09Nov 2017 by chris power
Black Star Line Brewing Co – Making Craft Beer Waves in Hendo

Black Star Line Brewing Co – Making Craft Beer Waves in Hendo

Asheville
Black Star Line Brewing Co – Making Craft Beer Waves in Hendo There has been a ton of press of late about Black Star Line Brewing which is perhaps the first female-black owned brewery in the area, and from my research, maybe the world! The fact that they landed in blood red Henderson County – specifically downtown Hendersonville, in the old Basic Brewery location, is in of itself newsworthy. Yes, times are a chang’n! While another article on how and why they started would be newsworthy, I decided to focus on their unique beers. [caption id="attachment_21072" align="alignleft" width="200"] Tommy Green[/caption] I spent a couple hours at Black Star Line recently talking to the staff and tasting all the beers they had on tap. Before you ask, I did have help.…
Read More
27Oct 2017 by chris power
Hillman Beer: A Family Affair

Hillman Beer: A Family Affair

Asheville
Hillman Beer: A Family Affair I spent about 30 minutes on a Tuesday evening talking with Brad Hillman, Head Brewer and Co-Owner of Hillman Beer. For a Tuesday the brewery looked pretty crowded – not bad at all for a brewery that started only about six months ago. Brad had been a homebrewer for more than a decade before starting Hillman Beer with his brother Greig, Greig’s wife Brandi, Brandi’s mother Wanda, and his parents Greg and “Momma Beer” Linda. Brad had been in the restaurant industry since age 15. He had been bartending in New York for a while when his brother had mentioned the idea of opening a brewery. Greig and Brandi had been living and working in the Asheville area for a while. [caption id="attachment_20274" align="aligncenter" width="767"]…
Read More
03Oct 2017 by chris power
Big Things A-Brewin’ at Triskelion Brewing Company

Big Things A-Brewin’ at Triskelion Brewing Company

Hendersonville
Big Things A-Brewin’ at Triskelion Brewing Company ***Some breaking news and a beer named after an angel’s body part While talking with Triskelion Brewing co-owners Jonathan and Becky Ayers recently, I filled up seven pages of notes about their glorious brewing plans. And trust me, with the seemingly endless supply of new breweries and breweries in the works, it is easy to get underwhelmed. I mean what can be new or different anymore? I quickly found out with Triskelion there is plenty ‘new’ and ‘different’ to discuss. [caption id="attachment_19010" align="alignleft" width="573"] Becky and Jonathan Ayers of Triskelion Brewing[/caption] “Everything down to the last detail in this brewing project has been planned from the get go. When you build two structures – the brewhouse and the taproom from the ground up…
Read More
25Sep 2017 by chris power
Craft Centric: Bringing the South Slope Feel to South Asheville

Craft Centric: Bringing the South Slope Feel to South Asheville

Asheville
Craft Centric: Bringing the South Slope Feel to South Asheville While a trip to Belgium in high school may have been a foreshadowing of Matt Vaughan’s love for craft beer, it wasn’t until he took a Brews Cruise tour many years later that is all started to click for him. "I have to admit I had some amazing beers in Belgium, but I was still young and had no idea as to what I was drinking. I do remember thinking that it tasted better than what I had back in the U.S. I hope I can go back again someday,” says Matt Vaughan. [caption id="attachment_17983" align="aligncenter" width="668"] Matt and Shannon Vaughn[/caption] Matt and his wife Shannon are hoping to open Craft Centric Taproom & Bottle Shop by late October/early November.…
Read More
22Sep 2017 by chris power
Sideways Farm and Brewery to open in Hendersonville

Sideways Farm and Brewery to open in Hendersonville

Hendersonville
Sideways Farm and Brewery to open in Hendersonville When it comes to craft beer and brewing, Henderson County, NC is having a “hopslosion!” Three breweries are in various stages of construction including Dry Falls Brewing Company (see recent interview and article), Triskelion Brewing Company, and Sideways Farm and Brewery. All of which are slated to open in the coming months. In addition, downtown Hendersonville will see the opening of two new restaurants/taprooms, each promising a wide selection of local and regional craft beer. There are even rumors of several interested buyers in the recently closed Basic Brewery. [caption id="attachment_17785" align="alignleft" width="250"] Owners Jon and Carrieann Schneider[/caption] I spent a recent sunny Saturday afternoon touring the grounds and tasting beers at Sideways Farm and Brewery - a 10 acre sustainable family…
Read More
16Sep 2017 by chris power
Dry Falls Brewing to Open in Hendersonville

Dry Falls Brewing to Open in Hendersonville

Hendersonville
Dry Falls Brewing to open in Hendersonville “Busy Bend” in Hendo Lands a Brewery! With three new breweries in the works, Henderson County’s brewery scene continues to expand. Dry Falls Brewing Company, along with Triskelion Brewing Company, and Sideways Farm Brewery are all slated to open in the coming months. While an exact date can’t be confirmed yet, as early as this winter, the 77-year old Oates Paint and Body Shop building on the “Busy Bend” section of Kanuga Road in Hendersonville will be home to Dry Falls Brewing Company. [caption id="attachment_17844" align="alignleft" width="150"] Brewer Evan Golliher[/caption] I took about half an hour recently to chat with Dry Falls Brewing Company co-owner and co-brewer (with his father Jeff), Evan Golliher, about the brewery plans. Evan, along with Jeff, had been…
Read More