Follow Sean Inman to the best in craft beer
One week till the big day, time to say, get elated? With a winter IPA from Hi-Wire Brewing in Asheville.
“A balanced and hoppy ale perfect for snuggling up in front of the fire or getting outside on a snowy day. Celebrate the season with an India Pale Ale that doesn’t lack for pine and citrus peel notes from Michigan Chinook & Idaho 7 hops balanced by sticky caramel and toasted bread flavors from a carefully crafted malt bill.”
I have asked in a couple of blog posts for a communal space for all L.A. County Brewers Guild members where beer can be poured from all over L.A. from one cold box.
Well the CANarchy group has taken that idea for the breweries under their umbrella and will be openind a Collaboratory in Asheville, North Carolina.
They are taking over the Lexington Avenue Brewery and under the guidance of Wayne Wambles from Cigar City, will re-open the space “for frequent collaborations not just between breweries within the CANarchy Collective, but within Asheville’s local brew scene, and national and international breweries as well.”
It sounds like a fun way to always have collaborating going year-round instead of just on a haphazard basis. Just wish it was on this coast.
The Collaboratory will open in March 2019 after the space undergoes renovations to maximize the brewing capacity.
Check out this mega-collaboration……
Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. is celebrating the opening of its new Mills River, North Carolina, brewery by bringing revered craft brewers to North Carolina via a cross-country festival path in 2014. A dozen craft breweries across the U.S., both up-and-comers and noted names, will join Sierra Nevada in the creation of a variety 12-pack—one partner brewery per beer—to be released in summer 2014. A multi-weekend, west-to-east tour of regional festivals will culminate with the Mills River doors opening.
The specific travel path for festivals is a work in progress, but in spring 2014, these breweries will visit Chico to develop recipes and begin brewing:
Allagash Brewing Company, Portland, ME
Ballast Point Brewing Company, San Diego, CA
Bell’s Brewery, Inc., Kalamazoo, MI
Cigar City Brewing, LLC, Tampa, FL
Firestone Walker Brewing Co., Paso Robles, CA
New Glarus Brewing Company, New Glarus, WI
Ninkasi Brewing Company, Eugene, OR
Oskar Blues Brewing Company, Longmont, CO
Russian River Brewing Company, Santa Rosa, CA
Three Floyds Brewing, LLC, Munster, IN
Victory Brewing Company, Downingtown, PA
Local brewing community in Asheville, NC”
Holy Hell that is an impressive list of breweries. From the LA perspective it would have been nice to see Craftsman on the list or Eagle Rock but hey, you can’t win ’em all. I will be really interested in the New Glarus and Russian River combos. I know the Firestone Walker one will be a huge hit.
Last year there was a bit of a kerfuffle over an online “who is the best beer city” poll that grew out of proportion. It was Beervana Portland vs. newcomer Asheville.
What was good about it was the attention that got focused on what was important. Bringing attention to a brewing hotspot.
I have now purchased beer from Bruisin’ Ales and that led me onto their newsletter which led me to this new brewery…
About the brewery: “Take the goodness of garden-grown products, the warmth of small town life, the earthy ethic of rock ‘n roll, a deep respect for a time-honored craft…and you have the ingredients of Mother Earth Brewing. Born in the summer of 2008, Mother Earth is the dream-child of Stephen Hill and Trent Mooring, two guys from Kinston, North Carolina, a sweet southern town in the heart of the old tobacco belt.”
Here are the description of a couple beers that caught my eye:
Endless River Kölsch
“A clean, crisp beer, Kolsch offers a very slight fruity flavor and aroma. It is light gold in color, with a delicate head. This light-bodied beer appeals to nearly everyone who samples it. Expect to enjoy a slight tang in the finish.”
Weeping Willow Wit
“This beer style is over 400 years old, and continues to enjoy overwhelming popularity. Offering low hop bitterness, it is easy to enjoy. It pours very hazy, with a light gold color… we say it’s like summertime in a glass. Bitter orange peel and fresh coriander add zest and depth to this refreshing beer.”