Story
The story of Burial begins long before the inception of our Asheville Taproom.
Burial Beer Co. was dreamt up in Seattle by friends Tim Gormley and Doug and Jess Reiser. The three dove deep into the craft beer scene during their time in the PNW, which ultimately led to the no-brainer decision to open their own brewery. All that was left to decide was where to do so.
The search for the perfect location ended when they found Asheville, NC. This town offers a small, close-knit community with urban attractions such as bars, restaurants, music, and art, a connection to local agriculture, and access to the endless array of outdoor activities thanks to its location, nestled between the Blue Ridge and Smoky Mountain ranges and flanked by the Nantahala and Pisgah National Forests. The three moved across the country in 2013 and set up shop with a tiny 1 barrel system in AVL's South Slope District.
The name Burial and the brand that the company embodies was deeply inspired by the city of New Orleans, where Doug and Jess had lived prior to their time in Seattle. In NoLA, there's a strong culture of celebrating life. Funeral processions become large parades with instruments, singing, and dancing. Everybody stops and joins in, even if they don’t know the deceased. We view our products, places, and experiences through this very lens, celebrating life's fleeting moments with mindfulness and introspection.
Burial's award winning spectrum of beer spans a wide array of styles, ranging from modern, hop-forward IPAs, to Lagers based-in tradition. Adjuncted and barrel-aged Imperial Stouts to nuanced mixed fermentation Wild Ales, and everything in between. In 2021 and 2022, Burial was named Craft Beer & Brewing's Readers Choice #1 Small Brewery in the World.
Burial now operates four taprooms across the state of North Carolina: the OG South Slope Taproom and Forestry Camp facility in Asheville, the Charlotte House of Relics in the Plaza Midwood neighborhood, and the Raleigh Exhibit in downtown DTR. Progress continues to be made on the South Slope expansion, which will include a Music Venue, additional Beer Hall space, an additional Brewing Facility, Restaurant, VISUALs Bar, and Rooftop Experience.