Asheville Dilemma

A few bars in Atlanta allow it, but only during an event or amongst a good group of friends/employees. Retail stores, we love it. I get bottles brought to me almost every day and I happily drink them with the patron/customer, as well as open my own for them too. Breweries, it's a pretty big no but it does happen, after hours maybe or on the side out of sight.

 

I wasn't impressed with Wedge at first but then I had their Altbier and it's definitely my favorite of theirs. Has excellent hop character for an alt.

 

That's why Burial's got their shit together. They post everything they do on Facebook. Sucks that they're only open three days a week but, for those three days, it's on!

 

I agree with most of your post but have two qualms:

I don't know when you went, but as long as I've been going to Thirsty Monk (Only a little over 6 months time) I've been able to use my tab both upstairs and down.

You say that Burial has too little indoor space yet you also say Wedge is a great spot. Wedge has an even smaller indoor area than Burial so you're kind of contradicting yourself.

 

Appalachian Vintner is

 

I've participated at bottle shares in both restaurants and bottle shops. You just have to find fellow beer enthusiasts that manage/own said establishments.

 

Didn't realize that, good to know! Burial is one of the few breweries that it doesn't really matter all that much to me what they have, I'll basically always head over if I'm in Asheville now because they always have something good.

 

A bar is a different thing, but I fairly regularly (as in almost every week) bring beer into my local beer store (Hops & Grapes in Hickory). I would never bring something in that they sell (I might if I bought it there originally, but that's never been something I wanted to do), and the owner has always encouraged it.

Sounds like Asheville Vintner might be the same way. I've only been in once so didn't realize. Also don't think I'd feel right doing it someplace I wasn't a regular and knew the owner was cool with it.

 

As long as you're toting a couple whalez with you to share with them, they'll be more than happy to oblige.

 

At least at the store I frequent, certainly doesn't need to be whalezbro types of beer, just something that people haven't had. All about getting people to try something they haven't had before.

 

@Immortale25 Thanks for the recommendation. I will try and get in touch with them to set something up.

 

I've heard of other people saying that too, but on both trips I could not continue a tab from both bars, I had to pay out at one to go to the other. If it's not the norm, it is at least for me.

And it's not even a small contradiction, but I'll bite anyway. Burial has very little indoor space, period. It's crammed in tightly at the bar and the rest of the space feels like a college dude's basement. Ordering a beer is pulling teeth if there's people at the bar, which there were when I went. Also, the people at the bar on my visit could have given less of a shit for allowing other patrons to order anything, they didn't give room for someone to reach through or talk to the two ladies pouring. I got a very "I was here first, you can go to hell" vibe from everyone seated. The outdoor area isn't bad, but the entire place feels like they just rented a building to stuff a brewery into without any thought further. I felt like I was walking in spaces I didn't belong in. And let's not even comment on the bathroom. Wedge is small, but it's got a dedicated space for everything, much more outdoor room, seating, games, a food truck, and a lot of other things to bring people in and occupy them. There's no need to stay inside with all the other offerings they have, so it definitely has a much larger, open feel. To me anyway.

 

Good argument. That sucks about your experience at Burial. Usually when I go, everyone I run into is very considerate. And you're right, square footage wise, Wedge has Burial beat. I personally like the minimalist thing Burial's got going on with their space but I can understand why someone else might want a bit more comfortable setting. I recently found out that Burial started out as a research and development project to test out the possibility of building an actual full production brewery. This is why they only brew on a 1 bbl system, are only open three days a week and have an out-of-the-way, bare bones location. All this being said, what makes a great brewery? Great beer. And, in my personal opinion, I think Burial makes some of the best beer in Asheville. Wedge, in my personal opinion, has only a couple of standout beers. But we're talking about location and space. If you're all about location and space, next time you're in Asheville you should go to One World Brewing

 

It's on my list. Them and Twin Leaf opened right after my last visit.

 

Burial will be larger soon, they're working on blowing out the back wall (if they haven't done it already, they purchased to lot behind?? I not sure who said this to me hence the question mark, but I believe it was one of the owners) to install their new larger brewing system. When I was in there last week or the week before, they were waiting on an on vacationing inspector to get back into town to do the final on a floor drain before commencing with more work.

I liked everything in One World, but nothing shook my world either (pun intended). Must get back there myself to try more.

 

Does One World have a space that allows dogs? They're the only brewery in Asheville that I haven't made it to and skipped it over Labor Day weekend as it didn't look like there was a place for dogs.

 

Burial has plans to keep the downtown brewery and start a farmhouse brewery in the "country". They have already purchased a 10 barrel system a couple of months ago.

One World is OK but their hoppy styled beer is not up to par in my opinion but their rye is good as well as the imp stout. They are located in a basement/dungeon so no they do not allow dogs.

As far as bottle sharing yes there are a few places that tell me to bring stuff by and we share but i really don't want to call them out since i am not sure they would want everyone bringing their stuff in.

 

Bringing things in to share with the owners or 'tenders is one thing. A group of folks rolling in and taking up space splitting their own bottles between them is another I'm afraid. Most places probably do not encourage that.

 

Went back to One World last night, nothing much has changed. Same solid but not blow your socks off beer, at least that's my opinion, but pretty cool "dungeon" and yea, I doubt that you can bring dogs down there.

 

Boo for no dogs, but considering that's really the only place in Asheville like that, I think I'll live.