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Posted in Burial Beer Co, Don't Miss This

Burial Beer is opening a taproom in Raleigh this winter

Asheville-based Burial Beer Co. is ready to expand 245 miles outside their hometown this winter to Raleigh, North Carolina.

The brewery has selected a decaying century old coach house structure attached to the Transfer Co. Food Hall in downtown Raleigh. Burial describes the new location as an “art-filled catacomb” highlighting the work of illustrator, David Paul Seymour. The space offer taproom only offerings, and can releases.

“Our space in Asheville really connects people to our vision and brand. The new location will give people in the Eastern part of NC the chance to make that connection as well.” – Tim Gormley, co-owner and Head Brewer.

The Burial Raleigh location is slated to open in late 2018/early 2019 and will be open Thursdays and Fridays from 2-9PM and Saturdays from 12-6PM.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Ommegang, Coming Soon, Don't Miss This

Ommegang is rounding out the Game of Thrones Series this year with a barrel-aged beer just for Jon Snow

You know nothing about brewing Jon Snow. Fighting for the throne? Sure. Drinking? Maybe. The fourth and final release this year in the Royal Reserve subset is coming by year’s end – Ommegang Game of Thrones King in the North.

We still don’t have the seventh book in the Fire & Ice Series or a release date for the next season of Game of Thrones. That doesn’t stop Ommegang from keeping the series alive in liquid form.

READ MORE: OMMEGANG GAME OF THRONES SERIES

Ommegang Game of Thrones King in the North is set to debut around Christmas, so the brewery has chosen a bourbon barrel-aged imperial stout inspired by Jon Snow himself. When we last saw Snow, he was making love to the Mother of Dragons, Daenerys Targaryen. Let’s assume they sipped a boozy beer like this by the fire afterward.

“I don’t think we’re alone in our hopes for Jon Snow. And for those who missed one of the Collection during the year, we’re pleased to offer the opportunity to get all four at once, along with a glass in which to serve them.” – Doug Campbell, Ommegang President

Ommegang describes King in the North’s flavor as  ‘rich and full with notes of chocolate, vanilla, coffee, and roasted malt up front followed by smooth bourbon and a hint of oak”.  You just add the fur pelts and roaring fire. Try not to behead anyone.

The Royal Reserve Collection started in April with Hand of the Queen, following by Queen of the Seven Kingdoms. Next Month is Mother of Dragons, before wrapping up the year with this imperial stout.

Ommegang Game of Thrones King in the North will be available in 750-milliliter bottles, as well as a special multi-bottle gift pack with Game of Thrones glassware.

Style: Imperial Stout (Barrel Aged. Bourbon.)
Availability: 750ml bottles
Debut: December 2018

?? ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Don't Miss This

Production volume up as U.S. brewery count hits 6,655

At the midpoint of 2018, small and independent brewery growth in the United States is holding stable according to the Brewers Association.

As of June 30th, there were 6,655 active breweries in the U.S., up from 5,562 in the same time frame in 2017. Production volume has increased craft industry-wide by 5%.

There are 2,500 to 3,000 breweries currently in planning.

According to Bart Watson, chief economist for the Brewers Association, 2018 is on pace to have the highest number of openings and closings to date.

“The data demonstrate that 2018 is on pace to have the highest number of brewery openings and closings to date. However, even as breweries close, openings continue to far outpace the number that shutter. New players looking to enter the space should be aware of the constructs of the current landscape, work to differentiate themselves and will need to make quality beer to succeed.” – Bart Watson

In a special appearance in front of the Georgia Craft Brewer’s Guild in early July, Watson expects the U.S. brewery count to break 7,000 before the end of 2018.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Southern Sky Brewing, Don't Miss This

Georgia loses another brewery. Southern Sky Brewing announces closure

Southern Sky Brewing Company has announced they have closed their doors.

Georgia Tech graduate Jon Near founded the brewery three years ago in Kennesaw, Georgia. Sources close to Southern Sky state the brewery was at constant odds with their distributor, Empire Distributors, over product placement at events in the weeks leading up to this announcement.

Incidentally, Beer Street Journal could only find one mention of Southern Sky on the brewery’s website – a single link back to the brewery’s website. There is no mention of Southern Sky’s beer portfolio.

The brewery’s equipment is currently available for sale.

In late spring, Abbey of the Holy Goats, a Belgian inspired brewery based in Roswell, Georgia also closed their doors and offered their equipment on industry site ProBrewer.com.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hi Wire Brewing, Don't Miss This

Hi-Wire releases a Horchata inspired edition of their 10W-40 imperial stout this weekend

Hi-Wire Horchata 10W-40, a dessert inspired edition of the brewery’s increasingly popular imperial stout is coming this weekend. 

The Asheville, North Carolina based brewery debuted 10W-40 Imperial Stout, a coffee, chocolate, and vanilla a few years ago. It truly does pour like motor oil. Not long after, a barrel-aged edition debuted.

On July 7th, this “oil” line gains a horchata edition of the imperial stout. This edition features chocolate, cinnamon, and vanilla beans, with a creaminess derived from lactose milk sugar.

This decadent stout boasts huge notes of fresh vanilla, amaretto, and cinnamon with an incredibly smooth and chocolatey finish.

Hi-Wire Horchata 10W-40 is a 16-ounce can offering, available in the taproom on July 7th at 12 pm. Limited distribution to follow.

Style: Imperial Stout (w/ Chocolate. Cinnamon. Vanilla Beans. Lactose.)
Availability: 16oz Cans.
Debut: 7/7/18

8% ABV

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Hi Wire Brewing, Brewery Expansions, Don't Miss This

Hi-Wire Brewing is building a third location in Durham, North Carolina

Asheville, North Carolina based Hi-Wire Brewing already boasts two locations in one of the most visited beer towns in America. The state of North Carolina will soon be able to claim a third, this time in the city of Durham.

The “Durham Fun Zone” is expected to open by the end of 2018 at 800 Taylor Street. The 8,884 square foot space boasts 24 taps for Hi-Wire beers, as well as guest taps, and a plethora of games like shuffleboard, table tennis, and foosball tables.

While not a part of the initial build-out, space has been dedicated for a future pilot brewing system. This new construction is part of the Golden Belt campus in Durham, a 320,000 square foot facility that was once a textile and tobacco facility.

Currently, the brewery operates their original brewery in Asheville’s South Slope area, as well as their “Big Top” production facility less than a mile from city center.

The brewery currently expects the Durham Fun Zone to open in late October, barring any construction delays.

by Reid Ramsay
Posted in Abbey of the Holy Goats, Don't Miss This

Abbey of the Holy Goats closes taproom, brewhouse up for sale

It would appear that Abbey of the Holy Goats, a Roswell, Georgia based brewery has potentially closed for good.

At the end of March, the brewery stated on their and Twitter and Instagram channels that the taproom would be closed for a while. Since then, the brewery’s 7-barrel brewhouse and French wood foeder have been listed by the founder Kathy Davis ProBrewer.com, an industry professional forum.

Davis, a former Buddist Nun opened Abbey of the Holy Goats in spring of 2016. As the story goes, Davis was ready to leave for Canada to join her convent, when a friend took her to Brick Store Pub in Decatur, Georgia. Her love affair with Belgian beer started that evening, prompting her to choose brewing beer over her religious vows.

As of early June, the brewery’s social media remains silent, and the taproom remains closed, and the brewery’s phone number disconnected.

An email to the brewery was not returned.

by Reid Ramsay