Press Release:
(Asheville and Brevard, NC) – Oskar Blues Brewery and Asheville Brewing Company have teamed up to create a North Cackalacky colla-BEER-ation. What did our brewers come up with? Think Alabama/Southern roots (both ABC head brewer Doug Riley and OB founder Dale Katechis hail from that Magnolia-strewn state). Think big, bold lightly-hopped nectar with a malty, steeped with Ethiopian-blend coffee, backbone. Think fun, tasty, and a little outrageous. It’s our new Imperial Brown Ale, aka Big BAMA Buzz!
We went to the public to name this special brew, running simultaneous “Name that beer” contests on our brewery Facebook pages—https://www.facebook.com/asheville.brewing and https://www.facebook.com/OskarBluesSoutheast. Turns out we got two winners, as we combined the two names entered by Matt Hazelton and Janice Freeman and came up with Big BAMA Buzz. Matt and Janice win lifelong street cred and a T-shirt from each brewery.
Dale and Doug have been talking about doing a colla-BEER-ation since Oskar Blues first announced that they would open a second brewery in Brevard in May 2012. The Alabama-bred boys attended rival high schools in Florence, Alabama, and share a love for great craft beer and all things Southern.
“This was a really fun recipe to come up with, and it’s a fun style of beer that will be smooth but pack a wallop. We’re amped to be working with Doug and Asheville Brewing Company,” says Oskar Blues Head Brewer Noah Tuttle.
Big BAMA Buzz will be released at simultaneous parties at both breweries on Monday, April 8, from 4 to 8 p.m. (Oskar Blues Brewery taproom at 342 Mountain Industrial Dr. in Brevard and Asheville Brewing Company’s brewery locale at 77 Coxe Avenue in Asheville). It will only be available on tap at the two breweries—while it lasts.
“We’re excited to collaborate with Oskar Blues, not just on the beer but by working together to benefit an important local nonprofit—Animal Compassion Network,” says Mike Rangel, Asheville Brewing Company founder and president. “We also had fun playing on the Alabama connection.”
Proceeds from the sale of the beer will benefit ACN, the largest animal welfare organization in Western North Carolina. Because both breweries love us some hound dogs.
“We are honored to be chosen to benefit from this special small batch release by two of our local breweries,” says Lauren Weldishofer, ACN marketing coordinator. “A cold local brew and a rescue dog by your side is what I call a happy hour.”
The first 50 folks at each brewery on April 8 will get a free Big BAMA Buzz T-shirt commemorating the historic event.
About Asheville Brewing Company
Since 1998. Asheville Brewing Company has been creating some of the area’s tastiest brews. From our flagship beer, the Shiva IPA, to the Ninja Porter, we try to capture our spirit of fun and adventure with every beer we make. Our brewery team of superstars is always striving to improve and meet the challenge of being one of the best in a town full of great breweries. Happy Brewers. Happy Beer. www.ashevillebrewing.com.
About Oskar Blues Brewery
Founded by Dale Katechis in 1997 as a brewpub and grill, Oskar Blues Brewery launched its craft-brewed beer canning operations in 2002 in Lyons, Colorado. It was the first American craft brewery to brew and can its beer. Today there are more than 200 craft breweries canning beer. The original crew used a hand-canning line on a tabletop machine that sealed one can at a time. Oskar Blues Brewery in Longmont packaged 59,000 in 2011 and grew to 85,750 in 2012 while opening an additional brewery in Brevard, NC, in late 2012.
www.oskarblues.com
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About Animal Compassion Network
WNC’s largest safe-for-life animal rescue organization is celebrating its 16th anniversary this year. Founded in 1997 by a group of community members concerned for the welfare of the homeless pet population, ACN boasts a highly successful foster and adoption program to this day. With the addition of a growing Pet Transport Program, ACN is saving the lives of over 1,000 cats and dogs each year. ACN is equally dedicated to community assistance programs to help keep pets in the homes they already have. Through Education, Spay and Neuter Assistance, Low-cost Shot Clinics and Pet Food Assistance Programs, ACN strives to end pet homelessness in WNC and beyond. Learn more at www.animalcompassionnetwork.org.