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Hi-Wire Brewing to Open Tiki Bar and Speakeasy in Asheville

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ASHEVILLE, North Carolina— Hi-Wire Brewing, known for crafting unique and approachable craft beers, is excited to announce the opening of ‘The Tiki Easy Bar,’ a new tiki bar and speakeasy hidden behind Hi-Wire’s South Slope Specialty Brewery in Asheville, North Carolina. The tropical-themed bar is set to open to the public in July 2023.

“I have become obsessed with tiki bars and drinks since the Covid-19 pandemic began,” said Chris Frosaker, co-owner of Hi-Wire Brewing and the driving force behind Hi-Wire’s new concept. Frosaker continued, “Our world seems to be getting crazier every day, and I love the escapism a tiki bar provides, where you can enter a new world and forget about your day-to-day life with a strong drink in hand.” Combining this new passion with some newly-acquired space at the craft brewery’s original location, ‘The Tiki Easy Bar’ was born.

The Tiki Easy Bar aims to be Western North Carolina’s only true tiki bar, transporting visitors to an island oasis filled with danger, mystery, and lots of rum. Expect traditional tiki decor, one of the largest rum selections in the state, and a rotating tiki-only cocktail menu with more than thirty varieties of tiki drinks.

The speakeasy’s menu combines a slew of classic tiki cocktails, modern tiki drinks designed in-house, and a selection of island-inspired mocktails. Chris Frosaker’s go-to drink will, of course, make an appearance or two. “I am obsessed with the Mai Tai, which happens to be the most misunderstood and bastardized cocktail in history,” said Frosaker. To celebrate the co-owner’s passion for a proper Mai Tai, The Tiki Easy Bar will feature two Mai Tai options at all times, and every Monday, bartenders will experiment with rums from around the world paired with a variety of curacao liqueurs for the bar’s ‘Mai Tai Mondays.’

Hi-Wire Brewing is no stranger to opening new, fun-filled drinking establishments with soon-to-be eleven locations across the Southeast and Midwest dedicated to serving Hi-Wire’s award-winning craft beers. However, The Tiki Easy Bar will be unlike anything the brewery has done before with exotic jungle decor, tiki drink concoctions, and a secret entrance. “What is related, though, is one of our company’s non-negotiables of creating fun – The Tiki Easy Bar will definitely not be short on fun,” said Frosaker. With mesmerizing flames and occasional lightning and thunder, this Asheville oasis will transport thrill-seeking explorers to paradise and leave them filled with wonder and enticing island nectar.

The tiki bar will occupy a 2500-square-foot space through the back door of Hi-Wire’s South Slope Specialty Brewery, an area of the building that has not been previously open to the public. “We have operated our South Slope brewery as a specialty facility since 2016, making the bulk of our beer down the street at our Biltmore Village Production Brewery,” said Frosaker, “but when our landlord decided to retire last summer and offered us the chance to purchase the building where Hi-Wire first started ten years ago, it was a no brainer to cement our roots where it all began.”

To access The Tiki Easy Bar, guests must venture through tanks and barrels of the brewery until they uncover the secret passage which will lead them through the jungle to an island oasis beyond. There will not be an exterior sign on the building pointing the way, so only adventure-seekers and curious cocktail-lovers will discover the bar’s secrets hidden behind the brewery.

The Tiki Easy Bar is set to become one of the most innovative and exciting additions to the Asheville drinking scene, attracting visitors from around the region. The bar will open in the summer of 2023 and will be located at 197 Hilliard Ave, Asheville, N.C. Frosaker teased, “We’ve put a lot of thought and planning into every detail, from the decor to the drink menu, and we can’t wait for people to discover it for themselves.”

Construction of The Tiki Easy Bar has already begun.

About Hi-Wire Brewing

Hi-Wire Brewing is known for producing approachable and balanced lagers and ales, most notably Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, and Mountain Water Easy Drinking Ale, and it boasts an award-winning sour and wild ale program. Founded in Asheville, N.C. in 2013, Hi-Wire has locations in Asheville, Birmingham, Ala., Charlotte, N.C., Cincinnati (April 2023), Durham, N.C., Knoxville, Tenn., Louisville, Ky., Nashville, Tenn. (May 2023), and Wilmington, N.C. and is proud to pay a Living Wage to all of its employees. Hi-Wire Brewing’s Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup award-winning beers can be found on draft and in exclusively 16-ounce cans across North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, Georgia, Ohio, Kentucky, Alabama, Virginia, and Indiana.

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Incendiary Brewing Partners with Bevana

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WINSTON-SALEM, North Carolina— Incendiary Brewing Company, one of the most highly-rated breweries in North Carolina, has joined beverage platform Bevana. The latest in a growing list of highly-regarded companies partnering with the platform, Incendiary will see a dramatically increased reach for their beers through an online store capable of shipping to 42 states, including North Carolina. Now able to reach craft beer enthusiasts across the country, many for the first time, it represents a step forward in not only increasing awareness of, but access to, their award-winning beers.

The top-rated brewery in North Carolina’s Piedmont Triad region, Incendiary has built their reputation on a range of offerings including their popular SHIfT series of Hazy IPAs, bold Imperial Stouts, and twists on classic lager styles. Founded in 2018 by locals Brandon Branscome and John Bacon, the brewery quickly became a local favorite, as well as attracting the notice of critics and beer drinkers from across the region. With demand continuing to grow, the pair has since opened a second location in nearby Lewisville, allowing them to serve more customers and continue to deliver the high-quality experience that they have become so well-known for.

“We are so excited to work with Bevana and get our beers to fans in other markets, particularly here in North Carolina,” explained Brandon Branscome, co-founder of Incendiary. “ It’s a request we get all of the time, and we couldn’t be happier to finally make it happen!”

Through their partnership with Bevana, Incendiary’s new releases will be available online for delivery directly to customers’ homes or businesses. This joins a selection of top beers and other beverages from across the world, making the platform the ultimate one-stop shop for drinkers everywhere.

“Working with the top breweries and beverage producers in the world is one of the parts of our job that we take the most pride in at Bevana,” said Aaron MJ Gore, Bevana’s Senior Director of Business Development. “Brandon, John, and their entire team at Incendiary have been creating world-class beers since day one, and we’re excited to be able to bring those directly to craft beer fans like ourselves who otherwise wouldn’t have access to them.”

Craft beer enthusiasts can find Incendiary’s beers online through the Bevana storefront, or at either of their two taprooms in central North Carolina, in Winston-Salem and Lewisville.

About Bevana

Bevana is a platform that connects artisan beverage makers with eager customers that they would otherwise be unable to reach. We partner with the best independent beverage makers across the globe to keep the craft in Craft Beverage, and to provide enthusiasts with the world’s best drinks, no matter where they are. Through Bevana, a new world of incredible beverage experiences are just a few short clicks away. Local passion, delivered globally.

Customers in forty-two states can order all of their favorite Bevana beverages online at Shop.Bevana.com for delivery directly to their door. For more information go to https://www.incendiarybrewing.com/

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Protagonist Beer Announces Distribution to South Carolina

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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina – Protagonist Beer is pleased to announce that they will be expanding their fast growing beer distribution to South Carolina this month. They will be partnering with Comer Distributing to bring their beers into the Palmetto State for the first time starting mid-April 2023. Beers will be available first in the Fort Mill, Tega Cay, Rock Hill, and Clover markets, with plans for more markets in the future.

“We’re extremely excited to partner with Comer and their incredible team to finally bring our beers into the Palmetto state”, says CEO and Co-Founder Mike Salzarulo. “Because of the demand and proximity to our friends in South Carolina, it’s the natural next step for our retail beer expansion.”

“Our entire crew here at Comer Distributing are very excited to bring such great local brands to our customers and consumers. Protagonist Beer is first class, and all their staff have been absolutely wonderful to help map out their vision and expansion plans into South Carolina. Thank you, Mike and Lindsay, for choosing us as your partner,” says Chip Comer of Comer Distributing. “We would encourage anyone to please visit their facility in the Lower South End and enjoy great food and brews and an awesome atmosphere! Coming to local stores, bars, and restaurants near you in Rock Hill and surrounding areas very soon, Protagonist Beer!”

Protagonist Beer was founded in the NoDa neighborhood of Charlotte in May of 2019 by three childhood friends. Quickly outgrowing their original space, Protagonist opened a production facility and pizzeria in the LoSo neighborhood in Charlotte in November 2020. In their short time as a brewery, Protagonist Beer has won four Great American Beer Festival Medals, along with a North Carolina Brewers Cup Gold Medal.

Protagonist Beer will launch in South Carolina with five year-round offerings: Queen Charlotte, a German-style Pilsner; Dolly, a Honey Blonde Ale; Gwen, a Honey Hazy Pale Ale; Mercury, a Hazy IPA; and Hank, an American Light Lager. Their recent collaboration with Fort Mill-based Replay Brewing named Tony Bock, a 7.3% Strong Lager, will be the first seasonal offering available in select markets.

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Sycamore Brewing Unveils Details of New Charlotte Taproom

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CHARLOTTE, North Carolina –Sycamore Brewing, Charlotte’s biggest independent brewery, today unveiled details of its brand-new South End taproom, providing a destination for beer drinkers, families, foodies and now coffee lovers alike. Located at2151 Hawkins Street next door to Sycamore’s original taproom, the expansive 10,000 square-foot space is slated to open this May.

Drawing inspiration from the natural beauty of North Carolina from the Blue Ridge Mountains to the Carolina Coast, the taproom will span two stories with a 6,000-square-foot second-floor patio and bar overlooking Charlotte’s rail trail and city skyline. Complete with a ground-level beer garden, a full-service taproom with robust food offerings and the brewery’s new coffee shop – the space offers a 4-in-1 experience. Sycamore’s custom-built Airstream food truck will also be stationed upstairs as a nod to the original taproom space.

“At Sycamore Brewing, we believe in good times and great beer. That’s why we designed the brand-new taproom as a space not just for grabbing a drink but for kicking back, relaxing and connecting,” says Sycamore Brewing Owner Sarah Brigham. “Our bigger and better taproom has so much more to offer our customers including regular weekly specials, unique events and our new coffee shop. Its free-spirited aesthetic exudes a welcoming and laid-back vibe, and we look forward to welcoming everyone very soon!”

Located on the ground floor of the taproom, the new coffee shop Sycamore Café will serve house-brewed coffee, a selection of house-made cookies as well as pastries supplied by community bakers and chefs.

“We started to house roast small batches of our own coffee to add to select coffee beers, and we fell in love with the house-made cold brew coffee that went on tap at our production facility,” continued Brigham. “After perfecting our roasting process, we knew we had to make coffee a part of the new taproom and that’s how Sycamore coffee was born.”

Along with coffee and beer, the taproom will serve other beverage options including froze, cider, a curated wine list, cocktails on tap (some coffee inspired), boozy popsicles and beer floats with soft serve. Sycamore’s full food menu will include tasty pairings for featured beverages each week. Grab-n-go breakfast, lunch and dinner options will be available at the coffee shop or in the beer garden daily, and brunch will be offered on weekends. To follow along for updates regarding the taproom, visit @SycamoreCLT on Instagram.

About Sycamore Brewing

Owned and operated by husband-and-wife team Justin and Sarah Brigham, Sycamore Brewing has been creating award-winning craft liquids since 2014. The brewery has grown and expanded at whirlwind speed since opening its doors, becoming Charlotte’s top beer producer in 2022. Sycamore’s bustling taproom and beer garden has consistently been ranked as one of the top Uber stops in Charlotte serving delicious craft beer each day alongside live music, food trucks and more. In November 2022, the brewery opened a bar concept at Charlotte Douglas International Airport and is expanding even more in early 2023 by moving its 2161 Hawkins Street location next door to a significantly bigger space,further establishing itself as a gathering place for good times and great beer. From year-round mainstays and IPAs to seasonal offerings and café inspired brews, Sycamore beer is available at major retailers in NC, SC, VA, TN, GA, and OH, with additional states to be added this year. For more information, visit www.sycamorebrew.com. Stay connected with Sycamore Brewing on Twitter, Instagram, TikTok, YouTube, and Facebook (@SycamoreBrewing).

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Highland Debuts New Spring Seasonal – Berryful Fruited Ale

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ASHEVILLE, North Carolina – North Carolina’s largest native brewer is announcing the release of Berryful – a fruited ale with tart blueberries. It is the latest addition to Highland brewery’s seasonal lineup and is available now in 6-packs across Highland’s Southeastern distribution footprint.

Shane Cummings, Highland’s Innovation Brewing Manager said, “Berryful is a clean and tart blueberry fruited ale. We highlight this beer with an abundance of blueberries to saturate the palate with ripe blueberry notes. Wine-like and succinct.”

At 5% ABV, Berryful is refreshing for spring with a bright and fruity flavor. The beer was made with pilsner malt, white wheat, and Apollo hops. These ingredients create a foundation for the blueberry flavor and color to shine.

Highland’s seasonal lineup features four rotating beers including classics like Clawhammer Oktoberfest and two new additions that will be announced later this year.

Berryful is available at the brewery and at retail stores throughout the Southeast until June.

ABOUT HIGHLAND BREWING

Highland Brewing was founded in 1994 by retired engineer and entrepreneur Oscar Wong, establishing it as the pioneer of Asheville, NC’s now booming craft beer industry. Proudly regional, Highland’s beers are distributed in North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee, and Georgia. Highland is committed to quality and sustainability, boasting the sixth-largest solar array in an American craft brewery. Today, the company is led by Wong’s daughter, Leah Wong Ashburn, and serves as the largest independent, family-owned, and operated brewery native to the Southeast. Located in a rehabilitated manufacturing facility in East Asheville, the brewery affords space for visitors to enjoy limited-release beers, walking trails, volleyball courts, and live music.

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Cheerwine and NoDa Brewing Company Introduce Cheerwine Ale

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SALISBURY, North Carolina – Two of North Carolina’s most popular family-owned beverage companies are giving Carolinians something to ‘cheer’ about when Cheerwine Ale hits retailers’ shelves today.

Cheerwine, the iconic 106-year-old cherry soda from Salisbury, N.C., and popular Charlotte-based brewery NoDa Brewing Company’s Cheerwine Ale (5.2% ABV | 18 IBUs), is a crisp, refreshing wheat ale infused with the South’s favorite cherry soda.

“Cheerwine makes the perfect ingredient in food and beverages because its unique cherry flavor complements so many different tastes,” says Joy Ritchie Harper, vice-president of marketing for Cheerwine and fifth-generation founding family member. “For years, people have incorporated Cheerwine into barbecue sauces, cocktails, desserts and more, and now we’re adding beer to that list.”

Cheerwine Ale, which is great for craft beer novices and experts alike, is a smooth-drinking, well-balanced brew with a perfect amount of Cheerwine that doesn’t overpower the beer’s flavor. Cheerwine Ale will be part of NoDa Brewing Company’s year-round lineup.

“Cheerwine and NoDa are synonymous with North Carolina, and both our fan bases have fond memories of enjoying our beverages during their most cheerful times – from summer vacations to the holidays and all points in between,” says Jacob Virgil, director of strategic development for NoDa Brewing Company. “Similarly, Cheerwine Ale can be enjoyed year round – it’s an approachable craft beer perfect for all occasions. We’re excited to bring fans the perfect marriage of these two North Carolina staples.”

“Like Cheerwine, NoDa is an iconic Carolina original. As one of Charlotte’s first craft breweries, it’s a classic brand led by passionate people and the perfect partner to produce a Cheerwine-infused beer,” says Harper.

Cheerwine Ale, which comes in 16 oz. four-pack cans, is now available at select North Carolina retailers. It’s also available on draft at a number of Charlotte and Triangle restaurants and bars, as well as the brewery’s Charlotte and Chapel Hill taprooms.

Over the coming weeks, Cheerwine Ale will roll out in additional North Carolina retailers and throughout South Carolina.

For more information, please visit: nodabrewing.com/cheerwine.

Cheerwine: Uniquely SouthernCreated in 1917 by L.D. Peeler, Cheerwine is a one-of-a-kind soft drink with a unique cherry flavor. It is an iconic brand from Salisbury, North Carolina. Owned by the Carolina Beverage Corporation, the 106-year-old company is still privately owned and managed by the same founding family, five generations of whom have worked there. Cliff Ritchie leads Cheerwine as president and CEO. Available in supermarkets, restaurants, mass merchandisers and convenience stores in select states nationwide and cheerwine.com. For more information, follow Cheerwine on Facebook at facebook.com/cheerwine or on Twitter and Instagram @drinkcheerwine.

NoDa Brewing Company

With a collective passion for home brewing and exemplary craft beer, Suzie Ford (President & Co-Founder), Todd Ford (Vice President & Co-Founder), and Chad Henderson (Head Brewer & Co-Owner) teamed up in 2011 to create NoDa Brewing Co, a craft brewing identity that would connect to and grow alongside their beloved city of Charlotte. In 2014 NoDa Brewing Co.’s Hop Drop N Roll IPA won gold in the IPA category at the World Beer Cup, putting NoDa Brewing Co. on the map. Today you can find NoDa Brewing Co. in all major retailers, and local bars and restaurants throughout the Carolinas. For more information visit nodabrewing.com or follow them on Instagram and Twitter @nodabrewing and at facebook.com/NoDaBrewingCompany.

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New Sarum Brewing Company Joins Bevana

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SALISBURY, North Carolina – New Sarum Brewing Company, the popular North Carolina brewery whose beers have won medals at the world’s two most prestigious competitions, will be joining beverage platform Bevana to grow its distribution and reach new customers across the country. Long a feature of the southern craft beer scene, the company will be placing its focus firmly on growth and on continuing the innovation that has led to it being one of the region’s most awarded producers.

“We are absolutely thrilled to be joining the Bevana Family! This partnership is built on quality, comradery and innovation, the same foundation that we built our company on from the very beginning,” said Andy Maben, founder of New Sarum. “Their vision and team of craft beer gurus are going to do wonders to bring our brand to a new audience of craft beer lovers. We’ve always taken pride in our high standards, while continuing to facilitate customer education and adapting to the ever-changing craft beverage market. This is the next step in our journey, and we’re excited to get going!”

Bevana will help to manage the distribution for New Sarum, giving the brewery the ability to focus its resources and efforts on continuing to foster the creativity and quality that earned it medals at the Great American Beer Festival and World Beer Cup, the two most highly-regarded competitions in the industry. Its core lineup, anchored by Hurley Park Blood Orange Wheat Ale and Old Stone House IPA will be joined by new and returning entries in the popular Griffin series, including the standout People’s Elbow, a Hazy IPA brewed with Coconuts and Lactose. New creations will be available both in retail establishments and in their Salisbury, NC taproom on a regular basis, carrying on the tradition of exciting innovation that customers have come to associate with the company.

New Sarum will additionally see expanded distribution through Bevana’s platform, which is designed to help the industry’s most exciting breweries to cut through the complex and often contradictory wholesale landscape to put the focus back on the customers. With their help, New Sarum will be able to not only access new markets and retail outlets, but connect more directly with the craft beer drinkers that continue to seek the highest quality beers available.

“We’ve been fortunate enough to know the folks over at New Sarum for years, and they really are a craft beer drinker’s dream brewery in so many ways,” explained Aaron Gore, Bevana’s Senior Director of Business Development. “As the industry has gotten more competitive, however, breweries like New Sarum have been increasingly trapped between a rock and a hard place of trying to just get their beer into the hands of customers. We are excited to be able to help navigate the difficult waters of distribution alongside them, so that instead of everyone worrying about the logistics of how we get these things into peoples’ hands, they can just focus on making the best quality beer possible. That’s what this industry was always supposed to be about.”

New Sarum’s beers will also be offered through Bevana’s online shop, where all of the platform’s beverage partners may be ordered and shipped directly to customers’ homes or businesses. With the ability to deliver beer to customers in forty-two states, it helps beverage makers and drinkers cut through the noise and the barriers that stand in the way of enjoying the best drinks that the world has to offer, regardless of location.

About Bevana

Bevana is a platform that connects artisan beverage makers with eager customers that they would otherwise be unable to reach. We find the best brewers on the planet and focus on managing the logistics of how they get their beer into the hands and mouths of drinkers, so that they can focus on the quality and innovation that built the industry. Enjoy the best beers in the world, without limitations.

Customers in forty-two states can order all of their favorite Bevana beverages online for delivery directly to their door. Free shipping is available on all orders over $65.

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Hi-Wire Brewing Partners With Bevana

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NEWTON, North Carolina – Hi-Wire Brewing, one of North Carolina’s largest and fastest-growing breweries, is partnering with beverage platform Bevana to bring its award-winning craft beers to customers across the country with online ordering. For Hi-Wire, which started shipping directly to consumers in 2020 in response to the pandemic, this partnership offers a new format and an expanded shipping area.

“We have seen a tremendous response across the country for our online beer store, but this success translated to growing pains for our staff who handled the shipping of the actual beer,” said Chris Frosaker, co-owner of Hi-Wire. “With Bevana handling the e-commerce and shipping side, we now have room to effectively market this part of our business and grow it to its full potential.”

Founded in 2013, the brewery’s most popular beers include Hi-Pitch Mosaic IPA, Lo-Pitch Hazy IPA, Mountain Water Citrus Splash Easy-Drinking Ale, and 10W-40 Imperial Stout series. With distribution in nine states and nine taprooms located across the southeast, and new ones opening soon in Cincinnati, Ohio, and Nashville, Tennessee, Hi-Wire continues their expansion and core commitment to connecting people with their community. Hi-Wire’s passion to keep the tradition of craft beer alive by continuing to honor the heritage of brewing is something that aligns well with the mission of Bevana. Through their partnership with the platform, customers will additionally be able to find Hi-Wire products in the Bevana Newton retail taproom, as well as at D9 Brewing Company taprooms in Cornelius, Charlotte, and Hendersonville, N.C.

“Hi-Wire has been one of the truly amazing success stories of craft beer in the last decade,” explains Aaron MJ Gore, Senior Director of Business Development for Bevana. “To make world-class beer that enthusiasts go nuts for, and to bring that experience to their neighborhoods with some of the coolest taproom experiences you’ll find anywhere, that’s an incredibly difficult balance to strike. Through the Bevana online store, now they can expand that reach even further, and we’re excited to be partnering with them to get great beer in the hands of more people.”

Hi-Wire’s beers will be offered through Bevana’s online shop, where all of the platform’s beverage partners may be ordered and shipped directly to customers’ homes or businesses. With the ability to deliver beer to customers in forty-two states, it helps beverage makers and drinkers cut through the noise and the barriers that stand in the way of enjoying the best drinks that the world has to offer, regardless of location.

About Bevana

Bevana is a platform that connects artisan beverage makers with eager customers that they would otherwise be unable to reach. We partner with the best independent beverage makers across the globe to keep the craft in Craft Beverage, and to provide enthusiasts with the world’s best drinks, no matter where they are. Through Bevana, a new world of incredible beverage experiences is just a few short clicks away. Local passion, delivered globally.

Customers in forty-two states can order all of their favorite Bevana beverages online at www.Shop.Bevana.com for delivery directly to their door. For all orders over $65, free shipping is also available using the promo code FINDBEVANA22

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