate onto your taste buds. Weird. Think about it. Now stop. OK, go again, now stop. Think again, and stop. But we digress. Made with 43 different hops and 65 various malts, this redolent ale will likely float your boat, whatever planet you're on." [6.2% abv]

Lagunitas Sucks: "This beer is a 'Cereal Medley' of Barley, Rye, Wheat, and Oats. Full of complexish-ness from the four grains, and weighing in at 7.85% abv, Then joyously dry-hopped for that big aroma and resinous hop flavor." [7.8% abv]

Maximus: "At the height of the heat in the heart of the summer, we felt that the only cure was a raging mouthful of fresh hops and malt. Caution: May remove enamel from teeth. This is Lagunitas IPA pumped up by about 30%!" [8.5% abv]

Imperial Stout with Coffee: This special release is draft-only in WNC! The big, hoppy Lagunitas Imperial Stout infused with coffee. Zing!

FREE Oskar Blues Tasting at Asheville's Brusin' Ales

January 15 from 5-7 PM at Brusin' Ales, 66 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville NC - Oskar Blues Tasting.  The first tasting at Brusin' Ales of 2015 is with Amy Rubin of Oskar Blues. Come to the wee tasting room from 5:00-7:00 for a free beer flight:

Pinner Throwback IPA: "How do you cram as much hop & malt flavor and aroma as possible into a beer but make it crushable too? That's the challenge we answered with PINNER Throwback IPA. At 4.9% ABV and 35 IBUs, this drinkable IPA uses several varieties of hops to target the ever-evolving flavor. With tropical fruits, citrus juices, pineapple and spice berry up front in the aroma and flavor, the biscuit & toasted bread at the back balance out all the hops and make a great finish to go on to your next can of PINNER. It's the perfect beer for a little sip, sip, give."

G'Knight: "Our 'Velvet M-80' is a hefty, dry hopped double-red ipa with a nose full of aroma, a sticky mouthfeel, a malty middle and unctuous hop flavors. G'Knight sports a surprisingly sensuous finish for a beer of its size (8.7% ABV, 60 IBUs). It's brewed in tribute to a fellow Colorado craft beer pioneer and Vietnam vet who died fighting a 2002 wild fire outside of our Lyons hometown.

Deviant Dale's: "Deviant Dale's IPA (8 percent ABV, 85 IBUs) was born at the crossroads, in a juke joint, as if Dale's Pale Ale sold its soul to balance Deviant's foreboding aromas of citrus, grapefruit rind and piney resins, its copper ball-of-fire color and inscrutable flavor-intense finish. Deviant is the Devil incarnate with untold amounts of malt and hedonistic Columbus dry-hopping. Oskar Blues delivers this boundary-buster in the brewery's first 16-ounce tallboy can."

Ten Fidy: "This titanic, immensely viscous stout is loaded with inimitable flavors of chocolate-covered caramel and coffee and hides a hefty 98 IBUs underneath the smooth blanket of malt. Ten FIDY (10.5% ABV) is made with enormous amounts of two-row malt, chocolate malt, roasted barley, flaked oats and hops. Ten FIDY is the ultimate celebration of dark malts and boundary-stretching beer."

Mountain Spirits: FREE Beer and Wine Tastings in Asheville

June 21, 5 PM - 7 PM at Hops and Vines 797 Haywood Road, Ste 100 in Asheville - FREE tasting of Green Man Ales.  Come check out Green Man's new 6 pack bottle packaging and sample the beers of this great Asheville brewery.  ESB - Green Man's Flagship beer, perfectly balanced between malt and hops. This ESB is a treat for any one who loves good beer.  Porter - Dark and rich with plenty of chocolate and roast flavors.  IPA - A perfect blend of American and English hops are used to create this gem of an IPA.

June 22, 3 PM - 6 PM  Free Wine Tasting of three hand selected wines from the Rhone region of France: 

Chateau Du Trignon - From the vineyards of Chateau du Trignon one of the most important properties of the Rhone region, these grape are grown on limestone cliffs.  Perfectly balanced with notes of cherry, figs and earth. $12.99

Little James' Basket Press - A Rhone blend grown at St. Cosme. Little James is a wine of Freedom. Unlike a vintage wine, it's a permanent creation of a solera which gets more and more complex every year with an irresistible crunchy fruit. $14.99

Little James' Basket Press White - Tropical fruits, watermelon, apricot and licorice are some flavors you'll find in this delicious white blend. $14.99

10% off all featured bottles on Saturday!

Asheville Beer Week Begins this Memorial Day Weekend

May 25 - June 1    Asheville Beer Week  The 2nd Annual event offers eight full days of celebrating all things beer in Asheville NC. The week of events will include tastings, dinners, beer education, keynote speakers, and other beer-related fun (and nonsense). Asheville Beer Week culminates with Asheville’s 4th Annual Beer City Festival on June 1, where dozens of breweries (and plenty of live music) are slated to appear on Roger McGuire Green.

Mountain Spirits: Beer Tasting Tonight at Hops and Vines

April 19 - 5 PM to 7 PM at Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC: FREE beer Tasting.  Sierra Nevada Summerfest plus more.  Hops and Vines is the first account to recieve this year's Sierra Nevada Summerfest Lager in bottles. Come be the first to grab a 6 pack of this great summer quencher. Taste some other refreshing Sierra beers alongside.

Summerfest Lager- Summerfest is a delightfully refreshing example of a traditional style lager beer. While lighter in body than our ales, Summerfest displays significant hop aroma and a tangy hop bite. The long lagering period adds a smoothness that makes this beer a great summertime treat.

Kellerweis - Kellerweis is one of the only American Hefeweizens made using the traditional Bavarian style of open fermentation. This difficult and labor-intensive technique adds uncommon depth and flavor complexity. Our hazy-golden hefeweizen is deeply flavorful, refreshing and perfect for a sunny day. To serve, pour two-thirds into a glass, swirl and pour the rest.

Pale Ale -Sierra Nevada Pale Ale is a delightful example of the classic pale ale style. It has a deep amber color and a exceptionally full-bodied, complex character. The fragrant bouquet and spicy flavor are the results of the generous use of the best Cascade hops.

Get links for Asheville Breweries and Asheville beer HERE.

NC Beer Month Event: Altamont Brewing River Float, Beer Tasting and Brewery Tour

April 20   Altamont Brewing French Broad Float, Beer Tasting & Brewery Tour   Altamont Brewing Company is partnering with Asheville Adventure Rentals for this special event. Participants will be picked up at Altamont Brewing at 2 PM and will float down the French Broad River. All equipment will be provided.

Participants will be returned to Altamont Brewing for a beer tasting and brewery tour. Total cost is $50.00. Booking will be provided through Asheville Adventure Rentals by phone, 828-505-7371. There is a 12-person maximum on the trip.

Learn more about Asheville beer and get links for breweries on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.

Asheville Beer News: Wicked Weed Brewing Releases Smoked Brown Belgian Beer

April 5   Wicked Weed Smoked Brown Belgian Release   Wicked Weed Brewing will be releasing a Smoked Brown Belgian in their Downstairs Tasting Room with Riverbend Malt House and 12 Bones Smokehouse. The new brew's ingredients include locally malted grain, produced by Riverbend and smoked at 12 Bones' smoking facility, and sweet potatoes.

Learn more about Asheville Breweries and craft Beer on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide

Asheville Winter Warmer Beer Festival this Weekend

January 26   Winter Warmer Beer Festival   Shake off the Winter Blahs at the 6th Annual Asheville Winter Warmer Beer Festival from 3:00 - 7:00 PM. Co-hosts are ThreeSheets:Design, Brews Cruise, Inc., and French Broad Brewing Co. This year's venue,  the arena floor level of Asheville's Civic Center, allows for an even larger attendance. More than 30 local and national brewers will be serving up their brews.
 
This year the Festival will "share the love" and offer the opportunity to support the Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA). For 30 years, the Western North Carolina Alliance has been a trusted community partner, marshaling grassroots support to keep the forests healthy, the air and water clean and the mountain communities vibrant. Utilizing a combination of policy advocacy, scientific research and community collaboration, the Alliance and its chapters throughout Western North Carolina unleash the power of citizens’ voices to protect the natural heritage of the greater Asheville region so that people and the environment can thrive.

Advanced ticket purchase is recommended as the previous 5 years' festival have sold out.

Asheville Beer and Wine Tasting this Weekend

Join Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Street #100 in Asheville NC, for FREE wine and beer tastings this weekend:

January 4, 5 - 7 PM - Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Street #100 in Asheville NC:  Free Beer Tasting - Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine 2013.  Come taste this years Sierra Nevada Bigfoot Barleywine.  This beast of a beer is released the first week of January every year. Hops and Vines has been saving Bigfoot for six years now. They will be opening a different vintages throughout the tasting starting with 2008.

Six pack verticals of '08-'13 will be available for $29.95.and there will be plenty of 2013 Bigfoot Barleywine Ale as it just came in! $10.99 4/packs this year.

January 5, 3 - 6 PM:  Free Wine tasting of Wines from Washington.  Mildbrant Riesling 2011: Fresh light and vibrant, with juicy, tangy pineapple and pear fruit picking up floral notes as the off-dry finish lingers. $12.99/750mlt; The Velvet Devil Merlot 2011: Milk Chocolaate, wild blackberry, baking spice, rose oil, and of course, Velvety! $14.99/750ml;   Chateau Smith 2010: Supple and inviting with complex flavors of dark berries and plum shaded with hints of bacon and star anise. The finish rolls along unimpeded by the polished tannins. $19.99/750m.

Get a link for Hops and Vines and other Asheville Beer and Wine shops, breweries and wineries on the Asheville NC Visitor Guide.