Asheville's beer community embraces other craft beverage styles, new events on horizon
ASHEVILLE - Craft beverage producers are finding strength in collaboration and innovation in a constantly changing industry climate.
Consumer and tourism trends have been motivators for local beverage businesses to launch new events and enhance experiences to bring imbibers back to the taprooms.
“It is a difficult time for the brewing and tourism industry in Asheville. We have seen a decrease of folks visiting taprooms, both community members and tourists,” said Karis Roberts, executive director of the Asheville Brewers Alliance, an organization that promotes and supports its members across Western North Carolina.
Roberts said the local brewing community has seen a lot of closures and restructuring but is resilient and dedicated to its craft. And although Asheville's earned the “Beer City” moniker, there's more going on.
Roberts said there is growth happening, like the expansion of existing taprooms, new taprooms opening in and out of the city, and product development. Some businesses have launched and widened distribution, collaborating with other breweries, organizations and businesses to create custom products. And many are experimenting with new styles and zero-proof and gluten-free options, like natural wines, hard cider and seltzer, hop-infused water and nonalcoholic beer.
“We think ‘Beer City’ and think that’s all that we have to offer but there’s so much creativity and pivoting ― we’re not all just drinking beer anymore,” Robert said.
This year, two event series will aid the charge to bring craft beverage producers and the community together, Beers with Buds: An N.C. Beer Gathering and Asheville Beer Week.
Here’s what to know about the new and returning celebrations, plus more beverage festivals and events coming up in 2024.
Beer with Buds
Beers with Buds: An N.C. Beer Gathering will debut 7- 10 p.m. March 29 at The Mule, Devil's Foot Beverage Co.’s taproom at 131 Sweeten Creek Road.
Ten craft breweries across North Carolina have been invited to serve samples of their beers.
“Rather than approaching it as a beer festival, we wanted to step away from the overcrowded, overindulgence driven. … We want to bring it to a level where people could actually taste the beer that’s in front of them and have a relationship with the craft and learn more about the brand," said Miranda Michaels, The Mule’s events and tasting room manager.
The North Carolina Beer Gathering brewery guest list features:
Oden Brewing, Greensboro
Fonta Flora Brewery, Morganton
Wilmington Brewing, Wilmington
New Anthem Beer Project, Wilmington
Heist Brewery, Charlotte
Town Brewing Co, Charlotte
HopFly Brewing Co, Charlotte
Wooden Robot Brewery, Charlotte
Brewery Bhavana, Raleigh
Bond Brothers Beer Company, Cary
Tickets are $40 and include unlimited tastings of 30 beer styles and a souvenir glass. Guests must be ages 21 and up for the tastings but the event is open to all ages. Purchase tickets at devilsfootbrew.com.
Retail products and merchandise available for sale. Food will be available for purchase on-site, and The Mule’s full bar will be open.
Michaels said the event kicks off a recurring series in August, September and October, focused on Georgia, Tennessee and South Carolina breweries where the company is expanding its footprint.
Devil’s Foot was founded as a nonalcoholic beverage producer, but as the company continues to grow, its portfolio has steadily diversified in styles and alcoholic offerings to include products like the zero-proof and Friend of the Devil canned cocktails lines that meld the soda company’s farm-fresh ingredients with brewers and distillers’ products.
Michaels said it’s a reason the beverage business, which doesn’t brew beer, is hosting a beer-centric event series.
“Craft beverage is craft beverage whether it’s a craft soda, wine or beer,” Michael said. “It’s crossing over the line so we can continue to co-create and support each other as a craft beverage community and not really as ‘we’re nonalcoholic and you make alcoholic products.’ It’s removing the competition and bringing in more camaraderie.”
AVL Beer Week 2024
Asheville Brewers Alliance’s 13th annual Asheville Beer Week will return with 10 days of entertaining, educational and engaging programming, uniting the community, artists and beverage industry professionals, May 16-26 at various locations.
AVL Beer Week, designed to promote tourism and the beverage industry across Western North Carolina, will feature craft beer, ginger beer, cider and other craft beverage producers from the area.
“The craft beverage folks are always working on innovation and ways they can pivot when things get hard,” Roberts said. “I’ve noticed so much tenacity from the brewing industry community. As things progress, I’m hoping to ignite more passion for the industry and bring back Asheville Beer Week this year.”
The schedule includes an artist panel to discuss label designs, a Women in Brewing panel discussion with interviews of women working in the industry in roles from marketing to accounting to leadership, and a “No Beer Here” event where nonbeer craft beverages will be offered.
On May 24, Craft Beverage Expo will include educational seminars on topics like finance and operations, business leadership and technical brewing, in partnership with the N.C. Craft Brewers Guild, plus a special tasting experience.
On May 25, the Beer City 20k Relay will kick off with teams racing through the city.
Events are open to the public, including the Craft Beverage Expo, and many events are family-friendly and free.
Roberts said ticketed events were priced low to maintain accessibility and the schedule and tickets will be available soon at avlbeerweek.com.
More beverage festivals and events coming up in 2024:
June 22. Carolina CiderFest at Urban Orchard Cider Co.-South Slope.
Aug. 1-4. AVL Fest, presented by Wicked Weed Brewing and Worthwhile Sounds, at various locations.
Oct. 12. Burnpile at Burial Beer Co.-Forestry Camp.
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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: AVL Beer Week, Beer with Buds among upcoming events in Asheville
