At this point, we’ve all seen the images and videos of Hurricane Helene’s impact on Western North Carolina—cars and houses floating down murky waterways, trees pierced through roofs and entire roads washed away by mudslides. It’s uncomfortable to any viewer, and it’s absolutely devastating to WNC.
As a native of the mountains (specifically Hendersonville), I’ve felt both extremely lucky to be safe from the chaos and very helpless as I watched from afar as destruction tore through my hometown. And it’s difficult navigating what I can actually do to help my community and what just adds to the pandemonium.
So while we all want to help WNC, it’s best to postpone that fall getaway—at least for now. I am as disappointed as anyone about skipping a trip to the area for peak week and brewery-hopping, but the region is currently housing first responders in hotels normally meant for tourists—meaning they are in no position to handle visitors, even though visiting may feel helpful. Instead, here is how you can help the region recover from afar, while you (hopefully) gear up for next year’s trip.
It’s hard to be an eternal hoptimist in the winter—but these local winter warmers will help you fight the chill.
Wish you were sippin’ something on a sunny beach right about now? Same. We know, we know, it’s hard to be hoppy while it’s so bleak and blustery outside—but rest assured these seasonal beers from local breweries will sate your post-holiday blues. Time to get hoppy!
Toasty vibes? Check. Malty taste? Check. Warming spices? Double check (hey, cardamom and ginger!). With all those tempting tasting notes, Crank Arm’s Icycle brown ale is anything but chilly… and it’s sure to have you craving a snuggle by a cracklin’ flame as you sip. @crankarmbrew
Get ready to rumble… Trophy’s popular imperial stout is back in celebration of its Maywood location’s 7thseventh birthday—and this special rum barrel-aged version really oughta pack a punch (!). Packed with heavy—er, rich—flavors like toasted caramel, tropical vanilla and milk chocolate (with a 14% ABV to boot!), it’s for sure tap-able. @trophybrewing
“Shine bright like a diamond.” … Or like Wye Hill’s Little Lantern Belgian-style tripel. An “ode to NC’s winter wonderlands,” this beer is flavored with local persimmons (a native NC fruit!) and spicebush berries. Dreamin’ of a (white) winter wonderland, anyone? @wyehill
Wash down those dinnertime dumplings with an order of Brewery Bhavana’s Rift No. 3 imperial stout which boasts an 11% ABV and fun, fruity and decadent flavors. Who doesn’t love a cherry and cocoa combo? @brewerybhavana
Pick your potion! With an array of ops that’ll give you all the warm and fuzzies, Burial Beer boasts an array of brews perf for winter. From the Serenade of Chaos—made with brown ale and notes of cocoa, peanut butter, cinnamon and vanilla bean—to its Houtenhamer, a double barrel-aged imperial stout in bourbon barrels, Burial stays raising the bar (and questioning what those beer names actually mean). @burialdtr
Hop over to Asheville for great eats, drinks & more.
If there’s one thing Asheville is known for, it’s the breweries (So. Many. Breweries!). The first time I visited “Beer City USA,” I naturally went on a lengthy brewery-hop, stopping for a cold one at all the go-tos: Wicked Weed Brewing, The Funkatorium, Bhramari Brewing… I could go on.
I’ve since learned there’s much more to this eclectic, vibey mountain town than breweries—including a host of nicknames (also dubbed the “Paris of the South”). Of course, you have the surrounding Blue Ridge Mountains with tons of trails to trek (pro tip: hikes before hops), a thriving eclectic arts and culture scene (think the South Slope Mural Trail, the River Arts District, etc.), and a rank of restos putting the small-but-mighty mountain town on the map (hey, 2022 James Beard Award for Outstanding Restaurant Chai Pani).
On my recent return to Asheville with fellow Raleigh Mag teammates, we made our way through the “Land of the Sky”—eating, drinking and resting our heads between bites and sips… including a night’s stay at The Omni Grove Park Inn, which was by far the most surreal and palatial hotel I’ve ever experienced. Here’s a taste of what we, well, tasted—a great bucket list for those who’ve never been to AVL or who, like me, were just doing Asheville wrong. Hoppy trails!
Cúrate (Evan Sung)
EAT
Cúrate
Don’t ask us how to pronounce the name of this James Beard Award-winning staple by chef Katie Button, but do ask us what our fave tapas were. Answer: the croquetas de pollo (aka creamy chicken fritters), patatas bravas (crispy fried potatoes topped with a tomato and garlic sauce) and gambas al ajillo (sauteed shrimp served in a tasty broth that must be sopped up with the side of bread). Oh, and get the sangria—trust us. curatetapasbar.com
Biscuit Head
Son of a biscuit! You haven’t lived until you’ve had a biscuit from this Asheville mainstay—seriously, they’re that good (perfectly fluffy, flaky and buttery—100% worth the inevitable wait). Spring for a plain biscuit and load up on the vast selection of jams (we tried them all, so no judgment) or indulge in one of the biscuit sandwiches—the fried green tomato biscuit won us over. biscuitheads.com
Chestnut
With everything made in-house—from the pickled veggies to the french fries to the ice cream—or sourced locally, this cozy, approachable resto was a standout. We could just taste the freshness of the soup of the day (a comfortable chowder when we visited) and the shrimp and grits (with blue corn grits providing a nice touch). And you’re gonna wanna save room for that aforementioned homemade ice cream. Delish! chestnutasheville.com
La Bodega by Cúrate
We originally went to this pandemic-born all-day Spanish cafe, market and wine bar for a simple—yet super-satisfying—sandwich, but ended up snacking on a host of delicious pintxos, including the olive oil potato chips with marinated olives, short rib empanadas, jamón, potato and onion omelet, and so much more. And, naturally, on our way out, we grabbed a bottle of sangria from the market to take home. Salud! curatetapasbar.com/la-bodega
Sovereign Remedies (Brian Konutko)
DRINK
Sovereign Remedies
As the name would suggest, this ethereal restaurant and bar is full of treasures—from the locally built fixtures and furniture to the plethora of plants to the floor-to-ceiling shelves lining the wall behind the bar to the incredible edibles and libations themselves (think seasonally rotating small plates and unique cocktails). We thought of it like a botanical Dram & Draught—with food, of course—and it was a vibe. sovereignremedies.com
Burial Beer Co.
We all know how good Burial’s beer is thanks to its happening Transfer Co. Food Hall outpost in DTR—NTM the eye-catching (and sometimes dark) can designs that you just can’t forget about… But at the craft brewery’s OG Asheville taproom, it was the frosé that we were drawn to (you can’t blame us—it was 100 degrees in the middle of July!), and, boy, did it hit the spot. burialbeer.com
Botanist & Barrel
Our in-cider scoop? Get one (or both!) of the cider flights so you can try a variety of unique offerings from this Cedar Grove-based cidery/winery, as well as a make-your-own charcuterie board with local cheeses and meats. And pop a squat in the charming tasting bar/bottle shop to while away the day. It doesn’t get much cheddar than that. botanistandbarrel.com
Getaway River Bar
“Outta the way in a good way” is this laid-back beach-esque bar in the mountains, another concept from Charlie Hodge, owner of Sovereign Remedies. Though on a complete opposite end of the spectrum from the hip downtown AVL sip and sup spot, this riverside dive with waterfront Adirondacks, outdoor bar area and indoor pool tables promises equally good drinks (Our faves? The killer painkiller and rum runner slushie). So chill. getawayontheriver.com
Kimpton Hotel Arras
STAY
Cambria Hotel Downtown Asheville
If you want to feel like a VIP, book a room at this trendy hotel (recognized as the 2021 Best of Choice Hotel of the Year for the Cambria Hotels brand) boasting sophisticated rooms, high-tech amenities and front-row seats to downtown AVL—with gorge mountain views to boot (aka the best of both worlds!). Upon arrival, we were treated to a glass of Champagne, and, once we left, gifted a thank-you jar of honey. It’s the little things, right?cambriadowntownasheville.com
The Omni Grove Park Inn
I’d like to think of this stunning resort as a Great Wolf Lodge for adults. Instead of a waterpark, there’s a nationally recognized subterranean spa, a pristine Donald Ross-designed golf course, and a host of great bars and restaurants. After a satisfying dinner on the Sunset Terrace overlooking the Blue Ridge Mountains, we rec enjoying a nightcap in the lobby cozied up by the fire, or going down to the always-fun Elaine’s Dueling Piano Bar for weekend entertainment. omnihotels.com
Kimpton Hotel Arras
It’s all about location, location, location—and this historic bank-turned-boutique hotel in Pack Square is smack in the middle of all the action, walkable to almost all of the food and bev spots mentioned here, plus other faves like Wicked Weed Brewing and The Orange Peel. Pro tip: Before venturing out, grab a ’tail at the hotel bar, District 42. Cheers! hotelarras.com
Burial’s Transfer Co. taproom and bottle shop expansion provides even more reason to drink the award-winning beer.
WEB EXCLUSIVE Almost exactly two years since Burial Beer Co. expanded its Raleigh taproom in Transfer Co. Food Hall (dubbed The Exhibit), the Asheville-founded brewery is in the process of expanding yet again. Obviously, Raleighites are big fans.
After Longleaf Swine BBQ backed out of the corner spot at Transfer Co. (right next to The Exhibit) last year because of plans to open elsewhere, Burial snatched it up. The extra space allows for Burial to expand the taproom with additional seating (including two-tops!) and build out a bottle shop, giving Burial enthusiasts even more ways to enjoy the brewery’s unique selection of beers, ciders, sours and wines—in person or at home—plus brews from some Raleigh-based breweries as well.
Burial is also doubling the number of taps available at The Exhibit—bringing the total number of draft options to 24. The more taps, the more chances for Burial to show off new releases—which come out very often. The brewery also recently launched natural winery Visuals Wine, which specializes in fermented wines, ciders and aperitifs. So, basically, there will always be something to look forward to.
Art is going to be a big part of The Exhibit’s expansion too. The Burial team is working with a local muralist to create large pieces out of the brewery’s colorful (and oftentimes super-trippy) can and bottle designs, which will only add to the taproom’s edgy vibe. Outside seating will be available around the entire corner of Transfer Co. for when it’s warm enough to sip brews outside in the sun again. Spring couldn’t come soon enough.
