From the Charlotte Observer's Kathleen Purvis: A lot of guys like to say they majored in beer in college. Daniel Hartis actually did something with it: He wrote a book, “Charlotte Beer: A History of Brewing in the Queen City.”

Hartis, 30, is a Waxhaw native who now lives in Monroe with his wife and two kids. And he swears that when he went to UNC-Asheville to finish college in 2005, he didn’t know a thing about beer. But since he was older than 21 and knew how to write, the school paper sent him to visit breweries and write about Asheville’s craft beer movement.

“I’m ashamed to say I was drinking Busch Light. Craft beer wasn’t a thing for me.” But within a few sips of Highland Oatmeal Porter and Asheville Brewing Ninja Porter, Hartis was a beer man. Read the full story here.

Of the many ingredients in Page Skelton’s tangy Cackalacky Spice Sauce – including the secret ones – one is missing: ginger.

Skelton compensates in his newest venture, showcasing the spicy root in a unlikely but delectable collaboration with Fullsteam Brewing Company’s founder, Sean Lilly Wilson. Together, the longtime friends and beer lovers produced Cackalacky Ginger Pale Ale.

The copper-hued, malt-forward, subtly spiced GPA (as it is called) debuted Sunday at the brewery in Durham with a fanfare befitting the zest of the two local companies. The launch party celebrated National Kazoo Day-eve and included Cackalacky-spiced chicken wings.

“This takes our brand beyond just a spice item and into a lifestyle item,” Skelton said. “It’s a way to go beyond whatever we’re being defined as.”

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