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Ballast Point Brewing Aloha Sculpin

Posted on by Evan

Here is yet another version of Ballast Point Brewing Sculpin IPA this is Aloha Sculpin, 7.0% ABV a hazy India Pale Ale brewed with Brux Trois Yeast which is a Northeastern IPA yeast. Aloha Sculpin pours a Hazy orange color with a rocky three finger white slowly fading head that gives off tropical aromas of melon, pineapple with a bit of mango with a nice bitters that flows into a slightly similar taste if bitter topical pineapple, melon, mango that grows in bitterness as it washes over the middle of tongue and splashes on the back of the mouth with a hop bitterness and finishes with a nice bitter tropical note and an aftertaste of topical island fruits with nice bitterness of hop flavor all with a medium/full mouthfeel. Aloha Sculpin is a tasty fruity beer overall which earns it a B. This is not a tropical fruit salad it’s close to that but mild with a nice bitterness as well as good refreshing qualities. I recommend Ballast Point Brewing Aloha Sculpin. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Throwback Thursday: Green Flash Brewing Co. Saison Diego

Posted on by Evan

In the last few months, I have really gotten into the Saison or Farmhouse ale style of beer. It is an interesting yet complex Belgian beer style. This is traditional sturdy farmhouse ale that is brewed in the winter, to be consumed in the summer months. This Saison here is Green Flash Brewing Co. Saison Diego, 4.2% ABV. Green Flash is from San Diego California. Saison Diego pours a hazy lemon yellow color with a massive five-finger fluffy white head that dissipates kind of slowly. There is some little amount of light coming through the glass with a nice amount of carbonation bubbles racing up from the bottom. The aroma on Saison Diego is a bit dank with hints of earthy lemon and peppery spice. The taste on Saison Diego is big with dankness first and with a little tart semi-sweet fruit (lemon-like). There is a pepper spice note too. I also found a bit of a yeast flavor around the peppery spice. On the end, there is a very faint bitterness. This is a bold and complex flavored beer. The mouthfeel is medium with a tart finish. The fruity spiced aftertaste does linger for a bit a right before it gone there is a faint tartness. Overall this is a great beer. Saison Diego gets an A here. This is a really great beer with lots of good stuff going with it. Saison Diego is also easy to drink. So please go out and try Saison Diego if you haven’t already and see how you like it! 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.

  • Thursday, May 3rd. Uno Mas Mexican Lager Release. Lenny Boy Brewing Co. 5 pm-11 pm. We partnered with our compadres at Bakersfield and brewed up a super smooth beer to pair with all of your favorite dishes.
    Swing by the Bakersfield East Blvd on Thurs, May 3rd anytime after 5pm and be the first to try it out. We’ll be handing out Lenny Boy swag while supplies last. Bring a friend, the whole family, or your neighbor and enjoy a great spring & summer beer Charlotte!
    Uno Más
    Mexican Amber Lager
    5.0% abv
    It’s a perfectly balanced Mexican Lager that will have you coming back for at least uno más. It’s crisp and dry with a touch of toast and caramel. Squeeze in a lime and salsa with an amigo.
    Salud!
  • Thursday, May 3rd. Prairie Deconstructed Bomb Tasting Event. Carolina Beer Temple. 12 pm-11 pm. Announcing the Prairie Artisan Ales Deconstructed Bomb Tasting Event. You know you love Prairie Bomb. Well… on Thursday, May 3rd the Carolina Beer Temple will be featuring flights highlighting each of the main four ingredients that make up the imperial stout:
    – Deconstructed Bomb! Cacao Nibs
    – Deconstructed Bomb! Chili Peppers
    – Deconstructed Bomb! Coffee
    – Deconstructed Bomb! Vanilla
    We hope to see you Thursday, May 3rd for this one-of-a-kind tasting event.
  • Friday, May 4th. Carolina de Norte: Mexican Lager Release. Catawba Brewing Co. 12 pm-11 pm. This refreshing session cerveza celebrates the deep-rooted European influence on Mexico’s brewing history when German-speaking immigrants migrated west following the Mexican War of Independence (1821).
    Deep gold in color, this Mexican Style Lager has big Vienna malt character and noble hop aroma from Hallertau Mittelfrüh German hops. True to style, it finishes clean, crisp, and well-balanced. Perhaps a bit lighter than its European counterpart and superbly drinkable, our Mexican Lager offers a subtle nod to the warm climates where it evolved.
  • Saturday, May 5th. Cinco De Mayo Celebration at Sycamore! Sycamore Brewing Co. 12 pm- 10 pm. Taco’s, Sun Grown Fresh Craft Lager with Limes and good times! Margarita-Prosecco-Pops and Margarita-Beer-Pops!
    Live music all day! Featuring Furia Tropikal with authentic Latin music from 3:30-6:30. Pluto for Planet from 12noon!
    Plus the Salty Coconut Release Party!
  • Saturday, May 5th. Legion Brewing Cinco De Mayo Celebration. Legion Brewing Company. 10 am-11 pm. Kick off your Cinco de Mayo celebrations with us as we tap a Grapefruit- Jalapeño version of our Margarita Gose, “Juan Direction”!
    We will begin the day with a Cinco de Mayo themed brunch from 10AM-2PM, including a Churro inspired waffle and a Spicy Breakfast Burrito! Enjoy tacos and Queso Fundido throughout the day, with live music from 2PM-11PM.  
  • Sunday, May 6th. Mutts & Mimosas Boozy Brunch. Sycamore brewing. 10 am-11 pm. Bring your furry friend and join us for a Boozy Brunch to benefit the Humane Society of Charlotte!
    $1 from every Beermosa/Pitcher goes to Humane Society of Charlotte.
    Brunch by TIN Kitchen.
  • Sunday, May 6th. Pints 4 Paws. Birdsong Brewing Co. 11 am- 3pm. Come out and see the Danes of GDFRL at Birdsong from 12-5pm!
    We will also be having a Paint your Pet fundraiser from 11am – 2pm that will be taking place outside on the patio with a limited number of spots. Details below:
    Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love Fundraiser at Birdsong Brewery (Paint Your Pet)
    Time: 11am – 2pm
    Price: $45
    Join us at the Birdsong Brewery (1016 N Davidson St, Charlotte) for this 3 hour paint night in support of the Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love. The artist will sketch your pet onto the canvas and guide you through painting techniques that will bring your pet to life! *COUPONS NOT PERMITTED FOR THIS EVENT
    ***All pet photos must be submitted by 5/4/18. Please submit your photo to contact@thetipsypaintbrush.com
    To register for a spot, go to:
    http://thetipsypaintbrush.com/calendar/
    Birdsong will be donating a % of each pint sold all day long and 33% of the funds from the Paint your pet will go to GDFRL!
  • Tuesday, May 8th. NoDable Release: Charlotte Independence Pale Ale. NoDa Brewing Company. 4 pm-9 pm. Every single week, we release a brand new “NoDable” beer on Tuesday! This week’s new brand new brew is the Charlotte Independence Pale Ale. Stay tuned for details and the reveal of the name!
    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!. 

Firestone Walk Brewing Co. Easy Jack IPA

Posted on by Evan

New distribution to the Carolina area Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Easy Jack IPA, 4.5% ABV from Paso Robles, California is brewed with a selection of new hop varieties from Europe, New Zealand and North America. Easy Jack pours a golden color with fluffy white three finger slowly fading head with aromas of light citrusy hop notes with light bitterness that lead you into a crisp citrusy fruit flavor that is hoppy with a mild bitterness that carries over the back of the tongue finishing with a citrus bitterness that’s refreshing with a fruity bitter aftertaste with a light mouthfeel. The name says it all, this is one Easy IPA, it goes down easy, smooth and refreshing. I give Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Easy Jack IPA an A+. This is a great IPA with easy flavors that a very well balanced as well as refreshing. I highly recommend Firestone Walker Brewing Co. Easy Jack IPA. This is an IPA you can have a few without the flavor overwhelming your taste buds. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Funky Buddha Brewery Huki Idol Tropical IPA

Posted on by Evan

Funky Buddha Brewery from Oakland Florida which brews this beer, Huki Idol Tropical IPA, 8.0% ABV is a new North Carolina Distributed beer. Huki Idol a double IPA brewed with passion fruit, lime, and mint with Mosaic hops. Huki Idol pours a hazy yellow with a three finger white head that has a good retention giving off an aroma of tropical citrus fruits with a nice bitter scent with a topical flavor upfront with a bit of a hoppy mint in the middle of the mouth that it is juicy through to the back of the mouth where you get more of a bitter minty flavor that finishes with a tropical mint citrus flavor and a juicy bitter mint aftertaste that lingers on your tongue with an orange juice like flavor with a fuller mouthfeel. Funky Buddha Brewery. Huki Idol is a great beer with interesting ingredients that are great for warm weather and is deserving of an A+. Solidly brewed and balanced with great a refreshing taste. This Huki Idol doesn’t really taste like it’s a double IPA nor does it drink like an 8% ABV beer. I highly recommend Funky Buddha Brewery Huki Idol. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Central State Beer Company Garden Gose

Posted on by Evan

This Central State Brewing Company Garden Gose 3.6% ABV brewed in Indianapolis Indiana is a sour wheat ale brewed with coriander and lemon. I picked this up at Good Bottle Co. (www.goodbottleco.com) here in Charlotte, NC along with six other different beers. Garden Gose pours a pale yellow color with a two finger head with good retention giving off a nice tart lemon aroma with nice sour note that take you to a flavor of tart lemon that is mildly sour with a touch of salt hitting your tongue with a nice tart lemon finish with a nice tart/sour lemon wheat aftertaste that doesn’t linger long with a light mouthfeel. Central State Brewing Company Garden Gose is a good beer but doesn’t knock my favorite Gose Westbrook Brewing Company Gose down. I say Central State Brewing Company Garden Gose is a B-. This Gose does not have any real full or strong Gose flavors to it, and it’s overall lighter than some Gose beers that I’ve had before. It’s goods and something that I recommend trying. I enjoy it but it my top Gose. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Throwback Thursday: Anchor Brewing Comapny Brekle’s Brown

Posted on by Evan

Here is another Anchor Brewing Company beer, this is their Brekle’s Brown ale, 6.0% ABV, an all malt single hop brown ale. This beer is named after the founding brewer Gottlieb Brekle. This is a beer is somewhat new, no sure when it was first introduced. Brekle’s brown pours a deep brown color with a tan one finger fluffy head that fades at medium speed and leaves some lacing. I found there to be no light coming through the glass with little carbonation bubbles. The aroma is strong on this with big roasted malts with a hint of bitterness, but more of a roasted bitterness. There was also a very faint dark raisin to it. The taste on Brekle’s Brown is big roasted malt with a slight hint of chocolate and coffee. The mouth feel is high medium side but smooth. This beer finishes a bit bitter but good a over all finish and the aftertaste really stays with a smooth roasted flavor This is not the worlds best brown ale, but it’s a good one. So I am giving this a B. Yeah I’ve had better brown ales, and this is close to top of the list of good brown ales. I would recommend this to anyone that is looking for a lighter dark beer or just new brown ale. I would go for this again. This is something to try! Cheers! Please drink 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, April 25th Pilot Batch Release-Smoke in our Lights. Triple C Brewing Company. 4 pm-9 pm. A Belgian Saison brewed with Cherry Wood Smoke Malt, Bleu Barn Bistro has dinner covered!!
  • Thursday, April 26th Tap Takeover: Blowing Rock Brewing Co. Growler USA Charlotte. 6 pm=9 pm. Come see what our friends from Blowing Rock Brewing Co. have in store for us during our Tap Takeover! Plus live music with Ellie Morgan Music!
  •  Thursday, April 26th NoDa Brewing Tap Takeover! Carolina Beer Temple Ayrsley. 6 pm-10 pm. Join us Thursday (April 26th) for the NoDa Brewing Company Tap Takeover! We will be featuring several tasty beers from them and discounted pints and flights will be available all day long! The tap list is still being determined so please stay tuned! See you at the Temple!
  • Friday, April 27th Cousins Maine Lobster Grand Opening. Sycamore Brewing. 5 pm-10 pm. A grand opening of our new food truck in Charlotte! Come join us and one of the cousins for fresh Maine Lobster!
  • Friday, April 27th Cookie & Cider Pairin. Red Clay Ciderworks. 7 pm-8 pm. Tickets at http://www.Eventbrite.com.Red Clay Ciderworks is teaming up with A Smart Cookie to bring you an event that’s sure to satisfy your palate!
    Cider maker Jay Bradish and Baking Scientist Monica Nye, PhD, will walk you through four different pairings, each with their own unique flair.
    Seating for this event is limited to 24, so don’t wait to purchase your ticket!
    Ticket holders please check in at the bar upon arrival.
  • Saturday, April 28th. Spring Oyster Roast. Sycamore Brewing. 12 pm-5pm,
  • Saturday, April 28th White Cap IPA Release. Triple C Brewing Company. 12 pm-10 pm. We are closing out NC Beer Month with a White IPA release. The first 192 people to buy a pint get to take home one of these limited editions Charlotte Hophead pint glasses!!
    New Wrap Order food truck is here and we have live music from 4-7.
    Whitecap IPA – 5.3%abv, 48 IBUs
    Featuring Idaho 7 and Mosaic hops that contribute big fruity notes of apricot, tropical fruit, and citrus with moderate bitterness. A touch of orange peel and coriander add some depth to the citrus notes as they wash over your taste buds. Plenty of wheat yields a pale golden color and a light, refreshing beer that tops with a frothy white foam. On the Carolina coast or in the NC foothills; sit back, relax, and let this white IPA roll over your palate and quench your thirst.
  • Sunday, April 29th Brunch, and Brews. Legion Brewing. 10 am-2 pm. Join us every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM-2PM for our made-to-order brunch menu and Carolina Sparkle Party Beermosas to start your day off right!
    MENU:
    Southwest Breakfast Burrito
    Chorizo, egg, cheddar, homemade salsa, jalapeno, and avocado. Enjoy it in a spinach wrap OR on a bed of smoked cheddar grits!
    Lox and Loaded*
    Smoked salmon, cucumber, onion, fresh dill and cream cheese on a Nova*s bagel.
    Breakfast Sliders (3)
    Bacon, egg, cheddar, tomato and black pepper aioli on soft slider buns.
    Mixed Berry Parfait
    Greek yogurt, mixed berries, homemade honey almond granola.
    Seasonal Belgian Waffle
    Flavors change with our seasonal beer line up- check our social media for updates!
    Side Of Smoked Cheese Grits and a s    ide of Warm Baked Apples  

Birdsong Brewing Co. Turn to Stone IPA

Posted on by Evan

This Birdsong Brewing Co., Turn to Stone IPA part of the brewery’s IPA Series was a brewery only release, so I went to the Birdsong Brewery to purchase it. Turn to Stone IPA is brewed with an entirely new species of hop called Medusa. This hop is called Medusa due to the fact that is has multiple cones on it like the many snakes of Medusas hair. Turn to Stone IPA also has a simple malt bill tho really let the Medusa hop shine. Turn to Stone IPA pours a yellow gold color with three finger bright white head that slowly fades into nice lacing giving off tropical aromas of melon and guava with a nice bitter scent that takes you into a tropical bitter melon guava flavor that hits the front of your taste buds and a nice hoppy flavor that washes from the front hitting the back of your tongue with a tropical bitter finish with an a hoppy yet faint fruit flavored aftertaste with. A nice medium mouthfeel that coats your tongue with fruit. Birdsong Brewing Co, Turn to Stone IPA tastes as interesting as it sounds and one that I recommend that you try. I give Turn to Stone IPA a B+. It’s well brewed with a new interesting hop verity that makes for as wonderful flavor with out overpowering you mouth with bitter hops. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Stone Brewing Tangerine Express IPA

Posted on by Evan

 

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Stone Brewing of Escondido California brews so many different IPA and this Tangerine Express IPA, 6.7% ABV follow an IPA trend of citrus/tropical forward IPAs and it’s packed with whole tangerines and pineapples. Tangerine Express pours yellow with a slightly hazy appearance and a two finger white steady fading head that gives off citrus aromas of tangerine and pineapple bitter notes with a flavor or citrus tangerine, tropical pineapple hitting your tongue with a hoppy bitterness washing over to the back of the tongue with a fruity bitter finish and semi bittersweet aftertaste that linger for just moment all with a medium mouthfeel. Stone Brewing has made a good tasty IPA with Tangerine Express IPA it’s an A. All of the flavors of Tangerine Express IPA blend well to make for a good refreshing IPA that is full of good citrus/tropical fruit flavors with the right amount of bitter hoppiness. Tangerine Express IPA is a beer that I recommend. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!