BREWERY REVIVED THE RADIO STAR: Longtime former Asheville rock radio DJ Rick Rice has moved to Charleston, S.C., to become the location manager for Palmetto Brewing Co., owned by Catawba Brewing Co. of Asheville, Morganton and Charlotte.

Carolina Beer Guy: Radio star Rick Rice transitions to a beer career

Posted on June 16, 2018June 15, 2018 by Tony Kiss

The former Asheville radio DJ and sports announcer has been hired as the location manager for Palmetto Brewing Co. in Charleston, S.C.

THE GET-DOWN: Sierra Nevada's Beer Camp celebration is back with music, brews and activities — including the pictured silent disco — June 16 at the brewery's Six Row Field in Mills River.

Carolina Beer Guy: Sierra Nevada’s Beer Camp returns with new look

Posted on June 9, 2018June 8, 2018 by Tony Kiss

Back for the first time since 2014, the festival features games and activities, nine Sierra Nevada beers and six exclusive “employee collaboration” brews.

ORNITHOLOGICAL CHOICE: Guests enjoy the courtyard at Birds Fly South Ale Project in Greenville, S.C. The brewery has earned acclaim around the region for its wild and sour ales. Photo by Ames Cashin

Carolina Beer Guy: Brewery daytrips

Posted on May 31, 2018May 28, 2018 by Tony Kiss

Plenty of breweries within an hour’s drive of Asheville are worth the trip.

JUST CAUSE: Now in its ninth year, the annual Just Brew It homebrew festival attracts some of the area's best amateur beer-makers while promoting organizer Just Economics of Western North Carolina's mission of encouraging employers to offer a fair living wage.

AVL Beer Week 2018: Just Brew It promotes homebrew community, living wage at new venue

Posted on May 24, 2018May 18, 2018 by Tony Kiss

One of AVL Beer Week’s standout events moves to Wedge at Foundation for 2018.

LET'S TALK ABOUT IT: Oak & Grist Distilling Co. of Black Mountain joins the AVL Beer Week celebration with an invitation for visitors to learn more about the production of whiskey and gin. Pictured is the company's president and head distiller, William Goldberg.

AVL Beer Week 2018: Events highlight a range of craft beverages

Posted on May 23, 2018May 22, 2018 by Tony Kiss

Although the North Carolina Craft Beverage Museum is still in its development stages, it will have a presence at this year’s AVL Beer Week. Organizers will highlight the effort at the Beer City Festival downtown on Roger McGuire Green on Saturday, June 2, says Asheville Brewers Alliance Executive Director Kendra Penland. But the museum will be about more […]

TRANSYLVANIA TAPS: Brevard Brewing Co. will begin canning beers this summer. Pictured is owner and head brewer Kyle Williams.

Carolina Beer Guy: Brevard Brewing to start canning this summer

Posted on May 21, 2018May 21, 2018 by Tony Kiss

Owner and head brewer Kyle Williams discusses his company’s history and commitment to selling forthcoming six-packs at low prices.

DIAL 911: In the two-character drama 'The Mercy Seat,' a man and a woman consider a life-changing opportunity. Jamie Knox, left, and Badi Mirheli star.

Theater review: ‘The Mercy Seat’ at 35below

Posted on May 11, 2018May 10, 2018 by Tony Kiss

While it’s unlikely that viewers leave two-person drama ‘The Mercy Seat’ laughing or smiling, but it’s a production that will stick with audiences for a while.

INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY PROTECTOR: Asheville attorney Rebecca Crandall has helped many local breweries with trademark law issues, which crop up on a regular basis. “If you’re going to name a beer with the word ‘monster’ in it, that’s a problem because 'monster' is incredibly litigious,” she says.

Carolina Beer Guy: Attorney Rebecca Crandall looks out for Asheville breweries

Posted on May 2, 2018April 30, 2018 by Tony Kiss

The Asheville native and former aspiring actress specializes in trademark law at the McGuire, Wood & Bissette Law Firm.

A LOCAL FIXTURE: Green Man head brewer John Stuart has been brewing professionally for 30 years and has been at Green Man for more than a decade.

Carolina Beer Guy: Green Man’s John Stuart stays the course

Posted on April 29, 2018April 27, 2018 by Tony Kiss

For 11 years, Stuart has been quietly making beer for the South Slope brewery — a length of tenure that puts him among the ranks of the city’s longest-serving brewers.

STOP THE PRESS: Willie Repoley stars in the dramatic one-man character study 'Burden' by Immediate Theatre Project. It follows a reporter in search of a career-making story.

Theater review: ‘Burden’ by Immediate Theatre Project

Posted on April 28, 2018April 27, 2018 by Tony Kiss

This haunting production follows a despondent and drifting young blogger/journalist in search of a career-making story about corruption.

TAKING NOTES: Faith Creech stars in 'The Diary of Anne Frank' at Asheville Community Theatre. The beloved story is of a teenage girl trying to live a normal life while hiding from the Nazis.

Theater review: ‘Diary of Anne Frank’ at Asheville Community Theatre

Posted on April 16, 2018April 16, 2018 by Tony Kiss

In the story, Anne tries to live as normal a life as anyone could in this situation, even as her world crumbles around her. She mostly keeps a bright attitude, believing that people are basically good at heart.

DJ SIMCOE: A wave of beer festivals hits the Asheville area over the next few weeks, including Phazed, a new celebration combining IPAs and DJs at One World Brewing on April 14. Pictured is One World brewer Brandon Audette.

Carolina Beer Guy: Tap into these April beer celebrations

Posted on April 13, 2018April 16, 2018 by Tony Kiss

Phazed, Hickory Hops and Sharpen the Blades give area craft beer fans plenty of festival options over the next three weekends.

NUGGETS ON TAP: Jon Varner (pictured) and Shea Lewis run Eluvium Brewing Co. in downtown Weaverville. The taproom opened in October, making it the town's third such establishment.

Carolina Beer Guy: Eluvium Brewing strikes gold in Weaverville

Posted on April 6, 2018April 6, 2018 by Tony Kiss

The northern Buncombe County town’s third brewery focuses on beers high in flavor and low in alcohol.

20 CHEERS: From left, Doug Riley, Leigh Oder and Mike Rangel have been the team behind Asheville Pizza & Brewing Co. since the company started in 1998.

Carolina Beer Guy: 20 years later, Asheville Pizza & Brewing remains a hopping landmark

Posted on April 4, 2018April 2, 2018 by Tony Kiss

Mike Rangel and Doug Riley recount the origins of the brewery, pizzeria and discount cinema and how it’s remained a local favorite.

GINGER'S GINGER: Spencer Schultz and Rebecca Bronson will initially run House Soda Co. out of a commissary kitchen. Their production focus will be nonalcoholic ginger beer and bitters for cocktails.

Carolina Beer Guy: House Soda joins nonalcoholic craft beverage scene

Posted on March 31, 2018March 31, 2018 by Tony Kiss

House Soda showcased its alcohol-free ginger beer at February’s AVL Beer Expo and looks to start operating out of a commissary kitchen in a few months.