Asheville, NC

I'll be staying in Asheville this Friday. All great advice! Can't wait!

 

I'll be up again the end of next month. Can't wait!

 

Be warned that Bruisin Ales is extremely, and I say again.. Extremely underwhelming. Rated so high, and I can't figure it out. Easy enough to find, and the guys in there are super nice. I enjoyed the placed greatly, and was excited to go in. It's tiny.. Like.. the backroom of my local craft beer spot, and was kind of thrown off a bit by the selection. Wasn't as large as I imagined. Grabbed a few bottles of local only stuff, and left. Prices are a bit higher than you'd find elsewhere by roughly 10%.

But nice guys.. Suggested us placed to go to have a few drinks and good food for sure. Oh, and met the Catawba Valley Brewery owner in there, and he bought me some of his beer from the store to try. Great guy, and really awesome beer. Try the Catawba Valley Firewater IPA.. in a CAN!

 

Wedge and Barleys are my favs, but really you can't go wrong at any of the places mentioned. For something off the road go to Hop Springs Resort relax in a mineral hot tub and then get a massage, a full hour message is only 60 bucks a person. You can do couples too if you have a GF with you, not expensive and a nice break from pounding beer. No happy endings here though it's legit, they're licensed.

 

You had me until you got to here...

 

LOL, I like the happy ending massages too, but the ending costs more than the massage is worth. I don't think they discourage fooling around in the hot tub, they make a point of letting you know it's very private. It's drained and cleaned after each couple so I would assume couples partake.

 

You have just saved my last glimmering hope for humanity! Especially on the drained and cleaned aspect!

 

Curate is solid but I wouldn't say it's on another level beyong Zambra. In fact, my wife and I ate there twice and haven't been back. We eat a Zambra monthly. Curate is cookie-cutter shit. The menu doesn't change. Ever. Not with the seasons to utilize better seasonal ingredients and not with the whim of the Chef (who doesn't actually cook there). I'm not impressed with Tapas joint that insists on a static menu whether it be June or February. That's not what cooking should be about.
Skip Buisin, man. But you already knew that...hit me up if you want to grab a beer!