By Jesse Wood
Beech Mountain Resort hosts the second annual Winterfest Beer Festival on Saturday, Jan. 9 from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m, and while the focus of the festival is on the craft beer emanating from the state’s premiere breweries, Acoustic Syndicate will be anything but background music inside the newly-renovated Beech Tree Bar and Grille.
Acoustic Syndicate, an eclectic band that only gets tagged with the bluegrass label because it features a banjo, played its very first gig in Boone in 1992. The band toured relentlessly across the nation for years, including sets at Farm Aid and Bonnaroo, before taking an eight-year hiatus to stay close to home in the foothills of Western North Carolina.
A couple years ago, Acoustic Syndicate recorded a new album, Rooftop Garden, and has since been selective with its gigs, including playing multiple shows at Beech Mountain. This coming Saturday, Acoustic Syndicate will play two extended sets on the mountain between 3 and 7 p.m.
“They were well received last year. One of the best bands I’ve ever booked,” Beech Mountain Resort spokesperson Talia Freeman said. “They certainly play to the crowd and put on a great show.”
And the band returned the kind words as well in a Facebook post on Wednesday:
“Be aware it’s an earlier start time than usual. There will be plenty of quality craft brews from all over NC and we will be playing a lot of music for you! Might be a good idea to go ahead and secure your tickets now. We will be playing in the newly renovated Beech Tree Inn, so come on up and have some fun with us! Talia Freeman and her crew up at Beech know how to make some serious fun happen and we can’t wait to see you there!”
As for the beer component of the Winterfest Beer Festival, craft beers from more than 50 breweries will be featured at the festival and organizers noted that the beers selected represent the best beers Western North Carolina and the rest of the state have to offer. Note that Beech offers a free shuttle bus at the event for patrons enjoying the beverages.
While Mother Nature is finally in winter mode and the slopes of Beech Mountain Resort are covered in snow, you don’t have to be a skier, snowboarder and, now tuber – because of the new tubing run atop Beech – to have fun at the resort.
“The event is indoor, so you definitely do not have to ski or board to visit. Our resort is very inviting for the non-skier,” Freeman said. “I think a lot of people don’t realize that you can still visit the brewery, shops and restaurants, without skiing. We have a photo booth at the event, so it is very fun.”
This event offers locals and visitors alike just another chance to check out all of the improvements at the resort this year that span from the snowmaking improvements on the slopes to the revamped menu in the Beech Tree Bar and Grille.
“People are very happy with the renovations,” Freeman said. “We have had a lot of compliments, not to mention a big improvement on the menu. I have eaten there daily. It’s delicious. They will be highlighting some of the food.”
Advanced tickets cost $45 and can be purchased here, while tickets at the door cost $75. The event is for those 21 years old and up.
For more information about Beech Mountain Resort and the festival, click here or call 828-387-2011.
Check out photos from last year’s Beer Festival event below.
Photos by Ken Ketchie
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