Tom Cizauskas, southern rep for Clipper City/Heavy Seas of Baltimore, Md., is coming July 10 TODAY to sample the line-up of some of Asheville’s favorite brews outside the area. You people drink-up Loose Cannon like it’s the last hoppy beer on earth. (And we love you for it.) This four-beer flight consists of Heavy Seas top sellers and the hefty summer seasonal, Hang Ten. We are fond of the Heavy Seas line, as all the beers are bottle conditioned. Join us!

Hang Ten Hefeweizen
“Hang Ten is the Heavy Seas wheat beer you’ve been waiting for. A classic German-style weizen bock, slightly cloudy and bursting with flavor. Hang on and surf the Heavy Seas wave! Seasonally available in July while supplies last.” [Weizenbock/10.0% abv]

Loose Cannon Hop3 Ale
“Called Hop 3 (hop cubed) ale to reflect the enormous amount of hops in this beer: over 3 pounds per barrel! Also the beer is hopped 3 ways—in the kettle, in the hop back, and dry hopped. Winner of the Overall Best of Show Award in the Maryland State Governor’s Cup 2005 Competition and voted the #1 IPA by Mahaffey’s Pub.” Available year round. [American IPA/7.25% abv]

Peg Leg Stout
“A dry Imperial stout with rich black color and aromas of roasted coffee, molasses, dark chocolate, toffee and caramel. Rich, powerful, and lingering.” Available year round. [Russian Imperial Stout/8.0% abv]

Small Craft Warning Über Pils
We call this beer an Über Pils—a pilsner style bock lager. Rich, malty, and well rounded but with a firm structure of noble hops. Surprisingly pale in color for such a powerful, complex beer. Available year round. Silver Medal- World Beer Championship 2007 [Imperial Pilsner/7.25%abv]

Get your tickets now for the upcoming weekend!

Friday, June 27 5:30pm
McCormick Field
$25/pp

Pop the Cap: A Celebration of NC Craft Beer
Bruisin’ Ales and Sean Wilson, President of Pop The Cap, co-host this pre-game Asheville Tourists’ event at McCormick Field celebrating North Carolina’s craft brews from the coast to the mountains. You  might remember we had a lot of fun with him last year. A selection of beer samples from around the state (and around the corner) will be sampled, with each brewery bringing something to the table.

*Hors d’ouvres and game admission included.*

1.       Highland Brewing Company—Cattail Peak Wheat (debut!)
2.       French Broad Brewing Company—Wee-Heavy-er
3.       Asheville Pizza & Brewing Company—Shiva IPA
4.       Green Man Ales—Stout
5.       The Wedge—Porter
6.       Pisgah Brewing Company—Pisgah Pale
7.       Catawba Valley Brewing Company—Brown Bear
8.       Duck-Rabbit Brewing Company—Milk Stout
9.       Big Boss Brewing—Hell’s Bell
10.    Foothills Brewing Company—People’s Porter (World Beer Cup Winner!)
11.    Azalea Coast Brewing Company—India Pale Ale

To save and buy the three-event pre-game package, click here for more info.

Set the Tivo. From press release on BeerAdvocate:

Sam Calagione, President and Founder of Delaware’s own Dogfish Head, will be representing America’s best-selling adult beverage on national television this Thursday. The sales of craft beer continue to rise and the international beer and food pairing trend is gaining momentum as evidenced by this high-profile taste-off. Calagione has chosen to pair New Belgium’s Mothership Wit with the Gruyere Reserve cheese and a half-decade-old Dogfish Head World Wide Stout with the Askinosie artisanal Chocolate.

Craft breweries are proving that great beer has all of the flavor, complexity, and food-compatibility of the world’s finest wines and deserves it’s place at the dinner table. The world’s finest beers are more affordable than the world’s finest wines, which is why the craft segment continues to thrive even in these challenging economic times. Dogfish Head’s sales are up 41% thus far this year and the brewery focuses on stronger, more flavor, more exotic beers as their purpose statement “off-centered ales for off-centered people” alludes to. Beer is also more accessible than wine. Wine is made in a few isolated regions in the U.S. but the average American lives within 10 miles of their local brewery. So get out there and support the amazing, diverse, local, independent, small breweries that have reinvigorated the American beer landscape. For more info on Dogfish Head beers and Sam’s books go to dogfish.com.

Don’t miss Sam Calagione and Marnie Old, authors of He Said Beer, She Said Wine, on NBC’s “The Today Show” this Thursday, 6/12 in the 10 o’clock hour! 

Can’t be by your television on Thursday? Visit http://today.msnbc.msn.com/id/12065856/  following the broadcast to see a complete video clip of the segment.

The Brewsician is back in his new role of fancy-schmancy beer broker. Chris’ new position in the beer world is with Global Brewers Guild and we’re doing a five-flight tasting of a variety of Belgian styles from his portfolio. The special treat is finishing with champage beer! (Oh, yes, we love us some Malheur Dark Brut.)

Blanche de Bruxelles—Lefèbvre
“The natural spice aromas of coriander and bitter orange peels are added during the brewing process. The brewing method, which includes infusion, is very slow. The beer, which is not filtered, is bottled and refermented with yeast and brewing sugar. You need only take a sip of this delicious drink to appreciate the fresh and mellow flavour with its hint of orange. It is really not like any other beer.” [Belgian Witbier / 4.5% abv]

Hades—Great Divide
“Hades is a Belgian-style strong golden ale brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain that gives the beer a distinctive spicy flavor and aroma. Noticeable hops and medium malt character make it an extremely well-balanced, crisp ale.” [Belgian Strong Pale / 7.3% abv]

La Merle—North Coast
“Le Merle is a rustic ale, pale in color, inspired by the rich brewing traditions of the Flanders region. Abundant hops and a Belgian yeast strain contribute exotic aromas of tropical fruit.” [Saison / 7.9% abv]

Allagash Double—Allagash
“Allagash Dubbel boasts a dark mahogany color with ruby hues and a complex malty taste. The finish is dry with subtle hints of chocolate and nuts. With time, Allagash Dubbel will mature in the bottle and acquire distinctive port and sherry characteristics.” [Dubbel / 7.6% abv]

Dark Brut—Malheur
(translated) “A dark brown ale with a creamy brown foam and 12% abv. Via special processes (moving and discharging), the yeast is eliminated from the bottle. The secrecy of the taste of oak lies in the beer barrels—Dark Brut rests on young American oak, especially roasted for this beer.” [Bière de Champagne / 12.0% abv]

This tasting if for you, hopheads! Mike Kolker of Freedom Beverage joins us for a four-beer flight from Green Flash Brewing Co.

Hop Head Red
This brew just took the Gold at the World Beer Cup in the American-Style Amber/Red Ale. With a nice mixture of piney and citrusy hops, this is a customer favorite. [American Amber / 6.0% abv]

West Coast IPA
“This West Coast-Style India Pale Ale is extravagantly hopped, full flavored, medium bodied and copper colored. A menagerie of hops is combined throughout the brewing process to impart specific characteristics. Hops used include Simcoe for a unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest, Columbus for strong hop pungency, Centennial for pine and citrus notes, and Cascade for floral aroma.” [American IPA / 7.0% abv]

Double Stout
This beer is your palette cleanser. This stout smacks of coffee grinds and baker’s chocolate. Sweet with loads of roasty character and just enough hop-smack on the finish. [American Imperial Stout / 8.8% abv]

Imperial IPA
The granddaddy of Green Flash hop bombs, the Imperial IPA is considered a “San Diego-style IPA.” Described as “super-hoppy, high-gravity, yet highly quaffable ale.” Made with a large dosage of Summit and Nugget hops. [American Imperial IPA / 9.0% abv]