USA, NC: Mountain Layers Brewing preparing for opening by late fall

A second brewery is under construction in Bryson City as the craft beer industry continues spreading across the Western North Carolina mountains, Citizen-Times reported on July 28.

Mountain Layers Brewing could be open by late fall, said brewer Noah McIntee, who previously worked at Lazy Hiker Brewing in Franklin. Mountain Layers will use a seven-barrel system to turn out a mix of ales and lagers, McIntee said. The brewery will occupy an old building at 90 Everett St. in Bryson City. The structure has been used for a number of businesses through the years, including a haberdashery, general store, barber shop and pool hall, he said.

Mountain Layers is owned by Kim and Mark Pettit, who moved to Swain County from Minnesota in 2014 after many years of visiting the area. McIntee said he was looking for a new challenge after starting Lazy Hiker in 2015. Mountain Layers will join the long-established Nantahala Brewing, which is expanding to open a second brewpub location.

Mountain Layers will open with a two-level tasting room and outdoor deck overlooking the Tuckasegee River.

"We're exploring having food trucks out back, but this being the heart of Bryson City, there are a lot of nearby places (for food)," he said.

Bryson City is known as a destination for outdoor activities and as home of the Great Smoky Mountains Railroad excursion train, which pulls huge crowds to the town. While tourism drops off after the fall leaf season, McIntee said there's enough brewery business to keep going year-round.

"We're not going to close in the winter just because the tourists are gone," he said.

31 July, 2016