After a not-so-brief hiatus … Asheville, part 1

I’m back … again …

This time, I hope to stay.  I’m starting a 4-week series reporting on some of the breweries we visited on a recent trip to Asheville, NC.  Ahhh, Asheville.  If you drink beer and have not yet been to Asheville, go.  Not tomorrow, not next week.  NOW.  Get in the car right now and go.  North Carolina has done a great job in creating an atmosphere where craft beer can thrive … and boy, has it.

We visited several breweries while there, and we really didn’t want to go to the larger national brands.  Oskar Blues, Sierra Nevada and several others have made this corner of North Carolina home recently.  But we chose those places a little more off the beaten path.  Score.

First in our series of posts is a beautiful place called Wicked Weed. They have a fantastic outdoor seating area, complete with fireplaces and very comfy seating. Wicked Weed has so many great choices, and with lots of unique flavor combinations that totally work … raspberries with ancho chilies in the Boom Boom Belgian Porter; fig, banana and coriander in the Abbey Dubbel; blackberries and dried dates aged in Cabernet barrels for the Oblivion Sour Red.

We had the Boom Boom Belgian Porter – I was afraid it could be too spicy for more delicate tastes. I was wrong – you could taste a little flavor from the chilies, but nothing overpowering.  And the Abbey Dubbel.  I’m just disappointed  I didn’t have my growler handy for a refill of this one (rookie mistake.)  I’m a sucker for Dubbels and this one was stellar.  The flavors seem to change from one sip to the next.  The banana aroma and flavor is different, but in a good way.  I can’t explain this one with words – you’ve just got to go.  And be adventurous.

Up next week … part 2 in the Asheville series and a very different atmosphere.