Wheels up at 8:30 a.m. We loaded the cars, coffee in hand, and hit the road for the North Carolina mountains. The sky was overcast but the air was crisp, and we were just happy to finally be on our way.
Our first stop of the trip was Sierra Nevada Brewery in Mills River, just outside the Asheville airport.
It’s one of those places that feels more like a mountain lodge than a brewery—beautiful grounds, outdoor seating, copper kettles gleaming inside, and that unmistakable Sierra Nevada aroma drifting through the air.
Before even going inside, we stopped out front for photos. The outside view is gorgeous, with the brewery’s name stretched across the building and the peak of the roof perfectly centered behind you. When you ask someone to take your picture, that’s the shot you want—not just a close-up of faces. We lucked out and found someone who clearly understood the assignment.
We walked in with Debbie and Steve and made our way through the gift shop. I immediately spotted a soft long-sleeve Celebration shirt I knew I wanted to come back for. Outside, we found Barb, Bob, Gary, and Suzanne gathered around a warm firepit, soaking up the mountain air. The guys grabbed beers for everyone—a mix of Pilsner, Pale Ale, and my favorite, their Oktoberfest.
After our beer, the guys took a walk on one of the trails while the girls visited by the firepit. We strolled around the grounds where they hold live bands and keep their garden—everything was so well-kept and beautiful.
To my surprise, the restaurant called and said our table was ready early, so we headed in for lunch. The food was delicious—warm pretzels with beer cheese, bratwurst, and pizza, all perfect with the house brews.
After lunch, we circled back through the gift shop—and that’s when everyone agreed those Celebration shirts were too good to pass up. All the girls grabbed one, and later we decided we’d wear them for a cozy night in at the house.
By then, it was time for the tour our friends had booked. Tim and I had done it last June, so we wandered upstairs hoping to say hi to our friend Randy Deaton, who works there. The area was closed, so we figured he was off that day. But when we stopped at the taproom to get a growler, Randy popped out of nowhere and helped us himself—such a fun surprise.
While we waited for our friends to finish their tour, Tim and I stocked up on a few beers you can’t find in stores—a growler of Carolina Getaway, a smooth rye IPA that hit all the right notes, plus a few six-packs of A Little Hazy with Peach (my favorite) and Celebration IPA, a classic this time of year.
After we left the brewery, we headed to the house and settled in for a quiet evening. None of us felt like going back out, so we ordered dinner in through DoorDash and made ourselves at home. The place was even better in person—spacious and comfortable with so many fun touches. We took turns checking out the movie room and the game room, laughing like kids as we explored every corner.
Later, I pulled out my whiteboard and wrote out the itinerary for the next day so the guys could see the plan. They would discover it the next morning.
Everyone settled into the couches, and it finally hit us—we’d made it. Our mountain getaway was officially underway. Tomorrow was Biltmore and 100% chance rain.
Happiness is Possible 