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Animal devotees preview first downtown brewery

Chrissy Filka serves a beer at a preview opening of the Sanctuary Brewery at 147 E. First Ave. downtown.

Lisa McDonald and Joe Dinan previewed downtown Hendersonville’s first microbrewery Friday night, promising a meat-free space dedicated to helping animals and slaking the craft beer crowd’s thirst for a tasty brew.


The 4,000-square-foot space at 147 First Ave. East is the first brewery to open under an amended city code that allows the use downtown. McDonald and  Dinan plan to open Sanctuary Brewing Co. next month. The business has a few investors and the couple's own savings behind it and just launched an online kickstarter campaign to raise more capital.

Like Hendersonville's pioneering Southern Appalachian Brewery in the Historic Seventh Avenue District, Sanctuary has an urban industrial feel. Its main entrance is a double garage door. The echo from SAB's indoor-outdoor space on Locust Street is not entirely accidental. SAB owners Kelly and Andy Cubbin have been mentoring McDonald and Dinan. The Cubbinses are dog friendly, too, though not quite as emphatically as Sanctuary's owners.
SantuaryLisaMcDonaldLisa McDonald“We have been rescuing and fostering and adopting out animals,” McDonald said. “We figured out a way to combine both of those things and it was a no-brainer. We just decided to go for it.”
The couple plans to donate part of the proceeds of the business to various animal rescue organizations. So far they’re partnering with Brother Wolf of Asheville, Blue Ridge Humane Society in Hendersonville and Full Circle Farm sanctuary in Burnsville. Friday night's sneak preview attracted several dozen supporters, neighbors and guests sampling Hendo Weisse, Rye So Serious pale ale, Orange Whip and Piper Down, a chocolate stout. A home brewer for the past eight years, Dinan earned his brewers certification and has been working at an Asheville brewery fulltime.
SanctuaryJoeDinanJoe DinanThe Blue Ridge Humane Society brought two Jack Russell mix puppies. And McDonald brought, Ollie, her nine-month-old mini-potbelly pig that “should stay under 200 pounds.”
The couple is working with vegan vendors to supply prepackaged foods and partnering with Moe’s Barbecue, which, ironically, makes a delicious vegan sandwiches, according to McDonald.
The brewery may offer “some light music,” she said. “We haven’t booked anything yet. We want to make sure we’re being very conscientious of all the neighbors.”

Hours will be 4 to 10 p.m. Tuesday through Thursday, noon to 11 p.m. Friday and Saturday and noon to 10 p.m. Sunday.