The Social invites amateurs and professionals to compete in its inaugural Biscuit & Gravy Battle. Also: Fermented Pairings Series Vol. 9: Wintertime Treats; Brunch with Santa Claus; Cacao Alchemy and plenty more.
Beer today, gone tomorrow: Asheville beer happenings Dec. 11-17
Sweeten Creek and UpCountry host anniversary parties while Burial brings back its Tom Selleck holiday celebration — all with new beers, of course.
Beer Scout: Asheville’s homebrew shops adjust to life in Beer City
Asheville Brewers Supply and Fifth Season Gardening Co. stand alone on the local homebrew supply front.
Carolina Beer Guy: The evolution of Christmas Jam Ale
Asheville Brewing Co.’s Doug Riley discusses the history of Christmas Jam’s official beer.
Niche markets: Asheville is fertile ground for growing specialty food shops
Three local specialty food shop owners agree that Asheville offers a friendly environment for starting and growing unique, food-focused businesses.
Small Bites: The Hop heads to Black Mountain
This week, The Hop Ice Cream gets set to open a new store in Black Mountain, Chow Chow: An Asheville Culinary Festival is on the calendar for September 2019, Bold Rock Hard Cider celebrates facial hair with Winter BeardFest, the Monte Vista Hotel hosts an ugly Christmas sweater murder mystery dinner theater and more Asheville food news.
Beer today, gone tomorrow: Asheville beer happenings Dec. 4-10
**UPDATED DEC. 5** Noble Cider releases this year’s Friar Fig, Archetype debuts its first bottle and more local beer news.
Carolina Beer Guy: Meet brewer Trace Redmond
The latest in the brewer profile series spotlights Highland’s Trace Redmond and his research and development work on the brewery’s pilot system.
Bagels rising: WNC bakers deliver the hole schmear
From a soon-to-open spot on Hendersonville Road to established businesses like West End Bakery, the Asheville area boasts several independent bakeries that are big on bagels.
Top-shelf Views: Asheville bartenders talk about bourbon
It’s bourbon whiskey that best deserves the appellation of “the quintessential American spirit,” says Casey Campfield of downtown bar The Crow & Quill. “There’s a poetic allure to the history of bourbon that really appeals to me.”
Steeped in history: Asheville gets nerdy about tea
Part of the responsibility of tea shops and those trained in appreciating teas, says Miles Cramer of Dobra Tea, is to highlight the history and efforts of the regions and cultures that have spent thousands of years growing and brewing them.
Small Bites: Foothills Meats brings back its Butcher Table events
Foothills Meats revives its Butcher Table dinner series in Black Mountain. Also, OWL Bakery hosts the Slow Food Asheville Happy Hour, the Nu Wray Inn and Homeplace Beer Co. join forces for a pop-up beer dinner series, Villagers offers a class on making ghee and much more local food news.
Beer today, gone tomorrow: Asheville beer happenings Nov. 27-Dec. 3
**UPDATED NOV. 30** Craft Centric and TreeRock Social celebrate their first anniversaries, UpCountry taps an Almond Joy-inspired porter and more local beer news.
Carolina Beer Guy: Breweries work with artists to enhance packaging
Local brewery representatives and artists discuss the creative designs on their bottles and cans.
Asheville chefs and home cooks brainstorm strategies for curbing holiday food waste
Creativity in the kitchen can keep turkey and all the trimmings from ending up in the trash.
Small Bites: MG Road presents a Christmas Miracle
MG Road kicks off the holiday season with a Christmas cocktail pop-up. Plus, a new food entrepreneurship center is planned for the WNC Farmers Market, Villagers announces its impending closure and more local food news.
Beer today, gone tomorrow: Asheville beer happenings Nov. 20-26
**UPDATED NOV. 21** Special Thanksgiving week and Black Friday events abound throughout the area.
UpCountry Brewing opening a Brevard taproom and brewery
The combination taproom and sour and wild ale fermentation brewery will open in the former Peaks & Creeks Brewing location by the end of November.
Meat-free eats for Asheville Thanks-living celebrations
Asheville-area restaurants and grocers have a variety of vegan and vegetarian Thanksgiving meal options on offer.
Carolina Beer Guy: Hi-Wire’s Stout Bout heralds season of dark, robust brews
The brewery’s annual competition features 21 beers from North Carolina breweries and gives way to cherished winter releases from local industry peers.
Lexington Avenue Brewery closing at end of 2018
The Asheville brewery will discontinue operation at the end of the year. It has been sold to the CANarchy Collective (Oskar Blues, Cigar City), which will reopen the space in March 2019 as The CANarchy Collaboratory brewpub.