Best Beer Blog

Throwback Thursday: Unibroue Don De Dieu

Posted on March 15, 2018 by Evan

The Unibroue brewery does an outstanding job on brewing great beers, and this one is right with all they’re others. This is a triple wheat ale in the Belgian style brewed with spices, and is a strong one at 9% abv, and is refermented in yeast. This big wheaty brew pours a very cloudy orange almost a brownish color with a thick pillowy white head. It’s a beautiful beer to look at. I see this I and wow I want to have it. There is plenty of wheaty scent to this along with a scent of alcohol. Very nice wheat and orange scents to this. There is also a nice clove spice note, along with a very faint orangey-banana as well. Again all very nice overall scent to this. Now the taste is more of a heavy wheat, do to the fact that it is a triple wheat. So this is not as drinkable as others. Don has a nice orange spice note that is most pleasing to your pallet. But I would call this refreshingly nice and good to drink. Don De Dieu has a nice heavy spiced wheat aftertaste that is slightly less than the start, but this finishes nicely. I love the triple wheat aspect of this beer, and Unibroue did that very well. I will even go a step farther and say that the bottle this wonderful wheat came in was nice with it gold foil around the neck and over the bottle cap was a nice classy touch, and Unibroue always has just interesting pictures their labels which I do find a bit neat. I like the Unibroue brewery and Don De Dieu a lot, even though it sits heavy in your stomach. It has all the right flavors done just right. That’s the way you do a big triple wheat beer. Cheers! Please drink responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on March 14, 2018May 7, 2018 by Evan

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

Wednesday, March 14th. Ales and Tails Brew Tour: Wooden Robot. Wooden Robot Brewery. 5 pm-7 pm. Pet Wants Charlotte: The Urban Feed Store is bringing back its Ales & Tails Brew Tour for 2018!
We are hitting all the cool spots, bringing you awesome all-natural treats and fresh, uniquely blended food for your pups + kitties.
NEXT STOP: Wooden Robot Brewery on March 14th from 5-7pm. Come hang out with us and support our rescue partner, South of the Bully & Friends, bringing some cute adoptable pups.
Need some extra puppy kisses? Step right up to The Ruff Life, LLCSMpooching booth where kisses and cuddles abound. Continue this stress relieving journey by learning about all the services The Ruff Life has to offer; walking, spa services, daycare, as well as your own personal pet Uber to help you keep up with your pet’s social life. The Ruff Life has personalized services that allow you to manage you and your pet’s needs hassle-free
peaking of #brewdogs, is your pup not keen on your commands? Do you often have to leave them home because they can’t stay out of the “doghouse”? We gotcha covered! KeenDog‘s trainers will be on site. They have many different training package one of which teaches socialization skills and etiquette behavioral training. Bring your pup and meet the team that can make your dog stand out as a “Keen Dog”
Twisted Eats will be on site so bring your appetite!
Percentage of treats, merch and brew sales will be donated to our rescue partner, South of the Bully & Friends.
Follow our Event’s page to get notified of other dates and stops in the series.
https://www.facebook.com/petwantsclt/events
Wednesday, March 14th. Pilot Batch Release – Pack It Out, Robust Porter. Triple C Brewing Company. 4 pm-9 pm. “On a continuous mission to leave the people we meet and the places we go better.” This Robust Porter features more bitter and roasted malt flavor than a brown porter, but not quite as much as a stout. Its caramel and malty sweetness are reminiscent of cocoa and in harmony with the sharp bitterness of black malt. Hop bitterness is evident. Bleu Barn Bistro has dinner covered!!
We will be donating $1 for each beer sold this day to help Kelly reach her fundraising goal while thru-hiking the AT and Hike for Mental Health. If you can’t join us, you can donate here – https://secure.hikeformentalhealth.org/kellyat2018”
Thursday, March 15th. Discover Fiddlin’ Fish Night. Carolina Beer Temple. 6 pm-10 pm. Join us Thursday, March 15th at the Carolina Beer Temple when we will host a Discover Fiddlin’ Fish Night. Not only will we be featuring flights and discounted drafts of four (4) Fiddlin’ Fish Brewing Company beers all day, but rumor has it that Jordan Linger (remember that guy?!) will be by representing the brewery too!
The tap list is still TBD so stay tuned!
We hope to see you on Thursday, March 15th at our Discover Fiddlin’ Fish Night!
Thursday, March 15th. Hook Line & Heroes Irish Stout Night. Catawba Brewing Co. Charlotte. 6 pm-10 pm. Come kick off March Madness and St. Patricks Day weekend while supporting a local non-profit. $1 of every pint sold of Hook Line & Heroes Irish Stout goes towards supporting veterans in and around Charlotte. Drop by to have a pint and learn more about us!
Friday, March 16th. St. Paddy’s Day Weekend Party. VBGB (Very Big German Beer). 8 pm-10:30 pm. Left Hand Brewing and Jameson Irish Whiskey are teaming up with VBGB’s in Charlotte, NC for an awesome weekend of St. Paddy’s Day fun! Specials on both Left Hand Milk Stout Nitro and Jameson products all weekend long!!! Also, Irish Cow-Bomb shot specials (a shot of Jameson dropped into a delicious glass of Nitro Milk Stout!) Left Hand will be there Friday, March 16th from 8-10:30 pm giving out St. Paddy’s Day schwag so make sure you swing by for a pint!
Saturday, March 17th. St. Patrick’s Day in LoSo. The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. 11 am-11 pm. Charlotte’s most diverse selection of locally produced beverages is the destination for a good time on St. Paddy’s… Lower Southend & OMB are ready for green attire, festive music and lots of delicious food and drink on March 17th! At OMB, relax under the trees in our Biergarten with our spring seasonal: Früh Bock. Früh Bock captures the promise of warmer days ahead, combining a slight malty sweetness with a refreshing touch of citrus aroma from its noble Bavarian hops. Your year-round favorites will also be on tap including Copper Altbier, Captain Jack Pilsner, Hornet’s Nest Hefeweizen & Fat Boy Baltic Porter. Don’t forget – our new 1 Liter steins will be available!
Expect festive food specials – More details coming soon!
We’ll also have live music all-day, including Rock Onyx (plays classics like Styx, Boston, Blue Öyster Cult, etc.).
This is a free event. Under 21 are welcome at OMB. Pets are welcome outside in our Biergarten.
To learn more about our neighbor’s parties, visit LoSo’s new Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/golosoclt/
Saturday, March 17th. ShamRocks and Shenanigans. Sugar Creek Brewing. 11 am-11 pm. Mark your calendars for St Patrick’s Day with us here at Sugar Creek Brewing. We’ll kick it off with LIVE Music, Stout specials and a costume contest for the most outrageous St Pats themed costume at 2pm! The full-service Patio Bar and Tap Room will be filled with St Pats themed music all day long and we’ll be pouring $4 stouts.
Saturday, March 17th. Dry Irish Nitro Stout Release. Triple C Brewing Company. 12 pm-10 pm. We have a Dry Irish Stout on the Nitro tap for St. Patty’s! Join us for a pint or two and live music from Hunter’s Travesty and New Wrap Order food!!
Sunday, March 18th. Ales and Tails Brew Tour: Birdsong Brewing. Birdsong Brewing. 12 pm-5 pm. Pet Wants Charlotte: The Urban Feed Store is bringing back its Ales & Tails Brew Tour for 2018!
We are hitting all the cool spots, bringing you awesome all-natural treats and fresh, uniquely blended food for your pups + kitties. A percentage of treat sales will be donated to fresh food to the rescue by Pet Wants!
NEXT STOP: Birdsong Brewing Co. on March 18th from 1-5pm. Come hang out with us and support our rescue partner, Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love, bringing some cute adoptable pups.
Speaking of #brewdogs, is your pup not keen on your commands? Do you often have to leave them home because they can’t stay out of the “doghouse”? We gotcha covered! KeenDog‘s trainers will be on site. They have many different training packages one of which teaches socialization skills and etiquette behavioral training. Bring your pup and meet the team that can make your dog stand out as a “Keen Dog”
**Birdsong will be donating a percentage of all their in-house beer sold for the entire day, this includes pints, flights, and small pours! Come out and support local and get all the puppy kisses you can take!
Follow our Event’s page to get notified of other dates and stops in the series.
https://www.facebook.com/petwantsclt/events
Sunday, March 18th. Stone Table Dinner at Catawba Brewing Company Charlotte. Catawba Brewing Company Charlotte. 6 pm-9 pm. Tickets at Eventbrite. Catawba Brewing Company continues its immensely popular Culinary Series with Chef Matthew Sganga of Stone Table (Monroe, NC) on March 18 at 6:00PM. The event will benefit The Arc of Union/Cabarrus. Newbill Of Health Urban Farms will also collaborate on the event. Join your neighbors for a top quality dining experience inside Catawba’s beautiful new private event center: The Barrel Room at Catawba Brewing. Guests will enjoy five fabulous pairings based on the best ingredients available from local farmers and artisans have chosen by Chef Matthew. An appetizer course will be served in an interactive cocktail party setting with a casual tour of the brewhouse. Following the tour, guests will be seated family style for four courses, each paired with a different craft beer. A generous portion of the proceeds from this event will benefit The Arc of Union/Cabarrus to provide programs and services in both Union County and Cabarrus County to individuals with developmental disabilities and their families. With your ticket purchase, The Arc will continue to protect the rights of people with developmental disabilities and support their full inclusion in the community.
FAQs
Are there ID or minimum age requirements to enter the event?
Yes. 21 and older.
FAQs
How can I contact the organizer with any questions?
mmiller@thearcisthere.org
FAQs
Do I have to bring my printed ticket to the event?
Yes
Tuesday, March 20th. Devils Backbone Beer Dinner. Rí Rá Charlotte. 7 pm- 9 pm. Tickets at http://www.freshtix.com. Join us for a delicious 5-course dinner paired with some of Devils Backbone’s flagship brews. The dinner will include:
Welcome Beer – Gold Leaf Lager
1st Course – Smoked Salmon Crostini – Smoked Salmon, lemon aioli, capers, and pickled red onions served on a crostini – Paired w/ Vienna Lager
2nd Course – Citrus Salad – Mixed Greens, mandarin oranges, red grapes, grapefruit, and toasted walnuts tossed in cranberry vinaigrette – paired w/ Cran-Gose
3rd Course – Eight Point IPA Mussels – Mussels Steamed with Devil’s Backbone Eight Point IPA, garlic, butter, shallots, and fresh herbs – Paired w/ Sixteen Point IPA
4th Course – Rack of Lamb Consommé – Rack of Lamb, potatoes, leeks, onions, carrots, fresh herbs with Irish stew consommé – Paired w/ Reilly’s Irish Red
5th Course – Chocolate & Smoked Butterscotch Bread Pudding – Chocolate custard soaked brioche bread with a bourbon butterscotch sauce and smoked sea salt – Paired w/ Danzig Baltic Porter

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Hazy Little Thing IPA

Posted on March 12, 2018 by Evan

Hazy unfiltered IPAs are quite popular with many craft breweries brewing them and Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Hazy Little Thing IPA, 6.7% ABV is one IPA that is following the popular trend. Hazy Little Thing IPA pours a hazy yellow with a two finger white fizzy head that gives you orange juice aromas with some bitter notes and flavor of bitter orange juice and a little passion fruit towards the back of the tongue with a juicy bitter finish and a fruit juicy aftertaste with a slight bitterness all with a light mouthfeel. Hazy Little Thing IPA drinks very easy, especially with an ABV of 6.7%. Hazy Little Thing IPA is a great tasting beer that is well deserving of an A+ and a beer that I highly recommend. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

The Unknown Brewing Co. Scratch N Sniff India Pale Ale

Posted on March 10, 2018 by Evan

This local beer, The Unknown Brewing Co. Scratch N Sniff India Pale Ale, 4.7% ABV which is brewed here locally in Charlotte North Carolina is riding the wave of popularity with the IPA, sounds like it was named after those stickers you got as a child that you thought was cool. Scratch N Sniff India Pale Ale pours a hazy light orange color with a two finger head that does fade rather quickly into itself giving off an aroma of big bitter grapefruit with some earthy notes that give you a juicy grapefruit bitterness with some other faint citrus notes that have a little earthy piney quality to them with a juicy bitter finish and a nice semi-sweet citrus bitter aftertaste with a light mouthfeel. The Unknown Brewing Co. Scratch N Sniff India Pale Ale is an easy drinking IPA that is good A+ good and one that I highly recommend trying. It has a fruity quality to it that is juicy and quite refreshing and none too strong on the alcohol. Scratch N Sniff India Pale Ale is tasty! Cheers! Please Enjoy Responsibly!

Sycamore Brewing First Clouds India Pale Ale

Posted on March 8, 2018 by Evan

Sycamore Brewing First Clouds India Pale Ale, 7.9% brewed locally in Charlotte, North Carolina is brewed with Moutree and Centennial hops and pours an orange color that is has a little yellow hue to it with a four finger white billowy head giving off a slight sour tropical fruit note with some bitter earthy notes that give you taste flavors earthy tropical fruit that tastes like the fruits are starting to go bad with a bitter piney earthy note with a hint of sourness with a bitter finish that is a bit awful with some slight yet faint spiced notes and an aftertaste of off fruit flavors and bitter sour notes with a light mouthfeel. I am not a fan of this or Sycamore as a whole so I give this a D-. It was finishable which I did but left me feeling like made a bad decision. I didn’t get any good tropical fruit flavors on this, and yes I like that in an IPA, but I did get bad tasting fruit. So I don’t recommend Sycamore Brewing First Clouds India Pale Ale. Cheers! please enjoy responsibly!

Throwback Thursday: Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Otra Vez Gose-Style Ale

Posted on March 8, 2018March 8, 2018 by Evan

Orginally posted February 6th, 2016.

There are so many different styles of beer out there. Some tend to be more popular and also tend to leave other styles behind that then become forgotten. Gose is one style of beer that is a nearly extinct style. But thanks to the many craft beer brewers out there is it making a come back. Sierra Nevada Otra Vez, 4.5% ABV is Gose-Style Ale brewed with prickly pear cactus and grapefruit. Otra Vez pours a crisp golden color with the slightest of haze to it and a one and half finger of brilliant white foam up top. The aroma is tangy with some sweet notes of fruitiness and grapefruit. Smells refreshing. The taste is slightly tangy up front that comes from the prickly pear cactus then you get a tart flavor in the middle with a quick subtle watermelon then on the end you get a wash of grapefruit for a moment. Taste refreshing too! The mouthfeel is light with a nice tart finish and a sweet citrus aftertaste. Many this on good beer, but in the whole Gose style from Westbrook is still my number one. I give Otra Vez an A. This is a solid drinkable refreshing beer. I recommend trying Sierra Nevada Otra Vez for yourself. Everything about this beer is well balanced and taste great. But there is one small negative though; this beer should be just the slightest bit more on the tart side, but still good. This is my second best Gose. Cheers! Please drink responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on March 7, 2018May 7, 2018 by Evan

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

Thursday, March 8th Tap Take Over: Triple C Brewing Co. Growler USA Charlotte. 6 pm-9pm. We will have Triple C Brewing Company here to share some delicious brews and we will have Nate Randall Music here live as well! Make a date to head to the pub!
Thursday, March 8th Kick the Keg Thursday. Carolina Beer Temple. 12 pm-10 pm. Kick The Keg Thursday is back on March 8th. The basic premise: you help us by kicking a bunch of partial kegs that tend to accumulate as we rotate kegs on/off for various events and we’ll help you (not only is whatever amount of beer in the glass free when you kick the keg, but you’ll get a bit of SWAG too). It’s a win-win! We’ll be offering flights and discounted drafts all day on select kegs. (The specific list will vary as we… Kick The Kegs!) We’ll see you Thursday, March 8th.
Friday, March 9th Small Batch Cider Release, The Emerald Curtin! Red Clay Cider Works. 3pm. For an early St. Patrick’s Day treat this year, we’re whipping up a special all-natural green-inspired cider with kiwi, cucumber, and lime; The Emerald Curtain! This semi-dry cider starts with sweet & tart kiwi, moves to cool cucumber in the middle, and culminates in a citrusy lime finish.
This small batch specialty won’t last long, and will be served in our taproom only!
Friday, March 9th Design Your Own Sign. Good Road Ciderworks. 6:30 pm=9 pm. Come paint and design your own wood farmhouse style sign. Many designs to choose from.
Saturday, March 10th. Hazy River IP Collaboration Can Release. Triple C Brewing Co. 12 pm-10 pm. Our first New England style IPA to be canned is a collaboration with TheCatawba Riverkeeper Foundation. $1 from each pint and 4 pack of cans will be donated. Pints are $6 and 4 packs are $15 with a case limit. We will do several differently hopped variants of this taproom only release with 30-40 cases each time. “Because Beer can be Hazy, but not our Rivers.”
Saturday, March 10th. Pink Robots Release: Raspberry & Blackberry Kettle Sour. Birdsong Brewing. 12 pm-10 pm. Coming back by VERY popular demand, we have a release date for Pink Robots Blackberry/Raspberry Kettle Sour! Hope you can join us for the release on Saturday, March 10th 2018!
Pink Robots is a light, refreshing kettle soured ale brewed with puréed raspberries & blackberries! Perfect for warm weather, this year’s 60 barrel batch will be soured in our kettle for several days before we boil it with over 500 lbs of puréed raspberries & blackberries!
We will be releasing this beer on draft & in CANS at 12pm! Cheers!
Sunday, March 11th. Ales and Tales Brew Tour; Legion Brewing. Legion Brewing. 12 pm=4 pm. Pet Wants Charlotte: The Urban Feed Store is bringing back its Ales & Tails Brew Tour for 2018! We are hitting all the cool spots, bringing you awesome all-natural treats and fresh, uniquely blended food for your pups + kitties. NEXT STOP: Legion Brewing on March 11th from 12-4pm. Come hang out with us and support our rescue partner, North Mecklenburg Animal Rescue, bringing some cute adoptable pups. We are donating a percentage of our sales to the rescue and Legion will be making them the beneficiary of their Adventure Tap.
Need some extra puppy kisses? Step right up to The Ruff Life, LLC‘s smooching booth where kisses and cuddles abound. Continue this stress relieving journey by learning about all the services The Ruff Life has to offer; boarding, dog (or cat) walking, spa services, daycare, as well as your own personal pet Uber to help you keep up with your pet’s social life! The Ruff Life has personalized services that allow you to manage you and your pet’s needs hassle-free.
A portion of treat, merch and brew sales will be donated to the rescue by Pet Wants Charlotte: The Urban Feed Store, The Ruff Life, LLC & Legion Brewing.
Come hang out, get puppy kisses, drink and support locally.
Follow our Event’s page to get notified of other dates and stops in the series.
https://www.facebook.com/petwantsclt/events
Sunday, March 11th. Queen City Makers Market at Legion Brewing. Legion Brewing. 3 pm-7 pm. A solid group of local Makers coming together to drink some solid local beer and spend a solid Sunday together. What else could you possibly need? Delicious food?…Legion’s got that covered too.
Where: Legion Brewing on Commonwealth Ave in Plaza Midwood
When: Sunday, March 11th, 3-7pm
Free admission, free parking in Legion’s lot and on Commonwealth Ave spots. Family friendly, as far as breweries go. Please join us for a day of fun a supporting local!
We’ll have local artisans set up on the sidewalk in front of Legion AND in the Mezzanine. Make sure to cruise through the Mezzanine to shop our other vendors and see where all the amazing beers from Legion are brewed!
Meet Your Makers:
Maggie Loves Spike
Lush Life QC
Luna & Lee Designs
C. Photography
Bettermen
Lather Labs
Chef Boriqua CLT
Purple Girl Designs by Amber
Mo’s Art
Christine’s Konditorei
The vendor application is currently closed. If you’d like to be placed on the waitlist, please feel free to message Queen City Makers. To keep in the loop of other Queen City Makers vendor opportunities, please join our “QCM Vendors” group on facebook.
Tuesday, March 13th. Tap it Tuesday with Sycamore Brewing Company. The Casual Pint (Rivergate). 6 pm-8 pm. Join us for pint night March 13th with Sycamore Brewing company 6pm-8pm and finish off your Tuesday with a bang!
Tuesday, March 13th. Southern Tier Tuesday Night Bar Games. Bulldog Beer & Wine. 7 pm-10 pm. Join us on Tuesdays for Bulldog South End’s one and only Bar Game night! It’s FREE to play! There will be multiple games, winners and prizes provided by Southern Tier! All Southern Tier pints are $1 off. Grab some friends and head over to Bulldog Beer and Wine in South End for a night of fun, prizes, beer and games!

Hi-Wire Brewing Strongman Coffee Milk Stout

Posted on March 5, 2018 by Evan

Picked up Hi-Wire Brewing Strongman Coffee Milk Stout, 5.5% ABV from Good Bottle Co. a few weeks ago. Strongman Coffee Milk Stout is inspired by the head brewers cafe con leche-fueled travels in Key West and is brewed with local Asheville coffee from Dynamite Roasting Co. and is cold-extracted and added post fermentation. Strongman Coffee Milk Stout pours black with light brown edges and a two finger beige head that gives off nice roasted sweet coffee notes that give a flavor of roasted sweet coffee with some malted taste notes with a slight bitterness on the back of the mouth with a nice cafe con leche finish that is a little sweet with a nice roasted and faintly spiced aftertaste that lingers with a semi-full creamy mouthfeel. Strongman Coffee Milk Stout is a good sweet stout with all the right amounts of flavor without being too over the top. Hi-Wire Brewing Strongman Coffee Milk Stout is one that gets an A. It hits all the right spots on your taste buds. I recommend you try Hi-Wire Brewing Strongman Coffee Milk Stout. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Knee Deep Brewing Co. Lupulin River Imperial India Pale Ale

Posted on March 3, 2018 by Evan

Imperial IPA can be big & strong or they can be really big & strong. Some can be upwards of 18% ABV and near 100 IBUs. This Knee Deep Brewing Co. Lupulin River Imperial India Pale ale, 8.0% ANB and 76 IBUs is probably in the middle when it comes to imperial IPA. Lupulin River Imperial India Pale ale out of Auburn Placer County California pours a light orange color with a four finger white head giving off dank fruity aromas with earthy bitter notes and has a flavor of grapefruit (peels and all) with bitter earthy pine and slight dank oranges with a mild bitter finish that grows slightly more bitter as it fades into a bitter grapefruit aftertaste with touches of an orangey note all with a lighter to somewhat medium mouthfeel. This is not so big tasting for an imperial IPA but you do taste it’s 8.0% ABV even more so as it warms. Lupulin River Imperial India Pale ale is definitely an A. Solid IPA flavors and bitterness without going to the extream keeping it more on the easier to drink side of things. Lupulin River Imperial India Pale ale is something with trying and yes it comes in six-packs. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Anchor Brewing Co. Blood Orange Blonde

Posted on March 1, 2018 by Evan

There is a lot of beer that has oranges in them but I don’t see much use of blood oranges, a deeper red-orange with a slightly deep sweetness too it. But I found this From Anchor Brewing Co. located in San Fransico California. This is Blood Orange Blonde, 4.5% ABV and is brewed with fresh blood oranges. Blood Orange Blonde pours a deep orange color with a one and a half finger of white head that quick to dissolve with loads of sediment or pulp floating in from the fresh blood oranges giving nice aromas of freshly squeezed blood oranges with just a pinch of a sour note that gives you a flavor of freshly squeezes blood oranges up front with a little sour note in the middle and a semi-bitter note on the end with a nice sweet finish and a zesty orange aftertaste with a light easy mouthfeel. Blood Orange Blonde is good and refreshing getting an A- here just missing out with a little bitterness that comes in on the end and as this beer warms but it’s otherwise a good drinking beer that everyone should try. Cheers! Please enjoy responsible!