Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2015 - 30

JACOB LONG

OSKAR BLUES

to the brewery and then take the
trolley back to Asheville," says
Glenn. Plus, she says anyone is welcome to park at the brewery anytime and hike or bike to Pisgah.

Top: Oskar Blues holds the distinction as the first craft brewery to can its beer, making it more transportable for outdoor adventures. Bottom: Instead of driving for a glimpse of fall color, hop on the
Blue Ridge Scenic Railway and soak in the scenery.

its outdoor offerings by purchasing
145 acres of what had been a family
dairy farm.
"Dale, our founder, thought
it was a great opportunity to access Dupont State Forest and have
a place to use for events and rent
out as a venue," says Glenn. It's
called REEB Ranch-Reeb, which is
beer backwards, is also the name of
the Oskar Blues bike company. The
bikes are hand welded in Colorado.
REEB Ranch offers accommodations that include a 1940s cabin
with waterfall views, a barn apartment with bike park and pasture
views, and campsites. REEB Ranch
is about eight miles from the brewery, and there are outdoor opportu30 BlueRidgeCountry.com

nities there as well.
"There's a bike/hike path that
leads from the brewery into Pisgah
Forest," says Glenn. "We have a
mountain bike ride that leaves the
brewery every other Friday led by
the Blue Ridge Cycling Club. Everybody meets at the brewery around
6 p.m. They mountain bike to Pisgah and then come back and eat
burgers and drink beer."
It's easy, as well, for bikers in
Asheville to get out to the brewery in Brevard. A trolley picks up
at Aloft Hotel in Asheville every
Saturday at 5 p.m. and returns at 9
p.m. and up to six bikes can fit on
the trolley.
"Our dedicated bikers will bike

Biking and beer are also popular
around Greenville, South Carolina.
Thomas Creek Brewery owner Bill
Davis says they sponsor the Greenville Spinners Bike Club and their
members will use the brewery as
a start and end location for a long
ride, followed by drinking beer and
socializing at the brewery.
"We also sponsor a bike outing
out of Furman once a year in early
spring," says Davis.
Pat Walker, owner of Blue Ridge
Brewery in Blue Ridge, Georgia,
loves being on wheels too, but instead of a mountain bike or road
bike he prefers off-roading in his
Jeep or getting out on a motorcycle.
He says his favorite place for an
outdoor adventure is at Beasley's
Knob, on the other side of Blairsville, which is about a 20-minute
drive from his brewery in downtown Blue Ridge.
"It's only five dollars to ride the
trails all day," he says. "It's staterun and affordable. Five dollars
is insane. You can spend all day
out there. You can take dirt bikes,
4-wheelers, side-by-sides and offroad vehicles like Jeeps. It's very
challenging. There's rock climbing,
not just trails."
Whether you prefer hiking or
mountain biking or canoeing or
one of a number of great outdoor
adventures, we've found a place in
each state in our readership where
you can combine your love of the
outdoors with great beer or wine,
spectacular scenery, and amazing
places to dine and sleep.

NORTH CAROLINA
Town/area: Brevard
brevardnc.com

Fall Drive: Take U.S. 64 from Brevard
to Highlands. Pinpoint lots of waterfalls along the way to stop and
enjoy.

http://www.brevardnc.com http://www.BlueRidgeCountry.com

Blue Ridge Country - September/October 2015

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