• Lazy Hiker Brewing (Franklin) will have a soft opening from 3 to 9 p.m. Wednesday, May 20. What used to be the old Franklin Town Hall in downtown, the brewery will be the second of its kind in Macon County. An official grand opening is scheduled for June 13. www.lazyhikerbrewing.com. 

• Mad Anthony’s Bottle Shop & Tap Room is scheduled to open on May 22 on Branner Avenue in downtown Waynesville. The “American beer garden” will feature 40 rotating taps and 300 unique bottles of craft beer and hard cider. There will also be wine available. Outdoor seating is onsite, with plans for an outdoor music stage in the works. Stay tuned for a full feature in this newspaper in the near future. www.madanthonys.bar.

• Derailed Bar & Lounge recently opened in downtown Bryson City. Located in the same building as Anthony’s Italian Restaurant on Depot Street, the location features an array of adult beverages and live music when scheduled. www.facebook.com/derailedbrysoncity.