BREVARD, N.C. (BRAIN) — Colorado-based brewer Oskar Blues is opening a mountain bike destination in Western North Carolina, where the company opened its second brewery in 2012. The brewer has purchased a 145-acre farm where it will operate a bike park and a performance space. The farm will also raise cows and grow hops for beer brewing and is adjacent to Dupont State Forest, a popular mountain bike destination. The farm is about 8 miles from Oskar Blues' brewery in Brevard and features a swimming hole, lodging and camping.
Oskar Blues has close ties with the mountain bike world. It manufacturers Reeb bikes in Longmont, Colorado, and sells those bikes at its combination bike shop/restaurant/bar in Longmont, called CycleHops Can-tina. Oskar Blues is also a sponsor at many bike events around Colorado and North Carolina.
The North Carolina farm will be called the Oskar Blues Reeb Ranch. It will be home to The Bike Farm, an established bike guide and concierge service. Demo Reeb mountain bikes and dirt jump bikes will be available.
"It's important to us to keep that trail-side camaraderie in the community," said Oskar Blues founder Dale Katechis. "We've been able to integrate our passions of the brewery, farm, restaurants and Reeb Cycles into much of what we do — the Oskar Blues Reeb Ranch continues that effort."
Construction on the Reeb Ranch bike park has already begun, and rides from the property will start rolling soon.
