,Background
Jess Reiser, her husband Doug Reiser, and their good friend and brewing partner, Tim Gormley opened Burial Beer Company in 2013. It was a decidedly small-scale operation that’s often referred to as a nano-brewery. As a result of excellent and varietal beers, their popularity grew steadily.
In 2016, Burial expanded to a second, larger complex at the edge of Biltmore Village. The new facility is referred to as the Forestry Camp, the grove-like project is designed to grow in phases. A new 20-barrel production brewery and canning line is already up and running there. An urban farm, a barrel house, a bar specializing in whiskey, and a restaurant run by a local chef are in the works. The two-acre property is arrayed with six historic buildings that were built in the early 1900s. In the 1930s they were used as barracks for Civilian Conservation Corps crews who built the Blue Ridge Parkway.
To meet continued demand in North Carolina, early in 2019 Burial opened a taproom and bottle shop in downtown Raleigh. Its immediate popularity resulted in the expansion of that space after only two months. Burial had called the small taproom “The Exhibit” and made its distinctive can art a prominent part of the space.
Experience
We found Burial Beer Company in a neat little industrial building filled with all things farming. It has a few tables inside and a bar. They just opened a large outdoor area in the Spring. As I understand it, they are looking to expand further by purchasing some farmland just outside town where they will be producing 15,000 barrels a year. Burial is around the corner from Green Man and not far from the Funkatorium.
We enjoyed several offerings: Scythe Rye IPA huge IPA nose, nice rye IPA flavor. The Pipehawk- again big hoppy nose and flavor- nice 4% Session. The Saison D’Orient is delicious and exotic, brewed with peppercorns-aged on ginger thai basil lime and lemongrass. The horehound ESB- interesting with horehound flavor.
We can’t wait to visit the new locations.
The Asheville Downtown Aloft is probably the closest hotel to the Burial. It is expensive and difficult to get in. If you dont enjoy traversing very hilly streets, many more hotels within a $5.00 Uber ride.
When in Ashville, check out Wicked Weed Funkatorium , Catawba Brewing and Greenman.
