Sierra Nevada making Christmas Jam beer

Sierra Nevada Brewing in Mills River is working on this year's beer for the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam. But unlike previous releases, the 2015 edition will be draft only.

Some of the beer has already been produced and more is underway this week, Sierra Nevada spokesman Bill Manley said. Two brewers from Asheville Brewing Company - the company which originally made the beer - are assisting in the production, Manley said.

The beer will mostly be sold in Asheville, Hendersonville and Western North Carolina, and some may also be shipped to South Carolina, he said. This is the first time the beer has been made in Mills River. It was previously brewed by Sierra Nevada at its original brewery in Chico, California.

Asheville Brewing began making the beer in 2009, then turned it over to Sierra in 2013. The brew helps support the Warren Haynes Christmas Jam, an annual all-star music spectacular held each year at Asheville's U.S. Cellular Center to benefit Asheville Area Habit for Humanity. This year's jam features such stars as the Doobie Brothers, Bruce Hornsby, Dawes, Blackberry Smoke, the Tedeschi-Trucks Band, Electric Hot Tuna and Joe Bonamasa. Pre-sale tickets and VIP packages have already sold out, but general ticket sales begin Oct. 23 at ticketmaster.com