Indie brewery bought back from Anheuser-Busch brings production to Asheville
ASHEVILLE - In the next stage of reclaiming their business from beer titan Anheuser-Busch, the owners of a Boone-based brewery are bringing production and distribution back to Western North Carolina.
This month, Appalachian Mountain Brewery will begin brewing and canning its beers for retail sale at Green Man Brewery’s production facility in downtown Asheville in what’s become known as the South Slope brewing district.
The news of the collaboration comes on the heels of AMB’s announcement that co-founders Nathan Kelischek and Chris Zieber, had reclaimed independence in a historic deal that allowed them to buy the craft beer brewery back from Anheuser-Busch’s parent company, AB InBev, whose brands include Budweiser and Bud Light.
“Keeping with the mantra of bringing things back home, having it be in North Carolina was important to us so that we could be there and be a part of the process and keep it in the region. Keep it local," Kelischek said.
Where to buy Appalachian Mountain’s beers and ciders
Kelischek and Zieber, who are Asheville natives and cousins, established Appalachian Mountain Brewery and Cidery in 2011. Their first taproom opened in Boone two years later.
In 2021, AMB was sold to the company as a part of Craft Brew Alliance’s portfolio and distribution was moved to an out-of-town Anheuser-Busch facility. In May, Kelischek and Zieber celebrated retaining AMB as an independent craft brewery and cidery.
AMB’s award-winning beer and cider that supplies its Boone and Mills River taprooms has continued to be produced at the Boone brewery.
However, in 2019, its distribution production facility was shut down amid the Anheuser-Busch takeover.
By the end of 2023, the distribution deal with the international beer company will end. AMB doesn’t plan to miss a beat as local production at GMB is planned to begin in September with products on shelves in mid-October.
“Hopefully, you will not see any gaps on the shelf. Our goal is to have fresher products and more in stock," Kelischek said.
AMB’s Long Leaf IPA, Boone Creek Blonde, Low and Hazy IPA, Honeydew Honeysuckle Wheat and the new Hilly Haze IPA will be available in stores across the Carolinas in 12-ounce and 16-ounce cans.
Hilly Haze IPA is a “fan favorite” that’s been offered at AMB’s taprooms and will be canned for distribution for the first time. AMB’s Southern Apple Hard Cider will be introduced, too.
Next year, AMB’s variety pack will rotate with new brews to keep options fresh.
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Local supporting local
The two breweries might be considered competitors as they’re both producing beer for local and regional markets. However, the decision to collaborate benefits both parties ― it gives AMB a distribution home and allows GMB to make better use of its spacious production facility.
Dubbed The Green Mansion, the three-story, 20,000-square-foot brewery includes a packaging hall, a “brewtique” tasting room and market on the first floor and an indoor-outdoor taproom on the third floor at 27 Buxton Ave.
Between 2016-2018, many breweries in Asheville and across the U.S. built out their breweries for growing volumes, said Dennis Thies, who owns GMB with his wife, Wendy. But the demand has declined, he said.
“We’re in a contraction here in the craft brewing world and everybody knows it. Volumes are down, competition’s up,” Thies said.
“It stopped coming then COVID hit, so what we have is a built-out facility that’s completely finished at state-of-the-art ... But we can do a lot more volume.”
GMB’s operations won’t be affected, he said. There will be a schedule for brew days for both breweries. Thies said he isn’t concerned about competition since the two breweries use different formulas and recipes.
The current partnership derived from the friendship between Kelischek and GMB’s Director of Brewery Operations, Matt Peyton.
AMB’s founders said they felt akin to GMB as a family-owned business committed to quality and sustainability to produce reputable award-winning beers.
“We’ve been enjoying working with them,” Thies said. ”They have some creative ideas and they come in with a fresh set of eyes. It’s like, ‘Oh, I hadn’t thought about that.’”
Appalachian Mountain and Green Man’s new beer release
To commemorate the new, local partnership, AMB and GMB will release a Breakfast Porter, available exclusively in its taprooms beginning Oct. 19.
The low alcohol by volume brew ― name to be announced ― will be made using coffee from Boone-based roasters and doughnuts from Vortex Donuts in Asheville. The tasting notes will include vanilla, cacao nibs and a touch of oats to create a full-bodied ale ideal for the fall.
“Green Man is known for their amazing Old English style beers, and we make our own porter so it’s a shared love of dark beers,” Kelischek said.
What’s next for Green Man and Appalachian Mountain breweries
Established in 1997, GMB properties include Dirty Jack’s, at 23 Buxton Ave. located next door ― the brewery’s original taproom.
In 2022, GMB introduced its Green Man Eats! ghost kitchen that offers food service to both its taprooms Thursday through Saturday.
Mixed beverages will be added to the menu soon so customers may order a cocktail at the breweries.
“A couple of cool brands that I’m proud of that we’re offering now in the way of innovating is our ginger seltzer, which is our alcoholic ginger beer that we call a seltzer, that’s popular,” said Thies, who's owned GMB since 2010.
GMB’s all-natural root beer, available by the bottle at the taprooms and Earth Fare market, has been a hit with customers, too, he said.
AMB’s Boone taproom is at 163 Boone Creek Drive. In June, AMB opened its second taproom at 46 North Mills River Road in Mills River.
When asked if a taproom is in consideration for Asheville, Kelischek said, “You never know.”
“We’re excited to continue producing the beers that we love and excited to be a part of the local scene,” Kelischek said. “We’re just taking it one step at a time to try to rebuild and this partnership is a great step in the right direction.”
Brew news you may have missed:
Asheville natives reclaim ownership of WNC brewery from Anheuser-Busch
Asheville area breweries bring home 2023 World Beer Cup awards: Who are big winners?
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: Appalachian Mountain, Green Man breweries forge new partnership, beer
