Old Gods of Appalachia

I'm three days behind on these posts, and this prompt is the reason. COVID has taken so much from us, even those who have been lucky enough not to have lost loved ones (so far, knock on wood). Live music is, for me, the one that hurts the most.

My favorite live venues are closed, and some of them will never return. I don't really have the heart to talk about that. So instead here's some video from the last show I went to before quarantine: my friend's band Halo Scars playing at O'Mainnin's Pub.

My favorite small businesses tend to be craft breweries, so let’s talk creepy breweries — or rather, craft breweries with an occult or horror based aesthetic. I’m not talking about just gimmicks. Some of the best beers I’ve tried come from breweries which draw inspiration from the dark and spooky. Are the old gods blessing those who pay them homage? Guiding the hands of the brew masters? I’ll leave that to you to decide for yourself. These are my top three recommendations (at least that I’ve had the good fortune to sample thus far).

Elderbrew Bristol, TN

Elderbrew is a small batch brewery located in the heart of Appalachia. Full disclosure: it’s my best friend’s brewery. But don’t think I’m just biased. My bestie and his partner are phenomenal brewers. Their beers — and the brewery itself (see pics below) — are inspired by Eldritch horror (especially Twin Peaks) and other dark things. Some examples include The Owls Are Not What They Seem (their gold medal winning collaboration with another local fave of mine, Depot Street, a phenomenal brett saison — and did I mention I designed the label art?); Black Lodge Imperial Porter; Take the Black (a black IPA); and Neighbor of the Beast (cherry chocolate milk stout). If you happen to be in my neck of the woods, definitely stop in for a pint. I’ll probably be there.

TRVE Brewing Co. Denver, CO

Billed as “Denver’s Heavy Metal Brewery,” TRVE does not disappoint. They tend to focus on mixed culture and other sours, saisons, and other Belgian-influenced styles, so they are near and dear to both my palate and my aesthetic sensibilities. Check out some of their amazing label art below.

Burial Beer Co. Asheville, NC

A favorite of both myself and my co-creator, Steve, Burial is the best brewery in Asheville. They feature a range of styles, so there’s always something to suit everyone. Their beers are both delicious and creatively creepy, with names such as The Shattered Remains of Nothingness (Imperial stout), Illusions of Enlightenment (double IPA with fresh hops), Everything Dies (golden sour), Fall of the Damned (barrel aged sour) and memorably, I’m Actually Feeling Like All is Right with the World and None of This Matters (Imperial stout). Check out some of their amazing label art by David Paul Seymour below.

#AnotherWorldOctober Day 17: Familiar / Beast

This is Merlin, my beloved familiar cat. He’s been with me a little over five years. Just a couple weeks before Halloween of 2015, I got up early and took my dog Loki to the park for a short hike. While we were crossing the bridge over the creek that runs through the park toward the lake, I noticed this little ball of void running full-tilt toward me along the waterbank.

I stopped and waited for him, and this little guy ran right up, stopped dead at my feet, and meowed up at me. I petted his little head, then turned to continue up the trail.

Merlin would not be so easily dismissed. He followed all the way up the trail, then all the way back to the parking lot to my car, occasionally stopping to cry until I picked him up and carried him for a few minutes. When Loki and I got in the car, he sat there in front of my car, with his paws on the parking bumper, crying piteously up at me.

So I took him home with me.

I returned to the park later that evening with the little black cat. There was a house right next to the parking lot, and I thought that he may have slipped outside and gotten lost. Nope. The woman who lived there turned out to be an animal resource officer for my county. She told me that he wasn’t her cat, and that if I liked him, I should keep him, because the park was a well-known spot for animal abandonment.

This day. This day has been surreal, to me. I planned on getting a tattoo (early, actually; my original appointment was on the 29th but my guy had a cancellation). I did that, and yes, it was just as painful as you're guessing.

Mid-tattoo, I get a call letting me know the car I'd requested transferred to my local Carmax was here... a full ten days sooner than expected. So I had to hop on that unexpectedly. It's actually really great for me because I'm going out of town on Monday, and the GTI will be a much better trip car than my Mini.

#AnotherWorldOctober Day 14: Upcycle

Here's my little coil, my long boi, Logan. He's a pastel enchi ball python, and very friendly. He loves to coil around your wrists and hands.