USA, NC: Terra Nova Beer Co. aiming for a June debut in Asheville
A new local brewery opening this summer is preparing to make a beer garden oasis out of a gravel parking lot, the Asheville Citizen-Times reported on May 11.
Terra Nova Beer Co. is aiming for a June debut at 101 South Lexington Ave. in the South Slope Brewing District.
The extensive, multistage renovation plan will create a greenspace that flows from inside the taproom to the open-air beer garden. The design reflects the brewery’s name and inspiration.
Terra Nova Beer Co. is opening in the former location of Bhramari Brewing. The brewery's parent company has taken over to create a separate entity with new investment dollars. And a new leadership team and staff are building the business from the ground up.
"It's a special group of people, and that's part of my experience from my last company (Galaxy Digital) was building something that was a culture that's really healthy and it all starts with that core group of people, and we have been blessed to find a core group of people that are all on the same page," said Doss Church, director of operations for Terra Nova and former chief executive officer and founder of Galaxy Digital, a software company in Asheville.
Terra Nova, which translates to “new earth,” is symbolic of new beginnings and cultivating a natural landscape in an urban landscape.
“The vision of creating a greenspace out here and creating a space where nature can reclaim an area that mankind has overtime paved, de-beautified, we want to re-beautify this space, plant a bunch of trees, and create an environment that’s unlike anything else downtown,” Church said. “That was so enticing for us, and we felt like we’re creating a new land ― creating something special from old earth, bringing into new earth.”
Head brewer Kyle McKenzie is leading beer production with brewer technician Sasha Bynum.
McKenzie served as Green Man Brewing’s head brewer for many years, but Terra Nova Beer Co. will have original recipes, he said.
“With this being a new space and a new venture, we definitely wanted to separate Terra Nova from what old Bhramari was and definitely not bringing any beers over from Green Man,” McKenzie said. “One of the things both Sasha and I really like to do is recipe-develop, so being able to work on new recipes all the time is something we certainly plan on doing.”
As of May 11, there were nine craft beers in progress, mostly lagers and easy sippers with consideration that guests may stay a while or hop to other breweries on the South Slope.
“We’ve decided to build this portfolio around this big outdoor beer garden that we’re building and having a space that is more community-oriented,” McKenzie said. “We want people to come in and sit down and have more than one beer so we’re making a lot of beers that are a bit more session-able, low ABV stuff so people can enjoy their time here and not end up too intoxicated.”
Beers with higher alcohol by volume, like 7% and up, will be available, too.
“We’re going to let the community collectively decide what kind of beer styles we end up moving toward, but I am very focused on lager styles because they tend to be more process-driven beer styles," McKenzie said. "I’m focused on process-driven products, not using a lot of adjuncts or specialty ingredients and just letting the beers speak for themselves.”
McKenzie and Bynum aim to have about 12-14 different beers in a variety of styles ready to pour by the June opening with pilsners, malt-forward lagers and IPAs to come.
Bynum, who’s enrolled in A-B Tech’s brewing, distillation and fermentation program and has interned at other local breweries, is working at Terra Nova for the summer.
“I’m thrilled. I had options open for where I was going to work this summer and I’m really glad this is where I landed,” she said. “This is a very unique experience as far as summer jobs can go because it’s almost brand new. We’re getting to experience the rebranding and a turnover of all the beer styles and creating our own beer styles, as well as all the things inside, such as the décor. It’s fascinating and I’m learning a lot."
Creative director Sarah Watkins was brought on to design a place reflective of the name “Terra Nova.”
Watkins devised a way to incorporate organic materials inside the building that will complement the greenspace that will be outside. A goal is to create a nontypical brewery setting that’s “a little bit softer and organic in nature,” like adding greenery and wood elements to offset the concrete and steel.
Ceilings and walls throughout the building will drip with plant life and ambient lighting, she said.
In the main taproom, the bar will be reconstructed and have a nature-inspired design cut from corten steel. In addition to bar seating, the room will have a banquette on one wall and an assortment of small and longer solid live-edge oak tables.
The adjacent room will serve as a dining and event space with a separate bar with counter seating and tables. The room and a smaller connecting lounge space may be booked for private events. When not reserved, the space will act as an extension of the public tasting room.
“There will be a little lounge where we’ll have some midcentury modern/retro furniture and lots of greenery on the walls and preserved moss cascading down the walls,” Watkins said. “Definitely trying to capture that earthy-spacey-little bit retro all in one.”
Local artist Amar Stewart was commissioned to paint murals inside the taproom and event space and on the outer wall, including an abstract work of a woman melding into earth and space.
The renovations are planned for two stages. The first stage is what guests will see when they arrive on opening day in June. Phase 2 will roll out throughout the year, Watkins said.
“What really got me into this project was what we’re getting ready to do with this backyard,” she said.
The gravel parking lot will be completely covered to make way for a lush, communal greenspace with tree canopies and cozy alcoves for privacy.
“We are going to be reclaiming nature in this parking lot,” Watkins said. “I’m passionate about this because as humans, we consume and we build and we take nature out to build and we do this over and over again and so I’m excited because now we have an opportunity to reclaim it and build it back and be an example of how humans and nature can coexist in the same space.”
The garden will inhabit 15 or more 25-foot trees, grass and pollinators to attract nature and create an ecosystem, she said.
“We want it to be used in this way and we want people in it to enjoy this space," Watkins said. "We’re excited we’re able to create this atmosphere in the middle of downtown because it’s something that really hasn’t been done yet and we hope it serves as an example and an inspiration for others to think about different ways they can reclaim nature in their spaces, whether it’s private or business.”
The first stage will allow for a smaller central garden area with a fire pit. Later, the greenspace will be expanded to include room for a couple of food trucks, an outdoor bar and restrooms, and a stage for live performances.
Church and a couple of other on the Terra Nova staff are musicians and have designed a stage and music program that's welcoming to artists and audiences.
“We envision it as a place to come, sit and be in a greenspace right inside the city, drink good beer, eat good food but also listen to great music,” Church said.
The indoor taproom kitchen will open later ― details to be announced.
16 May, 2023
