Smooth Ambler Spirits and Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company are excited to present Appalachian Flavor, a fundraising event to showcase the hard work and pride that our local craftsmen put into creating some of the best artisan spirits and small-batch beers made. Slated for Saturday, November 16 from 6p-12am in the West Virginia Building at the State Fair of WV, enjoy an evening of comradery, local spirits and craft brews, plentiful vittles by Food Truck Rodeo, and live music. Tickets are $20 at the entrance and includes 1 signature cocktail or craft brew. The State Fairgrounds is located at 947 Maplewood Ave in Lewisburg. All proceeds from this event benefit Country Roads Rescue WV.

Smooth Ambler’s Whiskey Wagon will be on site to provide signature cocktails with their award-winning spirits. They use state-of-the-art equipment and the finest ingredients to achieve high quality spirits. Some of their cocktails include the Bourbon Smash prepared with Smooth Ambler’s Contradiction; Brown Derby which has Old Scout American Whiskey, and the Boulevardier which has Old Scout Single Barrel High Rye Bourbon. Before you head to the show, stop in their distillery to visit the Tasting Room and Gift Shop. It’s open weekdays from 2p-5pm and Saturdays from 11a-5pm. Distillery tours are available on Fridays and Saturdays at 12pm, 2pm, and 4pm. They are closed Sundays. They are located at 745 Industrial Park Rd in Maxwelton. For more information, visit smoothambler.com.

Greenbrier Valley Brewing Company will serve their high-quality craft brews. Everyday this amazing team pushes themselves to think outside the box to create new, exciting, complex, and delicious craft beer. Many of their brews are named after local legends and mythical figures as to pay homage to their West Virginia roots. Some of their popular brews are the Bat Boy Black Lager, Mothman Black IPA, Wild Trail Pale Ale, Devil Anse IPA, and Irish Dave’s Maple Bourbon Porter. GV Beer is available in stores statewide and you can also visit their Tap Room which is conveniently located across the street from Smooth Ambler. Their address is 862 Industrial Park Rd in Maxwelton and tasting room hours are Thursday from 5p-9p; and Friday & Saturday from 2p-9p. For more information, visit gvbc.beer.

Live music begins at 8:30p and features Same as it Ever Was and Empire Strikes Brass. Same as it Ever Was serves up Talking Heads realness as they strive to maintain the integrity of the original bands’ groundbreaking music, while bringing their own panache to the game. This is a 7-piece outfit of Knoxville musicians who came together out of their mutual love and respect for the Talking Heads in the summer of 2004 and have not looked back since. Over the years the band has performed extensively and you will find that they bring the excitement and energy of everything from ’77 to Naked, and all the B-sides in between.

Empire Strikes Brass (ESB) is a high energy Brass-Funk-Rock band hailing from the city of Asheville, North Carolina. Formed on the streets of their hometown, ESB is rooted in the New Orleans Brass Band tradition of second-line parades and deep moving grooves reminiscent of old school funk. They combine complex musical arrangements with thoughtful lyrical song structure and dig deep when they are feeling it or keep things tight and concise. The fat sound of the horns paired with one dirty rhythm section makes the music downright psychedelically nasty. Founded in 2012, ESB intentionally stretches the boundaries of the stereotypical brass band paradigm, fusing sounds from various genres and weaving them together with the common thread of brass. The diversity of the music within their sets keep audiences guessing what is next to come. Later this year, the band is slated to release their second album “Brassterpiece Theatre” a follow up sophomore effort to 2017’s Theme For A Celebration.

Country Roads Rescue WV is a 501(c)3 non-profit committed to networking, fostering, and providing life-saving rescue transports for animals in high kill pounds and shelters. Valerie R. Colella is the organization’s founder and president. She is also Smooth Ambler’s Tasting Room Manager. Other organization members include Greg Jensen, Jane DeOlloqui, Courtney A. Hereford, Kayla McCoy, Gina Anderson, and Rose Cochrane. This team believes that with the right exposure, every animal will have a chance at a loving long-term home. To make a donation and/or to find out more, visit crtrescue.org.

This is a 21+ event.  Find and follow this event on fb at facebook.com/events/603697770167253

– HashtagWV #119. November 2019.