Craft Beer – Under the Tap

January 29, 2022

Virtual Beer Tastings

On March 17th, 2020 we had to close down the taps. We cleaned and flushed the lines and then filled them with citric acid to sit until we could serve again. No more pouring tasty brews for the masses. No more taproom events and tastings. We scrambled to add packaged beer to our website and offered curbside pickup as well as local delivery. It kept us going, but we were really missing taproom interactions. We had to find away to stay connected to our regulars and the tourists who wouldn’t be able to travel for a little while. That’s when we decided to host virtual events that allowed us to keep those conversations going.

Our last in-person beer tasting. Jan 2020

Obviously, one of the things I love most about the craft beer scene is the people. Not just those in the industry, but the imbibers as well. These are the people who help create that special atmosphere. So when Covid closed the taproom down, we had to shift gears quickly to stay afloat. We did just that. During times of everyone stuck at home, we became determined to stay connected to the clientele who had been supporting our business and the business of beer as a whole. Bryson City Outdoors started hosting virtual beer tastings and also started “Pints on the Porch with our Peeps”. This was a live show that consisted of various employees of BCO sitting on our own porches talking about gear, books, movies, pizza, cereal, and all things beer. What we didn’t talk about was COVID. It was an effort to keep spirits high in uncertain times. It seemed to work for us and them! Our regular customers would tune in, beer in hand, almost like we were enjoying beverages together in the taproom. After all, interactions were what we were all missing and what we all needed. They’d ask questions and we would answer. They would tell us jokes and we would enjoy a good laugh or share jokes ourselves. The viewers really kept the show going. A majority of the people watching were folks we knew, but many were people stuck at home in other states and countries missing out on their regular vacations. Our town is a tourist destination and our social media had already been a way for people to plan, reminisce, and stay connected to a place they loved during past summer and fall trips. They showed up and showed their support even in strange times.

The virtual beer tastings, which are still taking place, happen from my porch or living room and are broadcast via Facebook Live. I put together curated bags of beer that our patrons can pick up from the shop ahead of time. I absolutely love doing the work that goes into preparing for these tastings. I read about the history of the brewery itself, look up the brewers and their brewing history, and learn more about individual beer styles. Finding new favorites for myself while helping others branch out and try new things has been a highlight for me. During the tastings I learn what my regulars like, what they don’t like, and sometimes they provide me with just a little more insight into the world of beer drinkers from their side of the bar. I have also learned a lot about my own palate and how it is ever evolving.

Sometimes the beers for the tastings are chosen by style, sometimes holiday or season, sometimes city or state. Other times they are just fun themes like seasonal brews, day drinking, breakfast and brunch brews, or just an assortment of beers that are new to the taproom’s shelves. I’ve even hosted a few that contained gluten-free options like craft ciders and seltzers which have really grown in popularity. During “Sober October” and “Dry January”, we sampled some craft non-alcoholic brews to keep everyone in the loop. In the craft beer scene there really is something for everyone and I love helping others find their “something”. While some tastings are more fun and less informative, I do always try to provide enough beer education for the viewers to walk away with a little more confidence in trying new things. I also strive to encourage people to go out and show support for their small, local breweries.

My next tasting will be Thursday, February 10th at 7pm. You can find the event on the Bryson City Outdoors facebook page. This tasting will be a beer and chocolate pairing just in time for Valentine’s Day. Bags are available to pick up in person at the taproom and are only $18. Can’t pick up a bag? That’s ok! Feel free to watch and chime in anyway.

Thanks to everyone who has been participating in these tastings for the last two years. Your support has really helped make the most of these uncertain times. It’s nice to have a place to continue doing what I love.

Cheers! 🍻

**Parts of this post are excerpts from my upcoming book about beer. Stay tuned here or follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates.**

August 31, 2021September 1, 2021

Las Cosas Buenas

Awww yes, the good things! Simple pleasures and tangibles…things that make us remember happy times. For me, right now, those consist of pleasant memories of tasty treats. Not really expensive luxuries, just homemade simplicities and discontinued craft beers.

In March of 2020, three very big things happened. The world shut down for a pandemic, I turned 40, and Sierra Nevada stop making my all-time favorite beer. Too many bummers all at once. So just as the taprooms were closing down, I was scrambling to build my own kegerator and buy up all of the Otra Vez I could get my hands on. Luckily for me, I am co-owner of a bottle shop and was able to wipe my distributor out of all the packaging and sixtels they had left!

Otra Vez was a Gose-style ale brewed with lime and agave. It was easy drinking and delicious. I may have even enjoyed it frozen a time or two, which my husband hated and reminded me that, “You’re getting rid of the malt profile when it’s that cold.” He’s not wrong, but in those warmer months it was like heaven with just a few flakes of ice forming.

Now when I say that Otra Vez was my favorite beer, let me be clear…it was my ABSOLUTE favorite beer of all-time and I’ve had a lot of beers. This is not an exaggeration and anyone who knows me will tell the same story. I was so distraught that I documented the last of it. The last keg, the last 6 pack, and even the last can, I recorded it all. So, I’ve decided to reminisce and share some of my happiest and saddest Otra Vez moments.

I’ll start with Aj’s homemade tacos. My husband is an amazing cook and Otra Vez was the perfect pairing for this meal. The crisp lime and slight salt of the Gose was perfect with the fresh ingredients and his hand-pressed corn tortillas. Nothing like a cold Otra Vez to knock back the heat from the chorizo and homemade salsa. A lot of my favorite memories of beer involve being in the kitchen and cooking.

As packaging starting getting scarce, the search was on for the last six packs. Having bought all I could from BCO, I started hitting gas stations, bottle shops, and grocery stores in search of strays. When I say everyone knew how much I loved the beer, that’s not an exaggeration either. Just when I thought I’d never see another can of Otra Vez, a friend sent this text, “I found one! Random Shell outside Waynesville still in date. It’ll be your late birthday present! I’ll try and drop it off next week for ya!” Now that’s a friend! I was super grateful and savored every sip. I even made a time lapse video of me enjoying the very last can. You can enjoy that video by clicking this link: THE LAST CAN

Once the cans were gone, we started working on the kegs. Aj had taken our small fridge and turned it into a single tap kegerator. Made mostly of parts from the shop and our bigger kegerators, this thing worked like a champ and kept us going on Otra Vez for a little while longer. As the kegs emptied and we moved closer to never tasting this delicious brew again, things got funny and sad. I made one last video after a long night of knocking back pints. You can giggle along with me and Aj by clicking this link: I’M DRINKING ALL THE OTRA VEZ

So, now its all gone. I sit on the east coast and wonder…could i still find it on tap somewhere on the west coast? Will Sierra Nevada ever make it again? Inquiring minds want to know. Until then, the hunt is on for my next favorite. Closest I have gotten was a seasonal, small batch from Brooklyn Brewing. The Key Lime Bel Air Sour was a near perfect replacement, but I never saw it again after the first few cases. And so, the search continues.

Here’s to finding more favorites. 🍻

July 24, 2018January 28, 2020

One World Brewing

Visit Date: Monday July 16, 2018

I’ve passed it several times before today…..the sign that says, “One World Brewing Come Have a Pint!” A thin arrow underneath the lettering points into a shallow alley way that seems to be a dead-end. There are a few smokers on a bench holding pints of what appears to be craft beer, this is the only clue that the brewery does in fact exist down there. So this trip to Asheville, wandering the streets alone, I decided to finally stop in.

Just before the alley way ends, on the right, there’s a black door inside of an arc of metal that looks like big barrel ring. There’s a round One World Brewing sign and another arrow pointing down. I go down three short, dark flights of stairs. At the bottom, I enter a door with a small window that looks like I might have to know a password to enter. I walk in and instantly feel like I’ve found a secret place. It’s not as packed as some breweries in downtown Asheville, however it is just before dinner on a Monday. There’s room for me at the bar. The bartender welcomes me and slides me a menu. Her name is Jess. She’s making recommendations to a couple several stools down from me. They seem surprisingly pleased with her choices. I compliment the place – she tells me how much she loves it….her job, the beer, everything. She says, “Time flies down here. I come into work, I have a few steady rushes and, before I know it, it’s 5:30 and I’m on that side of the bar.” She tells me that she tried over 50 craft beers at Beer City Fest this year and was still partial to their beer. I love seeing people taking pride in their work. I listen as Jess engages everyone at the bar. She knows her stuff.

I ordered a 10oz pour of the I’m Singing to Nelson Ain’t I Baby Brett India Pale Ale. It’s hazy, juicy, and hoppy with just a slight bit of funk. Very tasty.

Beer in hand, I find a place at a table so I can write and wait for AJ. The table is along a short barn-wood wall that separates the seating area from the brewing space. From here I can see the tanks and the brewhouse….my favorite seat in any brewery. One World is a small-batch, hand-craft, nano-brewery. They do not package, however there are a few places around Asheville where you may find their beer on tap.

I scan the room and try to take it in as I sip my beer. The door, the lighting, the music selection and sound, the feng shui, everything about the space is great. There are dart boards on the wall and some kind of Dutch Shuffleboard game that I’m not familiar with. Would love to come back when the place is packed. There’s a sign advertising open mic on Mondays at 7:30pm. Maybe I’ll try to make it back for that sometime.

For my second beer, I ordered a When Doves Cryo India Pale Ale. It’s dry-hopped 4 times with Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe. Lots of intense hoppiness, but not really bitter. Another tasty brew.

One World Brewing did open a new location in West Asheville this year! The new brewery has two floors and a huge outdoor venue and parking lot! Though it is a lot less hidden than the downtown location, it’s still a gem!

One World Brewing in downtown Asheville is located at 10 Patton Avenue, Asheville, North Carolina 28801. It is under Farm Burger, with an entrance in the alley way between Farm Burger and Salsa’s. The West Asheville location is at 520 Haywood Road, Asheville, North Carolina 28806. Both locations are open 7 days a week! Visit their website or find them on Facebook for more info.

April 19, 2017January 28, 2020

Mountain Layers Brewing Company

Mountain Layers Brewing Company is open! Our little mountain town of Bryson City now has two craft breweries to draw in craft beer lovers. They have done a great job of creating a place for everyone to feel welcome! While they don’t serve food, they do have non-alcoholic beverages and pretzels to snack on. They also welcome you to bring food in from one of Bryson City’s many food establishments to enjoy with your beer. (Loretta’s Snak Shak is right across the street and will deliver to the brewery.)

A lot of time and hard work was put in, and it was worth the wait. The space is welcoming and open, the people are friendly, and the brews are fantastic. You can sample them all from one of their cute picnic table flight boards. Brewer Noah McIntee has made some tasty brews to share with us. Mark and Kim made a good call bringing him in to join the team.

Owner Mark Pettit is retired from public safety and truly knows what it means to serve and protect. As a show of appreciation and respect, in the stairwell there is a wall to “Honor & Remember” all of the people who have risked their lives for our freedoms and our safety. Badges from many of our local rescue squads, first responders, and veterans are on display there.

At the top of the stairs you’ll find a second bar and seating area, TVs, and access to the rooftop deck. Offering great views of Everett Street, the Tuckaseegee River, and the surrounding Smoky Mountains, this may just be the place to be this summer. I think I’ve already picked out my regular spot.

Right now they are holding shorter hours, with plans to stay open later this summer. Also, stay tuned for a date and details about their grand opening taking place in May.

Mountain Layers Brewing Co. is located at 90 Everett Street in Bryson City, NC. Don’t forget to visit their website and find them on Facebook.

March 2, 2017January 28, 2020

On a Beer-with-a-kick Kick

This past year led me to my true love, well in terms of beer anyway. I have always enjoyed spicy foods, maybe to the point that it could be considered an addiction, so you can imagine my excitement when I stumbled into spicy beers. I couldn’t get enough. I found myself on a search for tasty brews with a kick. Over the year, I found beers that satisfied my desire for heat and flavor. Here’s a fairly brief run through of a few that I have had the opportunity to try.

I will start with the beer that started it all for me. During a brief visit to Charleston, I stopped in Palmetto Brewing and found Ghost Rider Pale on tap. This beer was a limited release, part of the brewery’s 843 Series. I had never had a spicy beer, but I love spicy food so I got excited when I saw it on the menu. A pale ale brewed with ghost peppers and cherries. The cherries add just enough sweetness to knock back the heat at the end of this American Pale. My only regret is not taking it all home with me.

I first had this next beer on tap at City Lights Cafe in Sylva, NC. The girl working that night said the magic words, “People have complained that it is too spicy. Want to taste it first?” Nope, bring on the full pint. It was the Dragon’s Mouth Pepper Pale from Mystery Brewing in Raleigh, NC.I loved the flavor and heat on this one. I was lucky enough to find it on tap again at Cork & Bean in Bryson City, close to home. While enjoying a pint there, I researched the beer a little. This beer was originally released in 2012 and used Tobago peppers, which were not as spicy. When they decided to bring the beer back, Mystery Brewing used Habanero and upped the heat. A great decision, guys!

Flying Dog Brewery has an entire heat series! Unfortunately, I have only had a chance to try one, the Jalapeno White Ale. I am not usually a white ale drinker, it’s just not my favorite style of beer. It’s a Belgian style ale with a Belgian yeast taste that I usually don’t like, but the way the peppers compliment that yeast is amazing! Great flavor with a small amount of heat. I look forward to trying other beers in this series, like the Ancho Lime Paradise Lager.

I also had another beer from Flying Dog that was spicy, but not part of the heat series. The Mango Habanero IPA was released in February 2014 as part of the Brewhouse Rarities series. This one was lightly spicy and tropical. I absolutely loved the flavor of this beer!

I did have a let down in the realm of spice. The beer itself was very tasty but I bought it based on what the website said, “EXTREME HEAT WARNING! Spicy is a vague term painted with a broad stroke across edibles ranging in flavor from slightly peppery to tongue-numbingly hot. So, let us be frank. Crime and Punishment, our chile-infused bastardizations of two of the more robust members of the Arrogant Bastard Ale clan, are more than just spicy. They are downright incendiary. If extreme heat isn’t your thing, they just might hurt you. Are you up to the challenge?” I was up for the challenge, but apparently previous versions of Stone Brewing’s Crime were hotter than the year I bought a bottle.

Several small local breweries doing small batch beers did some pepper infused beers that I really enjoyed for the flavor. Boojum Brewing Company out of Waynesville, NC has a lovely Jalapeño IPA, it isn’t hot since it is brewed with seedless peppers. In Andrews, NC I enjoyed a Jalapeño Saison from Andrews Brewing Company. I even cut up a fresh pepper from the garden for garnish. Birdsong Brewing out of Charlotte, NC has a light Jalapeño Pale Ale that has a wonderful flavor with not so much spice. Jekyll Island Brewing in Alpharetta, GA has a nice Pineapple Habanero version of their Hop Dang Diggity IPA. I’ve picked up a 6 pack of this every time I make a trip to Georgia.

There are still a lot of great spicy beers out there. I have a few bottles in the kitchen now, just waiting for a clean palette. There’s the Thai Chili Wahoo from Ballast Point Brewing and Rogue’s Chipotle Ale. Excited about both of these. I’m still looking for new spicy beers to try and I’ll gladly take recommendations.

Cheers!

February 23, 2017January 28, 2020

New Beer Adventures

I’ve been working at Bryson City Outdoors, a small but growing outdoor retailer in western North Carolina. But this isn’t a day job, this is quickly turning into more of a career move. Recently we expanded our retail space and built new sturdy shelving perfect for glass bottles and cans of delicious craft beer. BCO has always been a reliable source of trail and travel information for tourists and locals alike. Now we want to offer the same great service to our beer customers. The expansion will give me a place to utilize my craft beer knowledge and to share it with my community. Dubbed the BC Outdoors Craft Beer Department, we are a one-stop shop for all of your beer and gear needs. Bryson City locals now have a closer place to find their favorites and tourists will have a chance to take home some fine NC craft beers.

We’ve just started filling the shelves. Shopping for beer has been exciting and each delivery day is like Christmas morning. We’re also offering beer related merchandise; everything from Stanley growlers to beer bread to beer soap and candles. We’ll have a grand opening this spring, so watch out for that, but we’re selling now. So stop by and let’s talk beer! Then pick up a few you’ve never had. All bottles and cans are available in singles so you can try them all……but maybe not all at once.

Looking forward to new beer adventures! Cheers!

Bryson City Outdoors is located at 169 Main Street in Bryson City, NC. 828-342-6444

September 7, 2016February 6, 2018

Ales and Kindness

I can’t continue to write about craft beer in my neck of the woods and not mention Nantahala Brewing Company .

Here in Bryson City, NC where the Appalachian Trail crosses Hwy 74 just 13 miles from downtown, the term “Trail Magic” refers to random acts of kindness and encouragement offered up to thru-hikers, often by strangers known as “trail angels”. The trail angels in this story are brewmaster Greg Geiger and the guys at Nantahala Brewing. Their random acts of kindness? A little money and a lot of awareness for the Appalachian Trail Conservancy and three delicious new beers a year for us. Yea us!

I had the great opportunity to be a part of several of these releases in my time working and hanging out there. For Trail Magic #11, I zested limes for three hours. My hands were so tired, but I smelled absolutely heavenly. That beer, Greg’s first sour, was worth every minute. Trail Magic #5 surprised me because I come from a Natty Light drinkin’ bunch. My dad came to visit me at work and after trying several beers, his favorite? The Wild Honeysuckle Saison. I would have never guessed. It was a tasty brew though, made with honeysuckles that Greg and Joe had harvested by hand from the mountains of North Georgia near the southern most end of the Appalachian Trail. While these beers were all limited releases to never be brewed again, the recipes or ideas would show up as bases in other new releases. Trail Magic numbers 1, 4, and 7; these were my favorites. All Russian Imperial Stouts, these would eventually lead to the regular release of Judaculla. Aaaaah, but I’ll never forget the perfection that was #4. For my tastes, anyway.

In 2015, during the Nantahala Brewing Company’s 5th year anniversary celebration we broke them all out. We tasted and reminisced. We popped the tops on bottles of Trail Magic Ales #1-#10 and threw in two bottles of Witch’s Brew for good measure. A wonderful line of delicious beers that really show off Greg’s creativity and the love for the place he and everyone at Nantahala Brewing call home.

Cheers and happy trails!

Trail Magic releases happen three times a year during hiking seasons: a spring release in March, a summer release in June, and a fall release in October. Check their website and Facebook page for information on future releases.

Nantahala Brewing Company is located at 65 Depot Street in Bryson City, NC.

July 8, 2016December 13, 2016

Beer or Coffee? How ‘Bout Both!

My two favorite times of the day are morning and beer:30. Rich, bold, black coffee before a breakfast consisting of a muffin when I’m in a hurry or a bacon, egg, kale burrito when I have the time. And then a cold craft beer….the lunch beer. A great way to break up the day.

Lately, maybe because it’s warmer than usual in Bryson City, my go-to beers have been IPAs. People who know me well know that I started out as a dark-beer-only kind of drinker. Pounding stouts at 100lbs and keeping up with session IPA drinkers weighing in at over 175lbs was easier for me than you would imagine. Now with that being said, you can imagine how excited I am that so many brewers are bringing my favorite stout and porter flavors to the IPA. I know it’s not a new thing, but it hasn’t always appealed to me the way it does now. They also haven’t always been this well executed. I know there are a lot of great coffee IPAs out there so I’m only going to touch on a couple that I have enjoyed recently.

Let’s start with the Mocha IPA from Stone Brewing Company. I picked up a 6-pack of 12oz bottles in Sylva, NC at PJ’s BP. The bottle states that it is a “style-defying double India pale ale with cacao & coffee”. If there’s one thing I can’t stand, it’s seeing a tasty description like this on a beer, getting excited about it, then never tasting any of the flavors they claimed I would taste. However, this one did not disappoint. Because it is a double IPA it was slightly similar to a white stout in mouthfeel and booziness, yet it was still crisp like a traditional IPA. The cacao and coffee aromas were strong but did not cover up the wonderful scent of hops. I was actually very surprised at how the coffee and hop flavors coexisted. My husband was quick to let me know that he had found a new favorite beer. I was with him when we first saw it, but he couldn’t bring himself to try it. Glad we finally did!

The next beer is a collaborative brew that was released last month. Appalachian Mountain Brewery joined forces with Fonta Flora to bring us Baba Budan Coffee IPA. We purchased a 4-pack of 16oz cans from Ingles in Bryson City, NC. Baba Budan was a 16-century Sufi who is said to have smuggled the coffee bean to India from Yemen, making it available to the rest of the world. If that is true, we owe him a great deal of thanks. What better person to name a beer after? When I cracked open the first can, the aroma reminded me of my favorite part of a shot of espresso, the crema. The color was beautiful, slightly golden orange. The head was a creamy off-white. The IPA part of this beer is in true West-coast fashion and packs a citrusy punch. The combination of citrus and espresso notes made me think of the tropical places that both originated from. I expected all these flavors to give way to the bitterness of coffee and citrus, however the finish was dry and clean. It may be dangerous how drinkable this one is for me. Two of my favorite NC breweries combining two of my favorite things. Thanks, guys! We’ll be purchasing this one again….and again.

So my two loves have found each other in a way I never saw coming. Thanks to these brewers for realizing how many craft beer lovers are also coffee lovers. I can’t wait to explore more. I started strong, these two may be hard to follow. On my next off day, I may just have to skip the hot cup of joe and opt for a breakfast beer!

Appalachian Mountain Brewery is located at 163 Boone Creek Drive in Boone, NC. Fonta Flora Brewery is located at 317 N Green Street in Morganton, NC. The Mocha IPA was brewed at Stone Brewing’s World Bistro & Gardens in Escondido, CA.

Pj’s BP gas station is located at 237 Asheville Hwy in Sylva, NC. Though you wouldn’t guess it from the outside appearance, this place has one of the biggest and best beer selections in western NC!

All three breweries can be found on Facebook, Instagram, and all those other fun social media outlets, so check ’em out!

February 11, 2016January 16, 2021

Lazy Hiker Brewing Company

Passing through Franklin, NC on our way home from holiday visiting, we decided to stop in and check out Lazy Hiker Brewing Company. I first met brewery partner Lenny Jordan just before they started brewing. He was looking for someone to paint murals in and around the taproom. I ended up not having time to do the job since I was working long hours in a brewery myself, however it is one that I still wish I would have taken. On our initial meeting he showed me around and told me about their plans for the brewery. The building is the old Franklin Town Hall and Fire Department, perfect for a brewery and music venue. They were doing an amazing job with the renovations, taking their time to get everything right before bringing in brewing equipment. I followed the progress on social media and was excited to finally get to taste the beer.

We pulled into Lazy Hiker Brewing Company at 8:30pm the Wednesday before New Year’s eve. The small parking lot beside the brewery was full, but we were able to find a spot right across the street. There was a food truck parked beside the building and while we didn’t order anything, it did smell heavenly. Inside, the place was packed, but the spacious layout kept it comfortable. There were tables full of families and friends gathering for a beer and maybe dinner. An open garage door near the bar allowed customers to access the patio where there were more seats and an open fire pit. It was perfect for the mild winter weather we’d been having.

Once bellied up to the bar, I could see that there was only one bartender and she was slammed, but handling it. We waited patiently and ordered a couple beers. I had the Slack Pack IPA. This beer had a great citrus aroma and the flavor to match it. Not a super balanced beer, as there were almost no malt flavors coming through, but I enjoyed the pine notes all the same. It seemed like there was something spicy or earthy mid-sip, maybe? I wanted to know what hops were used and should have asked. Aj ordered the Bourbon Barrel Aged Double IPA. With an ABV of 11.11% you sure could smell the booze in this one! The hop flavor lingered later and was really present in the post-beer burp, but it seemed to be drowning in the booze in the glass. The vanilla (possibly from the bourbon) was very strong. I would love to try this beer dry hopped.

Before we left, I decided to try one more. I kicked up the IBUs with their Headlamp Black IPA. This brew had the malt of a stout with the hop of an IPA. It had the great hop piney-ness that I love, which came through more after several sips and time for the beer to warm up some.

All in all, three fine brews. We really enjoyed our visit. I am excited to see what brews these guys will come up with in the future. The brewery may be new, but the brewer’s not new to this game. What are you waiting for?

Lazy Hiker Brewing Co. opened in May 2015 and is located at 188 W. Main Street in Franklin, NC. Their current hours of operation are Tues-Thur 12-9pm, Fri & Sat 12-11pm, and Sun 12-6pm. Stop by and visit them in person or check them out on the web at lazyhikerbrewing.com . Be sure to look for them on all your favorite social media sites as well!

(This post was edited to correct misinformation about brewery ownership. Lazy Hiker is run by a team of people dedicated to the industry. Stay tuned for more…)