Appalachian Mountain Brewery Merges with Green Man Brewery
(BOONE, NC) – Appalachian Mountain Brewery (AMB) who recently made headlines by being the first craft brewery to reacquire themselves from Anheuser Busch have been busy at work. In June, they opened their 2nd location in Mills River and have now entered a joint venture with Asheville’s Green Man Brewery to produce their beer for distribution.
Green Man brewery has been producing award-winning ales and lagers in Asheville since 1997. In 2010, under the new ownership of Dennis and Wendy Thies, constructed a 3 story, 20,000 square ft., packaging hall, a “brewtique”, and an indoor/outdoor top floor taproom. This location overlooks production on the South Slope of Asheville’s downtown area, next to “Dirty Jack’s”, their original (and still operating) location.
While the original AMB Brewery in Boone continues to produce beer and cider, much of the additional capacity and packaged beer had been produced within the Anheuser Busch network in recent years. Immediately after purchasing back the brewery, Founders (and cousins) Nathan Kelischek and Chris Zieber have been seeking a North Carolina home for their production.
“As soon as we signed the papers, we started making phone calls, knowing that we wanted to act fast and bring our production back to North Carolina. When we spoke with Green Man, their team and the Thieses, we knew we found the right home.” explains Kelischek and Zieber. “Their reputation for making award winning beers, their commitment to quality, sustainability and the way they run a family-owned business, it felt like we could really work well together.”
The team at Green Man share in the enthusiasm, “We are honored to be a part of this partnership with Appalachian Mountain Brewery.”, adds Joe Sommers, Managing Director at Green Man Brewery. “Being a family-owned business ourselves, it only made sense to partner with such a dynamic & innovative brand. Nathan and Chris (AMB) have been producing award- winning beers for years. We feel this is a lightning strike. Two major Western NC brands coming together to produce some of the best beers is truly a gift. We are so happy to welcome Appalachian Mountain Brewery into the Green Man production family.”
AMB will remain independent and will oversee their production at the Green Man facilities, working with the Green Man team to deliver the same world class products. Production of AMB Beers will begin in September. To mark the new partnership, Green Man and AMB will be brewing a limited release Breakfast Porter which will be available exclusively in Green Man and AMB Taprooms on October 19th. The commemorative brew will bring together hometowns of Boone and Asheville incorporating coffee from Boone-based coffee roasters and donuts from Vortex Donuts in Asheville plus the addition of vanilla, cacao nibs and a touch of oats to deliver a unique, sessionable full-bodied ale perfect for toasting incoming fall and new partnership.
This joint venture, marks a new chapter for 26 year old Green Man Brewing, “The beer brewed at the Green Man facility for AMB should start hitting the shelves in mid-October. This partnership was stemmed from a long friendship between Nathan Kelischek and Matt Peyton, our Director of Brewery Operations at Green Man Brewery. We look forward to expanding that friendship between our breweries for years to come.”
About Appalachian Mountain Brewery:
AMB proudly lives out its values of community, philanthropy, and sustainability by supporting and revitalizing communities, mountains, and rivers. When AMB’s original taproom opened in 2013, AMB became the first brewery in Boone, NC, and quickly became known for its award- winning beer and laidback Southern hospitality. AMB has won multiple awards at the Great American Beer Festival and the World Beer Cup for their Boone Creek Blonde Ale, Down South Lager and Hop Rain Drop IPA. Learn more about AMB at AMB.beer or connect on social @AppalachianMountainBrewery.
About Green Man Brewing:
The legendary Green Man has existed for centuries but it’s no myth that he’s been brewing award-winning ales in Asheville since 1997. As one of North Carolina’s original breweries, Green Man has been producing some of the beer scene’s most iconic ales. Our offerings are consistently recognized for quality and loyalty to traditional English styles. Additionally, our brewers strive to bring innovative and exciting new flavors to beer-loving folks.
In 2010, new ownership and a fresh approach spurred evolutionary change at Green Man. No longer a brew pub, Green Man was able to focus on production, distribution, and growth. Numerous and exciting new ventures are in the works as we celebrate our legendary past while looking forward to a green future.
