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Asheville’s Brewery Scene

Throughout history, the art of the brew has been tradition – passed down from father to son, generation to generation. In fact, beer is one of the world’s oldest beverages created by man. According to Wikipedia, "possibly dating back to the early Neolithic or 9000 BC, and is recorded in the written history of ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia. The earliest known chemical evidence of beer dates to circa 3500–3100 BC from the site of Godin Tepe in the Zagros Mountains of western Iran. Some of the earliest Sumerian writings found in the region contain references to a type of beer; one such example, a prayer to the goddess Ninkasi, known as "The Hymn to Ninkasi", served as both a prayer as well as a method of remembering the recipe for beer in a culture with few literate people."

Today beer is widely available in the mass produced, mass marketed versions such as the many brands by Anheuser Busch, Coors and Miller. Luckily, however, in many cities, microbreweries are still creating delectable handcrafted brews. In fact "craft brews" as they are known, are becoming increasingly popular as more and more breweries open each year.

It is probably safe to say that over the years, beer just may have been perfected. This certainly does seem to be the case in the city of Asheville, NC. In May 2010, Asheville was aptly named "Beer City, USA" by an online poll posted by founder of the American Homebrewers Association Charlie Papazian on Examiner.com. With a plethora of local breweries to choose from, the beer aficionado should have no trouble finding a pint to rave about.

In the Asheville area you will find:

Outside of the Asheville area are several other notable breweries in Western North Carolina:

The breweries all offer a variety of beers ranging from pale ales, Belgians, lagers, porters, stouts and everything in between, as well as seasonal varieties.

Each brewery has its own version of a tasting room with a wide range of amenities. While some have a cozy little area with a few tables, others offer a long winding bar or are actually in a restaurant. Many offer live entertainment. And while visiting the tasting rooms does offer you the unique opportunity (and ambiance) of experiencing the final product amid gleaming vats and sacks and barrels of grain, the handcrafted beers are also widely available in local pubs and eateries.

For those looking to try the different breweries in Western North Carolina or even, dare I say, in another city, plan your trip by visiting the Beer Mapping Project at beermapping.com to see all the breweries laid out on a map.

If you, like many others, feel that a good beer is something to celebrate, you will certainly find a festival to suit your taste.

The Brewgrass Festival is an annual fest that combines approximately 40 American breweries to showcase more than 120 different beers in combination with some wonderful bluegrass music. This year the festival takes place on September 18th. Go to www.brewgrassfestival.com for more information.

The Asheville Oktoberfest, October 9th, Wall Street, Asheville.

And of course the breweries are well represented at many of the annual festivals such as Bele Chere, LEAF, Downtown After 5, and the like.

For those looking to learn about the process of creating the perfect beer, the Brews Cruise Asheville may be the answer. The Brews Cruise visits three local breweries for a tour and tasting where you will, as owner Mark Lyons says, "see the whole process from grain to bottle." And they are the designated driver, so you can thoroughly relax and enjoy!

So next time you have a hankering for an especially good beer, get yourself down to a local brewery and raise a pint to the art and craft of the brew.