Discover Asheville's Unique Charms
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Enjoy the Bliss of
Asheville's Brew Pubs and Brewery Tours
"Beer is living proof that God loves us
and wants us to be happy".-Ben Franklin
Asheville is one of the best microbrewery towns in the Southeast. Couple that with the great music that abounds here... and a visit to one of Asheville's many brew pubs is a great way to 'bliss out' in Asheville.
Food and... and Music... and Brew
The Grey Eagle Tavern and Music Hall
"... is a listening room-style concert venue... home to Twin Cousins Kitchen; Asheville's finest Southern Louisiana eatery... open for business on days of scheduled events from 5pm until the music stops. The menu features vegetarian selections as well as early bird specials for those in search of great food in a relaxing atmosphere, whether or not they plan on attending that night's event." Tickets typically $5 to $20, depending.
Jack of the Wood
"... The entertainment offered up on the weekends is first-rate and up-close... for a minimal cover. We also play host to three different jam sessions throughout the week.... Everyone is invited to bring their instrument, help make a little music, or just come down and listen in." Burgers, pub appetizers, salads... all moderately priced.
Barley's Tap Room
"... over 40 beers on tap. After dinner and a beer, stay and listen to the bluegrass, country, jazz, and Americana music performed most nights. We never have a cover charge and are a "clique"-free environment."
The Lobster Trap
Fresh seafood and oyster bar in downtown Asheville. Moderately price $10 to $20 entrees. Live music daily, no cover charge. Tuesday is 50 cent oyster night.
Town Pump Tavern
"...
a rustic music room nestled in the hills of Black Mountain, North Carolina. An established tavern since 1982, the Pump offers live original music 5 nights a week, local and regional microbrews, dart tournaments, and the best damn jukebox in Western NC. This Black Mountain landmark is a favorite among the locals, and the warm atmosphere radiating just beyond the front door seems to draw in the tourists. With its own laid back authentic character, the Town Pump is the best place to truly absorb the rural charm of the Appalachia..."
Thirsty Monk
"... Fourteen Belgian beers are available on tap, with a whopping 140
varieties in bottles. For those looking for an education in Belgian
brews, sample flights are available. The Thirsty Monk will also feature
light food, including baguettes sandwiches, crepes and Belgian
chocolates...." From Jack Of The Wood: half a block down Coxe Ave on the left. Commerce street is the first street on your left as you travel down Coxe toward Asheville Brewing Company.
Eat Delicious but Inexpensive Food or Munch $1 Popcorn While You Watch a $3 Movie... a Winning Combination Makes This Pub One of Asheville Favorite Gathering Spots
Asheville PIzza and Brewing Company Combine $3 movies with great pizzas, salads and sandwiches (1/2 pound Angus burger, spinach burger, quesadillas) which you can eat while watching the movie... and you have a winning combo. Not to mention $1 popcorn... and a inexpensive luncheon buffet with all you can eat pizza, salad, hot pasta, and dessert. |
Sports Bars in Asheville
Asheville Bier Garden
"... In addition to our great food, beer and wine, we are the party destination of choice with 16 televisions including a 15-foot screen to catch the big game or news event with all your friends... extensive selection of beers from around the world. With a selection of over 200 beers of the world including some local microbrewery favorites we are sure to have a beer for every beer lover. We also have a full bar and a large selection of fine wines. Complementing our wide selections of beers is our extensive food menu featuring American fusion cuisine created by our award winning chef, Joel Meadows. We offer a large selection of Appetizers, Soups and Salads, a Pub menu with our famous burgers and sandwiches and a children's menu. For dinner you will enjoy the fine dining menu, with daily chef specials in addition to some of our favorite menu standards. A late night menu is also available until midnight...."
Brew It Yourself with
Beermaking Supplies
Asheville Brewer's Supply
Beer and winemaking supplies... and lots of good help and advice.
Hops & Vines
"... Owned by award winning homebrewer.... a full service homebrewing supply store with customized beer recipes, wine kits, and organic malts and grains...."
Explore the Bliss of Brewing
Your Own Beer and Ale |
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Sacred and Herbal Healing Beers: The Secrets of Ancient Fermentation "... This book takes the reader to places most homebrew books never dare or
dream to go. Most homebrew books are a rehash of boring methods, and
recipes. This is NOT one of those books.
This book brings brewing back to its human level. It tells the tales of people around the world and the methods they have used since before most of the cultures could write. |
| Making fermented drinks is a prehistoric art and doesn't need to be performed by people carrying scales and wearing white lab coats. Not all brewing has been done by the German beer "purity" law; in fact most has not, and hop only beer is a new (and boring) invention. The journey to cultures around the world and the insight into their fermentations of "beer" is exciting and wonderful (I use the quotes because some of the fermentations seem more like wonderful wines, meads, or fermentations that do not have easy modern labels but well worth experiencing).
This is really the best book on brewing I have ever read and I own a couple shelves full. The ideas and concepts alone are worth the price but it also contains easy to follow recipes to get you started on some lesser known brews which are not set in stone. The recipes are a stepping stone to get you to be a brewing artist and create your own masterpiece fermentations. If that were not enough the stories are priceless...." |
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The Homebrewer's Garden: How to Easily Grow, Prepare, and Use Your Own Hops, Malts, Brewing Herbs "....I bought this book looking for a guide to grow hops... It is certainly
that, and more. It covers varieties and where they grow, how to treat
the soil, where to plant, what how to build an effective trellis etc...
AND it covers how to dry the fresh hops in preparation for use in a
brew... how to build an oast (which is the drying structure)... And it
does all of this in a very approachable way...." |
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Radical Brewing: Recipes, Tales and World-Altering Meditations in a Glass "... Mosher sees homebrewing—and by extension craft brewing—as an antidote to corporate, mass-market beers. Over two decades of brewing and beer research, he has probed the depths of beer history in both his reading and his brewing. Radical Brewing displays the many unique ales and lagers that have resulted from his celebration of beer while serving as a vehicle for discussing a creative, "outside the lines" approach to modern brewing. |
| Through it all, the reader is treated to Mosher’s irresistible love of beer and brewing as well as some very humorous asides on beer history. The infectious spirit of homebrewing is hard to resist when one reviews Mosher’s recipe for "Electric Aunt Jemima Maple Buckwheat Ale," checks out the section on "(Not so Dumb) Blonde Ales" or chuckles through his fanciful description of the birth of beer featuring the ancient Harl’eh-riding Ur’s Angels. Best of all, the two-color visually rich content comes in self-contained segments that instantly engage readers no matter what page they turn to...." |
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How to Brew: Everything You Need To Know To Brew Beer Right The First Time "...With the explosion of microbreweries across the country, lots of people
got turned on to GOOD beer - and many of those looked into homebrewing.
With so many people trying different methods and equipment, over time,
brewing became simpler and much of what was deemed necessary in the
earlier days was discarded....." |
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Designing Great Beers: The Ultimate Guide to Brewing Classic Beer Styles ".... Excellent book for taking your homebrewing skills to the next level.
This book is definitely not for beginners and is mainly geared toward
All Grain brewers, although it does cover extract w/grains. Rather than
just giving you specific recipes, it teaches you how to formulate and
tweak your own recipes for common styles. Definitely recommended
reading if you want to transition from mainly brewing from recipes to
creating your own recipes...." |
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Brewing Classic Styles: 80 Winning Recipes Anyone Can Brew "... Jamil and John's excellent recipe book adds a missing element to the
world of home brewing. This is a list of proven recipes in every style
with notes about what is key in brewing that style. It is also a nice
touch that an extract recipe is listed for each style as well...." |
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Asheville Brew Blogs
Asheville Beer
Keep up with what's happening in the Asheville microbrewery and brew pub scene.
Beer Festivals
The Great Smokies
Craft Brewers BrewGrass Festival
".... Each year in the beautiful mountains of Western North Carolina, we gather over 30 American breweries to showcase more than 100 different beers. We add a great lineup of national and regional bluegrass musicians that, in the past, has included such notables as Jimmy Martin, J.D. Crowe, The Osborne Brothers, Norman Blake, Tony Trischka, Bad Livers, Valerie Smith, Tony Furtado, Yonder Mountain String Band, and Sons Of Ralph. We also feature a variety of area food vendors and plenty of water. Put all these things together and you have the ingredients for the perfect beer day..." Takes place in September
Beer Tastings
Bruisin' Ales
"... Asheville’s first and only retail store just for beer lovers. No wine, just beer. It’s pure “beerlanthropy™” for the greater good. We specialize in Belgians, Belgian-style, high-gravity, craft brews, microbrews, and the best from around the globe. With over 600 different beers from across the country and around the world, you’ll find a delectable line-up sure to please any beer lover’s palette. From ales to stouts, lagers to bitters, Bruisin’ Ales is Western North Carolina ’s stop for the tastiest beers available. Free Beer Tastings every other Thursday. Check BLOG for details....." at 66 Broadway, Downtown Asheville
Hops & Vines
"...Each week we choose a new brewery or style to focus on and sample
several examples. This is a great way to wind down at the end of the
week!...." Hops & Vines is ".... your neighborhood source for old favorites and new discoveries in beer and wine or the ingredients to create your own! We feature an extensive selection of craft beer and boutique wines with a special focus on microbrews and wines from vineyards that use sustainable growing practices...." Located at 797 Haywood Road in West Asheville (near Brevard Rd).
Asheville Area Brewery
Tours and Tastings
Asheville Brews Cruise
Asheville’s brewing community is growing and we are here to give you an insider’s take on the best craft brewed beer that Asheville has to offer. Come join us on one of our evening cruises and taste the beers that make Asheville one of the craft beer hubs of the south east.
Whether you are a local or just visiting, Brews Cruise will provide you with a personalized tour and VIP treatment at three of Asheville’s finest breweries. Enjoy fresh samples of beer that are brimming with personality. From Pales to Porters, ESBs to IPAs, local favorites like Gaelic to Shiva, there will be a beer that fits your mood. So sit back, relax, enjoy the stops and the ride, because we are doing the driving. All this sampling will surely work up an appetite, so our last stop will provide you the opportunity to dine. Snacks and water will be provided in between tour stops for your convenience.
French Broad Brewing Company
Micro brewery tour and tasting. Saturdays at noon and 1 p.m. $5
Highland Brewing Company
Micro-Brewery. Tours on Tuesdays and Fridays. Phone to schedule. Free.
MicroBreweries
Green Man Ales
are the 'house ales" of Jack of the Wood pub in Downtown Asheville and are brewed at a nearby facility "... under the watchful eye of our resident brewer John Stuart, who is producing up to 21 thirty-one gallon barrels of beer a week. The beer flows almost non-stop in the pub. It is a tough job to keep up . Using English and Belgian yeasts and specialty grains gives the beers their unique appeal and distinctive style..."
Highland Brewing Company
Micro-Brewery.
Discover the Bliss of
Beer and Ale and Breweries. |
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Ambitious Brew: The Story of American Beer "...Conventional wisdom has it that giant breweries, driven by corporate
greed, have flooded the U.S. with inferior-tasting swill, and the only
beer worth drinking is from scattered boutique microbrewers. Nonsense,
says Ogle: companies like Miller and Anheuser-Busch are actually
near-perfect embodiments of the American dream (in which "liberty nurtured ambition, and ambition fostered success")—and if their beers became noticeably blander 50 years ago, it's because consumers wanted it that way...." |
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The American Brewery: From Colonial Evolution to Microbrew Revolution "... "... The brewing industry has been an integral part of the American fabric from the very beginning. In fact, a brewery was one of the first structures built by early colonists. Because beer was safer to drink than water (having been boiled), it was the drink of choice for all age groups, from breakfast to bedtime. After the young nation won its independence, |
| George Washington declared his support of the beer industry by stating he would henceforth drink only porters brewed in America. This lavishly designed history tells the story of American brewing through wars, tax hikes, Prohibition, consolidation, depression, recession, and the microbrewery boom that revived the industry beginning in the late 1980s. Archival and modern imagery and photographs depict buildings inside and out, workers, the production process, and equipment. In addition, sidebars feature memorabilia, home brewing, and famous recipes from the pilgrims to present. Readers will witness how breweries flourished and suffered like any other American houses of manufacture, from a peak of 4,131 breweries in 1873 to an industry low of 80 in 1983. |
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Great American Beer: 50 Brands That Shaped the 20th Century "... I was blown away by how thorough the
history section is in the beginning. The writing is accessible and not
at all boring, and you walk away with some amazing knowledge of
American history seen through an entirely new lense. The individual
beer profiles are fantastic too. I first picked this book up for its
great looks (hardcover plus color artwork throughout makes for such a
great, affordable gift for any guy!), but I was really impressed by the
intelligent, down-to-earth writing...." |
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The Best of American Beer and Food: Pairing & Cooking with Craft Beer ".... This beautiful, soft-covered book is fit for the great-room coffee table, but lives with even greater panache in the kitchen. Saunders traces the specialties of craft beer and food within each section of American continent: from the chocolate beer dinners of Chef Bruce Paton at the Cathedral Hill Hotel in San Francisco, California, to "A Day at the Beach" menus with Alaskan Amber-glazed grilled salmon in the Alaskan Northwest..." |
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The Bartenders Beer Cookbook "... Kudos to Paul Barbano for writing a wonderful cookbook using beer. I have read quite a few of the recipes and find them to be very interesting and totally unique. This is one a lot of us have been waiting for! Thank you Paul for your foresight and your excellent book...." |
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