2014 Winter Warmer Beerfest

Get your tickets now and shake off those winter blahs with great brews from more than 30 regional craft breweries, awesome music and tasty food at the 2014 Winter Warmer Beer Festival at the U.S Cellular Center in downtown Asheville.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit the Western North Carolina Alliance (WNCA), who are hard at work protecting our mountains, rivers and forests. Visit the Western North Carolina Alliance online at www.wnca.org or call (828) 258-8737.

Purchase tickets at www.AshevilleBeerFest.com. All previous festivals have sold out in advance, so be sure to get your tickets soon!

This is also a very cool volunteer gig and we’re going to need lots of help. If you want to lend a hand, please contact Cynthia Camilleri by email to Cynthia@WNCA.org.

The Winter Warmer Beerfest takes place from 3-7 p.m. January 25, and is hosted by ThreeSheets:Design and Brews Cruise, Inc.

The Thirsty Monk Expands

2014 will be an exciting year for the Thirsty Monk, and that means Asheville’s already stellar beer scene will be that much better. Thirsty Monk has announced plans to expand their brewery operation in Gerber Village. “2014 is going to be the year that a lot more people become familiar with our beers,” said head brewer Norm Penn.

For New Year’s Eve the brewery released a keg of Thirsty Monk Aged Imperial Amber. Penn described the beer as having hints of vanilla and butterscotch, and a subtle warmth which doesn’t betray it’s 8.8% abv. This beer will only be available at the Gerber Village Thirsty Monk.

The brewery has established itself as South Asheville’s best place to find a great selection of beers. Their flagship location on Patton Ave. continues to provide great service for the downtown Asheville beer scene. Thirsty Monk also has a new location under construction in North Asheville.

Thirsty Monk Biltmore Park: 2 Town Square Blvd., Suite 170, Asheville, (828) 687-3873.

Thirsty Monk Gerber Village: 20 Gala Dr., Asheville, (828) 505-4564.

Thirsty Monk Downtown: 92 Patton Ave., Asheville, (828) 254-5470.