The Pearl Returns: Jettie Rae’s and Fonta Flora’s Collaboration

This fall, a taste of the coast is making its way back to the mountains.

Fonta Flora Brewery and Jettie Rae’s Oyster House are bringing back The Pearl, their collaborative oyster pilsner, for a limited release beginning the week of October 19. Brewed with oysters and oyster shells selected by the Jettie Rae’s team, the crisp 5.5% ABV pilsner pairs subtle salinity and minerality with a clean finish.

It’s an unusual combination at first glance, but one with a much longer history than you might expect.

An Old Tradition, Reimagined

Brewing with oysters is a centuries-old practice, traditionally associated with darker styles like stouts and porters. The Pearl takes inspiration from that history while moving it in a lighter direction.

For this collaboration, Fonta Flora incorporates oysters and oyster shells selected by Jettie Rae’s into a pilsner rather than the darker beers typically associated with the tradition. The result brings the character of the oysters into the beer through restrained notes of salinity and minerality, while maintaining the crispness and clean finish of the style.

It’s a fitting collaboration for two Western North Carolina businesses whose work is rooted in a deep appreciation for their respective crafts. Jettie Rae’s has made seafood the center of its Asheville restaurant, while Morganton-based Fonta Flora brings its own perspective and expertise to the brewing side of the partnership. The Pearl creates a natural meeting point between the two.

A Collaboration Built on Craft

For Jettie Rae’s owner Eric Scheffer, the experience of working alongside the Fonta Flora team has been as meaningful as the finished beer.

“Working with Todd and his team is always incredible,” Scheffer says. “They are truly masters of their craft with talent, creativity and passion.”

The return of The Pearl continues an ongoing partnership between the Asheville seafood restaurant and the Morganton brewery, with each bringing something distinctly its own to the collaboration.

There’s the coastal influence of Jettie Rae’s, the brewing expertise of Fonta Flora and an old beer-making tradition reconsidered for a crisp pilsner made here in Western North Carolina.

Find The Pearl This Fall

The Pearl returns in October with a limited release available at Fonta Flora’s taprooms, Jettie Rae’s Oyster House and select restaurants.

It’s a collaboration that brings the coast and the mountains together in one glass — and one worth seeking out while it’s here.