Portland East

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by Mark Lyons
on Tuesday, July 22, 2008

In the beer world of Asheville, NC, there is a considerable buzz about the latest brewery opening or the most current seasonal offering making its way to shelves and taps around what many consider to be the Portland, OR of the Southeast. Portland is far and away the frontrunner in this country for craft beer and its associated culture. With thirty four breweries/brewpubs in greater Portland, there is no greater concentration of craft beer to be found in any city. However, Asheville is enjoying its own beer renaissance. With six breweries and two more on the way, per capita, Asheville will boast one brewery for every 10,000 residents. This concentration of breweries in this part of the country is astounding. Will there be a saturation point? Absolutely! But for now, it seems as though the beer scene in Asheville is establishing clout with authority.

I am often asked the question, "Why do towns like Asheville have a great beer culture?" There is no smoking gun answer to this question, but my response centers on the city's diverse culture. Smaller cities like Boulder, CO; Flagstaff, AZ; Portland, ME; and yes Asheville, NC offer respite from strip malls and cookie cutter neighborhoods. Active lifestyles and higher education are staples in these cities. The cultural fabric of these towns are colorful and complex. People in communities like Asheville demand more than Olive Garden and Bud Light. Not that endless soup and breadsticks are a bad thing, or a light American pilsners shouldn't be consumed after mowing the grass, but these people want to consume local and have a taste for local quality.

The brewing scene in Asheville and the above mentioned towns are diverse, just like their communities. Whether you are a college professor with an affinity for hops or a starving artist that enjoys a stout even on the hottest of August days, there is a local brewery producing a beer that satisfies your individuality and is part of the community that demands it. The fact that Asheville is mentioned in the same regard with a city as diverse and green as Portland, OR is a testament to the forward thinking citizens that define its culture. Bravo Asheville!

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About the Author - Mark Lyons

Contact Mark Lyons:
Asheville Brews Cruise
828-545-5181
www.brewscruise.com/asheville/

Learn more about Mark.