Asheville doesn’t drop a giant illuminated ball, piece of fruit or indigenous marsupial to celebrate the countdown to New Year’s Day. More appropriately for a community with a booming craft-brewing industry, Asheville rings in the new year with the ceremonial lowering of a golden beer keg.
Thirsty Monk’s South Asheville location at Biltmore Park is gearing up for its third annual Keg Drop Celebration at the approach of midnight on Thursday, Dec. 31. As in years past, a brightly lit keg — visible from the traffic circle at the entrance to Biltmore Park — will descend a two-story pole for the New Year’s Eve countdown, and at midnight the Thirsty Monk bar will tap a fresh keg of Highland Brewing Co.’s Cold Mountain Winter Ale.
“We’re excited to be doing this for the third year,” says Thirsty Monk Vice President Chall Gray. “We’re really trying to make this the go-to event for South Asheville.”
A Cajun food special with red beans and rice as well as items from the regular menu will be available throughout New Year’s Eve until 1 a.m. and will also be available on New Year’s Day. Admission to the party is free, and plenty of parking is available.
Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park is at 2 Town Square Blvd. and will be open 4 p.m.-2 a.m. Thursday, Dec. 31, to celebrate New Year’s Eve. It will be open noon-2 a.m. Friday, Jan. 1.
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