This series of posts is dedicated to the many, many six packs, pony kegs and pints that have sauntered into my life at one point or another.

In just a few weeks, I’ll be moving away from Asheville, North Carolina, the wonderful mountain town that began properly earning the title of Beer City, U.S.A. shortly after I arrived, some eight years ago. Leaving behind so many favorite local brews and breweries has stirred up some wistful feelings and inspired me to load down the car with cans and bottles on a road trip that also served as a first pass at moving items to the northern capital city that is my once and future home. Luckily, I also had time on this particular trip for a little reconnaissance, acquainting myself with some of the purveyors of delectable beverages that have arrived on the scene in the fourteen years I’ve been away. That included the good fortune of stumbling upon a beer that was whole-heartedly recommended by a friend as one of the best she’s ever tasted. If the Bilbo Baggins Black IPA from One Barrel Brewing Company is any indication — and I feel confident that it is — my upcoming move back to Madison, Wisconsin is going to have multiple worthy distractions from any dismay I might feel about necessarily saying goodbye to my favorite Tar Heel State beers.

Previously…
—Point Special
—21st Amendment Bitter American
—Abita Restoration Pale Ale
—Rolling Rock
—Skull Splitter
—Foster’s
—Highland Thunderstruck Coffee Porter
—Red Stripe
—Rhinelander Bock
—Samuel Adams Boston Lager
—New Glarus Brewing Company Wisconsin Belgian Red
—ABA Hoppy Saison
—Hamm’s
—Abita Strawberry Harvest Lager
—Three Floyds Apocalypse Cow
—French Broad Brewing Gateway Kolsch
—Big Boss Brewing “High Monkey”
—Stevens Point Brewery Whole Hog Pumpkin Ale
—The Native Brewing Company The Eleven Brown Ale
—Labatt Blue
—Smuttynose Winter Ale
—Point Beyond the Pale IPA
—Guinness
—Capital Brewery Supper Club
—Highland Brewing 20th Anniversary Scotch Ale
—Mickey’s
—Central Waters Brewing Company Sixteen
—Blatz
—Pisgah Pale Ale
—New Glarus Brewing Company Pumpkin Pie Lust
—Asheville Brewing Company Rocket Girl
—Sierra Nevada Blindfold Black IPA
—21st Amendment Brewery Down to Earth
—Point Bock
—3 Sheeps Hello, My Name is Joe
—Corona