Craft Stories – Under the Tap

January 29, 2022

Virtual Beer Tastings

On March 17th, 2020 we had to close down the taps. We cleaned and flushed the lines and then filled them with citric acid to sit until we could serve again. No more pouring tasty brews for the masses. No more taproom events and tastings. We scrambled to add packaged beer to our website and offered curbside pickup as well as local delivery. It kept us going, but we were really missing taproom interactions. We had to find away to stay connected to our regulars and the tourists who wouldn’t be able to travel for a little while. That’s when we decided to host virtual events that allowed us to keep those conversations going.

Our last in-person beer tasting. Jan 2020

Obviously, one of the things I love most about the craft beer scene is the people. Not just those in the industry, but the imbibers as well. These are the people who help create that special atmosphere. So when Covid closed the taproom down, we had to shift gears quickly to stay afloat. We did just that. During times of everyone stuck at home, we became determined to stay connected to the clientele who had been supporting our business and the business of beer as a whole. Bryson City Outdoors started hosting virtual beer tastings and also started “Pints on the Porch with our Peeps”. This was a live show that consisted of various employees of BCO sitting on our own porches talking about gear, books, movies, pizza, cereal, and all things beer. What we didn’t talk about was COVID. It was an effort to keep spirits high in uncertain times. It seemed to work for us and them! Our regular customers would tune in, beer in hand, almost like we were enjoying beverages together in the taproom. After all, interactions were what we were all missing and what we all needed. They’d ask questions and we would answer. They would tell us jokes and we would enjoy a good laugh or share jokes ourselves. The viewers really kept the show going. A majority of the people watching were folks we knew, but many were people stuck at home in other states and countries missing out on their regular vacations. Our town is a tourist destination and our social media had already been a way for people to plan, reminisce, and stay connected to a place they loved during past summer and fall trips. They showed up and showed their support even in strange times.

The virtual beer tastings, which are still taking place, happen from my porch or living room and are broadcast via Facebook Live. I put together curated bags of beer that our patrons can pick up from the shop ahead of time. I absolutely love doing the work that goes into preparing for these tastings. I read about the history of the brewery itself, look up the brewers and their brewing history, and learn more about individual beer styles. Finding new favorites for myself while helping others branch out and try new things has been a highlight for me. During the tastings I learn what my regulars like, what they don’t like, and sometimes they provide me with just a little more insight into the world of beer drinkers from their side of the bar. I have also learned a lot about my own palate and how it is ever evolving.

Sometimes the beers for the tastings are chosen by style, sometimes holiday or season, sometimes city or state. Other times they are just fun themes like seasonal brews, day drinking, breakfast and brunch brews, or just an assortment of beers that are new to the taproom’s shelves. I’ve even hosted a few that contained gluten-free options like craft ciders and seltzers which have really grown in popularity. During “Sober October” and “Dry January”, we sampled some craft non-alcoholic brews to keep everyone in the loop. In the craft beer scene there really is something for everyone and I love helping others find their “something”. While some tastings are more fun and less informative, I do always try to provide enough beer education for the viewers to walk away with a little more confidence in trying new things. I also strive to encourage people to go out and show support for their small, local breweries.

My next tasting will be Thursday, February 10th at 7pm. You can find the event on the Bryson City Outdoors facebook page. This tasting will be a beer and chocolate pairing just in time for Valentine’s Day. Bags are available to pick up in person at the taproom and are only $18. Can’t pick up a bag? That’s ok! Feel free to watch and chime in anyway.

Thanks to everyone who has been participating in these tastings for the last two years. Your support has really helped make the most of these uncertain times. It’s nice to have a place to continue doing what I love.

Cheers! 🍻

**Parts of this post are excerpts from my upcoming book about beer. Stay tuned here or follow me on Facebook and Instagram for updates.**

August 31, 2021September 1, 2021

Las Cosas Buenas

Awww yes, the good things! Simple pleasures and tangibles…things that make us remember happy times. For me, right now, those consist of pleasant memories of tasty treats. Not really expensive luxuries, just homemade simplicities and discontinued craft beers.

In March of 2020, three very big things happened. The world shut down for a pandemic, I turned 40, and Sierra Nevada stop making my all-time favorite beer. Too many bummers all at once. So just as the taprooms were closing down, I was scrambling to build my own kegerator and buy up all of the Otra Vez I could get my hands on. Luckily for me, I am co-owner of a bottle shop and was able to wipe my distributor out of all the packaging and sixtels they had left!

Otra Vez was a Gose-style ale brewed with lime and agave. It was easy drinking and delicious. I may have even enjoyed it frozen a time or two, which my husband hated and reminded me that, “You’re getting rid of the malt profile when it’s that cold.” He’s not wrong, but in those warmer months it was like heaven with just a few flakes of ice forming.

Now when I say that Otra Vez was my favorite beer, let me be clear…it was my ABSOLUTE favorite beer of all-time and I’ve had a lot of beers. This is not an exaggeration and anyone who knows me will tell the same story. I was so distraught that I documented the last of it. The last keg, the last 6 pack, and even the last can, I recorded it all. So, I’ve decided to reminisce and share some of my happiest and saddest Otra Vez moments.

I’ll start with Aj’s homemade tacos. My husband is an amazing cook and Otra Vez was the perfect pairing for this meal. The crisp lime and slight salt of the Gose was perfect with the fresh ingredients and his hand-pressed corn tortillas. Nothing like a cold Otra Vez to knock back the heat from the chorizo and homemade salsa. A lot of my favorite memories of beer involve being in the kitchen and cooking.

As packaging starting getting scarce, the search was on for the last six packs. Having bought all I could from BCO, I started hitting gas stations, bottle shops, and grocery stores in search of strays. When I say everyone knew how much I loved the beer, that’s not an exaggeration either. Just when I thought I’d never see another can of Otra Vez, a friend sent this text, “I found one! Random Shell outside Waynesville still in date. It’ll be your late birthday present! I’ll try and drop it off next week for ya!” Now that’s a friend! I was super grateful and savored every sip. I even made a time lapse video of me enjoying the very last can. You can enjoy that video by clicking this link: THE LAST CAN

Once the cans were gone, we started working on the kegs. Aj had taken our small fridge and turned it into a single tap kegerator. Made mostly of parts from the shop and our bigger kegerators, this thing worked like a champ and kept us going on Otra Vez for a little while longer. As the kegs emptied and we moved closer to never tasting this delicious brew again, things got funny and sad. I made one last video after a long night of knocking back pints. You can giggle along with me and Aj by clicking this link: I’M DRINKING ALL THE OTRA VEZ

So, now its all gone. I sit on the east coast and wonder…could i still find it on tap somewhere on the west coast? Will Sierra Nevada ever make it again? Inquiring minds want to know. Until then, the hunt is on for my next favorite. Closest I have gotten was a seasonal, small batch from Brooklyn Brewing. The Key Lime Bel Air Sour was a near perfect replacement, but I never saw it again after the first few cases. And so, the search continues.

Here’s to finding more favorites. 🍻

March 22, 2017January 28, 2020

Greg’s Next Adventure: A Send Off

For the last 5 years and 8 months Greg Geiger has been the man behind the tasty brews at Nantahala Brewing Company. During his time there he helped bring about the Trail Magic Ale Series, which was born out of a love for the outdoors, local and wild ingredients, and his time spent on the Appalachian Trail. He also started the brewery’s first sour program, with great success.

Greg started home brewing at the age of 19 while attending the University of Florida. He graduated as an industrial engineer and worked in Florida as an Environmental Tech Consultant. His travels and love for the mountains would eventually land him in Bryson City, where he would become the “Mad Zymologist” for Nantahala Brewing.

I have to add a few personal notes here. Engineers are the best brewers. Greg not only understood the beer, he understood the equipment. During my time working with him at Nantahala, I watched him repair, replace, and rebuild almost every machine or tank in the building. I can’t imagine a small brewery having to pay a repairman to do the things he accomplished. The expansion at Nantahala happened fast. There was a lot Greg’s brain power and handiwork involved. I enjoyed watching him work and learned a lot from him, both about beer and life. When the work day was over (which sometimes for Greg didn’t happen since he lived there), he’d hop in his Land Cruiser and head for the wilderness. Greg once told me, “If you want to survive a job, leave when you aren’t working. Don’t forget to get outside.” So true, no matter where you work.

While working together, we shared many grand brewery adventures; from trips to Portland for the Craft Brewer’s Convention where we got to “meet” Larry Bell to Sweetwater’s 420 Fest and Atlanta’s big ferris wheel to Colorado and beyond. I am glad that Greg was a part of so many of my adventures, and possibly the reason for a lot of them.

Once as a teen Greg purposed the question, “Why do people retire at the end of their lives?” He started throwing around the idea of working really hard for 5 years then taking a year off before finding something else to work hard at for the next 5 years. “At first I thought the idea was crazy, but everyone seemed to like it, saying if I could make a living doing it, I should.” And that’s just what he has done.

Now it’s time for his next journey. He’s already on his way. I believe he is somewhere in Texas and heading west as I type. So cheers, Greg, wherever you are! Thanks for all the tasty brews and the fond memories, no matter how hazy some may be.

November 29, 2016February 6, 2018

Appalachian Brew, Stew & Que

It was a Tuesday night in October when Wyatt called. He was helping with a beer fest in his hometown. It was only 4 days away and one of the bands had canceled. “I know it’s short notice, but is Dogwood Winter available to play a beer festival this Saturday?” As most of you know, Dogwood Winter is a musical project that I am a part of with two very talented gals in Bryson City. I was scheduled to work and I was sure Alma had a show with another band, but I couldn’t say no. I mean, a chance to get paid to play music with a couple of my best friends AND taste some new brews?! Sign me up! I started making calls and with a little juggling we made it work and accepted.

That Saturday afternoon we piled into a VW bus with the band and some friends and headed south to Hiawassee, Georgia. On the way down we rehearsed harmonies and enjoyed the beautiful fall scenery. What a perfect day for a festival!

If you’ve never been to the Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds, you’re really missing out. The venue is reminiscent of a small lakeside mountain community. Instead of rows of tents like you see at most beer or craft fests, there are little cabin-like structures for vendors to set up in. This not only made for a good looking event, but a convenient one as well. Vendors just brought their wares and were provided weather-proof space complete with electricity.

This was their first attempt at a beer festival and I think it went over well. There were somewhere around 21 breweries present, some from Georgia and a couple from North Carolina. I was able to try some beers from a few breweries I had never heard of. My favorite of the day was probably the Coconut Porter from Cherry Street Brewing Co-Op in Cumming, Georgia. I also got a chance to try a beer made from grits brewed by a small brewery in my hometown of Hampton, Georgia, Jailhouse Brewing Company. Erin, our banjo player, is gluten-free and found some tasty ciders from various places. Along with the craft beer, several people were serving up food. BBQ fresh out of the smoker and Brunswick stew made from scratch. It smelled like heaven strolling through the fairgrounds.

In the middle of it all was a stage. Several regional acts took the stage throughout the day. We went on mid-afternoon and then took the stage again later that evening as a part of an Americana music jam with Wyatt Espalin, Rob Tiger, and some of their talented friends. There were tables and chairs set-up so people could eat, sip, and enjoy the tunes. We had a blast!

Everyone did a great job. Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds first beer fest was a success. Thanks for the invite. Let’s do it again next year!

Check out Wyatt Espalin’s website for more info about his music and how you can get it. www.wyattespalinmusic.com

The Georgia Mountain Fairgrounds are located at 1311 Music Hall Road in Hiawassee, Georgia.

September 21, 2016February 6, 2018

Why Fear Big Beer?

There are always going to be big guys and bullies. There is always going to be competition and challenge. Why fear it?

They started small, or smaller, like you. They chose their path, as small breweries will have to do as natural growth occurs. Big beer has always been there, why fear it now? Is it because they are buying us out? But, some of us are selling. Is it because they appear to be bullies? We know how to deal with those guys on the playground……don’t we?

What do we do? To consumers, craft beer lovers, and small business supporters, I say this: continue to buy local craft brews! Buy them from small breweries, gas stations, grocery stores, and bottle shops. Order them at bars and restaurants, and if your favorite spot doesn’t carry them, ask! To taproom, bar, and restaurant owners: buy local craft beers! Support your local and regional economies. There are small craft breweries all over the U.S. and the numbers are growing. To brewers and brewery owners: Keep on being awesome people in a world of bullies. Keep on brewing. Keep on coming up with fresh ideas and reinventing old favorites. Keep giving your distributers a reason to push your product. After all, when you make a tasty brew that sells itself, no incentives are needed.

July 21, 2016February 6, 2018

Haywood Smokehouse

A VW van pulled up in front of my house…..and I got in.

We grabbed our fiddle player and headed NE out of Bryson City in search of tourists to entertain. This was to be the beginning of our tiny bus concert series. We cruised through Sylva, NC first, but movie filming madness made it hard to get anywhere. So we back tracked to Dillsboro, NC. There were a lot of cars around, parking lots were full, but no one was walking the sidewalks. We figured this was due to the fact that it was lunch time. Everyone was inside eating. We parked the bus, strapped on our instruments, and walked into Haywood Smokehouse. There we were, a three-piece band, instruments in hand, totally unannounced and uninvited. We asked the lady at the counter if it would be possible for us to occupy a small corner and entertain her lunch guests. Luckily someone in the kitchen recognized us and vouched that we “didn’t suck”. I believe, those were his exact words. Soon we were shaking hands with the owner who was asking us to follow him. We walked out the front door and around the building, where he led us down the sidewalk to a banquet room. As we approached the door, the man tells us that there is a Mini Cooper club in town. They had reserved the room for their group of 50 or so drivers and we were to be their dinner music. So we took a place in the corner of the room and shared our music with car enthusiasts from all over. Once they were wrapping up, we decided it was our turn to sit down for some BBQ. We had made enough in tips from the drivers to feed the band and cover gas. We made our way back to the main dining room of the Smokehouse and got seated.

We grabbed menus and I, of course, noticed they had a few craft beers, both on tap and in bottles. I ordered the IPA from Highland Brewing. This particular restaurant has changed hands a few times since I’ve lived here. The fine folks who own it now aren’t new to the Smokehouse business, they have a location in Waynesville, NC as well. I ordered the brisket quesadilla, which ended up being an instant favorite and something I will return for. We were a happy band of well-fed girls enjoying our afternoon, and our lunch was complimentary for sharing our tunes.

As we were leaving, instruments still in hand, a huge storm blew in and kept us from making it off the porch. What the heck, one more beer!

Haywood Smokehouse is located at 403 Haywood Rd in Dillsboro NC and 79 Elysinia Ave in Waynesville NC 28786. Check our their website for hours and a menu.

Dogwood Winter is an acoustic all girl band consisting if Erin Worley on banjo and vocals, Alma Russ on fiddle and vocals, and Liz Nance on guitar and vocals. They play an interesting mix of original ballads and strange rock/pop covers that make you feel like they were all written in the mountains. The band formed a couple years ago on the porch of the Nantahala Brewing Company and can be seen gigging around western NC.

January 17, 2016January 16, 2021

An Introduction

Like most people my age, I wasn’t born into a craft beer loving family. I was raised in Georgia with domestic beer drinkers in a time when you couldn’t buy beer on Sunday, but you could enjoy a cold one from the passenger seat of a car. Who knew that decades later the small North Carolina town I chose to call home would open its first brewery and nearby Asheville would earn the title “Beer City”. More than that, who knew that I would develop such a taste for citrusy IPAs, boozy Imperial Stouts, and complex mixed culture ales. A brewery brings a fresh buzz to a quiet mountain community, and I knew it was a scene I wanted to be a part of. I started by playing music in small breweries and brewpubs. The crowds at breweries were different than the bar room scene I was used to, especially from the stage. The drinkers were there because they had a taste for something finer and an appreciation for a hand crafted world. The best part was that the crowds were no longer made up of beer drinkers alone – it was friends and families of all ages. There was more togetherness. It was a community setting. Excited about this journey. Even more excited about sharing my “exBEERiences”! Cheers!