Mountains Over Beaches and Beer Over Everything Else

By Ian Guevara

I’ve always loved the mountains.

I guess living in a bowl my entire life affected my perception for what I most desire. When I see a green covered ridge contrasted by a stunning blue sky, I’m instantly mesmerized. I immediately imagine what it would be like to explore that ridge, camp on it, and view a sunrise, sunset, or both from the pinnacle.

Most dating apps ask little personality questions to help the user dictate your likes and dislikes like a modern day Caligula. One of those questions is “Beach or Mountains?” What psychopath would choose being at the beach over the mountains? Beaches are sweaty, humid ovens, where the sand magnifies the heat, gets in uncomfortable places, and there’s sharks. Have you seen Jaws? Yeah, I’m good fam. Mountains on the other hand offer cooling shade, crystal cold creeks, hammock locations, and stunning scenery. I think the choice is pretty clear.

I’m on the road to Asheville. I chose a more scenic route through the Cherokee Reservation and rose higher and higher into the cool and cold mist of the picturesque fog of the Smokies. As I crest a height of nearly 4600ft the mist clears and I’m greeted by a spectacular peak at the top of the world. I stop to view it. Fog wraps around and hugs the base of mountains like an ocean slowly churning with little green islands popping out bathing in the sunlight. Beaches suck.

Before I get to Asheville I stop in Maggie Valley, a little hamlet only about a half hour drive from the outskirts of Beer Valhalla. Maggie Valley possesses gorgeous lookouts, abutted on all sides by tall peaks and cheap roadside motels. Obviously it's a tourist town, but that doesn't take away from the optical enjoyment.

Bear Waters Brewing Company is my next stop, my little appetizer before I gluttonously fall upon the city of Asheville. It’s a delectable appetizer swirling with the sounds of clinking pints, crispy pizza, and crunchy grooves. The notes hit me before anything else, I’m always excited to rock out to Rush. The unmistakable guitarwork of Alex Lifeson hums, “Closer to the Heart”, one of my favorite songs.

In 2015, I saw Rush at the Smoothie King Center in what remains the most outstanding stage show for a concert I’ve ever seen. It was right before Neil Peart publicized his battle with arthritis, a death knell for any musician. But there they were, in their mid sixties and still craftsmen. We could have been satisfied with just a simple rock show with a few visuals and the greatest hits… the beach version of a concert. No. Rush gave us the mountains.

They played for nearly three hours. 26 total songs plus a bunch of funny interlude videos featuring the likes of Paul Rudd, Jason Segal, along with Ricky, Julian, and Bubbles from the Trailer Park Boys. “Roll the Bones”, “Subdivisions”, “Tom Sawyer”, “The Spirit of the Radio”, “Jacob’s Latter”, “Working Man”, Rush played a varied selection, almost like a flight of music for us. Not once did they exhibit an ounce of fatigue, but rather smiles and ease. They played their catalog of songs in reverse chronological order, taking us back in time with each epic riff.

Most compelling were the set pieces. Those too showed the passage of time. Starting with a Steam-Punk inspired motif, to a mid-eighties sleek display of excess, and ending with two small speakers resting on plastic chairs in a school gymnasium. I’ve never seen anything quite like it, and I don't imagine I will again. Again, they gave us the mountains.

Located on the scenic Highway 19 in Maggie Valley, Bear Waters Brewing Company rests upon Jonathans Creek, providing a picturesque view of the creek with the mountains growing in the background. The “Creekside” location is their second site, testing and creating small batches, while the main facility rests in Canton, just a half hour drive away. The original operation began in Waynesville, but the owner outgrew their surroundings and branched out for a bigger and better future.

The tap room is massive, with high ceilings and plenty of seating either at tables or at the bar. The outdoor area begs for late night libations and singing, with a stage and lights strung overhead. The beer selection is varied, with over 15 different brews and a seltzer.

With “Closer to the Heart” still humming in my head I approached the bar and set to order my first flight. “Milltown Dry-Hopped Pilsner”, “J Creek Blonde”, “Pink Passion Fruit Sour”, and “Papertown Pilsner” filled the glasses of my first flight displaying hues of gold and pink. Milltown Dry-Hopped Pilsner displays a Clear gold color with a hop scent. It screams light and airy, just crazy light and crispy starting with a slight sweetness and muted bitter finish. If you put your ear to the beer, you'll hear the crack of bats, making it a perfect beer for baseball.

J Creek Blonde is a Blonde Ale showcasing a stunning daffodil color with a slight malty aroma. It's light and crispy with a popping bread flavor, super tasty, like eating a slice of lightly toasted bunny bread. Going with another Pilsner, Papertown showcases a clear gold color with an almost floral hop hit. It's light and airy, with a mellow sweetness and bitterness from beginning to end. Pink Passion Fruit Sour, the winner of the day, seductively unveils a lovely rose color with a passion fruit fragrance. It's light and crispy starting off with the passion fruit sweetness and the incredible sourness to follow.

My second flight flowed with “SMASH: Pils/Citra”, “Stiff Paddle”, “Bugle Boy”, and “Heavy Cream”. SMASH Pils/Citra, the 10 anniversary brew, is a Single Malt and Single Hop Ale parading playfully with a light yellow color and a fruity hop aroma. It tastes like a subtle IPA possessing a slight citrus start and hop finish. Stiff Paddle is an IPA exhibiting a marigold color, dark for an IPA, with a classic IPA hoppy floral fragrance. It's super sweet to start balanced out perfectly by a muted but stated bitterness.

Bugle Boy is a British Brown Ale revealing a tawny colored ale with a sweet roasty smell. Rich and smooth with a toasty start and sweet and airy caramel finish. Heavy Cream is a Milk Stout flaunts a deep and brooding gingerbread shade with a chocolate scent. Surprisingly light for a stout, the stout is creamy and tasty, starting with a malty sweetness and finishing caramel and silky.

Bear Waters Brewing Company is open Sundays, Tuesday through Thursday noon to 9pm and Friday and Saturday from noon to 10pm. The brewery offers flowing taps, live music on weekends, and tasty grub to satiate any appetite. If there’s no live music, worry not, the playlist rocks and the creekside flows and babbles away with the sight of mountains in the distance.