ASHEVILLE, N.C. — On Saturday, December 15, Archetype Brewing is expanding their brand to include a barrel-aged beer program. The celebration will take place in the taproom, with a double bottle release: “Liber Novus,” a Belgian Red Ale that’s been aging in French Oak red wine barrels for 14 months, and “Devil’s Nest” Belgian Tripel, an already-beloved brew from Archetype, in bottles for the first time. Limited edition glassware and shirts will also be available in the taproom only, with their new program logo, a windmill, to symbolize the Belgian influence of the program’s brewing and aging style.
“The new program is a movement away from batch-to-batch repeatability, focusing on an evolving series of freshly-aged beers. It gives us the chance to observe the effects of time on our beer, and the end results are beers with high levels of complexity, nuance, and unique character,” says Head Brewer and Co-Owner, Steven Anan. Part of the philosophy is that the omission of souring agents creates a more distinct beer. The beers are yeast-driven, ranging from bold-profile beers with heavy Brettanomyces “funk”, to beers with more delicate, wine-like characteristics.
Archetype has a collection of French and American oak wine barrels, with more variety of barrels in the works, and visitors can stop by their Beacham’s Curve taproom to see them firsthand.
Fans of the unique brews within the program are in luck: Archetype is also offering an exclusive bottle club, an annual membership that will be open for purchase at the launch event on December 15th. The barrel program will continue with releases throughout the year, including a Belgian Blond, a variety of saisons, and many more. Members will have perks that include bottles of each release and early access to buy more, private tastings, and first dibs on tickets to taproom events. The membership allows the brewery to plan batch sizes and get valuable feedback from the people who love their beer to help steer the program.
Archetype Brewing was founded in 2017, serving up American and Belgian-style beers with a focus on creating complex, mindful, living beer. Offering a wide range of brews, there’s a beer for everyone, from straight forward lagers to intricate barrel-aged saisons. The taproom and brewery are nestled on the corner of Beacham’s Curve in East West Asheville, and provides an open space for the Asheville community to gather and enjoy good company and great beer. Archetype offers a variety of regular events in the taproom including trivia, live music, and sports viewing parties. Archetype beer can be found at restaurants and taprooms throughout the Asheville area, and packaged beers can be found in select craft beer retailers throughout the state.