Beer today, gone tomorrow: Asheville beer happenings Feb. 23-29

Posted on by Scott Douglas and Edwin Arnaudin
Photo courtesy of Highland Brewing Co.

Beer Today, Gone Tomorrow is the one-stop home for Asheville-area beer news. Check back throughout the week for updates and send your own to wncbeertoday@gmail.com.

Bottle/can releases

  • Wicked Weed Brewing El Paraiso Imperial Coffee Stout is currently available at the Biltmore Avenue brewpub and will be in limited distribution this week. Featuring coffee from Mountain Air Roasting and cocoa nibs from French Broad Chocolates, the 9.5 percent ABV brew has huge notes of El Paraiso coffee balanced by the subtle sweetness and spice from the cocoa nibs.
  • On Friday, Feb. 26, Highland Brewing Co. rolls out Tasgall II Scotch Ale, the latest beer from its Warrior Series. The vintage Scotch-style ale combines Scotland-grown Golden Promise malts with double roasted crystal malt, crystal rye and a touch of cherry wood-smoked malt. The brewery’s original Tasgall Ale was its first high gravity beer and North Carolina’s first after the Pop the Cap initiative made brews over 6 percent ABV legal.

Small-batch beers

  • Asheville Brewing Co. Carolina Mountain Monster Imperial Stout is available in very limited quantities on draft (Coxe Avenue and Merrimon Avenue locations) and in 22-ounce bottles (Coxe Avenue, Merrimon Avenue and Hendersonville Road). The 11 percent ABV creation features notes of coffee, chocolate, dark fruit and sweet maltiness.
  • Sweeten Creek Brewing is currently pouring its first stout, exhibiting notes of subtle spice and raspberry.
  • Burial Beer Co. brings back The Rosary Export Stout (6.8 percent ABV) on Wednesday, Feb. 24, followed by a pair of new beers for the weekend. Friday, Feb. 26 welcomes Muddler Grapefruit Bitters (4 percent ABV), a version of the brewery’s Pipehawk session IPA aged on grapefruit peel smoked by Buxton Hall Barbecue, and Saturday, Feb. 27 marks the debut of The Forge Weizenbock (6.8 percent ABV), which fuses notes of banana and clove with a sweet chocolat-y finish from raisins and cocoa nibs from French Broad Chocolates.

Special events

  • Thirsty Monk celebrates Gouden Carolus Van De Keizer Day on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 4 p.m. at the downtown bar. The beloved Belgian strong ale and other Gouden Carolus offerings will be on tap to coincide with Het Anker’s annual commencement of brewing in honor of Charles V’s birthday.
  • Bruisin’ Ales welcomes Nantahala Brewing Co. on Thursday, Feb. 25 for a free tasting from 5-7 p.m. Samples of Noonday IPA, Trail Magic #10: Tropically Hopped Abbey Ale Aged with Plums and Chocolate Covered Cherry Stout will be poured.
  • On Thursday, Feb. 25, from 6-8 p.m., Appalachian Vintner hosts Asheville’s first beer and mead blending session. A representative from New Belgium Brewing and Redstone Meadery owner David Myers will participate in the mixing and tasting.
  • The inaugural Asheville Beer Expo is set for 1-8 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 27, at The Venue, 21 N. Market St., featuring beer from over 30 local breweries and eight educational panels featuring major players in the Asheville beer scene. Read Xpress Beer Scout Jesse Farthing’s preview of the event here.
  • Catawba Cabin Fever Brunch takes place noon-3 p.m. Sunday, Feb. 28, at the Catawba Brewing Co. tasting room on Banks Avenue. The five-course brunch features beer from the brewery and food pairings prepared by chef Philip Bollhoefer of The Grove Park Inn. $65 tickets may be purchased online and benefit Eliada Home.
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About Scott Douglas and Edwin Arnaudin
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One thought on “Beer today, gone tomorrow: Asheville beer happenings Feb. 23-29”

  1. Sunshine

    Sweeten Creek Brewing is soooo good! Don’t like Stouts, but the Black IPA and the Pale Ale are awesome! food is damn good too!

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