We had to look up Eiraphiotes. Wikipedia says: Eiraphiotes: “Insewn”. Dionysus, in Olympian myth, was sewn into the thigh of Zeus, who brought the prematurely delivered infant to term. There’s also a little link to Hellenic Gods.

“Olde Hickory Brewery Eiraphiotes is a very limited relase. An Imperial Pilsner we aged in chardonnay barrels, it begins with a hoppy, floral nose, with a hint of grape skins. Fruity, medium body on the palate, with a malty sweetness, hints of grapes, a slight acidity and oaky dryness. Hops first on the finish, followed by sweet malt and finally dry oak. Available for a short time throughout NC in 750ml bottles and on tap in just a few locations.”

We also have ONE CASE of Foothills Sexual Chocolate. One/per person and you must ASK for it. No shipping. (Good luck!)

Here’s the full list:

AVERY Maharaja
AVERY New World Porter
CALDERA Old Growth
FOOTHILLS Sexual Chocolate
NANTAHALA ATX Pale
NANTAHALA Noon Day IPA
NANTAHALA Pattons Run Porter
OLDE HICKORY Eiraphiotes
PEAK Hop Noir
TERRAPIN Moo-Hoo Stout

Heyo, beer people! Join us on Thursday, Februrary 2, 5:00-7:00 p.m. with Trey from New Belgium Brewery, Fort Collins, Color. We’ve got a special line-up, including the new seasonal, Dig Pale Ale, with Sorachi, Nelson Sauvin, Cascade and Centennial hops, and two beers from the Lips of Faith Series, Biere de Mars and the new (and yummy) Cocoa Mole.

Dig Pale Ale
“Unearth your bottle-opener because this Pale Ale is something you can Dig. Sorachi Ace hops provides a fresh Spring zing with incredible lemon aroma. Nelson Sauvin is next in line with bursts of passion fruit, mango and peach. American favorites, Cascade and Centennial round out this crisp, clean Pale Ale.” [5.6% abv]

Belgo IPA
“When we set out to brew, we use imagination and salvation to guide us- not necessarily style guidelines. It’s the Belgian way. So, Ameri-Belgo and IPA both being styles, the branding begged for New Belgium whimsy to liven things up. Hmmm Belgo sounds like a Belgian disco. Hops like to party. Next thing you know, we bust out a disco-ball and brewers started groovin. Hops started hoppin. Add in an authentic Trappist yeast strain and the place brewed into a frenzy of citrus hoppy folly.” [7.0% abv]

Lips of Faith: Biere de Mars
“Again in 2012, we are pleased to offer one of our favorite harbingers of spring, Biere de Mars. With earthy tones of ripe mango and lemon verbena, this bottle-conditioned ale reflects the hearty character of the southern Belgian and northern French countrysides. Brewed with barley, oats and wheat malt, Biere de Mars’ celestial orange hue inspired the planetary play on words. Brettanomyces, a wild yeast strain, added for bottle-conditioning creates a refreshingly sour flash across the palate. Lemon peel coupled with the lemon verbena imparts fruitlike character and a citrusy finish.” [6.2% abv]

Lips of Faith: Cocoa Molé
“Say Hola to a spiced up ale full of cocoa and ancho, guajillo, chipotle peppers. But don’t fear the heat, because plenty of caramel and chocolate malts bring a smooth, complex flavor to our Cocoa Molé. Scents of cinnamon when poured will have you saying, “¡Olé for molé!” [9.0% abv]

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 

CHICO, Calif. — Jan. 25, 2012 —Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is pleased to announce that it has chosen a site in western North Carolina for the future home of an East Coast brewery. The site, approximately 90 acres in the Henderson County Town of Mills River— along the French Broad River, 12 miles south of Asheville — will be home to the new production facility, as well as a proposed restaurant and gift shop. “We are thrilled to have found an ideal location in western North Carolina for our second brewery,” says Ken Grossman, founder of Sierra Nevada. “The beer culture, water quality and quality of life are excellent. We feel lucky to be a part of this community.”

The new facility will add much needed capacity for Sierra Nevada, and will allow for the quick shipment of brewery-fresh beer to consumers in the east. The East Coast brewery will start with a capacity around 300,000 barrels, with room to grow. The added barrelage will accommodate wider production of the myriad of seasonal beers and bottled specialties Sierra Nevada has produced in recent years, as well as an expansion of the brewery’s well?known flagship product: Sierra Nevada Pale Ale.

Sierra Nevada began the search for a new location several years ago. The brewery looked at hundreds of potential sites, eventually narrowing the search down to a handful of locations. The list of criteria was long and included quantifiable factors such as ease of shipping and water quality, as well as quality of life issues for its employees. Sierra Nevada has a reputation for a laid-back brewery culture and a love of the outdoors, and the new facility will retain this same tone. The Asheville area offers Sierra Nevada Brewing the perfect confluence of community, recreation and craft beer culture.

Sierra Nevada’s eastern brewery site is expected to employ approximately 90 workers, with additional staff in the restaurant to follow. The brewery anticipates being operational by early 2014.

About Sierra Nevada Founded in 1980, Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is one of America’s premier craft breweries, highly regarded for using only whole-cone hops and ingredients of the finest quality. Sierra Nevada has set the standard for artisan brewers worldwide as a winner of numerous awards for its extensive line of beers including the flagship Pale Ale, Torpedo, Porter, Stout, Kellerweis, four seasonal beers, Estate Ale, Harvest Ales, Ovila Abbey Ales and a host of draught-only specialties.

Additional links from beernews.org:

Sierra Nevada Ken Grossman’s statement on North Carolina
Sierra Nevada Brewing to invest $107.5 million over next five years in North Carolina brewery

First tasting of the  2012 is with Kevin Fox of Heavy Seas, Baltimore, MD. Join us tomorrow, Thursday, December 12 from 5:00-7:00pm for a flight.

Loose Cannon: “Burnished gold with a rich citrus hop aroma, it is wonderfully drinkable with a big hop flavor. We’ve knicknamed it Hop³ (hop cubed) ale to reflect the enormous amount of hops in this beer: over 3 pounds per barrel! It is hopped 3 ways: in the kettle, in the hop back, and dry hopped. Pairs well with strong cheeses and steak. 2nd Place CAMRA award winner at the 2010 Great British Beer Festival.” [7.25% abv]

Black Cannon: “The style is an oxymoron but this ale is an extension of our Loose Cannon style brewed with black malt. Available Jan – March.” [7.25% abv]

Hang Ten: “A classic German-style weizen bock, slightly cloudy and bursting with flavor. It will benefit with aging up to two years. VINTAGE DATED.” [10.0% abv]

Smoke On The Water: “A rich dark porter with added complexity from subtle smoked malt. Pair this porter with anything cooked on the grill and smoked gouda. RETIRED.” [8.0% ABV]

Wow. Five years. Happy, happy 5th birthday to the humble storefront today!

I had every intention of writing a whimsical retrospective, something witty and funny, but the truth is, we’re so busy right now, I can’t even think. So, on that note: Jason & I would like to extend a big, FAT “thank you” to Asheville and all you wonderful beer people who have supported Bruisin’ Ales since 2006. It’s worth every minute. (Even the paper cuts, black-n-blue marks, and back spasms, sometimes.) Thank you also to the people who have helped us over the years: Chris Dotson, Philip Dotson, Craig Weitzel, Sophie Thompson and the absolutely irreplaceable Mike Guarracino.

It’s a little bit difficult to celebrate the Big-Birthday-Anniversary-Whatever, what with the holiday shoppers and all, but we’ll be giving away samples all day while you shop. We brought some items from our own beer cellar, plus we have a very rare keg we got from Allagash Brewing—the only keg in North Carolina—Curieux aged on Booker’s Bourbon barrels. (Normally, this beer is made with Jim Beam barrels, in case you were wondering.)

Thank you! We love you! Support your local, independent beer retailer!

What’s on the beer flight:

Allagash White: “Our interpretation of a traditional Belgian wheat beer. Brewed with a generous portion of wheat and spiced with coriander and Curacao orange peel, this beer is fruity, refreshing and slightly cloudy in appearance.” [5.0% abv]

Allagash Black: “Allagash Black is a Belgian style stout brewed with 2 Row barley, torrified wheat, oats, both roasted and chocolate malt and a generous portion of dark caramelized candi sugar. The silky mouth feel is a great balance to the roasted character, coffee and dark chocolate notes expressed throughout this beer.” [7.5% abv]

Allagash Tripel: “This strong golden ale is marked by passion fruit and herbal notes in the aroma, with suggestions of banana and honey in the complex palate. The Tripel has a remarkably long and smooth finish.” [9.0% abv]

… and a very special addition straight from the brewery for samples only …

Mattina Rossa: “Mattina Rossa is a beer that was a long time in the making. It was brewed in August of 2008 with a base of 2-Row malt and 440 lbs of local raspberries in the mash. It was then conservatively hopped with Tettanang, German Tradition and Saaz and fermented with our house yeast strain. Shortly after primary fermentation, the beer was racked into eleven red wine barrels, nine of which were inoculated with either Lactobacillus or Brettanomyces ‘Allagensis’. After one year, we placed an additional 100 lbs of local raspberries in five of the barrels. The beer continued to age for an additional year, at which time the barrels were blended to strike the desired balance of fruit and funk. Mattina Rossa has an aroma of fresh raspberry, strawberry preserves and lemon rind. Raspberry is also discernible in the flavor, along with mild quince and pomegranate. The long finish starts with a tart citrus and ends with a pronounced biscuit flavor and a slight bitterness.” [6.9% abv]

(PS: We also have the draft-only release Big Little Beer wild ale on the kegerator for purchase.)

…BREAKING NEWS…THIS JUST IN…

Things just keep getting better around Asheville! We’re getting more fun visitors this weekend at the shop!

This upcoming Saturday, December 10, we’ll be hosting a special afternoon tasting. Join us in welcoming Terrence Sullivan, Brewmaster of Sierra Nevada Brewing Co., to the humble storefront! He’ll be with us from 2:00-4:00 p.m. pouring all the Ovila Series, as well as Celebration, for the holidays.

What’s the Ovila Series, you say?

A collaboration between Sierra Nevada Brewing Co and the monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux, Ovila brings the centuries-old monastery brewing tradition to America. A portion of the proceeds from this ale goes toward the restoration of the historic Santa Maria de Ovila chapter house on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux. This medieval building stood for nearly eight centuries in Spain. William Randolph Hearst purchased the monastery in 1931 and planned to use the stones for a castle even grander than his famous San Simeon. Although Hearst’s plans crumbled, these historic stones will rise again in a California Cistercian abbey.
Celebration Ale
“The long, cold nights of winter are a little brighter with Celebration^® Ale. Wonderfully robust and rich, Celebration^® Ale is dry-hopped for a lively, intense aroma. Brewed especially for the holidays, it is perfect for a festive gathering or for a quiet evening at home.” [6.8% abv]

Ovila Abbey Dubbel
“Ovila Abbey Dubbel is brewed in the abbey tradition, and perfect for the re-birth of spring. Clear and deep copper in color, this Abbey Dubbel has a complex and rich malty sweetness with hints of caramelized sugar. The aroma is a heady and layered mix of fruit and spice, with hints of clove, raisin, and black pepper from the use of an abbey style yeast.” [7.5% abv]

Ovila Saison
“A collaboration between Sierra Nevada Brewing Co and the monks at the Abbey of New Clairvaux, Ovila Abbey Saison brings the centuries-old monastery brewing tradition to America. Ovila Abbey Saison is complex and contemplative-but also refreshingly dry and drinkable. With earthy and spicy aromas, this rustic Saison has note of green grass and a faint citrus tang. The body is light and layered with fruit and spice accents and a dry, peppery finish. A portion of the proceedsfrom this ale go toward the restoration of the historic Santa Maria de Oliva chapter house on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux. This medieval building stood for nearly eight centuries in Spain. William Randolph Hearst purchased the monastery in 1931 and planned to use the stones for a castle even grander than his famous San Simeon. Although Hearst’s plan crumbled, these historic stones will rise again in a California Cistercian abbey.” [7.0% abv]

Ovila Quad
“Ovila Abbey Quad is rich and complex with layers of flavor including notes of intense dark fruits, and caramel-like maltiness. Rich and complex, this ale should be shared among friends in the true spirit of the season. ” [10.4% abv]

This week we welcome Madison Smith into the tasting room to sample some Natty Greene’s brews. Join us tomorrow night, 5:00-7:00 pm, for a flight of beer from Greensboro, NC.

On the flight:

Buckshot Amber: Full-bodied with rich, smooth flavor and notes of caramel and toffee.

Southern Pale Ale: Medium-bodied, deep golden ale with distinct, bitter character and a hoppy, piney, citrus finish.

Old Town Brown: Traditional, English-style, full-bodied with sweet, toasted malt aroma and a hint of baker’s chocolate.

Red Nose Winter Ale: Full-bodied winter warmer with a rich, dark malt body spiced with cinnamon, ginger and orange peel for festive flavor.

… And beer spies report that a few growlers of the Foreign Extra Stout will be on hand, too!

Today we welcome Stephen Hill, co-founder of Mother Earth Brewing from 5-7 p.m. We’re sampling the whole line-up, including cans!

Endless River: A clean, crisp beer, Kolsch offers a very slight fruity flavor and aroma. It is light gold in color, with a delicate head. This light-bodied beer appeals to nearly everyone who samples it. Expect to enjoy a slight tang in the finish.

Sunny Haze: Sunny Haze will brighten even your finest day. “Hefe” means “with yeast” so expect to find our hefeweizen cloudy in appearance due to its unfiltered status. Fruity hints and slight spiciness of this hefeweizen will mingle in your mouth, creating a crispness that’s as energizing as the sun itself. Banana and clove-like aromas add interest and depth to an already impressively well balanced brew. There’s no doubt; it’s meant to be a Sunny Haze kind of day.

Weeping Willow Wit: This beer style is over 400 years old, and continues to enjoy overwhelming popularity. Offering low hop bitterness, it is easy to enjoy. It pours very hazy, with a light gold color… we say it’s like summertime in a glass. Bitter orange peel and fresh coriander add zest and depth to this refreshing beer.

Dark Cloud: Steeped in a long history dating back hundreds of years, this “old-fashioned” beer is again in vogue. Lager is the German word meaning “to store,” so this beer ages three times longer than our ales do. “Dunkel” means dark in German, but don’t let the color fool you, it is by no means heavy, overbearing or bitter. In fact, it proves to be a very drinkable session beer.

Second Wind: Prepare yourself for an inspiring journey. Uncomplicated and down-to-earth, the mild hop bitterness and gentle floral and citrus like character of this beer result in an invigorating experience that flawlessly celebrates the close of an idyllic day. If you’re searching for your second wind, you’ve just discovered it.

Sisters of the Moon: Made with hops grown in the good ‘ol USA… you’ll proudly support American farmers when you drink this beer! Light copper in color, it has an intense hop aroma and strong hop bitterness. Our hopback process uses fresh hop cones to take this IPA to unexpected places. Prepare for a mouthful of flavor.

Old Neighborhood (seasonal): Our Old Neighborhood Oatmeal Porter will take you back to the good old days. This classic dark ale is rich and robust, yet silky smooth. Its distinct roasty essence is deliciously balanced with a slight sweetness, creating a porter that boasts intense flavors.

Never a dull moment, kiddos!

This upcoming Tuesday, November 8, we’ll be hosting Ted “Voltron” Whitney, National Sales Director of Avery Brewing Company for a sampling of Avery beers at the usual time, 5:00-7:00 p.m. (Above he talks about Avery Karma, currently out of season, but we thought you might be interested.) So, what’s up with Ted?

Ted grew up in Rhode Island and came to Colorado in 1996 to run. After seven years of studying Biology and English at University of Colorado he got into wine wholesaling. Ted worked with big distributors and small but the whole time was hanging out at Avery and finally in 2007 got a job with us. These days Ted makes sure to run, mountain bike and get on the road bike whenever possible. He spends his remaining time making sure Coloradoans are experiencing more from their favorite brewery. If you run into Ted on the street, make sure to ask him how he got his nickname!

Of course, we have a Bruisin’ line-up for everyone to sample while you chat up Ted. (And beer spies report that there may be a limited appearance of some of Avery sours, so get there early.)

Salvation: “Salvation has luscious apricot and peach aromas delicately interwoven with spicy suggestions of nutmeg and cinnamon. This heavenly soft, champagne-like elixer is cellarable for 3 years.” [9.0% abv]

DuganA: “Lupulin Rapture Incarnate! As fervent  devotees of hops, we found ourselves on a quest to create a transcendental IPA capable of quenching our voracious lupulin desires. Our mantra became ‘unity of bitterness, hop flavor and aroma.’ Enlightened, duganA IPA was born: A brutally bitter, dank, piney and resinous ale designed for those seeking a divine hop experience.” [8.5% abv]

Hog Heaven: “This dangerously drinkable garnet beauty is a hop lover’s delight. The intense dry-hop nose and the alcohol content are perfectly balanced for a caramel candy-like malt finish. This is a serious beer for serious beer afficianados and it only gets better with age. Cellarable for 3 years.” [9.2% abv]

The Reverend: “A divinely complex and beautifully layered beer with hints of dark cherries, currants, and molasses, complimented by an underlying spiciness. Sinfully smooth considering the high alcohol content. Cellarable for up to 4 years.” [10.0% abv]