The grand opening of Asheville’s newest and brewest, The Lexington Avenue Brewery (The LAB), is now open for business! The bar and restaurant opened with a little announcement yesterday afternoon and was welcomed by a fully packed house of beer fans. We were lucky enough to get a sneak-peak on Wednesday evening with some friends and had a beer sampler, though we missed the kitchen by a bit. The menu looks fantastic and we can’t wait to eat there. It’s nothing fancy, per se, but what is offered is a great mix of gourmet flavors with pub-style food. The grilled four-cheese sandwich and other offerings such as the bratwurst are sure to be a big hit with the beer set. I mean, who doesn’t love sausage and beer (except for you veggie-types)?

General Manager Joe Culpepper and Brewer Ben Pierson have truly opened a classy place. Honestly, this is a whole new direction for Asheville. The place is so big and so impressive—with a simple, rustic, yet contemporary interior—we had to just walk around a bit. Lots of low-lit lighting effects—including the very metropolitan entry lights—an outdoor seating area with massive doors that will open in warm weather, an awesome and very large curved wooden bar. Best part? The beer tanks. Towering behind glass with another bar that wraps around them, they have their own little light show for ambiance, changing from red to blue to green to purple. The LAB is not only a feast for the tastebuds, but also the eyes.

Starting line-up? Marzën, Pilsner, Witbier, Pale, IPA, Chocolate Stout. I had a hard time distinguishing between the Pale and IPA, other than color, but I’ve also been sick, so surely that has something to with it. The Pilsner was crisp and clean, very fresh; how a pilsner should be. Marzën, a little sweeter than some, but I like that taste in a Marzën as it’s not a preferred style of mine. The Chocolate Stout was delicious, tasting almost of dry, dark chocolate cocoa nibs. And I love the Wit, which has a dose of chamomile tea in it. Again, with some off-tasting tastebuds, I had to ask what that flavor was underlying the citrus, but it was clear once I read the description. The Witbier in particular is going to be a huge hit in summertime. Just a prediction.

So where is it? The LAB is at 39 N. Lexington Avenue, just a block or two from Bruisin’ Ales.

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