Sublime Suds

By Ian Guevara

It’s a common theme during this stretch of my journey where my body is screaming at me when I wake up. Burdened by the hefty amount of fermented carbohydrates, I’ve made it a near routine to have a full nalgene and a bottle of tylenol resting on my nightstand. Preparation is the only route to survival. I’ve three more full days of Asheville and its hinterlands. Stamina and a second wind have to be around the corner.

Breakfast. Water. Stretch. Water. Exercise. Water. Shower. Water. The feelings of humanity begin to reappear. Next step, the long walk to my next brewery. Sure, I could Uber, but the revelation of consuming nearly 3,000 calories of beer a day drives me to walk off at least some of the delicious suds.

The walk is hefty, a four and a half mile jaunt up and down the rolling bluffs of south Asheville. However hot it may be, however sweaty I may get, the walk is needed. It serves to clear my head and acts as a palate cleanser for my body. Plus I need some lunch, what better way to justify eating a slice of pepperoni pizza than a long hike?

I’ve never been one to shy away from a nice little jaunt, especially when there’s an enjoyable outcome at the finish line.

Before Hurricane Katrina the University of New Orleans boasted an undergraduate enrollment of well over 17,000 students. Student life was full, active, and enjoyable. Even though the university lacked a football team (the status symbol among educational institutions in the South), it still fielded competitive basketball and baseball teams. Only a mile and a half separated the dorms from the Lakefront Arena, just a 25 minute walk.

“So I take that walk” as Bradley Nowell, the frontman for Sublime melodically bellowed in the song 40 Oz. to Freedom. Rather we would take that walk from the dorms to the arena… stopping first at the Shell station for a couple of 40s of Olde English Malt Liquor, then taking that walk.

We called it our, “40 Oz. to Freedom Walk” and would proudly walk up to the ticket counter tossing our empty bottles into the trash, giggling sheepishly like a bunch of morons. It certainly made the competitive, but losing performances of the Privateers to the legions of mediocre Mid-Major schools a little more palatable.

Sublime remains the common theme here, spiritually and musically. Ever since I heard that first Sublime song through my Discman in highschool, I pretty much don't go a day without hearing at least one Sublime song, intentionally or unintentionally. I often ponder what could have been if Bradley Nowell did not succumb to the insidiousness of addiction.

The story of Bradley Nowell is one of genius and tragedy. Growing up in Long Beach, California, Nowell’s family immersed him in music, exposing him to various genres and teaching him to play guitar. With an obsession over reggae fueling his desire to create music, Nowell formed a band with some college friends and began to jam.

After four years of playing in small bar halls, family barbecues, and eventually larger concert halls, Sublime became one of the most popular bands in Southern California. In 1992, the band released 40 Oz. to Freedom, launching the reggae-punk band into cult popularity. Mainstream success still evaded them, but the band still pumped out quality music and improved their skills, preparing to rocket to success.

Unfortunately Nowell passed before the band’s self titled album Sublime, put them on the mainstream airwaves. But I’d like to think that sophomoric rituals like my “40 Oz. to Freedom Walks” were in the spirit or Sublime’s influence. Furthermore, as I walk down the streets of Asheville today, my “shuffle all” seemingly decides to play clips from 40 Oz. to Freedom over and over.

After a long and sweaty walk, I saunter into PIE.ZAA Pizza and crush a slice of pie the size of a catcher’s mitt. It’s like a senzu bean from Dragon Ball Z. The slice of pizza rejuvenates me, heals all my hangover wounds, and keeps me full all day. I walk out the PIE.ZAA refreshed and ready to meet the agenda for the day.

Bhramari Brewing Company is my next stop.

Located on the corner of Lexington and Hilliard Avenues, Bhramari Brewing Company provides a delightful selection of indoor and outdoor seating for any lover of breweries. Snaking beyond the main dining room, sits the open tap room. Dominated by brewers at work side by side towering vats in the background, the tap room offers a sneak peak into the brewery’s operations while remaining comfy enough for a casual conversation around a pint. Beyond the tap room rests a large outdoor seating area with shaded picnic tables.

One look at the menu and my journey here all makes sense. There in plain text is the name of a Whit Bier called “Dropping Science''. And it hits me.

Because he's droppin' droppin' droppin' science

Droppin' history with a whole leap of style and intelligence

Yes, I know

I know because of KRS-one yeah

And I know, and I know

Well that’s part of the lyrics for the song on, you guessed it, 40 Oz. to Freedom. Serendipity. All those Sublime songs to pop on the playlist on my walk. The memory of the journeys to the Lakefront Arena. It was meant to be. This is going to be a great day.

There are no flights here, only half pours, so I adjust my methodology focusing on the first six beers that jump out to me. I selected “Dropping Science”, “Good Fight”, “Lazy Rio”, “Obliterated Mind”, “Perfectly Imperfect”, and “Race Specimen”.

Dropping Science is a Whit Bier infused with toasted coriander, blood orange, and tellicherry peppercorn. It displays a hazy banana color with a citrus and smooth scent. All notes are present as the coriander gives the whit an earthy tone while the citrus and pepper finish the experience.

Good Fight is a Sour IPA… let that resonate for a second… a Sour IPA. I didn't think I'd ever hear of such a thing until I entered Bhramari, and DAMN it’s tasty. Showing an easy pineapple color with a sour and hoppy scent, Good Fight starts off crispy and sour with a neat hoppy bitterness that follows. It’s a paradoxical beer that shouldn't exist, but it does, and it shines!

It’s a common theme so far that I’ve been delighted to find the Mexican Lager flourishing in many of the breweries I’ve ventured into. Bhramari takes the proliferation of the Mexican Lager further with a Mexican Style Vienna Lager called Lazy Rio. Revealing an apricot color with a malty fragrance, Lazy Rio starts with a deep and caramel taste and a wonderfully smooth finish. This beer absolutely pops with the addition of a lime.

Obliterated Mind is a Rauchweizen revealing a Straw color with a banana aroma. After a quick inquiry with the bartender, I was pleased to hear that a Rauchweizen is simply a smoky Hefewiezen. It’s crispy and very smoky from start to finish. Just a different hefeweizen and I'm here for it!

Perfectly Imperfect is a Rauchbier Urbock expressing a salty and savory smell with a deep pecan color. So different. I was afraid to give the poor bartender an ear beating with questions about what exactly a Rauchbier Urbock is, so I went to the trusty google machine. “Rauch” should have jumped out at me after the previous beer. It’s German for “smoke”. Seems to be a common theme here. Perfectly Imperfect is super savory and smoky from the start with an earthy tone to finish. Different. Perfect breakfast beer. I could definitely see myself slugging a pint of this with a hearty Denny’s Grand Slam.

The star of the day was the Race Specimen, an American Sour infused with red currant, parading a tiger color with a nose puckering punch. It possesses a sour pop to start, but the sweetness of the red currant and smokiness of the barrel balances this out almost perfectly. A well crafted brew with little to no flaws.

Bhramari Brewing Company is open Monday through Thursday from 12pm to 9pm, Friday and Saturday from 11am to 11pm, and Sunday from 11am to 9pm. The brewery hosts a number of events like chocolate and beer pairing and an enticing menu from a stellar kitchen. Whether you’re outside under the lovely Asheville skies or inside beside the bar, you’ll find utter satisfaction at every corner.