Bhramari Brewhouse opens on South Lexington Avenue

THE BUZZ: The bee-themed Bhramari Brewhouse finally opened on Friday, Jan. 15, after a soft-opening event the evening before. Photo by Cindy Kunst

And just like that, it was open. The new brewpub, Bhramari Brewhouse, has had its sign up for months. But after a year’s wait, which included a name change, the spot is finally open to the public following a raucous soft launch on Thursday, Jan. 14.

The sprawling restaurant’s main dining room features tables handcrafted from repurposed packing pallets, each illuminated by custom-made beer-bottle lamps. Overhead, an ornate wooden chandelier serves as the centerpiece for a beautifully designed space above a large community table.

 

INSIDE JOB: The vast interior of Bhramari Brewhouse features a large dining room as well as smaller areas with a more intimate, lounge-like appeal. Photo by Cindy Kunst
INSIDE JOB: The vast interior of Bhramari Brewhouse features a large dining room as well as smaller areas with a more intimate, lounge-like appeal. Photo by Cindy Kunst

On the walls, slices of natural wood splay out into a pattern above the booths that line the edge of the room. Through a hallway, there are more tables and couches tucked into quiet corners setting a lounge vibe. At the end of the hall lies another, more quaint dining room.

Bhramari is the newest venture of Gary Sernack, Josh Bailey, and Josh Dillard, all veterans of the long-time Asheville staple, Zambra. Dillard’s menu at the soft opening featured creative riffs on classic bar food through an assortment of bar bites and small plates: a popcorn trio of caramel, blue cheese and a French curry; pickled eggs with chicken skin aioli; a pretzel made of spent brewers’ grain; smoked salmon nigiri with whiskey soy, pickled jalapeño and “oaked” mayonnaise.

BHRAMARI BITES: Sliders with stout-wort glaze were among food offerings at the recent soft opening event for Bhramari Brewhouse. Photo by Cindy Kunst

 

There was also a burger with stout wort glaze, crispy onions, and hop-smoked black truffle American cheese with candied bacon. And the patatas machismo is a glamorized take on bar fries with a Spanish twist: The fries are drenched in spicy tomato sauce, carnitas, grilled onions, goat cheese and pickled veggies.

The bar features a full liquor selection, wine and a large array of draft beers, including a house-made lager served through the bar’s fancy new draught infuser, a machine that rapidly infuses each pour with spices.

Bhramari Brewhouse is at 101 S. Lexington Ave. and is open 5 p.m.-midnight daily. There are plans to expand hours soon to include lunch.

SHARE

Thanks for reading through to the end…

We share your inclination to get the whole story. For the past 25 years, Xpress has been committed to in-depth, balanced reporting about the greater Asheville area. We want everyone to have access to our stories. That’s a big part of why we've never charged for the paper or put up a paywall.

We’re pretty sure that you know journalism faces big challenges these days. Advertising no longer pays the whole cost. Media outlets around the country are asking their readers to chip in. Xpress needs help, too. We hope you’ll consider signing up to be a member of Xpress. For as little as $5 a month — the cost of a craft beer or kombucha — you can help keep local journalism strong. It only takes a moment.

About Jonathan Ammons
Native Asheville writer, eater, drinker, bartender and musician. Proprietor of www.dirty-spoon.com Follow me @jonathanammons

Before you comment

The comments section is here to provide a platform for civil dialogue on the issues we face together as a local community. Xpress is committed to offering this platform for all voices, but when the tone of the discussion gets nasty or strays off topic, we believe many people choose not to participate. Xpress editors are determined to moderate comments to ensure a constructive interchange is maintained. All comments judged not to be in keeping with the spirit of civil discourse will be removed and repeat violators will be banned. See here for our terms of service. Thank you for being part of this effort to promote respectful discussion.

Leave a Reply

To leave a reply you may Login with your Mountain Xpress account, connect socially or enter your name and e-mail. Your e-mail address will not be published. All fields are required.