The Openings
– In one of the biggest things ever to happen to Asheville, New Belgium Brewing will open an East Coast facility in West Asheville
– Oskar Blues just opened its new brewery in Brevard
– On a smaller scale, Wicked Weed opened its new brewery/gastropub just last week to rave reviews
Other local craft brewers started making beer or announcing plans:
– Catawba Valley Brewing told Ashvegas that it definitely had plans to open a boutique brewery in Asheville
– The boys at Altamont Brewing finally got around to making beer in West Asheville
– Oyster House Brewing, a small operation in the Lobster Trap restaurant in downtown, announced plans to move into the former Viva Deli restaurant on Haywood Road
– One World Brewing is slated to open this spring downtown, below the new Farm Burger
– Thirsty Monk announced plans to move its small brewery in south Asheville to bigger digs in Biltmore Park, where it will expand production
– Burial Beer dropped some big hints about a move to Asheville
The Closings
– Despite interesting brews, Craggie Brewing closed. R.I.P. Word is another brewer will take over its location.
Other top brews news:
– The Wedge’s Vadim Bora Russian Imperial Stout made a CNN list of ‘Best beers of 2012′
– Asheville was named a top-seven beer destination by the Travel Channel
– CraftBeer.com readers said The Thirsty Monk is #1 favorite bar in the South, #3 overall
– Brewgrass backlash?: Neighbors complained about the popular fest, and fans did, too
– Beer 101?: A-B Tech, App State and BRCC want to get residents ready for the beer economy
– Hipster honors: Asheville is nation’s #2 consumer of PBR per capita
What will 2013 hold as New Belgium puts down Asheville roots? Where do we go from here?