Asheville Food Bites: New pizzeria, dog park bar, craft beer brewery

Tiana Kennell, Asheville Citizen Times
·3 min read
Slices of Pie.zaa's Sweet Caroline and Roni pizza.
Slices of Pie.zaa's Sweet Caroline and Roni pizza.

ASHEVILLE - An Asheville pizzeria heads to the Queen City; a local dog park and bar plans expansion; a Montford restaurant rolls out kegs of its craft beer with brewery debut.

Another slice of Pie.zaa

In 2020, Pie.zaa, a South Slope pizza joint, opened in Asheville with its larger-than-life New York-style 14-inch-long slices and 28-inch whole pies.

On Feb. 16, Pie.zaa will open a second location at 1440 South Tryon St., suite 103 in Charlotte.

Pie.zaa's Sweet Caroline pizza, which features fresh mozzerella, marinara. ricotta, pesto, fresh basil, and a honey drizzle.
Pie.zaa's Sweet Caroline pizza, which features fresh mozzerella, marinara. ricotta, pesto, fresh basil, and a honey drizzle.

Pie.zaa, popular for its late-night service, will be open 4 p.m.-1 a.m. Monday, 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Tuesday-Thursday, 11 a.m.-2 a.m. Friday and Saturday and 11 a.m.-1 a.m. Sunday.

For more about Pie.zaa’s Asheville and Charlotte pizzerias, visit piezaapizza.com and follow @pie_zaa.

Dog bar expansion

Wagbar, a private dog park that entertains canines and humans, will soon have a new location in North Carolina.

In 2019, Wagbar was introduced at 320 Merrimon Ave. in Weaverville with a 25,000-square-foot outdoor open space for dogs to run off-leash and a bar for owners to purchase food and beverages in a social setting.

Humans may enter for free without dogs, too.

Wagbar owner and creator Kendal Kulp stands behind the bar, made from a shipping container, with his operations manager, and father, Kajur, at the hybrid dog park and bar in Weaverville on Oct. 7, 2020.
Wagbar owner and creator Kendal Kulp stands behind the bar, made from a shipping container, with his operations manager, and father, Kajur, at the hybrid dog park and bar in Weaverville on Oct. 7, 2020.

The company confirmed that the first franchise has been secured to open in Cary.

"It's really become a destination," Wagbar’s co-founder Kajur Kulp told the Citizen Times. "We have members from 48 states who've joined Wagbar who've been traveling or have second homes."

Wagbar welcomes others interested in franchising to inquire at wagbar.com/franchising.

More details to come about Wagbar’s new location.

Nine Mile’s new brewery

A local Caribbean fusion restaurant is going the extra mile to offer a well-rounded food and beverage menu.

Nine Mile has released four craft beers to mark the launch of its new brewery at its Montford location at 233 Montford Ave.

Nine Mile restaurant has introduced Nine Mile Brewing with four new beers on tap: Shale Pile Stout, Isabella Golden Ale, Montford IPA and Jose Llamas Mexican Lager
Nine Mile restaurant has introduced Nine Mile Brewing with four new beers on tap: Shale Pile Stout, Isabella Golden Ale, Montford IPA and Jose Llamas Mexican Lager

The brews are available at the restaurant’s three locations, including at 751 Haywood Road in West Asheville, 33 Town Square Blvd. in South Asheville, and in Montford.

On Feb. 28, Nine Mile invites the public to the Montford brewery and restaurant to celebrate the launch. Beginning at 4 p.m., the first 100 guests will receive a limited-edition Nine Mile Brewing pint glass.

The four inaugural brews are the Shale Pile Stout, Isabella Golden Ale, Montford IPA and Jose Llamas Mexican Lager.

Shale Pile Stout (5.5% ABV) is a “smooth and roasty stout” with chocolate and molasses aromas and flavors.

Nine Mile Brewing's Shale Pile Stout has essences of chocolate and molasses.
Nine Mile Brewing's Shale Pile Stout has essences of chocolate and molasses.

Isabella Golden Ale (4.8% ABV) is brewed with Galazy and Citra hops and offers a floral and citrusy finish. Honey malt gives it its golden hue.

Montford IPA (7.1% ABV) was crafted to provide a balance of bitterness and tropical flavors from El Dorado, Strata and Azaca hops.

Jose Llamas Mexican Lager (4.7% ABV) is a light, crisp lager made with “flaked maize, a touch of caramel and noble Saaz hops.”

Ask the server for recommended dish pairing for each brew.

Nine Mile’s head brewer Evan Boose, who has been with the restaurant since 2018, is also preparing to release a Czech-style Pilsner and Nine Mile seltzers.

The beers are $7/pint. “One Love” 32 oz. mini growlers are for sale for $20 with $10 refills.

Customers may also order the Isabella Golden Ale at local restaurants Strada and Creekside Taphouse.

For more, visit ninemileasheville.com and follow on social media @ninemileasheville.

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Tiana Kennell is the food and dining reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Email her at tkennell@citizentimes.com or follow her on Instagram @PrincessOfPage. Please support this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.

This article originally appeared on Asheville Citizen Times: Nine Mile's new brewery, Pie.zaa's new location, Wagbar expansion