6AM City In-house

A new soda factory worth keeping tabs on

Devil’s Foot Beverage Company expands with new facility and taproom
Ben Colvin and Jacob Baumann, Founders of Devil's Foot, pose inside their new production facility. Photo credit to Karis Roberts
Devil’s Foot founders Ben Colvin and Jacob Baumann stand inside their new production facility. | Photo by Karis Roberts
Devil’s Foot Beverage Company has come a long way from the 2,300-sqft basement in Woodfin where it originally brewed its “farm-to-can” craft sodas.

The business, launched in 2017 by locals Ben Colvin and Jacob Baumann, has expanded into a new 14,400-sqft production facility and taproom at 131 Sweeten Creek Rd. The site, formerly a production facility for The Daniels Group, will allow Devil’s Foot to triple its production to 7,000+ cans per day and launch a full-service bar + taproom dubbed The Mule.

Yet to try one of Devil’s Foots’ sodas? Here’s what you need to know.

The company got its start when a group of friends decided to “backyard brew” a spicy, non-alcoholic ginger beer, which eventually became the company’s flagship soda.

Now, Devil’s Foot concocts twelve distinct flavors — from blackberry ginger to blueberry lemonade to cherry limeade — all which contain 18g of sugar or less. The sodas are distributed throughout four southeastern states: North Carolina, South Carolina, Alabama, and Georgia.

Giant stacks of soda at Devil's Foot Beverage Company's new production facility.

Thanks to new equipment, 3,890 sodas (that’s half a pallet) can be filled in an hour and a half.

Photo by AVLtoday

More on that taproom...

The Mule — which boasts a gorgeous 16x24-ft salvaged wood bar with 24 taps — will offer craft cocktails, mocktails, seasonal “small batch” craft sodas, and other locally made beverages. The goal is to create a space that’s inclusive for all types of imbibers.

And in the words of the iconic movie “Step Brothers,” there’s so much space for activities. The interior can accommodate both private and community events, and there’s a 1-acre surrounding property that will be designated for patio space + parking.

If your interest is bubbling over at this point, don’t worry, the wait won’t be much longer. The Devil’s Foot team anticipates an early October opening for The Mule + will announce the grand opening party on social media.
Use the links below to share this with your fellow soda canatics.
Friends of Lexington Avenue

Click here to have your event featured.

Today
  • Corporate Entrepreneurship Series | Tues., Sept. 13 | 8:15-11 a.m. | UNC Asheville, Highsmith Student Union | Discover how being value-based and cause-driven leads to more innovative organizations.
  • Zach Bryan | Tues., Sept. 13 | 8 p.m. | Explore Asheville Arena | $150+ | Join this country singer on his American Heartbreak Tour with special guest Charles Wesley Godwin. 🪕
Wednesday
  • Discussion Bound: The Art Prophets by Richard Polsky | Wed., Sept. 14 | 12-1 p.m. | Asheville Art Museum | Free for members or cost of admission | Author Richard Polsky explores the impact of late twentieth-century dealers and tastemakers on the art world.
  • Sausage Party | Wed., Sept. 14 | 7-10 p.m. | The Getaway Bar | Free | Enjoy an intimate evening along the French Broad River while mingling with men from the gay community.
Thursday
  • Young Professionals of Asheville September Social | Thurs., Sept. 15 | 6 p.m. | Daddy Mac’s Down Home Dive, 161 Biltmore Ave. | Free | Mingle with fellow young professionals + learn how to help combat food insecurity in our community.
  • Jazz Thursday | Thurs., Sept 15 | 8-10 p.m. | Asheville Guitar Bar, 122 Riverside Dr. |Free | The night will feature special guests the Tumo-Kohrs duo. 🎷
Friday
Saturday
  • Masterworks 1: McGill + Mozart | Sat., Sept. 17 | 8 p.m. | Thomas Wolfe Auditorium | $25-75 | The first installment of Asheville Symphony Orchestra’s Masterworks celebrates the spirit of virtuosity with a concert featuring New York Philharmonic principal clarinet Anthony McGill. 🎶 *
Sunday
  • Power Flow Class | Sun., Sept. 18 | 1:30-3:30 p.m. | Down Dog, 51 Sweeten Creek Rd. | $10 | Enjoy this interactive + discussion-based workshop and learn how to gain confidence on and off the yoga mat. ☯️
Plan Ahead
We have a monthly guide filled with events + activities you can plan for in advance. Click the button below to bookmark ideas for upcoming date nights, family outings, and time with friends.

For tickets to local and regional events, check out our 6AM Tickets resale marketplace.*
100+ MORE EVENTS

Business

A note from our CEO 🤝
Ryan Johnston-CEO-Company retreat-by Ash Photography.png
CEO Ryan Johnston with City Editors and Branded Content Studio Editors during the 2022 6AM City company retreat in Nashville, TN. | Photo by Ash Photography
Good morning, AVL — new voice here. My name is Ryan Johnston and I am the CEO of 6AM City, the parent company and publisher of AVLtoday. First, thank you for waking up with us every morning and looking to our City Editors, Laura and Brook, to help you start your day and get excited about everything AVL has to offer.

We launched AVLtoday on Feb. 8, 2018 and we couldn’t be more thrilled at how this city has taken to us. We now wake up with 48,150 and reach 74,163 people via social media — a big step up from day one.

We built this product based on both reader and advertiser demand. Readers like you were looking for a quick and convenient way to find everything in one place — focused on all things positive and written in a way that is digestible — and (in an effort to keep our product 100% free to readers) we work with advertisers who want to connect with readers like you.

We have a number of different opportunities to advertise directly in this newsletter — find out more by clicking on the link below.
HOW BRANDS CAN WORK WITH US
University of North Carolina Asheville

Weather
  • 75º | Sunny | 10% chance of rain
Biz
  • The Asheville Tool Library has moved to West Asheville and will reopen at 16 Smith Mill Rd. on Sat., Oct. 1. The growing nonprofit offers 2,000+ tools that are available for rent, from lawn mowers and camping equipment to ice cream makers. Sign up. 🛠️
Cause
  • The second annual ‘Cue for a Cause amateur BBQ competition will take place Sat., Sept. 17 from 3-7 p.m. at Ridgeview Venue Asheville (Paul Bridges Rd., Alexander). The event will feature catering from High Ridge Adventures Outfitting & BBQ, bluegrass music, games, and a raffle. Proceeds benefit the ABCCM Veterans Restoration Quarters. Get tix.
Community
  • Asheville will observe International Day of Peace on Wed., Sept. 21 in the Elder and Age Garden at 37 Page Ave. The event will feature speakers and musicians, including BeLoved Asheville’s Ponkho Bermejo, who will be honored as Peacemaker of the Year. ☮️ (WLOS)
Concert
  • The 34th season of Dowtown After 5 will conclude on Fri., Sept. 16 with a performance from local DJ Molly Parti and headliner Who’s Bad: The Ultimate Michael Jackson Experience. The free community concert kicks off at 5 p.m. on Lexington Avenue.
Network
  • In case you missed it, Asheville Entrepreneurship Week kicked off its festivities yesterday, Sept. 12. There will be various networking opportunities + workshops through Fri., Sept. 16. See the full lineup.
Try This
  • Author Marcie Cohen Ferris will speak about her new book, “Edible North Carolina: A Journey Across a State of Flavor,” on Fri., Sept. 30 from 11 a.m.-1 p.m. at Plott Hound Books (102 W. Main St., Burnsville). An added bonus? Contributing author Sandra Gutierrez will also be on hand. Get more info. 📚
Outdoors
  • The next hike in Buncombe County’s Sampler Hike Series will take place Sat., Sept. 24 at 9 a.m. and lead explorers through the 4.25 mile there-and-back Rattlesnake Lodge trail. Register to attend.
The Word
  • Barkitecture. That’s the term local real estate agents have been using to describe the trend of pet-friendly housing in the Asheville area. Over the last few decades, local homes have incorporated features like cat patios, luxury dog rooms + pet-friendly shelves. 🐶 (Mountain Xpress)
Learn
  • Calling all news fans. Get the stories you need to know to understand today’s world with Newser, whose newsletters compile all the headlines that you’ll want to discuss over dinner with friends. Bonus: Every story is designed to be read in 90 seconds or less. Subscribe.*

Content marked with an * is brought to you by our advertising partners and helps make this newsletter free.
Roberts & Stevens Attorneys

Thanks for making our day, WNC

AVLtoday earns two honors in the 2022 Mountain Xpress Best of WNC awards
AVLtoday team members Emily Shea, Laura Hackett, and Brook Bolen pose in front of Pollen Coffee Shop.
AVLtoday team members Emily Shea, Laura Hackett, and Brook Bolen pose in front of Pollen Coffee + Flower Shop. | Photo by AVLtoday
Readers, we can’t thank you enough for reppin’ AVLtoday in this year’s Mountain Xpress Best of WNC awards.

We are humbled and delighted that y’all voted us the No. 1 Best Source for Event News and the No. 2 Best Local News Source in Western North Carolina.

Curious about who else made the cut in categories from food to pets to professional services? See Part One and Part Two of the Best Of Guide.
6AM City In-house
THE WRAP
Today’s issue was written by Laura.

Editor’s pick: After a week of off-grid camping in northern Maine, I have to admit that I’m quite smitten with the rugged and coastal wilderness of the state. But as soon as I glimpsed that gorgeous Shaconage (Cherokee for “Land of the Blue Mist”) on my drive home, I fell in love with WNC all over again. In other words, it’s great to be home.

Missed yesterday’s newsletter? Catch up on the great history of NC’s state dog
Read More
Connect with us.

Editorial: Laura Hackett, Brook Bolen, Sarah Leonhardt, Erin McPherson, Ashlea Hearn, Emily Shea | Send us a scoop, question, or feedback.

Sales: Helen Purnell | Advertise with us.

Content marked with an * was created in partnership with 6AM City’s advertising partners. Paid content helps keep this newsletter free. 6AM City may also receive a commission on purchases made through affiliate links in this newsletter.

ADVERTISE | SHOP | CAREERS | ETHICS

Did a friend forward this free newsletter to you?
SUBSCRIBE

Content marked with an * is paid advertising. Content marked with an ^ is created by our content studio. The company may also generate commission from affiliate links in the newsletter.

Change your preferences or unsubscribe here.

Copyright © 2023 6AM City Inc, All rights reserved.

P.O. Box 2505, Greenville, SC 29602

ADVERTISE | CAREERS | ETHICS | PRIVACY | THE BUY