A&E

BearWaters Brewing expands to Maggie Valley

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD S TAFF WRITER I f you had told BearWaters Brewing founder/co-owner Kevin Sandefur eight years ago that some day he’d be at the helm of two brewery locations in Haywood County, and also play a big role in the economic revitalization of downtown Canton, he’d probably call your bluff.

“It’s been quite a long journey, especially when I look back at how scrappy I was then compared to now,” Sandefur chuckled. “And then, with life and experiences and things you do, you become more mature and more settled. You don’t feel like everything’s a fight, you finally become galvanized enough to move forward with a sense of peace and confidence.”

In one of the great success stories of regional craft beer, BearWaters Brewing has grown from humble beginnings in a Waynesville storage garage to a highly popular destination in a large warehouse along the Pigeon River in Canton. For the 2019 calendar year, the brewery produced more than 1,200 barrels with around 90,000 patrons coming through the doors.

And with its Canton location (aka: BearWaters Brewing – Riverside) running on all cylinders, Sandefur and BearWaters co-owner Art O’Neil decided it was time to expand, which ultimately led to the discovery and acquisition of its new Maggie Valley location, aptly named BearWaters Brewing – Creekside.

“It was the right time to add another location and we secured the lease late year,” Sandefur said. “We had looked at spots in Knoxville, Tennessee and North Georgia. But, ironically, we came across this place in Maggie. We had a checklist and it had everything — creek in the back, great parking, highway frontage and positive economic indicators.”

Brewing has finally opened its doors following renovations and relaxed government mandates in the era of the coronavirus.

“It’s been so nice to see people come in and see what we’ve changed and what we’ve kept the same, [in terms of ] the charm of the brewery,” said Morgan Crisp.

Alongside her husband, Travis Crisp, Morgan and her business partners took on Frog Level Brewing in an effort to not only expand the initial brand, but also push ahead with plans for its other brewing line, 7 Clans. Before this recent property purchase, 7 Clans was contract brewed and canned at BearWaters Brewing in Canton.

“We’re still keeping the Frog Level brand,

The new BearWaters Brewing – Creekside location in Maggie Valley. Donated photo

Frog Level Brewing reopens

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD S TAFF WRITER I n a highly-anticipated relaunch of a beloved Waynesville business, Frog Level

Formerly The Garrett House, the Soco Road spot offers similar amenities as the Canton location, including backyard seating on nearby Jonathan Creek. Aside from its signature brews and a rotating cast of seasonal ales, BearWaters – Creekside has also teamed up with The Grey Eagle Music Hall & Taqueria, with the iconic Asheville business now bringing its storied reputation to Maggie Valley.

“The universe really brought our two businesses together, and this relationship has been pretty special,” Sandefur noted. “They obviously have the entertainment and food side covered, and we’re taking care of the craft beer side.”

Sandefur added The Grey Eagle would also be involved in bringing notable live music acts to both Haywood County locations as things progress. And amid upcoming changes to the BearWaters – Riverside location, there are already plans in the works to construct a concert venue in the back of the property.

But, even with a whirlwind of recent expansion and decisions soon to be made, Sandefur is solely focused on the “here and now,” of being in the moment and appreciating all of the great things he’s not only built, but also crossed paths with in the process.

“With this brewery, it’s kind of like watching your kids grow up, seeing how things develop and take shape,” Sandefur said. “For us, we like watching people enjoy the spaces we’ve created, things we’ve put together where there was nothing before. It feels great to be able to make a positive impact on these communities.”

Frog Level Brewing in Waynesville. Donated photo

and we’ll be rebranding that beer line with potential distribution opportunities we’re looking into,” Morgan said. “The taproom will still be called Frog Level Brewing, with the only real difference now being that the 7 Clans beer line will also be brewed at Frog Level.”

A signature feature of Frog Level Brewing, the Richland Creek patio and concert stage area has been repainted and revi

talized. As well, the restaurant component within the brewery will still be intact, but with more shareable foods rather than full meal offerings.

Now up and running, this fresh chapter for Frog Level and 7 Clans Brewing has been a long time coming for the new owners. But, with patience being a virtue, the future of this company is now in good hands.

“We’ve made really small steps and we probably haven’t made the conventional steps that everybody else thinks we should make,” Morgan said. “But, it’s been small steps for both brewery brands, and that works for us and works for our budget. We’ve got a lot of bases covered and we work well together in this business — we’re looking forward to seeing how this place evolves.”

BY GARRET K. WOODWARD

The Appalachian Trail in Dalton, Massachusetts. (photo: Garret K. Woodward)

Take a chance and build a boat, some will sink and some will float

On Monday morning, I woke up in a big, cozy antique brass bed at my parents’ 1840 farmhouse up near the Canadian border in Plattsburgh, New York. Rolling over, I grabbed my ukulele nearby and plucked a few jovial chords.

Normally, I’m only back home for the holidays when it’s 20 below zero outside with a blizzard churning outside the farmhouse kitchen window — just as I pour my first cup of coffee, a momentary sigh in acceptance and familiarity of bad weather in the North Country.

But, here I am, walking out into my mother’s garden with coffee in hand, late spring sunshine and green grass amid countless perennials blossoming around the backyard. And yet, the serene scene unfolding before my eyes is a far cry from the suddenness and devastation literally spreading like

wildfire across our country right now.

I don’t have the answers to any of the centuries-old questions being asked right now when it comes to systemic racism and social injustice in America. I can’t offer a solution beyond simply coming together for positive change and recognizing each other as equal human beings. But, I do know how to listen.

And I’ve been doing a lot of that lately, just listening. Whether it be watching firsthand accounts on the evening news of protesters for the death of George Floyd or the words of compassion through a megaphone by Floyd’s brother, Terrence, or the sorrow and hope expressed by rapper/activist Killer Mike at an Atlanta press conference — begging protesters to stop rioting, to go home and fight in the voting booth.

Sitting up here at the northern tip of the United States, I’m physically removed from the chaos and madness roaring through metro areas hundreds and thousands of miles away. And yet, my Facebook feed is now full of posts from close friends and loved ones who protested on Monday night in Asheville, only to be in the midst of tear gas canisters launched and rubber bullets shot.

But, through all of this — the Coronavirus Pandemic, the riots and injustice, severe political division, the uncertainty of what will reveal itself in the morning — I remain optimistic. It’s in my blood and part of the core of my being. Shit, what else are you going to do? Give up? Hell no. We’re better than that as people. We can (and will) build a brighter tomorrow.

By the time I took the second sip of my third cup of coffee on Monday, I figured I’d spend the afternoon hiking up a mountain, something away from incessant social media and 24-hour news cycles — to clear my head and make sense of where we currently stand, where we may ultimately go moving forward.

In figuring out where to hike, I also needed to track down some new ukulele strings for a vintage Harmony baritone that I recently acquired. Seeing as New York State is still phasing in retail stores, the only music shop open Monday afternoon was an hour away. Luckily, it was in downtown Saranac Lake, which, for me, is the heart of the Adirondacks.

Approaching the register of the music shop, I went to pay for the strings and noticed a “Grateful Dead For Ukulele” book within reach. It was serendipitous, coming across this publication with the songs of a band (a pillar of my melodic existence and life ethos) whose message of love and compassion between one another touched the lives of countless millions of fans, and continues to do so.

Hitting the trailhead of Mount Baker, I trotted up the trail, over roots and boulders, around the ridge and to the summit. Overlooking Saranac Lake and the surrounding mountains, I thought of all the people down below, those faces and voices who have similar sentiments and concerns about what tomorrow will bring.

I looked up to the heavens and back down below, and wished everyone well in their respective endeavors, that peace and understanding (and hope) from my intent would push outward into the rest of our planet — kindness breeds kindness, and the same goes for when it comes to understanding others who may differ from you.

By Tuesday morning, I once again awoke in the big, cozy brass bed at my parents’ farmhouse. Coming down the old creaky wooden stairwell, I entered the kitchen and poured a cup of coffee. Sipping the hot liquid, I relaxed into my thoughts and intents for the day, and of what I can do to be a better human being in the grand scheme of things.

After restringing my old Harmony baritone, I sat down and plucked the strings until it was in tune. Reaching for the “Grateful Dead For Ukulele” book, I flipped to “Ripple” and began my deep dive into figuring out the tune on the acoustic instrument.

For each chord and lyric line of “Ripple” learned, I found myself once again in awe of the melody and how it gave me hope for a new day, “Reach out your hand if your cup be empty/If your cup is full may it be again/Let it be known there is a fountain/That was not made by the hands of men.”

Life is beautiful, grasp for it, y’all.

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Concerts on the Creek

The organizers of Concerts on the Creek in Sylva have made the difficult decision to postpone the beginning of the 11th season of performances until the end of June.

Concerts on the Creek are traditionally held every Friday night from 7 to 9 p.m., from Memorial Day through Labor Day at the Bridge Park in Sylva. The first performance will be held by Geoff McBride & Scott Baker on June 26.

The series is organized and put on by the Jackson County Chamber of Commerce, the Town of Sylva and the Jackson County Parks and Recreation Department.

“At this time, we’ve decided to reschedule the first four concerts until Saturdays later in the season,” said Jackson County Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Julie Donaldson. “We’re planning on beginning the series on Friday, June 26, depending on how the Governor structures Phase 3. We’ll keep you posted and look forward to being together again soon.”

The performances are free with donations encouraged. Patrons should bring a chair or blanket and prepare to be “COVID safe.” Food trucks are expected to be at some of the concerts.

For a complete lineup schedule of Concerts on the Creek, visit www.mountainlovers.com or go to the Concerts on the Creek Facebook page. These sites will be updated with any changes going forward.

Haywood County Arts Council returns

The following will be occurring at the Haywood County Arts Council in downtown Waynesville. • June 5-27: Haywood County Studio Tour Exhibit. The HCAC will proudly host artists from the Haywood County Studio Tour in the Gallery & Gifts space at 86 North Main Street. The show will offer a sampling of the work from 29 local artists.

The 2020 Studio Tour has been canceled due to the COVID-19 outbreak, but the 2021 tour is scheduled for June 26-27. Participants work in diverse media including clay, fiber, wood, jewelry, glass, mixed-media, sculpture and two-dimensional applications.

The Arts Council’s Haywood County Studio Tour Show offers visitors a generous taste of what they’ll experience in June 2020. For additional information, visit www.haywoodarts.org/studio-tour-participants or www.facebook.com/openstudioshaywood. • June 6: “Artist Demonstration” with Linda Blount, 1 to 4 p.m. at the HCAC. Free and open to the public. Blount will be sharing the secrets of painting “Sweet Sapphire,” a lovable cow. • June 24: Opening Day of “Auction for the Arts!” at Cedar Hill Gallery on Main Street in Waynesville. Free and open to the public.

The HCAC is holding its silent auction of

original artwork from June 24 to July 11 at Cedar Hill Gallery. Bidding will begin at noon on Wednesday, June 24 and end at 4:30 p.m. Saturday, July 11.

All proceeds from the auction will go toward HCAC’s “Arts Now! Our Campaign for the Future.” The goal of the campaign is to establish a fund for the eventual purchase of a building large enough to provide gallery space for over 100 artists, an emerging artist incubator with affordable studio space, creation space for youth arts educational programs, a dedicated music classroom, three additional classrooms and an endowment.

Artwork donated by Mark Matheny, Barbara Brook, Remi Dawkins, Cayce Moyer, Jerry Stuart, Diannah Beauregard, Gretchen Clasby, Mary Decker, Dominick DePaolo, Janice Huse, Jan Kolenda, Gregg Livengood, Susan Livengood, Jude Lobe, Francoise Lynch, Jeremiah Maitri, John Nelson, Dee Noelle, and Debbie Skelly. www.haywoodarts.org.

• Andrews Brewing Company (Andrews) will host the “Lounge Series” at its Calaboose location with Jesse ALSO: Black June 6, Scott Stambaugh 2 p.m. June 7 and George Ausman 2 p.m. June 14. All shows are free and begin at 6 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.andrewsbrewing.com.

• Currahee Brewing (Franklin) will host Lost Bridge 7:30 p.m. June 13. All shows are free and open to the public. www.curraheebrew.com.

• Innovation Station (Dillsboro) will host Stephen Horvath June 13 and The Knotty G’s June 27. All events are free and begin at 7 p.m. unless otherwise noted. www.innovation-brewing.com.