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Sugar Creek Brewing Company Raspberry White Ale

Posted on by Evan

Picked up Sugar Creek Brewing Company Raspberry White Ale, 4.4% ABV from Whole Foods. Raspberry White Ale pours a light red/pink color with a light one and a quarter pink/red head that gives off aromas of tart slightly sour fruit (raspberries) with very little to no white ale like aromas that them take you towards a flavor of sweet yet sour/tart fruit with a slight dryness in the middle and back of the mouth with a nice light tart raspberry finish with a quickly fading tart fruit finish with a light mouthfeel. This Raspberry White Ale from Sugar Creek Brewing Company wasn’t what I was hoping it was going to be, it didn’t have much white ale characteristics and it was more of a sour raspberry ale that was on the lighter side of raspberry sour. So overall I give Creek Brewing Company Raspberry White Ale a C+. Yes, I found it drinkable and not so bad but I just didn’t think it was as the label advertised and to me that keeps it down on grading. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Mother Earth Brewing Endless River Kolsch-Style Ale

Posted on by Evan

I have not had a Mother Earth Brewing, (Kinston, North Carolina) in a long while, and This is Endless River Kolsch-Style Ale, 4.9% ABV which I pick up from Whole Foods. This beer pours a clear golden color with a thin one and a half finger white head that fades away into a thin ring on the edge of the glass giving off a semi fruity sweet aroma with a crispness to it that leads into a clean fruity semi sweetness with a little dry note in the middle that grows on the back of the mouth that then finishes smooth with a nice touch of light fruited sweetness and a lingering light sweetness with a light mouthfeel. Overall just a good average Kolsch with good flavors but nothing that really stands out. Endless River Kolsch- Style Ale is a B-. I enjoy it and I think that this is a beer that you can drink many of without it being overwhelming or your mouth, I recommend Mother Earth Brewing Endless River Kolsch- Style Ale. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

Here are this week’s news and events happening in and around the Charlotte, NC area.

  • Wednesday, September 12th. Cousins Maine Lobster at Red Clay Ciderworks for Trivia Night. 6 pm-8 pm. Red Clay Ciderworks. Cousins Maine Lobster, as seen on ABC’s Shark Tank, will be at Red Clay Ciderworks for Trivia Night on Sept. 12 from 6-8pm. Come early, stay late, drink cider and eat lobster.
  • Wednesday, September 12. Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest Sampling. 6 pm-8 pm. Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse Park Rd. Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest Sampling – Oktoberfest, Kellerweis & Pale Ale on draft! We will have a rep on hand for sampling and giveaways like Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest Mugs.
    Best of all, we’re celebrating Sierra Nevada with $4 Oktoberfest and a Text 2 Win contest for two tickets to Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest in Mills River! 
  • Thursday, September 13th. Passion Fruit Gose. 4 pm-9 pm. Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Passion Fruit Gose has been one of our most popular wild ales – so we decided to can some of this batch for the first time.
    Passionfruit Gose is a wheat ale, sour’d and blended with heaps of passionfruit to give the beer a memorable fruity and slightly tart finish. 4.8% ABV.
    These cans will be available for purchase at the Taproom on September 13th – 4-packs are $12.99.
    You’ll see these cans in grocery stores, bottle shops, and retailers soon after the release 🍻
  • Friday, September 14th. Cheese and Cider Pairing. 7 pm-8:30 pm. Red Clay Ciderworks. Tickets $20.79 @ eventbrite.com. Red Clay Ciderworks and Orrman’s Cheese Shop are joining forces to bring you a sensational night of cheese and cider pairings! Cider maker Jay Bradish and cheese expert Rachel Klebaur will be on hand to walk you through four different pairings, each with their own delectable panache.
    Seating for this event is limited, so don’t wait to purchase your ticket!
    Ticket holders please check in at the bar upon arrival.
  • Friday, September 14th. King Don’s Pumpkin Ale Release. 12 pm-11 pm. Catawba Brewing Company. The King is returning!
  • Saturday, September 15th, Blinded By The Light Kolsch. 12 pm-10 pm. Triple C Brewing Company. Blinded By The Light is a light, easy drinking Kolsch with a crisp, clean finish and hint of fruitiness.
    New Wrap Order food truck will be in the house and Pluto for Planet playing live outside from 5-8
    Pints and crowlers for sale.
  • Saturday, September 15th. Pucker Up! 9 am-11 pm. Temple Mojo. Join us on Saturday, September 15th, for Pucker Up! A sour beer event with Lenny Boy Brewing.
    We will be featuring 4 of their sour ales on tap all day long and they are ones you don’t want to miss!
    A rep will be out in the early afternoon to hang out and answer all your questions about their sour program.
    Tap List:
    – Passionfruit Gose
    – Peach Please
    – Berliner Vine with Muscadine Grapes
    – Berliner Vine with Scuppernong Grapes
    See you out there!
  • Monday, September 17th. Oktoberfest Release. NoDa Brewing Company. 4 pm -9 pm. We’re honoring the best beer celebration in the world, Oktoberfest, by releasing our Oktoberfest beer, a Märzen Lager, during the first week of Germany’s festival. Plus, we’re even canning our brew this year (and selling some matching steins)!
    Our 6.3% ABV, full-bodied Märzen Lager is brewed with German Bach yeast, German malts (Vienna, Munich, and Pilsner), and, you guessed it, German hops. Celebrating Oktoberfest is easy with this brew’s light amber color, malt-forward taste, and crisp finish.
    While you’re here, enjoy dinner from TIN Kitchen and grab some cans to-go.
  • Tuesday, September 18th. Town Brown Beer Tasting. 5:30pm. Wesley Village Apartments. Town Brewing will be holding a “tasting” at our complex September 18, at 5:30 to promote their grand opening! Make sure to stop by and figure out what your favorite brew will be! 

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Tropigose Gose Style Ale

Posted on by Evan

Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Tropigose Gose Style Ale, 4.5% ABV is another beer in my recent mixed six pack from Whole Foods and is brewed with passion fruit and guava. This Captain Lawrence Brewing company from Elmsford New York pours a Golden color with a two and a quarter white head that fades into a nice halo giving off tart tropical fruit notes with a slight bit of sour to it that take you down to a flavor or tart tropical fruits such as passion fruits front with a little melon in the middle that are nicely tart with hints of sour notes with a nice tart passion fruit finish and a nice tart fruited aftertaste that lingers with a hint of sour fruit with a light mouthfeel. Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Tropigose is a good beer but not enough passion fruit nor is they any trace of guava fruit, if you put that on the can then I think there should be enough to make it so, and I give this beer a B-. It not a bad beer for a Gose style ale but it just misses the amount of fruit flavor. It needs just enough to let you know its in there and yes I recommend Captain Lawrence Brewing Company Tropigose. It’s good otherwise! Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Lagunitas Brewing Co. Cherry Jane Sour Ale

Posted on by Evan

Pick up Lagunitas Brewing Company Cherry Jane Sour Ale 5.5% ABV as part of a mixed six pack from Whole Foods. Cherry Jane Sour Ale is brewed with Turkish Delight Cherry Juice and pours a deep red cherry color with a dark pink two finger head that fades down into a light ring with very little lacing giving off tart sour cherry notes that have bit of a dryness that takes you to a similar taste with sour, tart, fruity dry flavors with a dry finish that is tart and fruity with a tartly dry aftertaste with a light mouthfeel. Overall Lagunitas Brewing Company Cherry Jane Sour Ale is a good beer that isn’t to mouth puckering sour/tart, I give it a B. The dry notes keep it down a little on making it a wonderful, but this is a beer that I would come back to and recommend trying. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Maine Beer Co. a little beautiful something

Posted on by Evan

Where was I when the Maine Beer Co. out of Freeport Maine starting distributing their beer in to their Carolinas, well I found a tiny beautiful thing, 5.5% at my local Whole Foods. This American Pale Ale pours a golden color with a two and a quarter white head that gives you fruity aromas with a nice juicy hop note and touches of an earth note with a nice juicy fruit taste and nice smooth hoppy earth notes hitting your taste buds with a nice hoppy sweet finish and a juicy semi-dry aftertaste with a mild medium mouthfeel. This beer is what I like in a Pale Ale, fruitiness with a bit of hoppy notes and not in-your-face bitterness, a tiny beautiful thing Pale Ale is an A. Solid beer and well brewed and one that I recommend trying and I will have this again. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

Here are this week’s news and events happening in and around the Charlotte, NC area!

  • Wednesday, September 5th. Illusion of Time – Pilot Batch Release. Triple C Brewing Company. 4 pm-9 pm. This golden ale was soured in a barrel with a mixed culture that produced a complex, slightly funky acidity. Passionfruit added some tropical fruity flavors and some additional tartness, resulting in a crisp, dry beer that packs a significant fruity pucker.
    Snifters and Crowlers! Bleu Barn Bistro has dinner covered.
  • Wednesday, September 5th. Layover Lager Release. NoDa Brewing Company. 4 pm-9 pm. In anticipation of our soon-to-be CLT Douglas Airport taproom, we’re thrilled to release a new beer in honor of our partnership. Coming first to our taproom and soon to Concourse, A Expansion (and eventually to the rest of #CLT) is Layover Layer.
    This quintessential American light #Lager was brewed with flaked rice and imported German malts to accentuate its drinkability. The filtered nature of this brew is unlike most craft Lagers on the market, making it an instant favorite for the classic beer drinker.
    Stay tuned for the unveiling of the design!
  • Thursday, September 6th. Brewer’s Dinner with Lenny Boy & Hyde Brewing. The Suffolk Punch. 6:30 pm-8:30 pm. Tickets $65.00 at eventbrite.com. Join The Suffolk Punch, Hyde Brewing, and Lenny Boy Brewing Co. for our 1st Beer Dinner! Enjoy a 6 course meal paired with beverages provided by Hyde Brewing and Lenny Boy Brewing Co. Your $65 ticket includes dinner, beer & kombucha, the opportunity to interact with brewers, and a special surprise! Tickets are limited, so reserve your seat at the table today!
  • Friday, September 7th. Hot Pistol Stout Release. NoDa Brewing Company. 2 pm-10 pm. Ever since Hot Pistol came to us through the NCBeerGuys’ competition-winning recipe in 2013, you’ve been asking us to can it. As we celebrate five delicious years with our chocolate, raspberry and habanero Stout, we’re going to do exactly that! Join us in the tap room to grab pints and cans, and some TIN Kitchen while you’re here.
  • Friday, September 7th. Burial Beer Tap Take Over. Pintville Craft Beer. 7 pm-11 pm. We are bringing Asheville to Pineville with an incredible night filled with Burial’s distinctive beer. Stay tuned for a preview of our selection for the evening! Featuring Lenny’s Press Box Food Truck.
  • Saturday, September 8th. Mr. Vegue and Cousins Maine Lobster at Sweet Union. Sweet union Brewing. 7 pm-10 pm. Join us the evening of Saturday, September 8th for some glorious music for the ear bones by Mr. Vague! Cousins Maine Lobster will be serving up their famous, delicious lobster foods from 5:30-9 PM!
  • Saturday, September 8th. Orange Beersicle Blonde Ale Release. Triple C Brewing Company. 12 pm-10 pm. Back by popular demand and scaled up to the 7bbl brewhouse from the pilot system. Our blonde ale with vanilla, lactose and orange should last a little longer this time!
    Draft and 32oz crowlers will be for sale. New Wrap Order food truck will be in the house and Downtown Abby playing live outside from 5-8.
  • Sunday, September 9th. Shop Drop ‘N Roll Market. NoDa Brewing Company. 12 pm-6 pm. We’re so thrilled for the second date of our maker’s market, Shop Drop ‘N Roll. This seasonal market will be full of fun and focused on all things CRAFT! While you sip on tasty craft brews, you’ll be able to peruse incredible hand-crafted goods. In partnership with Crowned Sparrow Craft Co. we’ll be hosting the best artisans our city, and surrounding area, has to offer! Not only will we have goodies and giveaways, but we’ll also be donating a portion of proceeds to a local charity.
    Check out our vendor line up!
    Crowned Sparrow Craft Co.
    Spicin’ & Dicin’
    Gloria Faye
    Originate Handcrafted Jewelry
    Purple Girl Designs by Amber
    WestEnd Attic
    Ai to You
    Paintings & Things by Carla
    Christine’s Konditorei
    Urbean
    Funk Era
    Worthy + BA
    Mooky Pooky and Muffin
    The Handcrafted Kitchen
    Jannelli Design studio
    Creative Art Company
    L Squared
    Rise Over Run
    Toushea Body Boutique
    Pearl and Mint Boutique
    Curly’s Crafts & Commodities
  • Sunday, September 8th. High Branch Brewing Beer Dinner. The Cellar at Duckworth’s. 1 pm-4 pm. Tickets at eventbrite.com. Join us for a delicious 5 course dinner featuring High Branch Brewing Co. from Concord, NC! We’re eager to pair High Branch’s Belgian inspired and hop forward ales with a menu designed by Chef Fred Quinones influenced by their beers. Tickets are Pre-Sale only and very limited !
    Courses:
    First- Artisan Baby Green Salad
    Guava weisse vinaigrette, super grain couscous, caramelized carrots, currants
    Poke – Barrel Aged Berliner Weisse with Mango and Passion Fruit
    Second- Arepas with Farmers Cheese
    IPA cured salmon, burnt avocado, chipotle crema
    Diamond Ring – Double IPA
    Third- Lobster & Herb Dumpling
    Yuzu goat cheese, miso parmigiano, spiced lamb
    Pounder – Pale Ale
    Fourth- Crispy Mallard Duck Breast
    Chive mustard fingerling potato, blackberry gastrique, pea tendrils
    Have a Sit – Imperial Stout with Chocolate, Marshmallow, Graham, and Vanilla
    Fifth- Brioche Soak in Chocolate
    Elderflower strawberries, toffee caramel, cap’n crunch
    Strawberry Hill – Mixed Culture Saison with Local Strawberries and Roselle Hibiscus
    *beer and food menu are subject to change.
    Purchase tickets: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/high-branch-brewing-beer-dinner-tickets-48883253126?aff=efbeventtix  
  • Tuesday, September 11th. NoDable Release: Oatmeal Raisin Belgian Dubel. 4 pm-9 pm. Every single week, we release a brand new “NoDable” beer on Tuesday. This week we’re releasing one of our favorite charity partnership beers of the year! In honor of Cookies for Kids’ Cancer, we’re brewing up a delicious oatmeal raisin Belgian Dubel.
    While you’re here, be sure to try a few of our 25+ brews and some TIN Kitchen for dinner. And, don’t forget you can take this week’s NoDable and many of our other beers to-go in a crowler!   

Birdsong Brewing Co. Rewind Lager

Posted on by Evan

Picked up Birdsong Brewing Company Rewind Lager, 4.0% ABV from Pop the Top Bottle Shop last week. This is a traditional Czech Pilsner that pours a clear golden color with a two finger head that fades quick into decent lacing giving you aromas of crackers that are slightly floral and crisp that lead into a taste of dry cracker crispness that has a little faint hoppy note with a nice crisp clean dry finish and a cracker gain aftertaste with a refreshingly light mouthfeel. Birdsong Brewing Company Rewind Lager hits the Czech Pilsner on head nailing the style perfectly, this is an A- beer. It has nice clean refreshing qualities without being to plan and unassuming, and yeah this Birdsong beer is on that I recommend trying. It goes down smooth and easy. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Sugar Creek Brewing Company IPA

Posted on by Evan

From one of my favorite local breweries, this is Sugar Brewing Company IPA, 6.7% ABV brewed here in Charlotte, North Carolina. Sugar Creek Brewing Company usual brews Belgian Style ales but this is a normal non Belgian IPA that pours an orange color with a two finger white slow fading head that fades cleanly giving off an aroma of dank grapefruit with a resin piney note that is on the earthy slide that then takes you to a taste of more resin pine grapefruit a earthy bitterness that finishes with a bitterness that is onion-like and a bitter clean aftertaste with a medium mouthfeel. This is an okay IPA not bad, its at least a B. It has a normal IPA taste with nothing really standing out or anything that is underwhelming. I enjoyed this Sugar Creek Brewing Company IPA and yes I recommend it. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Edward Teach Beer Co. Belgian-Style Blonde

Posted on by Evan

We’re back and with new local beer from Edward Teach Beer Co. in Wilmington North Carolina and this is their Belgian-Style Blonde, 7.2% ABV. Edward Teach Beer Co. since 2014 is a newer brewery here among the many different NC breweries. Belgian-Style Blonde pours a deep gold color with a quickly fading white head that does leave some minimal lacing behind that fades halfway through drinking this beer, and gives off a semi-sweet aromas with some sour notes flowing in with a brightness hitting your nose that takes you down to a sweet taste of yeasted slightly spiced sour notes with hints of light fruit with a nice spiced finish and a semi-sweet spiced aftertaste with a medium to almost full mouthfeel. This beer is exactly how the Belgian Blonde should taste, it’s an A beer and is quite tasty as well as a bit refreshing in a little way. This Edward Teach beer doesn’t overpower your mouth with lots of flavors, it just hits it with a well-balanced amount, this is one beer I highly recommended. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!