Boone area emerging as craft beer destination

[Gonzo]

http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/11/12/ ... s-the.html

Too many nice things about Asheville, doesn't mention the Fermentation Sciences major at App, and he calls the University "quirky," but good article on the rise of craft brewing in the High Country.

[moehler]

quirky?, best description he can come up with? Wow first class journalism. Think its great idea, these micro breweries have done well in Ashville, just shocked anything like this would get passed by the conservative Boone town board. Im sure the retirees raised hell, that micro breweries " would destroy Boone, and end civilization as we know it!!

[IGgreer]

Craft beer is for pansies.

[WataugaMan]

just shocked anything like this would get passed by the conservative Boone town board.

Yeah, those damn conservative democrats!!

[appbio91]

Craft beer is for pansies.

[bigCasu]

Conservative Boone Town Coucnil? HA!

They were a big part of trying to restrict Appalachian Mountain Brewery in every way possible, while also giving the new "brewery" off of King St a pass.

[appbio91]

I haven't been out to AMB yet. I am going to head over there next weekend and check out the Cali Common steam beer. Anchor is one of my favorites when on the west coast. I don't know that I have ever seen another steam style beer other than Anchor Steam. Can't wait!

[moehler]

question, I will admit, I base my opinion of the Boone town board on past experience, many, many years ago, what is it like today? Is it more progressive, willing to work with App, or is the conservative group I experienced, that hated App? Just curious.

[T-Dog]

If you go to AMB, eat beforehand or take food with you. Two beers there isn't like two PBR's at Parthenon.

question, I will admit, I base my opinion of the Boone town board on past experience, many, many years ago, what is it like today? Is it more progressive, willing to work with App, or is the conservative group I experienced, that hated App? Just curious.

Idiot liberals. And they're not idiots because they're liberals. They'd be dumb no matter their affiliation.

[appbio91]

If you go to AMB, eat beforehand or take food with you. Two beers there isn't like two PBR's at Parthenon.

Thanks for the advice. I don't want to be the idiot screaming unintelligible slurs at the team and coaches

[clayton]

It's a big headache for a lot of breweries to get moving because of awkward alcohol laws. The issue weirdly unites the worst parts of conservative and liberal governments.

But, Boone has a long way to go before it becomes a craft beer "destination." People all over the country are taking trips to Asheville for craft beer. Most of them won't end up in Boone. The area will need another half dozen breweries for that to happen.

That's not necessary. I'd be cool with most restaurants/bars in the area to carry local beer instead of only the mass produced stuff.

[Gonzo]

The Town of Boone makes a habit of anti-fun legislation, be it discriminatory noise and housing ordinances or throwing road blocks in front of Appalachian Mountain Brewery at every turn. Some would say it's motivated by religious based social-conservatism and a resistance to the college culture, some would call it a left wing attack on the free market. I think they're both right.

I disagree that the High Country is a long way from becoming a craft beer destination. Maybe when compared to Asheville and if the standard is based on people traveling from across the country specifically to enjoy the beer culture, but the craft brewery scene in the Boone area is already a huge tourism selling point. AMB and it's local ingredients mantra meld perfectly with the "Eat Local" initiatives in the area and do a great job linking the rich mountain culture with the fun, party culture of the University.

If you've had the pleasure of visiting AMB, you're aware if how popular it is, and not just with students. The High Country Beer festival usually sells out within days of tickets going on sale and it has for years. I think Boone has already arrived as one of the premier craft beer areas in the State and the trend will continue as craft beer becomes more polular in NC, and as progress is made in the struggle against some of the more short-sighted trends of Town of Boone leadership.

[Apps03]

So help me out with a list of what's currently around.

Been to Blowing Rock brewery
Been to AMB
Blind Squirrel in Flat Top
There's a relatively new on in Banner Elk that I can't remember the name
BigC just mentioned a new one just off King St. Any idea on the name?
Anything else?

[huskie3]

So help me out with a list of what's currently around.

Been to Blowing Rock brewery
Been to AMB
Blind Squirrel in Flat Top
There's a relatively new on in Banner Elk that I can't remember the name
BigC just mentioned a new one just off King St. Any idea on the name?
Anything else?

There are several home brewers in Todd, but I would not suggest going there.

[AppinVA]

So help me out with a list of what's currently around.

Been to Blowing Rock brewery
Been to AMB
Blind Squirrel in Flat Top
There's a relatively new on in Banner Elk that I can't remember the name
BigC just mentioned a new one just off King St. Any idea on the name?
Anything else?

There are several home brewers in Todd, but I would not suggest going there.

Outstanding!

[firemoose]

So help me out with a list of what's currently around.

Been to Blowing Rock brewery
Been to AMB
Blind Squirrel in Flat Top
There's a relatively new on in Banner Elk that I can't remember the name
BigC just mentioned a new one just off King St. Any idea on the name?
Anything else?

There are several home brewers in Todd, but I would not suggest going there.

Wwhy! Hoome (hic) brue is thee (hic) bessst!!...

[bcoach]

This is interesting as I had a meeting yesterday about starting a micro brewery. I would not be involved but the party was looking for advise from a few of us. My main concern was that with all of them starting up everywhere will it become a fad that fizzles out. I don't count really because I just don't like them. Miller lite, Molson's, maybe a Michelob and I am good. So my question is not what you like today but what do you think the long term prospects are as a business.

[ASU-FTW]

^ You sir have horrible taste in beer.

But I believe as long as people continue to demand a better quality brew, the long term prospects look good. It's just the light beer manufacturers saturate the beer market and will probably continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Sam Adams is a respectable macro brewery that caters to the craft beer market. They give me hope for the future of micro brewing/craft beer.

Anyway, I probably come off as a beer snob, but that's just not the case. I usually make bud light my choice for tailgating or any other instance in which I will be putting down a few.

[bcoach]

^ You sir have horrible taste in beer.

But I believe as long as people continue to demand a better quality brew, the long term prospects look good. It's just the light beer manufacturers saturate the beer market and will probably continue to do so for the foreseeable future. Sam Adams is a respectable macro brewery that caters to the craft beer market. They give me hope for the future of micro brewing/craft beer.

Anyway, I probably come off as a beer snob, but that's just not the case. I usually make bud light my choice for tailgating or any other instance in which I will be putting down a few.

A guy who drinks headache in a bottle says I have bad taste?
On a serious note thanks for the info. Please more comments as I will pass them along to the guy we met with.

[wncapp78]

All the major national breweries are crashing. Thus the push for "craft" attempts like Bud Black Label. The market for true locally produced beer, wine and specialty products like cider, sake, buchi are growing dramatically. And the big boys are losing market every day. They still control the market but they are in panic mode. The App fermentation program is perfectly positioned to help fuel this growing cluster in WNC and all over the state.