Archive for January, 2011

Loads of things coming and going quickly. Here’s a real quick catch-up list of things that are new and back in stock! Cheers!

BALLAST POINT Victory at Sea Coffee Vanilla Imperial Porter
BALLAST POINT Wahoo Wheat
BELL’S Hopslam* (limit (2) 6-pks/pp)
BRECKENRIDGE Agave Wheat
BRECKENRIDGE Avalanche Amber
BRECKENRIDGE Lucky U IPA
BRECKENRIDGE Vanilla Porter
BROUWERIJ ROMAN Sloeber 750′s
BUFFALO Belgian Bitter
CATAWBA VALLEY 300,000 Mile Ale (growlers)
CRAGGIE BREWING Dubbelicious
HANSSEN’S Experimental Raspberry Lambic
HET ANKER Lucifer 750′s
NEBRASKA BREWING Apricot au Poivre Saison (reserve series)
NEBRASKA BREWING Melange a Trois (reserve series)
NEW BELGIUM Lips of Faith: Vrienden (collaboration with Allagash)
NEW BELGIUM 2° Below Winter Ale
OLDE HICKORY Black Raven IPA
OLDE HICKORY Imperial Stout with Honey
OMMEGANG Adoration
SIERRA NEVADA Hoptimum
SPRECHER Bourbon Barrel-aged Scotch Ale (1L flip-top)
SPRECHER Winter Brew
STONE Lukcy Basartd
STONE Sublimely Self-Righteous
STONE Smoked Porter
STOUDT’S Winter Ale
SWEETWATER Happy Ending Imperial Stout
THE BRUERY Autumn Maple
VICTORY Old Horizontal Barleywine

Love Music and Mountains? If so, come listen to some great tunes and support Appalachian Voices and Restoring Eden in our efforts to end the tragedy of Mountaintop Removal!

featuring:

Alex Krug Trio (http://www.myspace.com/alexandrakrug)
Efren (http://www.myspace.com/efrenrock)
Jonathan Ammons & the Electric Ghost (http://www.purevolume.com/jonathanammons)
Dewi Sant (http://www.myspace.com/dewisantmusic)
Matrimony (http://www.myspace.com/matrimonyband)

All Ages Welcome.
$8 students (with a valid student id), $10 door

For more information on ending Mountaintop Removal, check out:

www.appvoices.org or www.restoringeden.org/endmtr or www.ilovemountains.org

Thanks to Pisgah Brewing Co. for hosting this amazing event and being such awesome stewards of our mountains and environment! (AND making delicious beer, of course For more info or directions, check out: http://pisgahbrewing.com/

This press release just came in from French Broad Brewery:

French Broad Brewing Company Introduces Two Limited-Release Belgian Beers

The French Broad Brewery is happy to kick off its tenth year with the introduction of two new limited-release Belgian beers. Both are fermented with the Bastogne strain of Belgian ale yeast that devotees of the Wee Heavy-est and Battleground Brown may recognize.

A retooling of a 2010 one-off, the Belgian Stout pours outer-space black under a dense, leathery head and leaves delicate lacing all the way down the glass. A whiff of Belgian yeast is detectable in the chocolaty nose. A rich, roasted flavor is accentuated by dark notes of plumwine and currants that emerge on the palate and contribute to a subtly sweet, lingering finish. A Francophile’s stout, Gallic barleys render a strong malt backbone balanced by Spalt, East Kent Golding and Perle hops. The Belgian Stout is an ideal accompaniment for oysters, fruit, and torte. Or skip the entrée and dessert entirely and just drink the beer.

For the second new offering of the year, FBBC reached into its past for a special reissue. Belgian rock candy sugar is a key ingredient in the Flanders Abbey Ale, which pours cloudy amber and announces itself with a fruity, floral nose. Sweet and malty, the intricate flavor of the ale is distinguished by notes of apricot and orange that persist into a delicate, spicy finish of Styrian Golding hops. Eminently drinkable, the Flanders Abbey Ale would feel at home next to a plate of cheese. Or next to you and a plate of cheese. Or just you.

The Belgian Stout and Flanders Abbey are limited release batches for local consumption. Both are available exclusively on draft and in kegs (half-barrel and pony).

Incidentally, if it isn’t too late, FBBC would like to mention that the entire complement of beer it brings to Winter Warmer will be Belgian in nature. The Wee Heavy-est, Battleground Brown, Belgian Stout and Flanders Abbey Ale will all be on tap.

À votre santè!

Larry Bell, owner and founder of Bell’s Brewery in Kalamazoo, Mich. is coming to Asheville next week, Wednesday, January 19. Two big events are going on that day to celebrate the visit, starting with a Meet & Greet tasting at the humble storefront from 5:00-7:00 p.m., followed by a Bell’s tap takeover with 16 taps at The Thirsty Monk. (Facebook link) You can read more on the history of Bell’s Brewery here. It’s interesting to point out that not only did Bell receive a Recognition Award for his contribution to the craft beer industry from the Brewers Association in 2010 (video above), but that the brewery celebrated their 25th Anniversary last year and announced a $52 million dollar expansion over the next six years. That’s no joke, right there.

For the Bruisin’ Ales Meet & Greet Tasting:

Bell’s Amber: “Our flagship beer is made from mostly pale malt with some Munich and caramel malts. This gives it a slightly sweet flavor that is balanced by a melange of American hops. The result is a deep copper color and rich flavor. Bell’s Amber Ale is great on its own or paired with food.” [5.8% abv]

Bell’s Porter: “Brewed with a generous mix of chocolate malt and roast barley, our Porter matches subtle coffee aromas to a solid malt finish. Lighter in body than its stouter cousins, Porter earned a prominent place in our portfolio of beers with its balance of roasted flavors. First brewed in 1987, Porter remains a favorite among both our brewers and Bell’s drinkers alike.” [5.6% abv]

Bell’s Kalamazoo Stout: “Kalamazoo Stout represents stouts in the Bell’s year-round roster, offering a blend of dark chocolate and coffee flavors with just a hint of brewer’s licorice. One of our oldest recipes, it balances a significant hop presence against the roast malt body.” [6.0% abv]

The Asheville Brewers Alliance and the North Carolina Brewers Guild are co-sponsoring a visit by Charlie Papazian, author of The New Complete Joy of Homebrewing, Founder of the Homebrewers Association, and President of the Brewers Association. He will be delivering a keynote speech at the new Highland Brewing tasting room on Wednesday, February 23.

Papazian is also the person who started the BeerCity, USA online poll two years back, in which Asheville, NC has won both years, beating larger beer meccas, such as Portland, OR.

Details are still coming in, but here’s what we have so far from the NC Brewers Guild website:

Continuing our educational series, The North Carolina Brewers Guild, in partnership with the Asheville Brewers Alliance, are pleased to welcome special guest Charlie Papazian, President of the Brewers Association and Founder of the American Homebrewers Association, as keynote speaker for our February educational event.

Charlie’s talk will focus on general beer styles and personal experiences with yeast. He will also present updates on governmental affairs and legislative developments and leave plenty of time for Q&A. Come meet and share a pint with a pioneer of the homebrewing movement.

We are also excited to announce two other speakers preceding Charlie’s presentation:  Kevin Sudderth of Hach, who will be talking to us about oxygen pick-up/testing and HopUnion, LLC, who will offer us an update on the hop market and an outlook on hops.

Admission includes a buffet-style barbecue dinner and two drink tickets for your choice of Highland pints.

When:    Wednesday, February 23^rd, evening (exact time TBA)

Where:   Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite H, Asheville, NC 28803

Pricing:  FREE to Asheville Brewers Alliance and/or North Carolina Brewers Guild members;

$25 for non-members.  Not yet a member of the North Carolina Brewers Guild? Now’s a great time to join to get in for free!

Additional details will be posted as they become available.

REGISTER TODAY!

You can follow Charlie on Twitter at @charliepapazian.