(Asheville, NC) – Lots happening in Asheville. Andy from French Broad Brewery informs me that Rye Hopper will go from a seasonal tap-only beer to a year-round offering in 22 oz. bottles. He predicts that it could be the second biggest seller by the end of the year. Rye Hopper is 59 IBU and 5.9% ABV, a beer that centers around rye malt and Amarillo hops.

You can also check out an interview with Head Brewer, Drew Barton, posted at Know Your Brewer last month.

Highland Brewing will release its second organic beer of 2009 this summer. The brewery is reformulating its Cattail Peak Wheat recipe to make it with all-organic ingredients. From last year’s press release when the beer debuted: “Cattail Peak gets its unique flavor and color from the right combination of Red Wheat, 2 Row Malt, Rye, Flaked Barley and hibiscus. Palisade and German Hersbrucker Hops combine to give Cattail just a hint of hops that is easy on the palate, yet distinctively different.”

In addition to North Carolina, the beer also made its way to SC, TN & GA last year.