[UPDATE: The poll is getting tight and Portland has a small lead. Tell your family, friends, even enemies to vote ASHEVILLE!]

The poll is OPEN for Charlie Papazian’s “BeerCity, USA” 2010. Help us keep Asheville on top! Spread the word near and far about all the beer culture we have in a little mountain city.

Last year Asheville tied with Portland, OR—a city with many more breweries and many more people. But I think Asheville’s beer passion speaks for itself. We’re not resting on our laurels!

GO VOTE!

Bruisin’ Ales: Small Biz of the Month for April 2010

Big thanks to the Asheville Area Chamber of Commerce for putting out this new radio spot on 98.1 the River, Mix 96.5, 105.9 The Mountain, and ESPN 1310 and 970. Cheers, y’all!

HUGE congratulations to our North Carolina breweries that took medals at the World Beer Cup last week!

Category 6: Spiced Beer >> SILVER: Lemongrass Wheat
OuterBanks Brewing Company
Kill Devil Hills, NC

Category 62: Sweet Stout >> GOLD: Mike Stout
Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery
Farmville, NC

Category 66: Old Ale >> SILVER: Irish Walker Barleywine
Olde Hickory Taproom
Hickory, NC

Category 69: American-style Imperial Stout >> SILVER: Sexual Chocolate
Foothills Brewing Company
Winston-Salem, NC

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

The list below represents medals given to the brands of Tryon Distributors from the World Beer Cup that just took place last week at the Craft Brewers Conference in Chicago. Check http://www.worldbeercup.org/winners.html to see the entire list. (Thank you, Chris Mincey!)

All of these beers can be found at Bruisin’ Ales! Come try an award-winner!

Category 4: Rye Beer (22 Entries)

Category 5: Fruit Beer or Field Beer (86 Entries)

Category 12: Experimental Beer (51 Entries)

Category 15: American-Belgo-Style Ale (46 Entries)

Category 19: Aged Beer (20 Entries)

Category 27: Vienna-Style Lager (28 Entries)

Category 41: Belgian-Style Witbier (47 Entries)

Category 42: Belgian- and French-Style Ale (57 Entries)

Category 46: Belgian-Style Dubbel (29 Entries)

Category 48: Belgian-Style Pale Strong Ale (33 Entries)

Category 49: Belgian-Style Dark Strong Ale (46 Entries)

Category 52: Classic English-Style Pale Ale (29 Entries)

Category 61: Robust Porter (64 Entries)

Category 62: Sweet Stout (25 Entries)

Category 63: Oatmeal Stout (34 Entries)

Category 67: Strong Ale (26 Entries)

Category 79: Golden or Blonde Ale (50 Entries)

Category 82: American-Style India Pale Ale (104 Entries)

Kick-off for Oskar Blues new imperial IPA—GUBNA! Join us in the tasting room tomorrow with reps from Colorado’s award-winng, canned apocalypse brewery Oskar Blues from 5-7pm. On the flight tomorrow:

Mama’s Little Yellow Pils
“Oskar Blues’ newest beer is an uncompromising, small-batch version of the beer that made Pilsen, Czech Republic famous. Unlike mass market “pilsners” diluted with corn & rice, Mama’s is built with 100% pale malt, German specialty malts, and Bavarian hops. While it’s rich with Czeched-out flavor, its gentle hopping (35 IBUs) and low ABV (just 5.3%) make it a luxurious but low-dose (by Oskar Blues standards) refresher.”

Dale’s Pale Ale
“America’s first hand-canned craft beer is a voluminously hopped mutha that delivers a hoppy nose, assertive-but-balanced flavors of pale malts and hops from start to finish. First canned in 2002, Dale’s Pale Ale is a hearty (6.5% and 65 IBUs), critically acclaimed trailblazer that has changed the way craft beer fiends perceive canned beer.”

Old Chub
“This jaw-dropping Scottish strong ale (8% ABV) is brewed with bodacious amounts of malted barley and specialty grains, and a dash of beechwood-smoked malt. Old Chub features a skim-milk mouthfeel, semi-sweet flavors of cocoa and coffee, and a kiss of smoke. A head-turning treat for malt heads and folks who think they don’t dig dark beer.”

Gordon
“Our “Velvet M-80” is a luscious, double-red ale with a gooey aroma, a sticky mouthfeel, a malty middle and unctuous hop flavors. Gordon also sports a surprisingly comfortable finish for a beer of its hefty size (8.7% ABV, 60 IBUs). It’s brewed in tribute to Gordon Knight, a Colorado craft beer pioneer and Vietnam vet who died fighting a 2002 wild fire outside of our Lyons hometown.”

Gubna
“Emphasizing that complexity of character can arise from simple elements, this ale is made with 3 malts and 1 hop. Its light amber color and slightly spicy malt character are derived from the use of German Dark Munich Malt and Rye Malt respectively. North American 2-row barley combines with the other grains to lay the foundation for the hop onslaught to come. Summit hops are used exclusively in the boil for bitterness, flavor and aroma but it doesn’t end there. Post-fermentation dry hopping allows the 10% ABV monstrosity to gently coax the citrus rind and grapefruit aroma to join the 100 IBUs already present. This beer will greet you with a pungent citrus blast, provide a spicy yet round middle and finish with a brisk, clean bitterness.” (10% ABV)

We’re honored! Thanks, Asheville!

Let me tell you something. When you’re tired and freaking out over more snow coming this weekend, you know what helps? Waking up to RateBeer’s annual RateBeerBest 2010 to find that your store is holding tight at the #3 spot for Best Beer Retailer Worldwide. Yeah, that helps! Wow, we’ve been busting it out again in 2009, but I’d be lying if I didn’t think we might slip a spot or two with all the new openings of stores that (kinda) follow our business model. We are so incredibly honored and thank you immensely for supporting your local, INDEPENDENT craft beer retailer.

And let’s not forget all the other NC winners! North Carolina is a GREAT state for craft beer! Cheers to craft beer! Beerlanthropy®, y’all.

–The Thirsty Monk (Asheville) #41 Beer Bar
–Barley’s Taproom & Pizzeria (Asheville) #27 Beer Restaurant
–Tyler’s Taproom (Raleigh) #36 Beer Restaurant
–Mellow Mushroom (Asheville) #41 Beer Restaurant
–Highland Brewing (Asheville) #26 Brewery to Visit
–Wedge Brewery (Asheville) #43 Brewpub (confusing, but we’ll take it)
–Duck Rabbit (Farmville) #43 Best Brewery
–Duck Rabbit (Farmville) #2 Best Beer/Dark Lager (Schwartzbier)
–Brawley’s Beverage (Charlotte) #35 Retailer
–Sam’s Quik Shop (Durham) #49 Retailer

As we approach the third anniversary of the humble storefront next week, we want you to be part of some changes to the store. (And I’ve opened the comments today, because I’m sick and need you to think for me.)

Last week on Twitter (@bruisinales), we asked a simple question: Which ratings system to you prefer, letters or numbers? In this completely unscientific poll in which a total 21 tweeps replied or sent Direct Messages, 19 said they preferred numbers stating that numbers gave a more accurate representation; the other two said they preferred letters, stating the letters give “wiggle-room.” It’s interesting to note these two very different responses also split down the lines of their respective territories. Most went with “numbers” and many were West Coast buddies, the locale of RateBeer; and the two that said “letters” were from the Boston area, home to BeerAdvocate.

We ask, because we’re updating our shelf talkers. And we know what we prefer, but what do you prefer? Which is more helpful while you shop, letters or numbers? This store is your store, so help me decide. And thank you all for the collective brain!

THURSDAY, Dec. 3: Our great friend, Don Richardson (THE “King Don” for whom Catawba Valley’s Pumpkin Ale is named), is bringing some holiday ales from his All Good Brands portfolio. The first of three holiday tastings leading up to December 25. This is a high-rated line-up. Don’t miss it! These are great beers for your dinner table or holiday gifts, too!

DUPONT Avec les Bons Voeux—Meaning “With Best Wishes,” this winter Saison is a seasonal favorite with Bruisin’ Ales customers. Amber in color with an earthy smell traditional to Saisons, it finishes both fruity and mildly bitter on the palate. [Saison, 9.5% abv | A- BeerAdvocate; 99 RateBeer]

ST. FEUILLIEN Cuvée de Nöel—”Dark ruby brown colour and a very intense aroma. The aromatic herbs and spices used greatly enhance its smell. This beer is full-bodied with a smoothness that is the result of the synergy of caramelised malts… A very subtle bitterness is the dominant flavour that strikes a perfect balance between all the ingredients.” [Belgian Strong Dark, 9.0% abv | A- BeerAdvocate; 95 RateBeer]

SCALDIS Nöel (a.k.a. Bush de Nöel, Belgium)—Strong, dark and sweet. This beer smacks of a yeasty, malty mouthfeel with hints of burnt caramel and moderate spices & dark fruits in the finish. [Belgian Strong Dark, 12.5% abv | B+ BeerAdvocate; 94 RateBeer]

HE’BREW Jewbilation Bar Mitzvah “13″—The 13th Anniversary Ale for Schmaltz Brewing Company’s He’Brew line, this brew boast 13 different malts with 13 hop additions. Robust, super hoppy with a chocolate finish, it yields minimal alcohol burn for its strength. The Jewbilation Anniversary Series “has been touted by critics receiving top accolades including “5 Stars” from Celebrator Beer News, “Best Holiday Beer” by Pacific Brew News, and Playboy Magazine.” [American Imperial Stout, 13.0% abv | A- BeerAdvocate; 94 RateBeer]

Bruisin’ Ales hits #7 on The Beer Wench’s “Top 20 Beer Personalites on Twitter”
Who’s got two thumbs and ranked on this list? We want to give a shout to our girl, and lil’ sis, The Beer Wench (@TheBeerWench), for taking the time to put together this fantabulous list of the “most compelling” beer people on Twitter. And we’re honored to be ranked #7 in her book! If you’re not already, these are the people to be following for the best of beer. And other stupid funny stuff, because beer people are funny. Often intoxicated.

Edgy’s got a new seasonal beer story in the MountainXPress
Share your opinions and thoughts about Asheville’s seasonal brews, Highland Cold Mountain, French Broad Wee-Heavy-est, and the brand-spanking-new Asheville Brewing Christmas Jam Ale. (There’s also Pisgah’s Baptista, which beer spies tell me was bottled yesterday.) I like this quote about Cold Mountain: “The spices are a closely guarded secret. I have had people ask me how we get the marshmallows or the cherries in there. I can assure you we do not use either. What I can tell you is there are some very obvious flavors going on in this beer, some new and some old. We’ll let you be the judge.”

PBR is up for sale
Got a cool $3 million just lying around? You could buy PBR! Seems the hipster beer favorite is in trouble with a little agency called the IRS. You’d think a “marketing company” would know enough that a non-profit can’t own a for-profit beer company. For three years. After a warning. Oh, well. Learning curves.

Get your beer geek AND designer geek on
Brilliant post from Typophile which makes me truly giddy inside with a giant *kaboom* of my two worlds colliding. Enjoy: The Best Typographic Beer Labels.

And in the Halloween wrap-up…
If you are going to dress as a breathalyzer for Halloween, then don’t drink and drive. Or be underage. People are stupid.

Macro beer sales are up
Remember a few months ago when the mainstream media went batshit crazy and jumped on a story about a 30-35% increase in beer, and “how dare they do that in these tough economic times?” Yeah, well, it’s like we said then, it happens every year and won’t affect anything. And it didn’t.

Thanks, Asheville and the greater Western North Carolina area for voting for Bruisin’ Ales in the MountainXPress “Best of WNC” poll. We scored a win for Best Beer Store and yours truly is #2 Twitterer @bruisinales (tied with @h0zae). We could not even be in this business if it weren’t for you lovely beer drinkers, so thanks for being die-hard lovers of craft beer and supporting our humble storefront.

As far as Twitter goes, it’s sometimes beer, sometimes not, and often times stupid. And you like me, right now, you like me!

Beerlanthropy, for the win!

Now, all I need is a purple wig…