ABC 13 in Asheville video clip about stadium beer bill.

Nifty info-graphic showing NC State Excise Taxes on Beer as compared to the rest of the nation. Oh, North Carolina, you’re taxes are high but you’re no Tennessee! By the way North Carolina ranked 6th highest in 2011 and now show up in the 9th highest position in 2013

Source: http://taxfoundation.org/

Beer line up announced for Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting on March 31st in Asheville, North Carolina

Against the Grain Port Barrel-Aged Bo & Luke, Tickle Me Alemo & Citra Ass Down
Allagash Smoke and Beards & Mattina Rossa
Asheville Ratri Double IPA, Bier de Mardi Garde & Big Thankful Porter
Bell’s Sweet Potato Stout
Big Boss Hell’s Bizz-ness sour cuvée
Blue Mountain Barrel House Sour Cherry Lager & Barrel Aged Mandolin
Boulder BFU (Be Forever Unknown)
Brooklyn There Will Be Black & Silver Anniversary Lager
Deschutes Burgschrund Black & The Dissident
Founders Panther Cub Imperial Stout
Goose Island Bourbon County Cherry Stout & 2012 Bourbon County Coffee Stout
Haw River Farmhouse Ales Cotton Pickin’ Farmhouse IPA, Sun Hands Tripel, Rusted Plow & St. Benedict’s Brunch
Highland 2008 Cold Mountain & 2009 Auld Asheville Ale
Jester King Viking Metal
Mother Earth Brewing 2012 Tripel Overhead Barrel-Aged
New Belgium Barrel-Aged Love Oscar
Brewery Ommegang Game of Thrones Iron Throne
Oskar Blues Red Fox Ale
Samuel Adams 13th Hour Stout
Sierra Nevada Wolfinanny Wheatwine
Stone 11.11.11 Vertical Epic Ale in Red Wine Barrels
SweetWater Gangsta IPA
Thirsty Monk Imperial Amber
Weyerbacher Sour Black Pinot Noir Barrel-Aged

The Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting will be held at 66 Asheland Ave. in Asheville on May 31 from 6-9 p.m. Fewer than 50 of the 250 tickets for the Asheville Rare & Wild Beer Tasting are still available. They can be purchased online at: http://www.etix.com/ticket/online/venueSearch.jsp?venue_id=9521. Tickets are $75 and include admission to the event, beer sampling, commemorative tasting glass, program and heavy hors d’oeuvres. More information about the event can be found at www.arwbt.com. Each brewery will pour unique beers. Some will be rare and others will be “wild” featuring barrel aged, sours, cask conditioned and vintage beers. – See more at: http://ashevillebeerweek.com/blog/#sthash.RljVLJVY.dpuf

Steel String intro video by Richard Mitchell

Article and video from the Citizen Times about Hi-Wire brewing. The Circus themed brewery is set to debut this summer in the old Craggie Brewing location in downtown Asheville.

See it all at www.citizen-times.com

Asheville’s new Hi-Wire Brewing has both. The brewery will open in early June in the old Craggie Brewing location at 197 Hilliard Ave, in what has become the city’s fast-growing brewing district.

The beers all have a circus theme in their names. And Hi-Wire will offer Asheville’s first year-round German-style pilsner as one of their flagship brews, plus 12-ounce bottled beers from the get-go.

Also from Citizen Times: Beer Guy: Wedge Brewing taps into outdoor movies

The state of Craft Beer in North Carolina as discussed in Jan 2012 WUNC radio report.

Video and story about Foothills brewing 100 Foot beer to celebrate from WFMY

Winston-Salem is preparing to celebrate its 100th birthday, and to mark the occasion, Foothills Brewery is making a limited edition beer called Hundred Foot.

The name was chosen to reflect the collaborative nature of Winston and Salem joining to become one city 100 years ago, and the beer is a cream dry ale hopped with, appropriately, centennial hops.

The only batch was bottled live during News 2′s Good Morning Show on Friday.

Hundred Foot will be available at most of the city’s centennial events, at Foothills’ downtown Winston-Salem pub; and in limited release 22 oz. bottles at selected retail establishments.

Mims Distributing Company (http://www.mimsdistributing.com), a beer distributor that services a nine-county area in and around the Triangle, has announced that it has added Carolina Brewing Company brands to its roster. Based in Holly Springs, N.C., Carolina Brewing features three year-round, four seasonal and four special occasion beers, including Carolina Pale Ale, a light-bodied amber beer that is one of the best-selling beers in the Triangle.

Starting as a concept developed by two brothers, John and Greg Shuck, and their friend, Joe Zonin, Carolina Brewing Company began operations in 1994 and brewed its first beer, Carolina Pale Ale, in 1995. Later that same year, the brewery introduced Carolina Nut Brown Ale, adding seasonal beers in 1996, bottles in 1997 and Carolina IPA in 2005. In 2011, Mark Heath and Van Smith joined the brewery as partners, with the idea of growing the much-loved brand beyond the Triangle.

Carolina Brewing Company’s year-round styles include Carolina Pale Ale, Carolina India Pale Ale and Carolina Nut Brown Ale. Seasonal brands include Carolina Spring Bock, Carolina Summer Ale, Carolina Oktoberfest Lager and Carolina Winter Porter. For more information on the brewery, visit http://www.carolinabrew.com.

Quotes:
“We are very excited to announce our partnership with Carolina Brewing Company,” said Chip Mims, CEO. “This brewery produces one of the most beloved beers in the Triangle, Carolina Pale Ale, and we are so happy to be able to help them expand their brand’s footprint throughout our service region.”

“Carolina Brewing Company is excited to join the Mims Distributing family in the Triangle,” said Joe Zonin, sales manager of Carolina Brewing Company. “Mims Distributing has the craft beer expertise and dedicated service that we need to continue our accelerated growth in the region.”

Mims Distributing Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/MimsDistributing

Mims Distributing Twitter account:
https://twitter.com/mimsdist

May The Fourth Be With You! And for this, the most fantastic of made up holidays I bring you… Star Wars Beers. To hold your attention span I chose to only feature beers that had artwork! There are several beers that use the play on the word “Imperial” like “Imperial Entanglement” etc, so you can imagine there are many more beers named after Star Wars lines however the beers featured here went the extra light year to create a look to go with their theme.

From Jackson Hole comes OB-1, a English style brown ale in tribute to Obi-Wan “Ben” Kenobi portrayed in the original trilogy by English actor Sir Alec Guinness. Of course it’s named after Obi-Wan! What else could the people at Snake River Brewing be thinking?!

Black Lager from The Brew Kettle in Ohio. From the Space Balls parody for sure.

Another Space Balls call out and another black lager (with rye) from Westbrook in Mount Pleasant, SC.

The most famous of all Star Wars beers is New England Brewing’s Imperial Stout Trooper. Unfortunately the company was asked to change the above artwork that now sports the Groucho Marx glasses and nose disguise.

That’s not a beer! A craft mead from B Nektar in MI.

I hope they know that the spelt “Wookiee” incorrectly!

Terrapin Brewing offered this one time offering of a Belgian Dark called The Dark Side.

Sadly the best artwork didn’t end up on actual beers. These t-shirt designs from http://www.seventhink.com/ are awesome examples of fan art.

Still looking for more Star Wars and beer reading material? check out this pairing guide! bensbeerblog.com

And Beer2-D2 the beer dispensing droid: Beer2-D2

http://starwars.wikia.com/wiki/Jawa_beer

Charlotte, NC, May 3, 2013 – NoDa Brewing Company is pleased to announce its entrance into the South Carolina craft beer market with the signing of Comer Distributing Company as their distribution agent.

“Initially our distribution in South Carolina will be limited to the Fort Mill, Rock Hill and Columbia markets,” says Todd Ford, Owner and Brewery Manager of NoDa Brewing Company. “This is a logical distribution move for NoDa Brewing as we focus on new markets with growing craft beer demand near our home base in Charlotte. We are extremely excited with this move and the new markets it will open up.”

NoDa Brewing’s signature IPA, Hop, Drop ‘n Roll, will make its South Carolina debut this weekend at the Strawberry Festival in Fort Mill. In addition to Hop, Drop ‘n Roll, look for Ramble on Red and 2012 Great American Beer Festival (GABF) silver medal winner Coco Loco around Fort Mill, Rock Hill and Columbia later in this month.

“Comer Distributing Company is very proud and excited to introduce the fine brands of NoDa Brewing Company to our customers in South Carolina,” says Chip Comer, Vice President of Comer Distributing Company based in Rock Hill, SC. “NoDa Brewing is a great example of local artisans with a driving passion for doing what they love, brewing craft beer. Todd and Suzie Ford are just like people we all know… Americans who have a dream, take a risk, and build something from the ground up, just as our country was built. To have this opportunity and bring these great Charlotte brews with their unique story to our local customers is an overwhelming feeling!”

About NoDa Brewing Company:
NoDa Brewing Company currently has five year-round beers and multiple seasonal offerings available on-tap at local bars & restaurants and the brewery tap room. Its on-site tap room sells beer by the glass & take-home growlers and provides brewery tours as well as hosts special events. Look and ask for NoDa on tap at your local restaurant and bar. For more, visit www.NoDaBrewing.com.

http://www.comerdistributing.com/