Bear With Me

New and expensive, Bi-polar Bear and I have traveled the country to suitably end up in the beer capital of the US, or so we were told.  Coming from the Northwest, a haven for micro brews and independently owned restraunts, we had seen a good share of quality beer and food.  However, after getting acquainted with two local brews and a very friendly local bartender at Tall Gary's Cantina in Asheville, North Carolina, we were informed that Asheville has beat Portland for best beer in America the last four out of five years.  Bi-polar Bear and I looked at each other knowingly.  The gauntlet had been dropped.

"Greetings from Asheville"
mural by Scott Allred
located at Asheville Pizza and Brewing Company


With heavy judgements in our hearts we sipped our beer and listened to the five-peice, three generation band play their set of open mic night.  Highland Brewery was the featured beer on tap, so I ordered their seasonal Razor Wit Belgian Wheat while my Beary IPA connoisseur requested the year-round Kashmir IPA.  Admitedly, I felt that the Belgian Wheat was one of the best I had had, although I should say that my repertoire for Belgians is a bit limited.  However, Bi-polar Bear felt that it was too sweet and had a strange after-taste.  But, when it came to his IPA he gaves it an ademant thumbs up, stating, "it's the best."  I, currently not a fan of IPA's because of their intense bitterness and hoppy demeanor, did not enjoy the Kashmir, but that is what my coffee saturated colleague is for.  Both we recommend though, based on one's preferred taste; the Razor Wit for a sweet yet refreshing beer, and the Kashmir when looking for a hoppy and bitter summer ale.

Our beers at Tall Gary's Cantina

the one to the left is the Kashmir IPA

the one on the right is the Razor Wit Belgian White

Our first experience with beer/breweries away from home resulted in delicious drinks and a surprising sense of local-beer spirit and pride.  The competition is on but like all drinking games, everyone wins in the end.