It’s here, it’s here, it’s finally here!!!! Asheville Winter Warmer Festival. I’ve been wanting to go since last year! Twenty something breweries, 2 bands and free food included in the ticket price! YES!!!!!
I’m back in my favorite city, Beer City USA. Yesterday I stayed in Hot Springs, NC which is about an hour trip from here. If you ever get a chance to go there, do it! As far as accomodations in Hot Springs go, Cabin 10 is where it’s at. I spent a whole day in my own private spring feed hot tub, soaking and drinking. I did take a dinner break to go explore “Downtown” Hot Springs which is only a block long (if that). While Hot Springs doesn’t have a brewery, there was a decent craft beer selection at the Iron Horse Saloon. The food is top notch, this is definitely the place to eat in town. Honestly, If I ever won the lottery, I would immediately make plans to open a brew pub in that quite little town of Hot Springs on the Appalachain Trail.
After Breakfast & some morning hot tubbing, I got in the car and made the short drive to Asheville. I checked into my fave hotel- Downtown Inn and Suites and then headed over to the best bottle shop ever, Bruisin’ Ales. Every one loves Bruisin Ales & its alway a pleasure to see the owners Julie & Jason. I browsed through the selection while sipping on Pisgah Brewing Company’s newly released Chocolate Stout. This trip I’m on a more limited budget, so I couldn’t get everything I wanted. However, I did pick up a decent selection of hard to find brews, as seen below:
2:58 pm: So now I’m heading into the Festival, there is a big ass line going down the block. >
I need to eat so I’m going to hit up the food first. I will try to live update this site every hour or so, but you can always see what else I’m up to by following my twitter and untappd feeds to the right ————>
3:15 pm: My first beer is Asheville Brewing Company’s new Dark IPA, Ashevillian. It sure is handy to wash down this hard as a rock spinach stamboli from the food line.
3:46 pm: I’m several samples in. I love Highland Brewing. I love their Cold Mountain winter seasonal. I do NOT like it Aged in Jack Daniels barrels. Taste more like shitty TN whiskey then beer.
I got Southern Appalachian Copperhead Amber to wash out the Jack Daniels taste.
4:08 pm: I’m starting to feel good! Currently ENJOYING Oyster House’s Moonstone Stout. It’s a stout brewed with oysters & it’s tasty!
4:29 pm I just got done playing a round of drunken trivia. I won a shirt. Did you know a hippos milk is pink? Me neither…
5:05 pm: Spoke with Aaron from Kingsport Oktoberfest for awhile. My buzz wore off. Currently in a slow ass line for Nantahala’s beer. They are from Bryson City up in the Smokies, and they seem to use the same template on their website that I do. Well, all that and their beers are damn good.
5:15 pm : Dammit these bathroom lines are TOO DAMN LONG!
5:33 pm : Catawba’s Belgian Pumpernickel Rye is the truth! This may be my favorite of the fest so far!
5:47 pm. Did Lexington Avenue Brewery name this beer after me?
6:03 pm: My liver needed a break so I went and saw Braumeister Dieter at Heinzelmannchen & got me the best root beer on the planet.
6:40 pm: 20 minutes left , gotta make them count. Drinking a Craggie Choconut. I taste Belgian yeast, a tinney tiny bit of chocolate but no coconut.
7:10 pm: Fest winding down. I’m feeling pretty good but not slurring my words, seeing double or stumbling. Most of the breweries are packing up.
7:30 pm: Parting Winter Warmer beer fest, here’s me & Matt McMillian representing the #KnoxBeerCrew!
8:45 pm: I went to the hotel where I ate pretzels & drank water for awhile. Decided to go out. I’m currently waiting in line at French Broad Chocolate Lounge. This place was highly recommended. Going to get something yummy.
9:53 pm: That liquid truffle was possibly the best thing I’ve ever had. After indulging in chocolate, I walked a few blocks over to Asheville Brewing Company’s Coxe Avenue location to have their new Dark IPA, Ashevillian. Next in going to one of America’s top beer bars, the Thirsty Monk next to finish out the night.
11 pm: Well it’s late. After earning my badge for my 200th unique check in on untappd with Ommegang’s Seduction at Thirsty Monk, it’s time to call it a night. Thanks for following my adventures today. I’ll post again soon.
Cheers,
Ratchet Brews 
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