Todd, the assistant brewer from Catawba Valley Brewing Company in Morganton, NC joins us this week in the tasting room! Five beer flight including the new Hyper Monkey Java Stout! Notes from the brewery:

White Zombie (ABV 4.7%)
Hazy golden white in color, our interpretation of a Belgian White (Wit) Ale is brewed with two row barley and unmalted wheat. The appearance is hazy due to the high protein content of the unmalted wheat. The addition of bitter orange peel and freshly ground coriander seed gives this very refreshing, low alcohol beer a wonderfully complex fruity and spicy aroma. The addition of English hops is subtle and detected with the smack of the tounge, which is followed and finished with a delicate slice of bread.

Firewater IPA (ABV 6.4%): A complex cross between an English and American style IPA. Olympic Gold in color, Firewater IPA boasts a unique malt backbone. Along with a hefty amount of two row barley, munich, caramel-40, carapils and a touch of wheat dominate the recipe. Six different hop varieties showcase the best England and the United States has to offer.

Indian Head Red Ale (ABV 5.2%)
Our interpretation of an an Irish Red Ale. Dark ruby in color, this very malt focused beer is achieved from the incorporation of specialty malts such as caramel60, caramel-120 and special B. Four different hop varieties lend a very complex and balanced non-traditional approach to this delicious style of beer.

Brown Bear Ale (ABV 5.0%)
Probably our most delicious malt focused product. The incorporation of four specialty malts such as caramel-60, caramel-120, special B and chocolate create the color of a sun burnt brown bear. Caramel, toffee and chocolate immediately saturate the taste sensations with English hops waiting around until the very end to surprise the palate.

Hyper Monkey Coffee Stout (ABV 6.1%)
With the ability to block out the sun, this stout is black in color and truly opaque. A heaping portion of specialty malts such as caramel-120, chocolate, roast and carapils contribute to a deceivingly thick body with little viscosity. Organic, fair trade Central American coffee is added post fermentation to confuse the consumer into believing that the day is just beginning. You’re welcome.

Charleston Brewvival
We had a blast last weekend at Charleston Brewvival. First a first go at hosting a beer fest, we’ve got to say that our friends at COAST Brewing and Charleston Beer Exchange really blew it out! Firstly, Brewvival was not an invitational open. “Opens” are festivals throughout the year to which breweries are invited. Breweries can send whatever beers they want and it often costs nothing more than just travel expenses. These are the many, countless festivals nationwide that a brewery can take part in, so who goes to what can often be last-minute or just basically a crap shoot. (Much of it depends on city’s and festivals’ reputations.) Brewvival was an “invitational”—an organized, planned festival where the organizers actually bought the beer. In other words, these were hand-selected brews of the rarest and hard-to-find kind. We had so many things we never had before, and in some cases, may never have again. And the fest was not for the newbie or faint of heart either—many strong brews with much food and water required. The cost of $50/pp was a little hefty for some wallets, but as the saying goes, you get what you pay for and at Brewvival, you definitely got that and then some! We almost wish Brewgrass would switch to this type of fest even if it means the cost goes up a bit. Asheville would dig it!

Up above is Jason & I sharing a beer with Greg Koch from Stone Brewing Company. And we also got to meet Patrick Rue from The Bruery! More pics on the Bruisin’ Ales FB Page. We’re sad to say we forgot the camera, so you gotta deal with the crappy Blackberry phone pics…

New this week… errr, rather last week
We didn’t even get the New This Week up before we left. We’re sorry. Here you go!

BREW DOG Divine Rebel Barleywine (collaboration w/ Mikkeller)
BREW DOG Storm IPA
BREW DOG Tokyo*
FLYING DOG Raging Bitch Belgian IPA 20th Anniversary Ale*
FOUNDERS Double Trouble IPA* (back in stock)
HOPPIN’ FROG Hop Dam Triple IPA*
PINKUS Münster Alt
THE BRUERY Saison de Lente*
THIRSTY DOG Cerberes Belgian-style Tripel
WEYERBACHER Heresy Oak-aged Imperial Stout*

[UPDATE: Thanks for Uncle Jedi for clarifying my wording. Some days I just have the dumb.]

Jimi Rentz, owner of Barley’s Taproom in Asheville, gave us a really awesome opportunity: Our own tap downstairs! The Bruisin’ Ales Tap will be a regular feature from here on out of rare, limited, cool, and delicious brews outside the local/regional circle. Mixing a little variety into your local brews… first up? Dogfish Head Red & White! We’re hoping it will go on the beginning of next week!

ALLAGASH Black
AVERY Collaboration Not Litigation (Batch #4)
BELL’S Consecrator Doppelbock
DOGFISH HEAD Red & White
FOUNDER’S Nemesis Wheatwine
GREAT DIVIDE Whiskey Barrel-aged Old Ruffian
GREAT DIVIDE Whiskey Barrel-aged Yeti
OKOCIM Porter
ROGUE John John Dead Guy Ale
ROMAN Adriaen Brouwer Dark Gold
ROMAN Ename Tripel

Looks like we’re bracing for a blizzard now in Asheville? Well, since schools are letting out and you’ll likely be nesting in tonight, drop by now and stock up for this next round of Mother Nature.

EMELISSA Double IPA
LEFT HAND BREWING 400 lb. Monkey IPA
NEW BELGIUM Mighty Arrow Pale Ale* (seasonal)
VAN DE KORENAAR Courage
VAN DE KORENAAR L’Enfant Terrible
WEYERBACHER Fireside Ale*

This multicultural shipment of beer includes beers from the United States, Canada, Belgium, Italy, Norway and Japan. We get geeked by the Baird beers. The Jubilation Ale has this descriptions: “… fully ripened figs candied in Japanese red sugar and cinnamon twigs culled from a Japanese Nikki tree.” Figs, red candy sugar and cinnamon? YES, PLEASE!

** [NOTE] Bell’s Hopslam is limited to our Asheville customers exclusively until Sunday, Jan. 24. If any remains, we will be shipping on Tuesday, Jan. 26 **

BAIRD Dark Sky Imperial Stout
BAIRD Jubilation Ale
BELL’S Hopslam*
DE RANKE Kriek
DE RANKE Noir de Dottignies
DIEU DE CIEL! Peche Mortel Imperial Coffee Stout
DIEU DE CIEL! Aphrodite Cocoa Stout
DUCK RABBIT Baltic Porter* (last batch!)
DRIE FONTEINEN Oude Geuze
DRIE FONTEINEN Schaerbeekse Kriek (rare!)
FANTOME de Noel* (‘09)
HAANDBRYGGERIET Haandbakk Oak-aged Flemish Sour
LAGUNITAS Hairy Eyeball
LAGUNITAS Imperial Stout*
McRITCHIE CIDERWORKS (NC) Hard Cider
MONTEGIOCO Dolii Raptor (Demon Hunter aged in Barbera wine barrels)
MONTEGIOCO Bran Reserva (Bran aged in Barbera wine barrels)
PISGAH Vortex II Russian Imperial Stout*
SIERRA NEVADA Bigfoot 2010*
SMUTTYNOSE Barleywine*

HOLY CRAP. We never thought we’d see this in North Carolina. Avery Brewing Company’s wicked imperial stout, Mephistopheles, makes its FIRST appearance in our fine state. The ABV is lower this year, allowing it just under the 15% abv law. Beer fans, this is one you really want to try. 99 rating on RateBeer. Dark, rich, creamy, this hoppy stout is an uber-treat! Only two cases. Ask for it! Here’s the list of new items and things back in stock just in time for the weekend:

ALLAGASH Curieux
AVERY BREWING Mephistopheles Stout
FOUNDER’S Double Trouble
GREAT DIVIDE Hercules Double IPA
GREAT DIVIDE Old Ruffian Barleywine
GREAT DIVIDE Oak-aged Yeti
LEFT HAND St. Vrain Tripel
LEFT HAND Twin Sisters Double IPA
LEFT HAND Warrior Fresh Hop
MANTEN Belgian Blonde
SKA BREWING Modus Hoperandi
TOMOS WATKIN OSB “Old Style Bitter”
TOMOS WATKIN Cwrw Braf English Amber
VICTORY Moonglow Weizenbock

The slow months are here, so you won’t see us adding much other than special releases. There are quite a few biggies on deck, due in the next few weeks, so stay tuned! Who else is having a Pisgah Hellbender tonight? I know I am! And, here’s a little info on the new Rogue Chatoe: Dirtoir Black Lager. Chatoe is a new limited release series from Rogue Ales:

Jet black in color with a tan head, medium to full bodied, deftly balanced, seamless dark roasted malt flavors with a smooth bitterness, lingering long finish. … Available nationwide on 1-1-2010, Dirtoir Black Lager is the second in the limited availability Chatoe Rogue series. Dirtoir Black Lager and the brews to follow are all GYO (“Grow Your Own”) Certified, First Growth, Appelation products made with hops and malt from our Department of Agriculture’s Hopyard and Barley Bench.

NEW BELGIUM Ranger IPA
PISGAH Hellbender Barleywine
ROGUE Chatoe: Dirtoir Black Lager
TERRAPIN Dark Side Belgian-style Stout (Side Project #9)

It’s my fault for not posting these earlier last week, but then the snow came. The beer list will be updated in the morning. PINKY SWEAR!!

AVERY duganA IPA*
BROOKLYN Winter Ale*
FOUNDERS Breakfast Stout*
HIGHLAND 15th Anniversary Auld Asheville Ale*
NEW HOLLAND Dragon’s Milk*
OLDE HICKORY Bourbon Barrel-aged Barleywine* (Jim Beam barrels)
OLDE HICKORY Christmas Ale*
OLDE HICKORY Irish Walker Barleywine
OLDE HIKCORY Hickory Stick Dry Irish Stout*
OLDE HICKORY Imperial Stout*
OMMEGANG Adoration* (back in stock)
PISGAH Baptista*
PISGAH Solstice*
SAMICHLAUS 2009 Samiclaus 750ml*
STONE BREWING Cali-Belgique*
STONE BREWING Double Bastard* (jeroboams)
VICTORY BREWING Yakima Twilight*

Another week, more holiday beer. We’re busting at the seams with good stuff and new stuff over here. And today’s the repeal of Prohibition. Celebrate the end of the “noble experiment” with craft beer!

AFFLIGEM Blonde
BATEMAN’S Rosey Nosey*
DOGFISH HEAD Olde School Barleywine*
FOUNDER’S Imperial Stout*
GREAT DIVIDE Hiberation Ale*
HARPOON 100 Barell Series #29 Ginger Wheat*
HEAVY SEAS Yuletide Tripel*
ROGUE Mogul Madness*
ROGUE Santa’s Private Reserve*
ROGUE Yellow Snow IPA*
ST. BERNARDUS Christmas Ale*
STOUDTS Winter Ale*
THE BRUERY Hottenroth Berlinner-Weiss*
THE BRUERY Rugbrød Rye Beer*
THE BRUERY 2 Turtle Doves*
WINTERCOAT Double Hop Double IPA
WINTERCOAT Yule Ale*