Craft Beer Collective

Beer Talk with Anne Fitten Glenn

Discussing Asheville beer news plus Sierra Nevada & New Belgium potential build

Reporter Jake Frankel and beer columnist Anne Fitten Glenn discuss the state of beer business and culture in Asheville. Hosted by Margaret Williams. Podcast produced by Steve Shanafelt. Theme music is “jam band spy song” by E. Lee.

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Rep David Price Comments on Small Brew Act

Recently posted on Youtube with Paul from Duck Rabbit

Rep. Price joined Public Radio East to talk about his decision to co-sponsor the Small BREW Act, which would cut the excise tax on beer produced by small brewers. North Carolina is home to more small breweries than any other state. The story also focuses on other aspects of the effort to pass the legislation.

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Beer Gift – Haw River Founders

Saxapahaw based start up brewery, Haw River ales, is looking for help with start up costs and is offering “Founders” packages. There are two packages available for $295 and $495.

This is on the higher side of most start ups and or even Christmas gifts for most, but after getting to know owners Ben & Dawnya for the past year or so I really have believe that they are offering a good value in return.

Haw River Founders Collection

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Beer Gift – NCBG Membership

Are you looking for a gift that says “I really, really like North Carolina Beer?” Look no further than the North Carolina Brewers Guild Enthusiast program! With your member ship you’ll get a t-shirt, sticker and a membership card that entitles you to perks & discounts at several North Carolina breweries and businesses.

Here is a complete list of what’s being offered. / More Information / Sign Up Here

Unfortunately, most of my readers already know what I’m talking about here and may already be members. If you’re still reading this please share this article with a friend so all will know the benefits of the North Carolina Brewers Guild enthusiast membership.

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Papazian in Asheville

President of the Brewers Association and Founder of the American Homebrewers Association Charlie Papazian will be in Asheville later this month as the keynote speaker for an educational event presented by The North Carolina Brewers Guild and Asheville Brewers Alliance.

A North Carolina cask ale event will take place the night before at Barley’s featuring confirmed casks from Fullsteam, Foothills, Big Boss and Duck Rabbit with more TBA. Coincidence? I think not!

Full details:

The North Carolina Brewers Guild, in partnership with the Asheville Brewers Alliance, are pleased to welcome special guest Charlie Papazian, President of the Brewers Association and Founder of the American Homebrewers Association, as keynote speaker for our February educational event.

Charlie’s talk will focus on general beer styles and personal experiences with yeast. He will also present updates on governmental affairs and legislative developments and leave plenty of time for Q&A. Come meet and share a pint with a pioneer of the homebrewing movement.

We are also excited to announce two other speakers preceding Charlie’s presentation: Kevin Sudderth of Hach, who will be talking to us about oxygen pick-up/testing and HopUnion, LLC, who will offer us an update on the hop market and an outlook on hops.

Admission includes a buffet-style barbecue dinner and two drink tickets for your choice of Highland pints.

When: Wednesday, February 23 – doors open at 3:15 pm.

4:00 pm – Hach – Kevin Sudderth
4:30 pm – HopUnion, LLC – TBA
6:00 pm – Keynote – Charlie Papazian

Where: Highland Brewing Company, 12 Old Charlotte Highway, Suite H, Asheville, NC 28803
Pricing: FREE to Asheville Brewers Alliance and/or North Carolina Brewers Guild members;

$25 for non-members. Not yet a member of the North Carolina Brewers Guild? Now’s a great time to join to get in for free!

http://charlieinasheville.eventbrite.com/

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Video tour of @bigbossbeer @duckrabbitbrew

Recently, Darryl’s Grill of Greensboro have uploaded two video tours. The first with DUCK RABBIT BREWING in Farmville, NC and the second with BIG BOSS BREWING in Raleigh, NC. According to their website the restaurant is closed for renovations.

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

BEST OF THE BLOGS

Here are some recent blog posts by friends and acquaintances that I though I’d share with you:

Geistbear Brewing Blog
Thomas has posted a great resource for a subject that I run into quite often … Hop Farms! He published locations links and varieties grown at North Carolina hop farms. It’s an interesting subject that I will continue to follow. In fact I have put a request in at NC State to tour their fields that may be happening sooner than I thought!

Beer & Racing
Jon Odgers did another “Bike to Beer” tour and this time Durham was the spot! They hit Triangle and Fullsteam after a long ride on the American Tobacco Trail. Follow the above link to see some photos and to get involved in his next Bike To Beer tour!

Brewgasm
The Thirsty Monk in Asheville is having what they call Thirsty Fest…I mean check out the list of beers here. Easily the most exciting line up of beers in the state right now! Anyway, Brewgasm has the scoop and you can read about how she managed her kids and managed to make it through a high gravity flight that included Foothills Sexual Chocolate, Olde Hickory Barrel-Aged Scottish Ale, Highland Brewing Sour Seven Sisters and Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout! Ouch!

Bruisin Ales
They’re a craft beer store AND if you follow them on Facebook and Twitter they’re a solid source of beer news too! Check out the link for the amazing selection of fall seasonal brews that arriving at this world class beer retailer! Read the list and pray they stock this stuff wherever you live.

Top Fermented
Erik Myers just started his Mystery Brewing Company and uses this most recent blog post to talk about the rise of start up breweries and how his company will fit in or NOT fit in to the scene here. Plus he goes into the fact that the the industry is quite possibly “a facade of good will, warm-fuzzies, and glowing elf hugs”! Would love to chat with you about that Erik!

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com

Great American Craft Beer

NEW BOOK FEATURES 10 BREWS FROM 7 NC BREWERIES!

Andy Crouch has authored his new book, Great American Craft Beer, with a focus on the current craft beer movement – no imports, no macros, no BS. He did a great job of uncovering and exposing a lot of beloved regional beers including a handful of North Carolina breweries! I’ll get to those in a moment…

Great American Craft Beer is less of a book of reviews and more of a list of great category defining beers. For example, in the Belgian Witbier category you’ll find some of the most talked about samplings of the style being produced my the nation’s best breweries: Jolly Pumpkin‘s Calabaza Blanca, Allagash White, Bruery‘s Orchard White and so on. This format helps create a fairly comprehensive assessment of breweries, the beers they produce and the styles they are creating RIGHT NOW!

The book is rounded out with several essays on the brewing process, historical perspective, 25 Best beer bars, glossary of beer terms, and extensive sections of serving beer properly and pairing beer with food. In a way the book covers a lot of ground but seems to be careful to get right to the point of each subject.

The rise of the North Carolina beer scene is recognized here with the inclusion of ten beers by seven breweries. Each entry helps round out the style category they were featured in.

Big Boss Angry Angel
Cottonwood Pumpkin Ale
Duck Rabbit Wee Heavy Scotch Ale & Milk Stout
Foothills Torch Pilsner & Sexual Chocolate
French Broad Rye Hopper & Dunkle Witte
Highland Tasgall Ale
Pisgah Solstice

So, yes, apparently Cottonwood is being farmed out to a Pennsylvania brewery for production now. I’ll get to that in a future post!

Books like this can tend to cause a bit of debate when a readers favorite beer in not represented. I would recommend you use this book to explore what’s out there – available in cities across the country. Make a travel planner with this book or update your “wanted to trade” list!! It’s a better read than sifting through the many beer review websites out there!

Detail on Andy’s Website

Amazon.com

© 2011 Craft Beer Collective / Away Team Media

Bringing you the craft and culture of beer in North Carolina --> Raleigh, Durham, Charlotte, Asheville, Winston-Salem, Greensboro, Wilmington, NC and beyond

Contact us at dave (at) away (dash) team (dot) com