Beer today, gone tomorrow: Asheville beer happenings March 15-21

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

• On Saturday, March 19, at noon., Burial Beer Co. releases two beers in 750-milliliter bottles in a taproom-only, not-for-distribution event. Ulfberht Oak Aged Baltic Porter (10 percent ABV; $14, limit one case per person) was made using German and British malts, fermented upon juniper berries and traditionally conditioned as a lager, then aged within oak casks for six months. A limited amount of Ulfberht will be also available on draft. The second release is a small batch version of one of Burial’s beloved beers with an adjunct twist. (The brewery’s Facebook page hints that the mystery product “has been featured in Beer Week events but never otherwise and certaintly not in bottles.”) Only 200 bottles will be available and there is a two-bottle limit per person. All bottle sales will take place at the back bar.

Small-batch beers

• Hi-Wire Brewing Man Eater double IPA is pouring at both brewery locations. Hopped at a rate of 3.5 pounds per barrel, the 8.3 percent ABV beer marries Amarillo’s spicy aromas with Citra’s classic notes of lemon zest and mandarin orange. It’s also available in 22-ounce bottles at the brewery and specialty beer stores around town.
• Highland Brewing Co. Erin Go Bragh Irish style red ale is available on draft at the brewery’s tasting room.
• One World Brewing Queen of the Forest IPA, generously hopped with Nelson Sauvin, is currently on tap at the brewery.
• On Tuesday, March 15, Burial Beer Co. releases Clementine Hoppy Strong Ale, an 8.7 percent ABV American Strong Ale brewed with Simoe and Galaxy hops and aged on fresh clementines. In addition to the aforementioned Ulfberht Oak Aged Baltic Porter, Saturday, March 19 also brings The Tabernacle Cherry Amaretto Stout, a 6.8 percent ABV stout aged on vanilla, cherries and roasted almonds.
• Bhramari Brewhouse releases its Lorelai IPA on Thursday, March 17, at 11:30 a.m.
• On Thursday, March 17, at 2 p.m., Twin Leaf Brewery releases Slap Shot Stout, a small-batch bourbon, oak-aged, vanilla bean stout.
• As of Friday, March 18. Asheville Brewing Co. Latte Ninja Porter is pouring at the brewery’s Merrimon Ave. and Coxe Ave. locations.
• On Saturday, March 19, Pour Taproom and Hi-Wire Brewing debuted their collaborative Double IPA. The 10.7 percent ABV beer was made with Centennial and Eureka Hops and dry hopped over four weeks with additional Eureka. It is available at Pour.

Special events

• Bruisin’ Ales‘ weekly free tasting highlights offerings from D9 Brewing Co. on Thursday, March 17 from 5-7 p.m. Samples of Hakuna Matata IPA, Swell Rider IPA, Systema Naturae Wild Sour Ale and Viking Fraoch Scottish Sour will be poured.
• Altamont Brewing Co. celebrates its fifth anniversary on Friday, March 18, starting at 5 p.m. with the release of multiple specialty beers to benefit Friends of Connect Buncombe’s Brewing for Greenways project. Read Xpress Beer Scout Jesse Farthing’s preview of the event here.
• On Saturday, March 19 from 6-8 p.m., Bruisin’ Ales hosts a four-course, small plate, beer and food pairing with AB-Tech chef instructor Chris Bugher. Tickets are $12 per person and available on the store’s website, where the menu may also be viewed. The event is limited to 30 people.
• Along with its release of Slap Shot Stout, Twin Leaf Brewery celebrates St. Patrick’s Day on Thursday, March 17, with a fundraiser for the Asheville Hockey League. The event, which starts at 2 p.m., will feature a traditional Irish spread available by donation that includes corned beef, carrots, mashed potatoes and Irish soda bread prepared by Creekside Taphouse and members of the hockey league. There will also be a raffle for prizes.
• Twin Leaf will be celebrating again 2-5 p.m. Sunday, March 20 — this time in honor of its second anniversary — with the release of two different bottles from its in-house bottling line: Luminosity Belgian-style Tripel and Grand Cru (a new Belgian-style quad aged with dried cherries, golden raisins and French oak).