For Asheville Brewing Company, the canning-versus-bottling debate had a simple answer. “We are a company filled with kayakers, climbers and hikers, so we really want to go light on the environment with our business,” says Mike Rangel, president of ABC. “Canning simply extends our core beliefs on that.”
Cans, as local adventurers will tell you, work much better in Western North Carolina — easy to carry and no chance of broken glass. It’s also illegal to bring glass containers into North Carolina state parks, beaches or state-designated rivers; these rules appear to be spreading to other recreational areas.
Nonetheless, modern microbrews have typically been poured into bottles or some variety of keg. Canned beer? That was the mark of Schlitz, PBR or Budweiser. Home brewers the world over still lament there’s not a decent automated canning option for them.
Asheville Beer Week Events
All addresses in Asheville, except where noted. Admission to events is free, unless otherwise noted.
Thursday, May 24
4 p.m. Chatoe Rogue Event. Thirsty Monk, 92 Patton Ave. First time all four Chatoe Rogues are on draft in the Southeast.
4-8 p.m. Scotty Scavenger Hunt. Highland Brewing Company tasting room, 12 Old Charlotte Highway. Oscar Wong will reveal the first clue to Scotty's location, beginning the ongoing Beer Week contest. (Scotty is the mascot for Highland Brewing.)
4-7 p.m. Benefit at Highland Brewing Company Tasting Room for the family of Ben Harris. On April 24, Ben passed away due to a keg explosion at Redhook Brewey in New Hampshire. All proceeds from the event will go to the baby fund set up to support his child who is due November. There will be a silent auction with donations from local breweries.
7 p.m.
Bavarian Music Night. Lexington Avenue Brewery (The LAB), 39 N. Lexington Ave. Live Oompah band and German music.
Friday, May 25
3 p.m. Thirsty Monk presents: 21st Amendment Pint Night. Thirsty Monk downtown. Six different 21st Amendment beers on draft plus a cask. Free pint glasses while supplies lasts.
5 p.m.
French Broad Cask Night, French Broad Brewery, 101 Fairview Road. French Broad Brewery rolls out some cask beers.
5 p.m. Sierra Nevada Tasting with Scott Jennings. Hops & Vines, 797 Haywood Road #100. Drop into Hops & Vines' Friday evening tasting with Scott Jennings, Sierra Nevada's director of research and development.
5:30 p.m. Hop Lovers Infusion Night. Asheville Brewing Company WHICH LOCATION. Asheville Brewing Company’s Shiva IPA, infused with five additional hops.
6-9 p.m. Appalachian Trail Fundraiser. Nantahala Brewing Company, 61 Depot St. Bryson City. Nantahala Brewing hosts a fundraiser for AT Conservancy with live music and a silent auction. $5.
Saturday, May 26
2 p.m. Just Economics annual "Just Brew-it" Home Brew Competition. Wedge Brewing Co., 125-B Roberts St. Presented by Just Economics at The Wedge. Sample 100-plus different beers from 55-plus brewers. $16.
2 p.m.
Hash House Harriers Brew Run. Mountain Sports Festival (Carrier Park) to The Wedge. The beer/running club's “open-to-all” brewery run. Free to run.
4-8 p.m. Mountain Sports Beer Jam at Mountain Sports Festival. Carrier Park, 220 Amboy Road. Microbrews and live music at Carrier Park.
6 p.m. West Asheville Can Crawl and Costume Party, West Asheville. Can crawl/costume contest in West Asheville, hosted by Empire Distributing. Includes visits to Altamont Brewing, Westville Pub and Desoto Lounge.
Sunday, May 27
1 p.m. Bruisin' Ales presents: LaZoom Local Beer Run. Special LaZoom comedy tour incorporating Asheville Beer History. Beer from Asheville Brewing and Catawba Valley. $25 at http://lazoomtours.com.
3-6 p.m. Cornhole Tournament. Thirsty Monk south.
4 p.m.
Thirsty Monk presents: Brewery Ommegang. Thirsty Monk downtown. Join Kate Stamps from Brewery Ommegang, featuring Art of Darkness, Zuur and Hennepin on draft.
4 p.m.
Beer Week Rootball Championship. The Root Bar, 1410 Tunnel Road. Compete in Rootball and drink microbrews. $10.
8 p.m. Beer Week Trivia Night. Lexington Avenue Brewery. Test your beer knowledge for prizes and fun.
Monday, May 28 (Memorial Day)
4 p.m.
Thirsty Monk presents: Chimay Pint Night. The Thirsty Monk. A special pint night featuring Chimay Première (bottle) Chimay Grande Réserve (bottle) Chimay Tripel (draft). A representative from Chimay will be on hand to answer your questions.
5:50-8:30 p.m. Scotty’s Scavenger Hunt. Highland Brewing Company tasting room.
6:30 p.m. Moe's Original Bar B Que presents: Greg Engert. Moe's Original Bar B Que, 4 Sweeten Creek Road. Greg Engert, the Washington, D.C.-based beer director for The Neighborhood Restaurant Group, teams up with Moe's Original Bar B Que for a night of beer and food selections. $45, with reservation.
7 p.m.
Sunny Point Spring Supper. Sunny Point Café, 626 Haywood Road. A special menu made with pickings from the Sunny Point garden and the brews of Sierra Nevada. Terence Sullivan, assistant brewmaster and field educator of Sierra Nevada, hosts the event. Call 252-0055 to reserve your spot.
8 p.m. Rocket Girl Model Search. Asheville Music Hall, 31 Patton Ave. Asheville Brewing selects local beauty to be “Rocket Girl” model for its lager of the same name.
Tuesday, May 29
11 a.m. Southern Tier Day. Mellow Mushroom, 50 Broadway St. All-day specials on Southern Tier Brewing in honor of Asheville Beer Week.
11:30 a.m.-8:30 p.m. Tasty Tacos and Tasty Brews. White Duck Taco Shop, 1 Roberts St. White Duck Taco pairs up tacos with Asheville brews.
4 p.m. Thirsty Monk presents: Dogfish Head Rare Beer and Pint Night. The Thirsty Monk. The Thirsty Monk raids its secret stash of Dogfish kegs, including Immort Ale, Hellhound, Black & Blue, Black & Red, Red & White, Olde School, Faithfull Ale. Free pint glasses while supplies last.
4 p.m.
Thirsty Monk presents: Gouden Carolus and Straffe Hendrik Pint Night. The Thirsty Monk. Experience one of the oldest Breweries in Belgium (1471), Het Anker. Four beers from Het Anker and one beer from De Halve Maan, the only family brewery in the centre of Bruges. Darren Quinlan from Wetten Importers will be on hand to answer questions. Free Belgian glassware while supplies lasts.
5 p.m. Bruisin' Ales presents: The Epic Vertical Tasting with Scott Sheridan of Stone Brewing Company. Private tasting; 35 spots available. $15, by reservation at 252-8999.
5 p.m. Beer Glass Trading Party. The Bar of Soap, 333 Merrimon Ave. Bring in your old pint glasses, growlers, etc., and trade them.
5:50-8:30 p.m. Scotty’s Scavenger Hunt. Highland Brewing Company tasting room.
5-7 p.m. Stone Brewing Rare and Vintage Beer Tasting. Bruisin' Ales, 66 Broadway St. Taste rare & vintage brews from Escondido, Calif.’s Stone Brewing. $15.
5-8 p.m. Appalachian Vintner Allagash Tap Takeover. Appalachian Vinter, 745 Biltmore Ave. #121. Les Addis from Allagash Brewing Company will be on hand with samples of some brews.
6 p.m.
Flight Night at The Market Place. The Market Place, 20 Wall St. Four hors d’oeuvres paired with four Pisgah beers (6 oz. pours). $16.
6:30 p.m. Progressive Beer Dinner. Cúrate, 11 Biltmore Ave. Thirsty Monk and Cúrate present a progressive beer dinner. Ticketed.
7 p.m. Boulder Beer limited release pint night. Pack’s Tavern.
Wednesday, May 30
4 p.m. Thirsty Monk presents: Cask of Terrapin's Easy Rider. Thirsty Monk downtown. Thirsty Monk offers a special cask of Terrapin's newest seasonal offering "Easy Rider," a hopped-up session ale.
4 p.m. Thirsty Monk presents: Stone Pint Night featuring Rare Stone Beers. Thirsty Monk downtown. Join Scott Sheridan from Stone Brewing for some rare Stone beers. Free pint glasses while supplies lasts.
5 p.m. Beer Week Brew Release Party. Asheville Brewing Company. Ryan Burac from Asheville Brewing creates a tasty beer just for Asheville Beer Week.
5:50-8:30 p.m. Scotty’s Scavenger Hunt. Highland Brewing Company tasting room.
6 p.m.
LAB Beer Dinner. Lexington Avenue Brewery. Delicious pairings from the chef at the LAB. Ticketed.
6 p.m.
Lone Rider Cask Night at Brixx Pizza in Biltmore Park. Join Brixx Pizza as they present a rare extra special ESB cask from the Lone Rider Brewery from Raleigh, N.C. Paul Breeding from Lone Rider will tap the cask.
6:30 p.m. BeerChef! Pack’s Tavern. Eight Belgian and Belgian-style beers paired with eight AIR chef-inspired gourmet dishes. Special guests Brian Grossman and Terence Sullivan from Sierra Nevada, and Grady Hull from New Belgium. $85 at beerchef.eventbrite.com.
7 p.m. The Duck Rabbit Brewery Hoppy Bunny release pint night. Pack’s Tavern. Duck Rabbit’s Hoppy Bunny presented by Robert Owen from the brewery.
7:30 p.m. Meet Author Erik Lars Myers. Malaprop's Bookstore and Café, 55 Haywood St. Author of North Carolina Craft Beer and Breweries.
Thursday, May 31
11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. Barley's Special Keg Night. Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria.
4 p.m.
Jacobin Blending Seminar. Thirsty Monk. Cuvée des Jacobins Rouge Seminar: A Blending of Lambics.
4-7 p.m. Home Brewer’s Night. Hops & Vines. Meet Erik Lars Myers, author and craft brewer.
4 p.m. Bruisin’ Ales presents: Beer Cocktails and Tapas. Zambra, 85 W. Walnut St. Zambra welcomes Dogfish Head, New Holland and Rogue by way of Bruisin' Ales. Á la carte event.
4 p.m. Bruisin’ Ales presents: Colorado Tap Takeover. Thirsty Monk. Best breweries from Colorado set up shop at the Thirsty Monk. Free pint glasses and swag while supplies last.
5 p.m.
Foothills Night. Universal Joint, 784 Haywood Road. Cask and special Foothills beer, plus Asheville beer specials and free pint glass with purchase.
6:30 – 9 p.m. New Brewery on the block? The Wedge. Asheville's Newest Brewery announces name, site and projected opening date. Meet the owners and brewers of the newest addition to the Asheville Brewing family.
6 p.m.
$5 Night at Lexington Avenue Brewery. Free live music with $5 food buffet along with beer specials. $5.
6-9 p.m. Mountain Safari and Beers. Asheville Brewing Company. Fundraiser for The Nature Center and Rufus the Red Wolf. $40.
6 p.m.
North Carolina premiere of Sierra Nevada/Russian River BRUX. The Thirsty Monk. Russian River and Sierra Nevada Collaboration Release. Russian River and Sierra Nevada.
6:30 p.m. Posana Beer Dinner. Posana Café, 1 Biltmore Ave. Posana Cafe creates a menu paired with Asheville breweries. $60.
7 p.m.
North Versus South. Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria. Northern beers versus Southern beers competition.
7 p.m. Foothills Brewing pint night. Pack’s Tavern.
Friday, June 1
4:30 p.m. 420 Friday! Bar Hopper Takeover: Benefit for "Save The French Broad" Asheville Bar Hopper, avlbarhopper.com.
Let the Bar Hopper take you to all the fun events happening in town while you raise money for Sweetwater's "Save The French Broad" Campaign.
5-7 p.m. Bruisin' Ales presents: Mystery Brewing Growler Launch with Erik Lars Myers. Bruisin' Ales. In true Mystery fashion, the tasting lineup and available growlers are announced prior to the event, so stay tuned at http://www.mysterybrewing.com.
5 p.m Desoto Lounge presents: Big Boss Brewing Company Tap Takeover, Meet the Brewer, Pint Night and Optional Pinball Jamboree. Desoto Lounge, 504 Haywood Road. Big Boss Brewing Company's head brewer Robert McInerny and brewery representative Sara Godsey visit the West Asheville bar.
5 p.m.
Hops & Vines presents: Breckenridge Brewery tasting with Kurt Volker. Hops & Vines. Drop in to Hops & Vines' free Friday evening tasting and sample the beers of Breckenridge Brewery. Chat with Kurt Volker, director of operations, about the beers you are sampling and the day to day business.
5 p.m.-10 p.m. Foothills night. Mellow Mushroom. Cask and all foothills beer on special plus free pint glass with purchase, while supplies last.
6 p.m.
New Belgium Tasting. Barley's Taproom and Pizzeria. New Belgium Tasting of Lips of Faith Tart Lychee, and meet the brewer.
6 p.m Third Annual Local Cask Night. The Thirsty Monk. Asheville’s breweries bring their best beers in casks.
7 p.m. Yuengling pint night. Pack’s Tavern. Yuengling pint night with Jennifer Yuengling.
7-10 p.m. Thirsty Monk presents: Surly Brewing tasting and Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity fundraiser. Thirsty Monk. A special tasting from Surly Brewing Company to benefit Asheville Area Habitat for Humanity. Surly is currently only distributed in Minnesota. All the money raised from this tasting will go toward "The House that Beer Built.”
7:30 p.m. Thirsty Monk presents: Meet Tim Matthews of Oskar Blues Brewery. The Thirsty Monk. Join Tim Matthews, brewer and firkin meister at Oskar Blues Brewery, as he taps a Firkin of Double Dry Hopped G’Knight.
Saturday, June 2
Noon-6 p.m. Third Annual Beer City Festival. Roger McGuire Green, downtown Asheville. Third Annual Celebration at Roger McGuire Green. Hosted by Asheville Brewers Alliance. Showcasing the best beers brewed in the Carolinas. Fundraiser for Big Brothers/Big Sisters of WNC and the Asheville Brewers Alliance.
$40.
3 p.m.
Thirsty Monk presents: The Bruery Mini Tap-Takeover with Jonas Nemura. The Thirsty Monk. Join the Thirsty Monk as we welcome Jonas Nemura (director of sales) from The Bruery. Jonas is bringing with him some special kegs and bottles for the event.
Sunday, June 3
1 p.m. Bruisin' Ales presents: LaZoom Local Beer Run. Special LaZoom comedy tour incorporating Asheville Beer History. Beer from Asheville Brewing and Catawba Valley. $25 at http://lazoomtours.com.
2 p.m.
Blind Pig supper club presents Battle Food Truck. Pisgah Brewing Company, 150 Eastside Drive, Black Mountain. Blind Pig supper club presents the Battle Food Truck at Pisgah Brewing Company. (A percentage of proceeds goes to MANNA FoodBank.) Sold out.
7 p.m.
Admiral Wedge Dinner. The Admiral, 400 Haywood Road. The Admiral and Wedge Brewing join forces. Ticketed.
Ongoing events
The Lobster Trap Restaurant will be offering a new cask every day of Asheville Beer Week.
Highland Brewing Company will be doing an all beer-week-long “Scotty’s Scavenger Hunt” with people searching all over town for some specialty labeled beers.
For more information, visit mountainx.com/beer. Stay in the loop throughout Beer Week through the following networks: Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AVLBeerWeek/event; Twitter: @AVLBeerWeek, #AVLBeerWeek; the Asheville Beer Week mobile app (iPhone/Android); and Untappd Badge.
ABC considered canning for some time before launch- ing its first production run last November, Rangel explains. “As the costs decreased, it became obvious to me, a no-brainer even, [that] we had to go with cans,” he says. Last fall, ABC started canning its Shiva IPA and has since added Rocket Girl Lager. The company produces about 200 cans per day, and with some tweaks to the system, will soon do about 400, Rangel notes.
While that’s modest compared to the larger companies that can crank out that many cans per second, it’s a big step for local brewers.
In February, Morganton-based Catawba Valley Brewing “joined the craft-can revolution,” local beer blogger Anne Fitten Glenn reported. And most recently, Oskar Blues, which started in 1997 in Lyons, Colo., and was one of the first craft breweries to can its concoctions, announced that it’s opening an East Coast facility in nearby Brevard.
Last year, Oskar Blues produced 15 million cans of beer, which, if flattened and laid out in a line, amounts to about 1,800 miles of aluminum. Or 45 trips between Asheville and Brevard.
— Bill Rhodes can be reached at brhodes@mountainx.com or 251-1333, ext. 144.
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