Tag Archives: Asheville

Citra Gose or: The Less Desirables Beer of the Week

18 Wednesday Jul 2018

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Salutations™!!

Bull’s Tavern, the Official Beer Sponsor of The Less Desirables, presents Citra Gose from Hi-Wire Brewing Company, The Less Desirables Beer of the Week.citra-gose_mockup-402x1030

Goses have quickly become one of my favorite styles of beer. I love sour and I love salty and Goses are both at once. When Danielle brings in a Gose beer, I get excited. For one, it’s a Gose but also, I know that Danielle is my Beer Hero so she’s going to do us right! She did us right.

I really dig what Hi-Wire does. They’re located in NC’s Beer Capitol, Asheville. They do stuff to take care of the environment and they make great beer. This is one such beer. It’s salty and tangy and has a great floral and citrus aromatic essence about it. It’s light in body, light in heft (it’s only 4.2% ABV) but heavy on the flavor. Danielle said that if you like margaritas, you should try using this in lieu of a sour mix. I want to try that!

BeerAdvocate rates this beer 3.73/5 (Good) which I think is selling it short. Untappd has it at 3.67 caps out of 5, also selling it short. I rate it at 4.5 as it’s danged delicious. Have you had it? What did you think? If you’ve not had it or just have a hankering for more, head to Bull’s Tavern and try a pint of it. 

Listen to this week’s podcast episode to hear what we all think about it. You can do that HERE.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“At our core, we brew beer we want to drink on a regular basis, beer we can sit down and have multiple pints with friends.” – Hi-Wire Brewing

Cúrate Y’all! or: Ibérico Piggybackin’

08 Thursday Mar 2018

Posted by in Beer, Food, Life as We Know It, Wine

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Salutations™!!

I was going to do this next week but I ended up with a little time, which is odd. So, I wrote a 2300 word (yeah it’s long but detailed) review of The Beer Dads‘ trip to Asheville, on The Man Who Ate the Town, but just the dinner at Cúrate (pronounced coo-ruh-tay). I can’t really tell you more because I’d be giving it away but you can also see pictures on Instagram over at The Man Who Ate the Town’s account. I’m telling you, this was some delicious stuff. Read the short novel HERE.

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Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“From jamón Ibérico to croquetas, patatas bravas, and crema catalana, Cúrate brings the essence of Spain to downtown Asheville… one plate at a time.” – Cúrate

Vinyl Pals or: Seeing Daylight

26 Monday Feb 2018

Posted by in Life as We Know It, Records

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Salutations™!!

I’m almost done with all the video work I’ve been doing, I can see daylight. But, I wanted to talk about something else for a minute.

One of the many, many things that I love about vinyl collecting is the community that it creates. You are doing this with others who share your passion or at least just dig the collectability. I have several friends who I was already friends with that I have been talking vinyl with and enjoying the conversations. output

When I came home on Friday, just before I picked up 3B and before The BCPF and I left for Asheville, there was a package out on my front porch. I was familiar with the shape of the package. It was for vinyl. Had I ordered something? I thought my orders had already been filled. It turns out, they were.

This package had a return address but not a name. It was from Mt. Airy. I only know a few people in Mt. Airy. And, with one, we have had a few conversations about vinyl. I opened it up and there were six albums in there. I was perplexed.

I sent a text to my friend Jerry Chapman. Yes, that Jerry Chapman. I asked if this pile of loveliness was his doing. He sent back, “It is. Wow, that got there fast. I have lots of double of some records, so it’s more fun just to send them to friends.” It was fantastic. It turns out that I have one already but, in the spirit of the occasion, I’m going to trade it to Clay Howard for a record that I was looking for that he had an extra of.

I’m going to hold off on listing them until this weekend when we go to Underdog Records. I’ll do the cleaning thing and cataloging. I’ll include them in the “haul.”  So many thanks to Jerry. He’s a real pal and I appreciate him! Not just for the records, but just being a pal. He’s cool.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“It was so exciting to go to the record shop and buy a piece of vinyl and hold it, read the liner notes, look at the pictures. Even the smell of the vinyl.” – Martin Gore

Silent Sunday or: The Return

25 Sunday Feb 2018

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Salutations™!!

So, The BCPF and I didn’t go to Underdog Records this weekend because we were up in the mountains with The Beer Dads crew, at least most of them. We were missing one couple that has become part of the family. That was a shame but we had a fantastic time up in Asheville. Keep an eye out for The Man Who Ate the Town blog and podcast this week because I’ll be talking about one restaurant, in particular, Cúrate (pronounced coo-rah-tay).

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The Beer Dads group in front of Sierra Nevada’s Asheville facility. “Malt” Disney World.

 

We were in Asheville and that really means one thing: Beer! We visited Sierra Nevada and DANG! that was as someone called “Malt” Disney World. Once you get past the regular pale ale, you get some fantastic brews. Man… That was amazing and it was so beautiful a location, spot, and facility. Unless you go there, you’ll never understand the attraction. I wouldn’t have either. We also visited French Broad Brewery. That was more “our speed.” A little hole in the wall that was like Hoots but with less “class.” The brews were good, there.

We also made our way to Wedge Brewing down around the River Arts District. And after eating a decent meal at Twisted Laurel, we walked down to Wicked Weed‘s brewpub and tap room. We wanted to go to the Funkatorium but we were done. Not a single beer that I had yesterday was under 8%. So, I was tapping out. And, we were back in the room and in bed by 10pm (even before).

Tonight, we’re having more homegrown flavors. The Beer Dads are going to Willows for the Willows/Wise Man Beer Dinner. I think I’ll be off beer except for Wednesday until next week. Tonight, though, is guaranteed to be awesome. I mean, Wise Man and Chefs Travis and Brent. C’mon. We’ve won and we’ve not even gotten there, yet. I’ll be writing/talking about that, this week, as well. Stay tuned!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Cúrate is a celebration of traditional Spanish cuisine. If you have ever visited Spain, Cúrate’s menu will transport you back to the country of flamenco, olives, almonds, and sherry. If you’ve never been to Spain, Cúrate will introduce you to the country’s lively tapas bar tradition of small plate dining on foods flavored with a touch of sherry, or perhaps smoky paprika, and always the choicest olive oil.” – Cúrate

It Was a Wise Man or: Beer!

23 Friday Feb 2018

Posted by in Beer, Food, Life as We Know It

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Salutations™!!

As The Beer Dads embark on our first actual “mini-vacation” with each other to the nether regions of Asheville, NC, this weekend, I wonder if that will be enough beer for us? I mean, Asheville is the beer capital of the east. Several major breweries from the mid-west and west coast have built their “eastern headquarters” there.

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There are many reasons why, but it has boomed and we are all lucky to have them.

So, yeah, we’re going up there. We’re going to have a lot of beer and food and fun hanging with each other. I said I wonder if there will be enough beer. The good news is, we don’t have to worry because when we get back on Sunday, we will have even more beer to imbibe. Good beer at that!

Sunday, Willows Bistro and Wise Man Brewing from here in WSNC are teaming up to have a fantastical beer pairing dinner. This TEN-course meal will pair the culinary wizardry of Chefs Travis Myers and Brent Andruzzi with the liquid gold (and sometimes black gold) of Wise Man Brewing. Ten courses. Willows. Wise Man.

Man, that’s a lot of awesome at one time. And, The Beer Dads will be doing their return podcast from there and hosting the event. We can’t recommend it enough.

I know what you’re asking. Isn’t The Beer Dads presented by Hoots Beer Company? Why, yes. Yes, we are, but I’ve cleared it with the Hoots folk and they say it’s cool. We’re all good, here. Plus, those breweries are pals, too. I love our beer community here.

So, here’s the thing. Willows has some spaces left open. That’s where you come in. You and your pals/significant others/family (of drinking age of course), should all be there. You should experience this, too.

The cost of the event is $75 per person. But, it’s TEN courses with beer! The food will be amazing, the beer will be amazing, the fun will be amazing. Trust me. You’ll have a wonderful time.

If you’re interested in attending this dinner, contact Willows and make your rezzie now because the event is Sunday. You can call 336-293-4601. Willows is located at 300 S Liberty Street if you didn’t already know. I want to see your smiling and thirsty faces there. Come say hi and come hungry!

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Great Food!! Great Beer!! Great Company!!” – Willows/Wise Man Beer Dinner

Scythe Rye IPA or: The Less Desirables Beer of the Week

09 Wednesday Mar 2016

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Salutations™!!

City Beverage, the Official Beer Sponsor of The Less Desirables presents Scythe Rye IPA from Burial Beer Company, The Less Desirables Beer of the Week.

I don’t know much about Burial at all but Spencer says that he thinks they are maybe one of the best breweries from Asheville and that’s saying a lot being that Wicked Weed, Green Man, New Beligum just to name a few, are up in them there hills. I know we’ve been doing a bit of IPAs lately, even with me saying I don’t care much for them, but there’s just been 2042d66e-1cb0-4d22-8fcc-1ea2a29a3371stuff too good to pass up come along. According to Burial’s website, in the Scythe Rye IPA they “use a healthy dose of malted Rye and Belgian Crystal malts while Summit, Chinook and Mosaic hops add that delicious hop flavor and aroma.” And, it’s 7% ABV.

BeerAdvocate rates it at 89 (Very Good) with no Bros Score. Untappd has it at 3.88 caps out of 5. Both are good scores. There’s no official guest this week due to illness (seems to be going around) but tune in to see what Caitlin, Bruce and I think of it. But, first, stop by City Beverage and grab your own quad pack and let us know what you think.

Until tomorrow, same blog channel…
Scorp out!

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“Burial, for some, is a necessary step to reach the afterlife. At Burial Beer Co., we see it as a celebration: of life, of the cyclical nature of harvest and of the brewing process. We find glory in the things that once were.” – Burial Beer Company website