Jeff “Puff” Irvin, chair of A-B Tech’s department of brewing, distillation and fermentation, looks back on his career.

Jeff “Puff” Irvin, chair of A-B Tech’s department of brewing, distillation and fermentation, looks back on his career.
Area head brewers reflect on their professional work and why they and others hop from job to job.
**UPDATED NOV. 30** Craft Centric and TreeRock Social celebrate their first anniversaries, UpCountry taps an Almond Joy-inspired porter and more local beer news.
Programs at A-B Tech and Blue Ridge diversify their offerings to keep pace with WNC’s growing craft alcohol industry.
Two of North Carolina’s three community colleges with degree-based brewing programs are in the Asheville area.