Wicked Weed Brewing: Asheville's Craft Beer Journey & Beyond
Table of Contents
- The Roots of Rebellion: Wicked Weed's Founding Story
- The Original Home: A Gastropub Gem in Downtown Asheville
- The Art of Brewing: Wicked Weed's Signature Styles
- Expansion and Innovation: The Funkatorium and West Asheville Brewery
- Tours and Education: Diving Deeper into the Brewery Experience
- National Recognition and Widespread Distribution
- Connecting with the Community and the World
- A Taste of Tradition and Featured Brews
The Roots of Rebellion: Wicked Weed's Founding Story
The journey of Wicked Weed Brewing began in 2012, a pivotal year that saw the birth of a brewery destined to leave an indelible mark on the craft beer landscape. Founded in downtown Asheville, the original home of Wicked Weed Brewing quickly became a beacon for beer lovers seeking something different, something bold. The very name "Wicked Weed" carries with it a fascinating historical anecdote, harkening back to a time when King Henry VIII declared hops a "wicked and pernicious weed destined to ruin." This historical defiance perfectly encapsulates the spirit of the brewery: a willingness to challenge norms and embrace the "wicked" complexity of brewing. From its inception, the vision for Wicked Weed Brewing was clear: to push the boundaries of traditional brewing while honoring classic styles. The founders envisioned a place where innovation and quality converged, creating a diverse portfolio of beers that would appeal to a broad spectrum of palates. This commitment to both tradition and experimentation laid the groundwork for the brewery's rapid ascent and its eventual status as a cornerstone of Asheville's thriving craft beer scene. The story of Wicked Weed is not just about beer; it's about a passion for the craft, a respect for history, and an adventurous spirit that continues to define its identity.The Original Home: A Gastropub Gem in Downtown Asheville
The heart and soul of Wicked Weed Brewing can still be found at its original location in downtown Asheville. This historic building is more than just a brewery; it's a multi-faceted destination that offers a complete sensory experience. Housing a full restaurant, a downstairs taproom, a bottle shop, and the original 15-barrel brewery, it’s a place where you can immerse yourself in the world of craft beer from grain to glass. The brewpub is the original home of Wicked Weed Brewing, a place where the magic first began and continues to thrive. Here, you will find a full restaurant, downstairs tap room and beer garden, bottle shop, and original 15 barrel brewery, all designed to offer a seamless and enjoyable experience for every visitor. The atmosphere at the original location is vibrant and inviting, perfectly blending the rustic charm of a brewery with the sophisticated ambiance of a gastropub. Visitors can enjoy the bustling energy of the main dining area, find a cozy spot in the downstairs taproom, or soak up the Asheville air in the beer garden. It's a testament to Wicked Weed's commitment to creating not just great beer, but also a memorable environment for enjoying it. The original 15-barrel brewery is still actively producing unique and experimental batches, serving as a creative hub for the brewers and a fascinating sight for guests.A Culinary Experience: Local Flavors and Seasonal Fare
Wicked Weed Brewing distinguishes itself not only through its exceptional beers but also through its dedication to culinary excellence. We are a gastropub that focuses on local flavors and seasonal food, making it a perfect pairing for their diverse beer offerings. Located next to the Orange Peel, a renowned music venue, the brewpub offers a dynamic dining experience that complements the vibrant energy of downtown Asheville. The menu is thoughtfully crafted to highlight the freshest ingredients sourced from local farms and purveyors, ensuring that every dish is a celebration of the region's bounty. From innovative appetizers to hearty main courses, the kitchen at Wicked Weed Brewing works in harmony with the brewery, often incorporating beer into their recipes or designing dishes that perfectly complement specific brews. This farm-to-table approach ensures that the food is as fresh and flavorful as the beer, creating a holistic dining experience that elevates the typical brewpub fare. Whether you're craving a light bite or a full meal, the restaurant provides a sophisticated yet approachable menu that caters to various tastes, making it a destination for foodies and beer lovers alike.Beyond the Pint: The Bottle Shop and Dog-Friendly Patio
Adding to the allure of the original location is its well-stocked bottle shop, offering a curated selection of Wicked Weed's beers to take home. This is an excellent opportunity for visitors to explore the breadth of the brewery's offerings, from limited-release barrel-aged creations to popular year-round favorites. The bottle shop allows enthusiasts to extend their Wicked Weed experience beyond the visit, bringing a piece of Asheville's craft beer scene back with them. It’s a treasure trove for collectors and casual drinkers alike, providing access to brews that might not be available elsewhere. Moreover, the original location boasts a dog-friendly patio, a thoughtful amenity that welcomes furry companions. This feature underscores Wicked Weed Brewing's commitment to creating an inclusive and welcoming environment for all. Enjoying a refreshing pint on the patio with your canine friend is a quintessential Asheville experience, reflecting the city's laid-back and pet-friendly culture. It's these small but significant details that contribute to the overall charm and appeal of the original Wicked Weed brewpub, making it a beloved spot for locals and tourists alike. Visit the historic building with a 15 barrel brewery, a bottle shop, and a dog friendly patio, and discover why it remains a cherished landmark.The Art of Brewing: Wicked Weed's Signature Styles
Wicked Weed Brewing has gained a formidable reputation for its diverse and expertly crafted beer portfolio. We specialize in west coast, hoppy style ales, Belgian varieties, and barrel-aged beers, showcasing a mastery of various brewing techniques. This broad specialization ensures that there's always something new and exciting to discover on their taps. Wicked Weed Brewing offers 20+ beers on tap, including hop-forward, West Coast style ales, open-fermented Belgians, and barrel-aged sour beers, providing an unparalleled selection for every palate. Their hop-forward West Coast IPAs are celebrated for their vibrant aromas and crisp bitterness, embodying the bold character typical of the style. Beers like the Pernicious IPA have become crowd favorites, known for their bright, citrusy notes and perfectly balanced hop profile. Enjoy the view of our brewery while sipping on crowd favorites like Pernicious IPA straight from the tap, a testament to its freshness and popularity. Beyond the hops, Wicked Weed excels in crafting intricate Belgian varieties, often employing open fermentation to achieve unique flavor profiles that range from spicy and fruity to earthy and complex. However, perhaps one of the most distinctive aspects of Wicked Weed Brewing's repertoire is their pioneering work in barrel-aged sour beers. These highly sought-after creations undergo extended aging in wooden barrels, often inoculated with wild yeasts and bacteria, resulting in beers with profound depth, tartness, and nuanced flavors that evolve over time. This commitment to complex and challenging styles has solidified their position as a leader in the craft beer movement, constantly pushing the boundaries of what beer can be. The dedication to these diverse styles highlights the expertise and innovative spirit that define Wicked Weed.Expansion and Innovation: The Funkatorium and West Asheville Brewery
The success of Wicked Weed Brewing's original location paved the way for significant expansion, allowing them to further explore their brewing passions and increase their production capacity. This growth has led to the establishment of two other key locations in Asheville, each serving a distinct purpose and contributing to the brewery's comprehensive offerings: the Funkatorium and the West Asheville production brewery. These expansions demonstrate Wicked Weed's ambition and commitment to meeting the growing demand for their unique beers, while also providing specialized experiences for their fans.The Funkatorium: A Sanctuary for Sour Beers
A testament to Wicked Weed Brewing's pioneering spirit in the realm of sour beers is the Funkatorium. This dedicated facility is a haven for barrel-aged sours, offering an unparalleled selection of these complex and often challenging brews. Wicked Weed Brewing is thrilled to announce the reopening of its Funkatorium location this May, signaling its continued importance in their portfolio. It’s a unique space designed to showcase the intricate process and diverse results of sour beer fermentation and aging. Adjacent to the Funkatorium, Wicked Weed opened a fine dining restaurant named Cultura. This establishment showcases sour beer in a modern, elevated space, demonstrating how these unique brews can be integrated into a sophisticated culinary experience. Cultura provides a refined setting where the nuanced flavors of sour beers are paired with an innovative menu, creating a truly exceptional dining adventure. The Funkatorium and Cultura together form a powerful duo, solidifying Wicked Weed's position at the forefront of the sour beer movement and offering a complete experience for those who appreciate the art of fermentation.Wicked Weed West: The Production Powerhouse
To meet the increasing demand for their popular beers, Wicked Weed Brewing established a larger production facility in West Asheville. Located in West Asheville is our 50-barrel production brewery complete with a taproom open to the public. This state-of-the-art facility significantly boosts their brewing capacity, allowing them to distribute their beers more widely. Two months later, they opened a taproom at Wicked Weed West overlooking the entire production facility, giving guests a front-row seat to the brewing process while enjoying Wicked Weed beers. The taproom at Wicked Weed West offers a unique opportunity for visitors to witness the large-scale brewing operations firsthand. It’s an immersive experience where you can see the massive tanks, the intricate piping, and the bustling activity of a modern production brewery, all while enjoying a fresh pint of your favorite Wicked Weed brew. This location is crucial for their distribution efforts, ensuring that beers like Pernicious IPA and their traditional lager can reach a broader audience. The West Asheville facility is a clear indicator of Wicked Weed Brewing's growth and its commitment to making its celebrated beers accessible to more enthusiasts.Tours and Education: Diving Deeper into the Brewery Experience
For those eager to delve deeper into the world of Wicked Weed Brewing, the brewery offers comprehensive tours that provide insight into their history, philosophy, and brewing processes. We offer daily tours of our original location plus three highly immersive specialty tours that dive deeper into our company history (and dive deeper into samples as well). These tours are an excellent way to connect with the brand on a more personal level, understanding the meticulous effort that goes into every batch of beer. The daily tours at the original downtown location offer a foundational understanding of Wicked Weed's beginnings and the operation of their 15-barrel system. For those seeking a more in-depth exploration, the specialty tours are designed to provide a richer, more immersive experience. These tours might focus on specific aspects like their barrel-aging program, the intricacies of sour beer production at the Funkatorium, or the large-scale operations at the West Asheville facility. Crucially, these immersive tours often include generous samples, allowing participants to taste the fruits of Wicked Weed's labor while learning about their creation. This educational component adds significant value to the Wicked Weed Brewing experience, transforming a simple visit into an enlightening journey for beer aficionados.National Recognition and Widespread Distribution
Wicked Weed Brewing's dedication to quality and innovation has not gone unnoticed on the national stage. Founded in 2012, Wicked Weed has won a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival, a highly prestigious award in the American craft beer industry. This recognition underscores their excellence and commitment to producing world-class beers, solidifying their reputation among peers and consumers alike. Winning such an esteemed award so early in their history speaks volumes about their talent and the quality of their brews. Beyond critical acclaim, Wicked Weed Brewing has also focused on expanding its reach, making its beers available to a broader audience. They distribute to major metropolitans in North Carolina, ensuring that locals and visitors across the state can enjoy their offerings. The distribution network extends significantly beyond their home state. Wicked Weed beers are available through distribution in North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, Georgia, Tennessee, Alabama, Mississippi, Virginia, and Washington D.C. This extensive distribution footprint is a testament to the popularity and demand for Wicked Weed's beers, allowing more people to experience their unique styles and flavors. This widespread availability ensures that even if you can't visit Asheville, you can still enjoy a taste of Wicked Weed Brewing.Connecting with the Community and the World
In today's interconnected world, a strong online presence is crucial for any brand, and Wicked Weed Brewing excels at engaging with its community both locally and globally. They maintain an active and vibrant presence across various social media platforms, allowing fans to stay updated on new releases, events, and behind-the-scenes glimpses of the brewery. You can find Wicked Weed Brewing on Instagram, Wicked Weed Brewing on Facebook, Wicked Weed Brewing on Twitter/X, and Wicked Weed Brewing on YouTube. These platforms serve as vital channels for communication, fostering a sense of community among their followers. Their social media channels are not just for announcements; they are dynamic spaces where the brewery shares stories, interacts with fans, and showcases the passion that goes into their craft. From stunning photos of their latest brews to videos detailing their brewing process, these platforms offer an intimate look into the world of Wicked Weed. Furthermore, for those who want to explore their extensive range of beers, the brewery maintains a comprehensive online archive. Check out all of the Wicked Weed beers only on our beer archive, a valuable resource for discovering their full portfolio, including limited releases and seasonal favorites. This commitment to digital engagement ensures that Wicked Weed Brewing remains accessible and connected to its growing base of enthusiasts, no matter where they are.A Taste of Tradition and Featured Brews
While Wicked Weed Brewing is renowned for its innovative and often experimental beers, they also pay homage to traditional brewing styles, demonstrating their versatility and respect for beer history. A prime example of this is their traditional lager. This traditional lager is authentically brewed with imported malts that offer a pillowy grain character balanced with bright and floral Mittelfrüh hops. This commitment to classic styles, executed with precision and high-quality ingredients, showcases their breadth of brewing expertise. It’s a reminder that while they push boundaries, they also master the fundamentals. Throughout the year, Wicked Weed Brewing celebrates various beer-related occasions, often featuring special releases. For instance, their participation in Oktoberfest celebrations is a highlight for many. Thank you for choosing to celebrate Oktoberfest with Wicked Weed Brewing, a sentiment that resonates with fans who appreciate their seasonal offerings. These events and special brews provide opportunities for the brewery to engage with its audience and showcase specific styles that are perfect for the occasion. To stay on top of their latest and most exciting releases, enthusiasts are encouraged to explore their current features. Check out our most recent featured Wicked Weed beers, as these often include limited-time offerings, new experimental batches, and seasonal favorites that capture the essence of their brewing creativity. Whether it's a classic lager or a cutting-edge sour, Wicked Weed Brewing consistently delivers exceptional quality and a memorable drinking experience.Conclusion
From its daring inception in 2012, challenging historical notions of the "wicked weed" that is hops, Wicked Weed Brewing has blossomed into a formidable force in the craft beer world. We've explored its charming original gastropub in downtown Asheville, a hub of local flavors and innovative brews, complete with its dog-friendly patio and bustling bottle shop. We've journeyed through their diverse beer portfolio, from hop-forward West Coast IPAs like the beloved Pernicious, to intricate Belgian ales, and their groundbreaking barrel-aged sour beers championed at the Funkatorium and Cultura. The expansive West Asheville production facility stands as a testament to their growth, ensuring their award-winning beers reach enthusiasts across numerous states. Wicked Weed Brewing is more than just a brewery; it's an experience, an education, and a community. Their commitment to quality, innovation, and customer engagement, evident in their immersive tours and vibrant social media presence, sets them apart. Whether you're planning a pilgrimage to Asheville to visit their historic locations, seeking out their acclaimed brews in your local market, or simply exploring the vast world of craft beer, Wicked Weed Brewing offers a journey worth taking. So, what are you waiting for? Dive into the world of Wicked Weed. Plan your visit to their Asheville locations, seek out their distinctive beers at your local distributor, or simply explore their extensive beer archive online. Share your favorite Wicked Weed memory or brew in the comments below, and let's continue to celebrate the artistry and passion that defines this exceptional brewery.
13 little-known facts about the musical 'Wicked' | ksdk.com
Confirmed: 'Wicked' to return for Manila run in 2017
WICKED - Official Trailer 2 (Universal Pictures) - HD - YouTube
