Ashvegas gets props as an upcoming beer city The most recent issue of national mag, All About Beer, features none other than… Asheville! But for some reason we have not received our copies yet. We’re working on it. (The article is not online.) Rumor is that a humble storefront called Bruisin’ Ales gets a mention, but that’s conjecture at this point.
Beer restaurant in China
As further proof of beer’s world takeover, a Quindao restaurant has opened with a beer theme. “The city has a beer themed restaurant where every dish and dessert is made with beer. Customers also sit around beer barrel-shaped tables while waiters wear clothes look like beer bottles.” I’d say dressing like a beer bottle is quite the dose of “flair.” [Chinadaily.com]
New craft beer store in the Twin Cities
Is it a trend? Until now only three dedicated beer stores were in existence (that we know of). Well, folks, The Four Firkins, in St. Louis Park, Minn., is having its grand opening this Saturday. They have Surly there. You can’t help but be jealous of that. [StarTribune.com]
The other half had a birthday on Monday which took up a bunch of time, what with planning a party last week/end and all. We’re back in action today, though! Beer spies are out and we’ve learned several new things lately:
Vortex mania Vortex 1 from Pisgah Brewing is on-tap now at Barley’s. (It’s not Vortex 3, but a repeat appearance of Vortex 1.) At any rate, it’s a Triple IPA, 10.0% abv. We hear there’s Saison brewin’ too.
Imperial watch
This year’s imperial brew from Highland will be Imperial Black Mocha Stout. This is going to be a huge hit for sure! Next up: The summer seasonal, Cattail Peak Wheat.
Highland Cup and the Long Shot?
The MALT folks tell us that Asheville homebrewer, Aaron Schenk, not only won the Highland Cup, but also the Sam Adams Longshot Contest with his German Pilsner. Congrats, Aaron!
New FBB bottles/art The new bottles of French Broad Brewery’s13 Rebels ESB are here! New awesome artwork, too. Wee-Heavyer bottles are not far behind. (Should have them tomorrow.) Both are 22oz. Drew tells us he’s also making a Saison. Nice!
Yes, you can have stout in the summer Asheville Pizza & Brewing has a new oatmeal stout. Doug gave some to the birthday boy. It’s yummy.
11:11 The Brick Store Pub in Decatur, Ga. is celebrating its 11th anniversary with 11 rare kegs. They’re even getting a Highland firkin! Just a few: Avery Brewing Co. Uber Swine (double dry hopped Hog Heaven); Oskar Blues Chubbourbon (Old Chub aged in bourbon barrels); Allagash Rosa (Tripel aged 1.5 yrs in oak barrels then blended with brett); Victory Wild Devil (Victory HopDevil IPA w/ brett); Harviestoun Ginger Lime. Commence the salivating.
Shenanigans on the links
The golf secretary of famed St. Andrews golf course in Scotland got canned over a drunken escapade. He not only took beer from one club to another, which is prohibited, but he then pulled a Cheney, tried to sleep on a camp bed in the cellar, and still managed to find time to proposition a “barmaid.” *golf claps*
New Belgium keepin’ it green
The Tour de Fat bike tour, sponsored by New Belgium Brewing Co., is doing a car-for-bike trade at all of the 12 stops along the tour this year.
Where do craft beers fit into distribution? Ale Street News has a good article about all the hoopla surrounding the AB-InBev thing, saying it was AB’s acquisition of InBev brands last year (i.e. Stella Artois, Leffe, Bass etc.) that prompted the feeding frenzy. So, are these distribution deals—like the one Southampton made with Pabst—good or bad for craft beer? Discuss.
The Wedge Brewing Co., Asheville’s newest brewery, is set to open in the River Arts District on May 30! Beer spies tell us that not all the planned beers will be available just yet, but the IPA is ready for tasting. From the Tony Kiss article earlier this year:
The new River Arts District venture, Wedge Brewing Co. at 151 Roberts St., has been in the planning for two years, said owner Tim Schaller, who has been restoring old buildings for 35 years. Carl Melissas, who had been a brewer at Green Man, will craft the beers.
The site will include a small tasting room, seating on the outside loading dock and a small courtyard.
The Wedge Brewing Co. is located in the lower back level of the Wedge Gallery building. See you there!
You suck, You need more recommendations, Esquire Esquire Magazine—the “man mag” that flails somewhere between GQ’s style, Rolling Stone’s political journalism and Maxim’s sleeze factor—has compiled a list of The Best Bars in America. How many good bars are there in North Carolina? Apparently, one. Don’t get me wrong, the Thomas Street Tavern, near The Plaza in Charlotte, is actually a pretty cool little neighborhood hangout. But beer bars seem to be completely negated from this list as a whole. Not any of the Philly beer bars made the list. Nor did the Stone Bistro or Pizza Port in SoCal. Nor the Map Room in Chicago. Not the Publick House in Boston. (Cheers to The Brick Store Pub, which did make the list, at least.) At first we reacted rather childish until we remembered that there are folks out there that drink libations other than beer. But what about all of Asheville’s beer bars? Let’s see if we can get some Asheville listed, shall we? Click on the matchbox to recommend a bar. [Editor's note: The "EsquireRule" that scrolls at the top of the home page is pretty funny, i.e. Rule #63: The best religions have great hats.]
Molson Coors puts their “waste beer” in vehicles at the DNC
The Democratic National Convention just named Molson Coors as the provider of ethanol for the conference in Denver later this year. They’re a “Presidential-level” sponsor, which means they’ve given over $1M to the convention. Who knew?
“While most ethanol comes from corn, Molson Coors’ ethanol is produced from waste beer. The ethanol used in DNC vehicles will come from Coors Brewing’s brewery in Golden.
… Waste beer is the beer that’s lost during packaging, or which is considered substandard. Coors is the country’s first major brewer to convert waste beer to ethanol, according to the company, and started that business in 1996.
Coors Brewing’s Golden plant now produces roughly 3 million gallons of ethanol a year.”
Number One threat to America still Bears Gotta love FARK: This has nothing to do with anything, but a bear in a Japanese zoo has some mad bat-twirling skills. With video! We suspect this may, too, make the Colbert Report.
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