Beer Culture

© 2003 Bethany Rice. All Rights Reserved.

Carry-out
Bars and bistros
Under age?
The 411

Beer! Now that I have your attention, a quick warning: if you’re not over 21, and you read this article, you will incur the wrath of the gods (or at least the wrath of a group of hungry ducks). Just kidding. That being said, where does an of-age student go to partake of fermented beverages? Whether you want to get it and go, sit and stay a spell, or make your own, you have many options right here in Sylva.

Carry-out

Well, first there are the usual suspects: Wal-Mart and the ABC store, both located in lovely Sylva. But what about the discerning consumer who does not want to leave his (or her) vehicle? In the true spirit of convenience, Sylva has its own drive-thru beer store. At the Triple B (a.k.a. the “Brew Thru”), you can use the drive-thru to have your alcohol delivered straight to your car window. Of course, they also carry non-alcoholic beverages, but it’s not called the “Brew Thru” for sodas, right? Convenience comes at a price, though, from what I’ve been told the prices there are a little higher than what you might find at Wal-Mart, for example.

Bars and bistros

Say you don’t want to just buy some beer and take it home; you want to have a night out with your buddies. Where to go? There are several restaurants in the Sylva area that offer wine or beer, such as O’Malley’s Pub, Colima’s, (both on Asheville Avenue in Sylva) and Lulu’s on Main Street to name a few.

Perhaps you are looking for a more cozy (or less restaurant-y) atmosphere? Try Soul Infusion, which is fast becoming a local favorite. While it is technically a tea house and bistro, it also offers “75+ varieties of microbrewed and imported beers, and over 50 fine wines from all around the world,” as well as “organic beers and biodynamic wines,” according to the website.

Under age?

For those of you who are not satisfied with merely going out and purchasing ready-made alcoholic beverages, rejoice! You have another option: make your own! There is a home-brewing supply store located right in Downtown Sylva. It’s called The Liquid Bread Company, and it’s located at 649 Mill Street (in the alley behind Cope’s Newsstand on what’s called Back Street—not Main Street). There you will find pretty much everything you need to make your own beer and wine (just don’t do it in the dorms, ok?).

The 411

O’Malley’s Pub
11 Asheville Highway
Sylva, NC 28779
(828)631-0554
Web site

Soul Infusion Tea House & Bistro
628 E. Main Street (NC 107)
Sylva, North Carolina 28779
(828) 586-1717
Web site

The Liquid Bread Company
649 Mill St.
Sylva, NC 28779
(828) 586-6440
Web site