Asheville Beer Week: Beer Blogger Choice Events

Asheville Craft Beer Week (May 22-May 30) is incredibly exciting, but it’s also incredibly stressful. There are HOW MANY events?! HOW ON EARTH WILL I CHOOSE? I’ve been checking the calendar daily, and have finally made an attempt at creating a Beer Week schedule for myself. It’s likely that I won’t be able to attend every event I want to, but I’ve compiled a list of the events that I am most excited about. Some of these are events I will definitely attend, some I’ll hopefully attend, and some are just events I encourage you to attend. If you see me out and about, don’t be afraid to say hello!

Friday May 22:

There’s quite a bit scheduled for the first day of beer week, but I certainly don’t want to wear myself out on the very first day, so I’ll have to pick and choose my battles. I’d definitely like to be at Wicked Weed when they tap Coolcumber at 3pm, and then at 5pm I’m heading over to Metro Wines to “Drink Like a Girl” with Mystery Brewing. It’s not a beer week official event, but hey, it’s beer isn’t it? Then I might round out the night by popping my head into the silent disco at Tasty Beverage. I probably won’t dance…but maybe…if you buy me a beer.

Saturday May 23:

I’ve never been before, but Just Brew It, a homebrew tasting festival at Wedge (2-5pm), sounds like an awesome way to spend a Saturday.

Sunday May 24:

There’s nothing better to do on a Sunday than brunch, and Burial Brewery has one of the best brunch set ups around. Beer, jazz, and New Orleans style food galore, and I’ll be close enough to the Funkatorium to watch the lines and see if it’s worth popping over for a bottle of Golden Angel. Also on Sunday is Westside Fest, which showcases West Asheville breweries, as well as ciders from all over WNC, from 1-5pm.

Monday May 25:

I’ll be starting my Memorial Day by donning a pink tutu and heading over to Twin Leaf Brewery at 11am to “Run like a Girl” which supports Girls on the Run, a “non-profit organization that encourages preteen girls to develop self-respect and healthy lifestyles through running.” I don’t think I’m capable of running 3 miles, so I’m mainly just in it for the post-run beer. Then I think I’ll walk over to Catawba brewing to check out a brewing demonstration by Asheville Brewers Supply (starts at 2pm). At 4pm I’ll be at Thirsty Monk with some other Asheville Girls Pint Out members for a toast to “Women in WNC Beer.” And after that, maybe a nap.

Tuesday May 26:

This day will be a good day for music, since first I’ll be checking out Phuncle Sam (Grateful Dead cover band) at Jack of the Wood at 6pm, while drinking some Sticky Icky from Terrapin Brewing Co. Then I’m headed underground to One World Brewery to listen to Pabulum (shameless plug, my boyfriend is in the band) and hopefully get my hands on some Inner Thigh…IPA.

Wednesday May 27:

I’ve never been to The Imperial Life, but Beer Week is finally providing me with an opportunity. At 5pm they’ll be offering flight options that pair beer, food, and spirits. I will also be dropping into Appalachian Vintner for some rare and vintage offerings from Goose Island from 4:30-7. The Thirsty Monk Not So Big Beer Fest is also that evening from 6-10pm…and despite how tempting that beer list is…I should probably take it easy for…

Thursday May 28:

Thursday is by far going to be the busiest day for me. First of all there is “Hops, Hips, and Beef Tips (A Celebration of the Women of Craft Brewing and Beer Week BBQ)” at Altamont Brewery which starts at 3pm and is a fundraiser for The Pink Boots Society. I can’t say no to an event about women and beer! Then, Burial Beer Co. is going to have six variants of Skillet Donut Stout paired with six donuts from Vortex starting at 4pm (do I even have to upsell this one?). I’ll probably drop into the Thirsty Monk (downtown) at some point for “Around the World in 12 Taps” which also starts at 4pm. And you can bet your ass I’ll dress up as a Canadian to get free entry to the screening of “Strange Brew” at Asheville Pizza and Brewing at 10pm

Friday May 29:

I won’t actually be in Asheville on Friday, since a jam-band reunion and a few awesome breweries are calling my name from Athens, GA, but there are still some fantastic events occurring in Asheville. The one I’m sad to miss is definitely the Fonta Flora tap takeover at Thirsty Monk. Fonta Flora is one of my favorite North Carolina breweries at the moment. If they have the beet beer on: get it, trust me.

Saturday May 30:

The perfect way to wind down after beer week is by heading downtown to Beer City Fest for beer, music, and fun from 1-6pm. Followed by sweet dreams of Asheville Beer Week 2015.

The full event listings and more details can be found at http://avlbeerweek.com/events/

*Not all of the events I listed are on the official Beer Week calendar