Want some Seven Devils beer, Seven Devils people?

Again, ya gotta love Google Alerts. One about Seven Devils beer came in my inbox a couple of days ago.

Apparently Olde Hickory Brewery our of Hickory has a flavor called "Seven Devils," a Scottish ale. Some of the reviews (via Beer Advocate) laud the "same beautiful aromas you receive from the barrels used for Event Horizon are found here. Very well balanced. Some warm alcohol pokes through as well as dark malts and molasses. I also get small hints of graham crackers and raisin." Another says the beer "[A]lmost tastes like a whiskey sugar daddy dipped in apple cider."

I guess that's good?

Heads up: Seven Devils is a seasonal, meaning it may not be around long.

From Olde Hickory's website:

Our newest experiment with barrel aging. This time we brewed a delicious Scottish Ale (anyone remember our Nessie's?) and aged it in bourbon barrels.Our brew master says "It's like drinking a candy bar." Notes of chocolate, caramel, and coconut blend with the caramal and roasty maltiness typical of Scotch Ales. Available on tap and in 22oz bottles. 8% abv

Snow is good

... well, most of the time it is. I'll admit: too much of it, and it can sometimes be a little "fun" getting up to Our Mountain Place. But -- for the sake of the greater good -- the white stuff is GREAT for the High Country. Especially this time of year.

"The snowfall that started Thursday night and continued into Friday, along with lower temperatures, were especially welcome during a season that's been warmer than the past few winters," writes the Winston-Salem Journal.

"It's been a gift," said Kim Jochl, spokeswoman at Sugar Mountain Resort. "Here's 6 inches, 8 inches of snow, four days of temperatures in the teens and it's fantastic."

Skies are expected to be mostly sunny through the holiday in the Northwest North Carolina mountains, but temperatures aren't expected to climb out of the 20s today with a chance of snow flurries, according to the National Weather Service.

Snow was still falling Friday afternoon at the Beech Mountain Resort, formerly known as Ski Beech, and about 6 inches of new snow had accumulated.

Much of the mountain areas, including those at lower elevations than the ski slopes, had lighter snow accumulations, with about an inch or so.

Just late last week, ski slope operators were talking about the above-normal temperatures.

Wolf Ridge Ski Resort in Madison County didn't open until Dec. 29. It had opened on Dec. 8 last year.

"We're in an industry that is driven by the weather, and we're at its mercy," said Kathy Bogdanescu, spokeswoman for Wolf Ridge. "Last year we were lucky." ...

Brad Moretz, at Appalachian Ski Mountain near Blowing Rock, said there were enough cold days to create a good base of snow. ...

Wondering if it's snowing in the mountains? Check out a webcam

To the right of these words is a link to Ray's Weather and a couple of High Country webcams. They are all three invaluable if you are planning a trip to Seven Devils and wondering what the weather is like (or the roads, for that matter).

Well, the town of Seven Devils has added a terrific webcam to its website, http://sevendevils.net/default.aspx . The resolution is quite good. The images are in real-time (or pretty close to it), as opposed to being a snapshot that refreshes every six seconds or so. Check it out!

Get Seven Devils' TV listings ... I think

One of the great things about Google Alerts is you often get random links based on keywords. Well, I have one set up for Seven Devils, NC. I mostly get Duke Blue Devils sports articles. Occasionally I'll get something related to the High Country. Every now and then you get something even more interesting.

I'm not sure how legit it is, but the latest one was a link to the TV listings in 7D. Or at least I think it is. Again, not sure how legit it is. Regardless, enjoy the link!

http://www.topix.com/events/seven-devils-nc

Another nice weekend in the High Country

We spent a great weekend with some great friends in 7D a couple of weekends ago. We did some hiking, we enjoyed Blowing Rock, and more than anything: we relaxed.

Follow the High Country on Facebook

I don't know why it didn't hit me to look for them, but a number of High Country hot spots can be found via social media. The Town of Seven Devils, for instance, is on Facebook. So is Hawksnest. (Be sure to "like" them.) Also making its way to Facebook are Woodlands BBQ, Mast General Store and others.

Any others?

Wanna cut your own Christmas tree?

Yes, I know Halloween was literally just a few days away, but if the malls can start getting into the Christmas spirit, why can't we?

The Watauga County Christmas Tree Association has put together a list/map of places in the High Country where one could choose and cut (you know, legally) their own Christmas tree.

We have never done this, but we certainly plan to someday. At least now we'll know where to go!

Watauga County, also known as the Choose and Cut Capital, is home to some of the most entertaining and scenic Choose and Cut farms across the region. Choose and Cut involves customers visiting a tree farm and roaming across tree-covered hillsides hunting the perfect tree to take home with them. Choose and Cut is the essential holiday family tradition, where young and old alike can enjoy a day on a real farm. Many farms offer hayrides, farm animals, cookies and cocoa and even Christmas Shops to purchase other holiday gifts. Wreaths and roping are also available to purchase.