Asheville recently garnered even more beer-related accolades on top of the online Beer City-poll win and the big breweries opening facilities in the area. It's almost a given that we're a not-to-be-missed beer destination at this point. Not to put any pressure on you local brewers, but y’all get on it and keep putting out […]

Oskar Blues warehouse shuffle Oskar Blues Brewery announced earlier this year that it would open a new brewery and taproom in little ol’ Brevard. Originally it was set for a warehouse on Railroad Avenue, but that’s changed. The new location will be 342 Mountain Industrial Drive, says Chad Melis, Oskar Blues’ marketing director. There will […]

Local brewers taste Sierra Nevada Beer Camp A number of WNC’s brewers and brewery owners were recently invited to Chico, Calif., to attend a special session of Sierra Nevada Brewing’s Beer Camp, organized by Terrence Sullivan, Sierra’s brewmaster and field educator. This spring, Sierra Nevada announced that it will open a second facility in Mills […]

Altamont to brew soon The Altamont Brewing Company boys deserve some kind of medal for persistence. Since they first formulated their business plan, their primary goal has been to brew craft beer. And, after a year and a half of running a rustic but popular bar in West Asheville, brewer Gordon Kear and business partner […]

Wicked Weed, indeed The name of the newest brewery to announce plans to open in Asheville will be Wicked Weed Brewing — but it’s not what you think. Supposedly, Henry VIII banned the use of hops, and referred to them as “a wicked and pernicious weed.” Brothers Walt and Luke Dickinson and partner Ryan Guthy […]

New Belgium on the Asheville map Lots of folks are still reeling from New Belgium’s announcement on April 5 that the company will build its second brewery in the River Arts District. And I mean that in a good way — I’ve been seeing lots of celebratory Fat Tire and Shift Pale Lager being quaffed […]

Green Man Brewing’s new game plan Green Man Brewing is still planning to expand, but the brewery is no longer going to do so in a warehouse off Swannanoa River Road. The proposed renovations on that space were going to be too costly, according to Green Man owner Dennis Thies. However, have no fear; the […]

Hash House Harriers raise cash for American Heart Association More than 80 drinkers with a running problem showed up at Asheville Brewing Company last month to raise money for the American Heart Association. The group’s annual Red Dress Run raised $430 for heart health. The Asheville Hash House Harriers organized in 2008, although there are […]

Feb. 17, morning… A red-tailed hawk circles high above Asheville City Hall, basking in the rising sun. Still in the shadow of the mountain, the Occupy Asheville encampment is stirring. Some campers peer out from their tents. Others are already sorting their belongings, preparing for the noon departure deadline. Asheville native John Penley, a longtime […]

Ride the Bar Hopper For the cost of a pint of beer, you can catch a shuttle ride from bar to bar throughout downtown and West Asheville (and it’s a helluva lot less expensive than a DUI). The Asheville Bar Hopper shuttle started ferrying beer lovers around town on Feb. 2. The bus runs Thursdays […]

Here’s Green Man Brewery’s head brewer John Stuart in Xpress’ ongoing “know your local brewers” interview series. Green Man Brewery was established in 1997 as the in-house brewery for Jack of the Wood pub. Former owners Joe Eckert and Joan Cliney-Eckert moved the brewing operations to a small warehouse on Buxton Avenue in 2005, adding […]