Mountain Spirits: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co Tasting Tonight at Brusin' Ales

April 30, 5 PM to 7 PM at Brusin' Ales, 66 Broadway Street in downtown Asheville NC: FREE Sierra Nevada Tasting with a five beer flight.

Pale Ale: "The beginning. A classic and  most popular beer. Pale Ale began as a home brewer's dream, grew into an icon, and inspired countless brewers to follow a passion of their own. Its unique piney and grapefruit aromas from the use of whole-cone American hops have fascinated beer drinkers for decades and made this beer a classic, yet it remains new, complex and surprising to thousands of beer drinkers every day. It is-as it always has been-all natural, bottle conditioned and refreshingly bold."

Hop Hunter: "Intense wet hop flavor year round. Hop Hunter IPA harnesses the complex flavors of just-picked hops through an all-new method of steam distilling wet hops before they even leave the fields. This revolutionary technique captures and intensifies the natural flavors, creating a unique and intensely aromatic beer. The custom process gathers pure hop oil which, when combined with traditional whole-cone hops in the brew kettle and makes for an incredible IPA experience."

Ovila Saison: "Complex yet rustic farmhouse ale. An homage to the monks' noble work, this unique farmhouse ale is incredibly complex with notes of lemon, pepper, straw and herbs balanced by the tang of Mandarin oranges and a spicy kick of pepper. The Mandarin oranges used to make this beer were locally grown, including a portion grown on the grounds of the Abbey of New Clairvaux and picked by hand by the community of monks living there. We hope you enjoy this collaboration ale."

Rain Check Spiced Stout: "A specialty beer brewed for Western North Carolina and several surrounding states. Rain Check was inspired by the tropical flavors often found in other favorite foul-weather drinks-fresh ginger, brown sugar, molasses, and tangy lime."

Barrel-aged Bigfoot: "Aged in oak whiskey casks for nearly two years, this barrel-aged Bigfoot is incredibly complex. The assault of resinous hops has mellowed, and the influence of the wood has shifted focus toward the malt-with rich burnt-sugar flavors and notes of vanilla, toasted coconut, and raisins."

Mountain Spirits: Wine and Beer Tastings this Weekend

April 11, 2015 at Appalachian Vitner, 45 Biltmore Avenue Suite #121 in Asheville NC: 
 Sour Grapes Wine FREE tasting.  The focus of Sour Grapes Wine is to bring wine that is as unadulterated and natural as possible from the farmer to our table. This means that they travel and taste and have first hand experience with the growers and makers of the wines that they strive to bring to us. Natural means no pesticides, synthetic materials, or additives. Natural means giving us the true experience without all the manipulation.


April 10,  5-7 PM at Hops and Vines, 797 Haywood Rd, Ste 100 in Asheville NC: 
Victory Brewery FREE Beer Tasting. Victory Kirsch GOSE - A bold and bright step outside the norm, the flavors of a unique, old world German brewing process excite your senses with the sharp and sweet burst of fresh cherries. Effervescent and sublime, this session ale has an enticing cherry-fruit character. European tradition and American ingenuity come together in the truest sense as you Taste Victory in Kirsch Gose. Victory Summer Love - There are plenty of reasons to love summer, and here is one great one! German hops and pale malt blend beautifully to create this refreshing taste of summer. This light-bodied ale casts a golden hue reminiscent of the summer sun shining high above the City of Philadelphia. Victory Anniversary 19 session IPA - As our gift to you, we’ve brewed this crisp and easy drinking session IPA – full of hop flavor – for you to enjoy all night long. So put this beer to your lips and start shakin’ what your mama gave you – the party is just getting started.

April 11, 3 -  6 PM  FREE tasting of NEW Wines:  Sant Evasio, Gavi di Gavi, Italy, 2014: Made from the Cortese grapes, this is a bright fresh wine. Flowery, delicate, with hints of pineapple and peach. Although fruity this wine is full bodied and has just the right amount of acidity. We carry several wines from Sant Evasio and they are all exceptional quality at great prices. $14.99.  Dom Fenouillet, France, 2014: This lovely "bargain" is a blend of the hybrid grape “Marsellan” Grenache and Syrah, a curious concoction that produces a silky wine redolent of red fruit mingled with earth. The grapes are crushed, destemmed and then macerated and fermented for a week or so before being racked into cement cuve for six months before bottling. Excellent value! $10.99.  Vinaceous, Snake Charmer Shiraz, Australia, 2012: Founded in 2007 and located in Western Australia, Vinaceous is the brainchild of winemaker Michael Kerrigan and marketer Nick Stacy. Michael has over 17 years of winemaking experience and his contacts with farmers ensure access to superior fruit. The Snake Charmer is sourced from renowned vineyards in the McLaren Vale. Intense black fruits, dark chocolate and mocha flavors, perfect for a summer BBQ.  $15.99.   10% off all featured bottles on Saturday.


April 10, 5:30 - 8 PM at Maggie B's Wine Shoppe, 10 C South Main Street in Weaverville NC:
FREE wine Tasting - This week pouring brand new wines for Maggie B's. These are new gems of juice that just arrived including Lafage Miraflors Rose,  Cuvaison Chardonnay,  The Path Pinot Noir,  Sinello Garnacha.