More than 40 breweries will be at the eighth annual Hickory Hops beer festival Saturday, but only one hails from Burke County — and it's growing.
Catawba Valley Brewing Company, 212 S. Green St., will feature Farmer Ted's Farmhouse Cream Ale, White Zombie Ale, King Don's Pumpkin Ale and Firewater Indian Pale Ale at the festival.
However, Catawba Valley's newest brew, Le Sexxxy Saison, won't make an appearance at Hickory Hops.
Brewery owner Scott Pyatt said Le Sexxxy Saison is a Belgian beer with five malts and five yeasts brewed in honor of the Catawba Valley Brewing's 10th year in business. With 7.5 percent alcohol content, the beer packs a triple-x punch like its name suggests.
Although Hickory Hops participants will have to travel to Morganton to taste the new brew, beer lovers at upcoming festivals might get a taste of Le Sexxxy Saison.
CVBC attends and hosts more than 30 special events annually, including festivals and charity events, Pyatt said. Next up on the calendar are the first Beer City Festival in Asheville and a festival in Kingsport, Tenn.
Le Sexxxy Saison isn't the only new thing happening at the brewery.
Starting this summer, Catawba Valley Brewing will begin canning its beer, Pyatt said. Following the implementation of an automation system in January, there has been an increase in production.
Expansion is in the works, too.
CVBC in January began expanding beer sales into Charlotte, Pyatt said. The brewery's beer is now available at 35 locations in the Queen City.
CVBC now distributes its beer for the region stretching from western Knoxville, Tenn., to Charlotte, Pyatt said.
Pyatt said the brewery is looking into opening other tasting rooms, particularly in the Davidson and Mooresville area.
"A tasting room in that area would serve as a point to display our products and would allow a second area to ship beer for that market," Pyatt said.
For those a little closer to the brewery's home in Morganton, Pyatt said he's considering extending the tasting room's public hours. The crowds are picking up here, with concerts and special events on the weekends, and Pyatt said he is seeing travelers from outside Burke County coming in to enjoy Catawba Valley Brewing's products in the tasting room.
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