3 new breweries close by

[EL34]

This area is becoming a craft beer brewing mecca
There are already several nice ones in Asheville

Here's the newest additions

This one is about 10 miles from me
Sierra Nevada to open later this year
http://www.sierranevada.com/brewery/north-carolina/brewery-tour


Sierra nevada

Oscar Blues - Dales pale ale
This one is open and brewing and will be expanding to 40,000 barrels in the future
This one is about 5 miles from me
http://www.oskarblues.com/about-us/oskarbluesbrevard


They will eventually have 20 or more of those big kettles shown on the left

This is small one in downtown Brevard right on main st - about 7 miles away from me
His beers are really good
brevard Breweing company
http://www.brevard-brewing.com/

[SILVERGUN]

WOW 

Looks like that's the new BIG buisness

Guess there's a decent profit margin in charging $4 for something that only costs you 4 cents to make 

[PRR]

It is a fast-acting fad.

Caught-on in Maine about 5-10 years back. Sea Dog has opened a new outlet in Fla, but Maine Coast Brewing shut down 2 years ago, and IMHO Atlantic Brewing isn't growing. Carolina will have much lower energy costs, true. But I think a lot of the business (and why that brew floor is so snazzy) is free tours (case-sales at the exit); do you have a ton of tourists?

[EL34]

This is a ecclectic place. A small college town
A Mountain biking mecca and beer drinking is huge with mountain bikers
55% of the county is national and state forest
The blue ridge parkway is just up the road
It's also a big trout fishing destination if you are into that

Oscar blues brewery:
They give brewery tours and they have a tap room where you can drink by the glass
Not sure if they sell cases, but they moved here fro a couple reasons

1) 40% of their sales from the Colorado brewery were east of the Mississippi river
2) They are mountain bikers and like the small town atmosphere here

They will also be openeing a restaurant eventually

[PRR]

> A small college town

Hard to support palaces like those on college students.

> 55% of the county is national and state forest
The blue ridge parkway is just up the road
It's also a big trout fishing destination

That works. You won't be the next St "Bud" Louis, but several of those operations can do well and bring money to the economy.

[EL34]

I don't think the college kids are buying the high dollar beers

The bars all keep PBR on tap for them and they have $1.00 PBR nights
The college kids drink that stuff up

[Ritchie200]

St. Bud Louis has become St. outsourced Louis.  They do not have near the fans here in St. Louis as before the InBev invasion.  InBev gutted the operation here.  Bud was a local institution - not any more.  When they bought up AB the first thing they said they were going to do was dump the Clydesdales and go with a more modern advertising theme for the brand.  Yeah, smart move...  Not sure if that was to stir the pot, as free press is good cheap advertising....  St. Louis is fickle with "their" stuff.  Albert Pujols had this town in the palm of his hand.  Now he would be lucky to get a table at the local Denny's.

We have Schlafly here in St. Louis too.  Some of their stuff is really, really good.  Others, not so.....IMHO.  They have a GREAT tour.  Of course, Bud has a great tour too.....sigh.....

PRR, I want to try some of your Allagash bourbon barrel.  I've heard good things about it and we get only a few bottles here and there at the upscale stores.  Quite expensive, but I've spent more on a good wine.

Jim

[PRR]

> I want to try some of your Allagash bourbon barrel.  I've heard good things about it and we get only a few bottles here...

?? Allagash's site says "bourbon barrel" is "draft-only". If true, you should not be buying it in bottles.

Their product locator does not list bourbon barrel. Picking a random flavor, available within 25 miles of me, finds 14 places. From gourmet shops to convenience stores. You can come on up and we'll hunt for bourbon barrel. But here is 3-6 hours north of Portland where they make it. So it would surely be wiser to stop at the brewery. I-95 to Brighton to Riverside to Industrial, bet you can't miss it.

They actually age beer in bourbon casks? I thought there was a law against putting new booze in old barrels.

[Ritchie200]

My fav specialty beer haunt told me that it does come in a growler complete with cork and basket (that's what pumps it up from $4 a bottle to $12!).

Bourbon barrel reuse?  That's not illegal - that's art!

Jim

[Ritchie200]

One of my prized beer possessions is a Sam Adams Triple Bock from 1997.  They were aged in bourbon barrels too.  That is what peaked my interest in the Allagash. The cork is weeping so it may be done...   I was going to email the company and ask what they thought.  I hate to open it!  Conventional thought is that it ages gracefully.  Hmmm.... that could also mean a week on the john.....  Oh wait, that's what happens when I try to brew beer....

Jim