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Throwback Thursday: Samuel Smith’s Organic Chocolate Stout.

Posted on by Evan

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It’s always good when you have a beer from Samuel Smith’s. The best English brewer/brewery in my opinion. This beer is new to the Samuel Smith line of brews. This is the Organic Chocolate Stout at 5.0% ABV. This is a sweet or milk stout. Milk stout doesn’t mean that milk is used when brewing this, no it just the lactose sugar from the milk is used. But in this Samuel Smith Theobroma cocoa is used as a more main ingredient. This Stout pours a deep black color with a big four to four and a half finger of dark khaki/brownish beige pillowy head. The head really sticks around on this one, with no light or carbonation in the glass. There is tons of great lacing left around the glass. This is just a great beautiful looking stout. The aroma is a big hunk of good bakers chocolate with a touch milk chocolate and faint roasted malt. But the aroma reminded me of a chocolate drink.  The scents and aromas really give you a wow factor. The taste of this Samuel Smith’s is a big chocolate taste, just really sweet chocolate note hitting your taste buds. There is a faint roasted malt/coffee taste there but it’s really muted from the big chocolate notes up front. The mouthfeel is full and rich, with a silky texture. This chocolate stout finishes nicely leave a great aftertaste of cocoa, chocolate that sticks around with a quick hint of roasted notes. Wow, this is a great beer and I am giving this A+. This is a really great beer to have.  This is a great chocolate stout from start to finish.  Yet again Samuel Smith’s has brewed a beer that should be the best for a long time as they all their beers are. I highly recommend you get this and try this right now. This is an amazing beer. Please tell all your friends and/or share this with them. I think everyone should drink this once. I loved it! Cheers! Happy Thanksgiving! Please enjoy responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

Here are this week new and happenings in and around the Charlotte, NC Area.

  • December 1st – December 16th Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Weihnachtsmarkt. OMB is the place to gather with friends, drink fresh beer, shop for gifts and celebrate the holiday season! December 1st is going to be one festive day at OMB with the release of Yule Bock, a visit from Santa Claus and the launch of Weihnachtsmarkt (Christmas Market). Weihnachtsmarkt will then continue for the first three Friday/Saturdays in December. Now in its 6th year, Weihnachtsmarkt is a Charlotte holiday tradition full of joy and community. This year, we’ll have over 40 vendors – our largest market ever! Some vendors will be in traditional wooden huts, but all will be decorated to the max and full of local crafts and baked goods. Like the Christmas Markets of Nuremburg, Germany, OMB’s Weihnachtsmarkt will also have fresh beer on tap (including our winter seasonal brews Dunkel & Yule Bock) and Gluhwein (pron. “Gloo-vine”), a mulled red wine served hot and fresh. More information will be posted as the event approaches, including our full list of vendors. See our other event pages for more details on Yule Bock & Santa. Under 21 is welcome at OMB. Pets are welcome outside in our Biergarten. Thanks & Prost! Dec 8th 4 pm-9 pm, Dec 9th 2 pm-9pm, Dec 15th 4 pm-9 pm, Dec 16th 2 pm-9pm
  • Saturday, December 9th 12 pm-10 pm Birdsong Brewing Co. 6 Year Anniversary. According to Ancient Greeks, 6 is a perfect number and we’re cool with that because this year we’re turning 6! Join us on December 9th as we kick off another year of #UnfilteredJoy with live music, food trucks, exclusive birthday brews, and more! We couldn’t have made it this far without all of you, so we hope you can come celebrate! We expect no shortage of awesome people and good vibes but here are some other cool things you can expect at our 6 year anniversary:
    ‌• Live music & food trucks ALL day!
    ‌• A limited release 6 year anniversary IPA on draft & in cans only available here in the tap room & the kickoff for a brand new IPA series that we’re rolling out for 2018!
    ‌• A special, one-time design, anniversary glass! First 100 guests to arrive will receive their anniversary glass for FREE!
    ‌• Special “barrel bar” for barrel aged specialty brews!
    ‌• A killer tap list with Birdsong flagships & super limited anniversary release beers! 
  • Saturday, December 9th 12 pm-3 pm Resident Culture Brewing Company. Our Very 1st Can Release at Resident Culture Brewing Company. CAN RELEASE this SATURDAY, DEC. 9, 2017! We will be releasing our first two cans, ever! Details below.
    Vicky Virago – Double IPA // 8.0% ABV // Triple Dry-Hopped with generous amounts of Galaxy, Citra, and El Dorado // Beautiful aromas of tropical fruit and citrus with a nice balance of dank pine on the back end. Aroma carries over into the flavor and has a big round finish. Very drinkable. We are really excited about this beer… one of our favorite beers we have brewed thus far!
    Aiming for 110-130 cases, LIMIT one case (six 4-packs) per person. $18.99 + tax per 4-pack
    Tropical Ponche – Fruited Berliner Weisse brewed in collaboration with Salud Cerveceria // 4.3% ABV // Berliner-style weisse ale fruited with over 700 lbs of tropical fruit puree // A tart, tropical fruit punch, bursting with aromas of passion fruit, mango, and orange. Super refreshing, dry, and drinkable.
    Aiming for only 20-25 cases, LIMIT two 4-packs per person. $16.99 + tax per 4-pack
    UPDATE: Our line will begin outside of our Tap Room and we’ll pass numbers out starting at 10AM. Tap Room doors open at 12PM, and we’ll begin calling up groups of 25 at a time to purchase cans. Both beers will be available on draught starting at Noon!
    **LIMITS SUBJECT TO CHANGE PENDING DEMAND and YIELD ON CANNING DAY**
    **WE WILL HOLD BACK A VERY LIMITED AMOUNT FOR TAPROOM POURS**
    **CROWLER FILLS NOT AVAILABLE FOR EITHER BEER**
    Cheers, and Stay Funky!
  • Saturday, December 9th 12 pm-11 pm Cavendish Brewing Company (207 N Chester St, Gastonia, North Carolina 28052). Brew Wars: The Thirst Awakens. 
    Calling all Jedis, Sith Lords, Bounty Hunters and aliens of all planets in the Republic…
    Join us at Cavendish Brewing for our Star Wars themed party in celebration of the release of The Last Jedi. Special beers will be released, and fresh Bantha Milk will be in full supply for all Padawans in attendance. Activities include an intergalactic vendor market, costume contest, and lightsaber craft session! These ARE the beers you’re looking for!     
  • Saturday, December 9th at 11 am, to December 10th at 2 am Duckworth’s Grill & Taphouse Uptown Charlotte. Anderson Valley Brewing Company 30th Anniversary Party. Anderson Valley has been Bahl Hornin’ since 1987! Let’s celebrate by sipping on some of their best creations (36 drafts and counting…) and with raffles & swag giveaways! More details to come, but you can look forward to these Anderson Valley beers on tap:
    1. Boont Amber
    2. Barney Flats Oatmeal Stout
    3. Hop Ottin’ IPA
    4. Poleeko Pale
    5. Ee Tah! IPA
    6. Brother David’s Triple
    7. Barkley’s Belgian Ale
    8. Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout NITRO
    9. Winter Solstice NITRO
    10. Cerveza Crema NITRO
    11. Barney Flats NITRO
    12. Boont White Ale
    13. Briney Melon Gose
    14. G&T Gose
    15. Holy Gose
    16. Blood Orange Gose
    17. Framboise Rose Gose
    18. Barrel Aged G&T Gose
    19. Huge Arker Imp Stout ‘15
    20. Huge Arker Imp Stout ‘16
    21. Featherleggy Bulrusher Sour Stout
    22. Thribble Currant
    23. Peachy Barl
    25. Horse Tongue Wheat
    26. Rye Barrel Stout
    27. Hobneelch’n Saison
    28. Pinchy Jeek
    29. Heelch’ O Hops
    30. Salted Caramel Porter
    31. Winter Solstice
    32. Wild Turkey Bourbon Barrel Stout
    33. Boont Bruijn Flanders
    34. Hop Hyzer
    35. Mushroom Saison
    36. Thribble Peche
  • Wednesday, December 16th 5 pm-8 pm Wooden Robot Brewery. Fill the Kids First Toy Van. The Wooden Robot Brewery is partnering with Kids First of the Carolinas to help kids in need this season. Enjoy some good drinks, bring unwrapped new toys and start the countdown to the holiday season!
  • Wednesday, December 13th 6 pm-9 pm Birdsong Brewing Co. Type 1 is for the birds. Come hang out and have a holiday drink at FFT1’s last social gathering of the year. BONUS-Birdsong Brewing Co. is generously donating $1 from the purchase of each one of their delicious drafts from 6pm-8pm to FFT1, Charlotte’s local-only T1D nonprofit. Come celebrate the holidays with us and contribute to charity at the same time. It’s literally WIN-WIN!

Birrifficio Le Baladin Isaac

Posted on by Evan

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In New York City while I was visiting I went Downtown to the World Trade Center and to Eataly, where I had lunch with this Italian beer, Birra Baladin Isaac, 5.0% ABV, which is a Witbier. Birra Baladin is imported from Piozzo Italy. Isaac pours a medium orange color with a one finger white bubbly head that fades quickly into itself giving off a spicy yet sweet aroma of clove, orange, and orange peels that lead down to a sweet but somewhat spicy flavor of orange, orange peel, clover, slight coriander with a nice slightly more spicy finish than it starts out with a nice sweet aftertaste that lingers untill a nice orange note comes and it fades all with a light  mouthfeel. Birra Baladin Isaac is easy drinking refreshing beer that pairs well with food or all on its own. I give it an A+. If you ever come across Birra Baladin Isaac do try it I highly recommend that you do. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!  

Rogue Ales Santa’s Private Reserve Dark Belgian Ale with Cherries and Raspberries

Posted on by Evan

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Thanksgiving is over so everything is going into Christmas/holiday mode. Same is true for beer. I saw this Christmas beer, Rogue Ales Santa’s Private Reserve 2017, 7.8% ABV on the shelve at my local Harris Teeter grocery store and thought I’ll give a try. Santa’s Private Reserve is a Dark Belgian Ale with Cherries and Raspberries brewed with Premium 2 Row, Munich, Weyermann Carabelge, Weyermann Caramunich III, Weyermann Special W & Midnight Wheat Malts; Willamette Hops; Belgian Candi Sugar, Red Raspberries, Cherries, Imperial Gnome Yeast, and Free Range Coastal Water. Santa’s Private Reserve pours a deep brown color with caramel edges with a two finger beige head that fades into a little tight halo giving off aromas of sweet dark fruits (cherries and raspberries) and a sweet flavor of nice ripe cherries and fresh raspberries with a little bit of a strong alcoholic note that finishes nice and sweet with touch of a bittersweet strong note with dark fruity aftertaste and a fuller mouthfeel that is somewhat chewy. Rogue Ales Santa’s Private Reserve 2017 is an interesting take on a dark Belgian Ale, a beer that is an A- with good drinkability and a nice sweetness that does not overpower your taste buds nor is too strong. This isn’t as full flavor as say a Chimay Blue, but it’s close to it and that is why I recommend Santa’s Private Reserve and will be having this again. Happy Holidays! Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!        

 

 

Dogfish Head Craft Brewery Festina Pèche Neo-Berliner Weisse

Posted on by Evan

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I have really been into Dogfish Head Craft Brewery nor do I like some of their beers. Festina Pèche Neo-Berliner Weisse, 4.5% ABV which I got from a past Brewpublik delivery. This is more of a late spring, summertime style beer. Festina Pèche is brewed with real peach juice and pours a Yellow color with a one finger white head that is somewhat quick to fade into tiny white halo that gives off juicy peach aromas with a nice bit of tartness, that lures you to a sweet juicy peachy tart taste that finishes with a nice tart juicy peach notes that has a nice tart Berliner Weisse aftertaste that linger on the tongue and in your mouth with a light mouthfeel. This Festina Pèche is a really refreshing easy drinkable beer that is an A. Festina Pèche is quite sessionable, you can drink a few of these without it overpowering your taste buds. I highly recommend Festina Pèche. This is one of a very few Dogfish Head Craft Brewery beers I actually like and I will enjoy this again. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly! 

Wooden Robot Brewery Juice Island India Pale Ale

Posted on by Evan

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I picked this Wooden Robot Brewery Juice Island India Pale Ale, 7.0% ABV and 69 IBUs from their brewery here in Charlotte, NC this is the first ever canned beer from Wooden Robot. I hope this isn’t the only beer to be canned. Juice Island India Pale Ale is brewed with six pounds per barrel of bold juicy American hops. Juice Island India Pale Ale pours a bright orange color with two and a half finger white head with good retention and leaves behind minimal lacing, giving off juicy tropical/citrus fruit aromas with a slightly bitter hop note, that leads into a juicy tropical fruit flavor with a some citrusy notes, a slight sweetness and a nice smooth bitter notes towards the back of the mouth. Juice Island India Pale Ale finishes with a smooth juicy tropic/citrus fruit flavor with some bitterness and a juicy sweet aftertaste that linger for a bit on your taste buds with a light to an almost medium mouthfeel. This Wooden Robot Brewery Juice Island India Pale Ale is a great first canned beer, its definitely an A+, a very flavorful juicy IPA. I loved it and if you ever come across Wooden Robot Brewery Juice Island India Pale Ale do try it I recommend it. The Wooden Robot beers are all great as is this one! Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!        

Southern Tier Brewing Company 2XTaniger Double India Pale Ale

Posted on by Evan

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There are only a few Southern Tier Brewing Co. beers that I do actually like. 2XTangier Double India Pale Ale, 8.1% ABV is only of a few. This is double IPA is the double version of Tangier and is brewed Tangerine peels and puree. 2XTangie is a limited beer and only a smaller number where were produced. 2XTangie pours a deep orange color with a two and a third white head with a slight haze to the beer, giving off sweet citrus tangerine notes with a bit of an earthy note that gives you a sweet citrusy tangerine peel flavor with some earthy bitterness that finishes smooth with a slight hop bitterness and a citrusy aftertaste all with a medium mouthfeel. Southern Tier Brewing Co. 2XTangier Double India Pale Ale is a B, I need just a touch more of the tangerine flavor to really makes this a great IPA, but 2XTangier Double India Pale Ale isn’t bad at all and is one I would have again but too many, like most stronger IPAs get to be too much on ones taste buds, and I do recommend this 2XTangier Double India Pale Ale. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly! 

Throw Back Thursday: Smaltz Brewing Company He’Brew Messiah Bold (He’Brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale)

Posted on by Evan

This short review was originally posted on December 27, 2011. So many beer reviews ago! 

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Shalom! Yeah, this one sounds Jewish and your right it is. This He’Brew Messiah Bold, 5.2% ABV. Now it’s called He’Brew Messiah Nut Brown Ale, comes from the Shmaltz Brewing Company in Saratoga Springs NY. This beer is a  rich and robust dark brown ale. It pours a nice inviting dark brown color with a nice beige head that really sticks. This beer is pleasant on your nose. Messiah has a bold scent of nice yeasty bread. On taste, this beer has a faint sweetness that is almost too faint to taste and has a bold bready taste that’s good, rich and creamy. Messiah has a nice creamy sweet finish that tells you to have another sip or two.  It is indeed a good brown ale. I like this one, it’s good, but I did not think it would be that good. It is that good! Yes, I do think so. I only bought one 12oz bottle for a good taste test, and it passed and it is definitely an A+. I suggest you try this one, get a few and share with your friends, family, and loved ones. It is great! L’CHAIM TO LIFE! Cheers! Please drink responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

Here are weeks new and happening in and around the Charlotte, NC area.

  • Wednesday, November 15th 4 pm-9 pm Triple C Brewing Company. Pilot Batch Release – Mandarina Pale Ale. This pale ale was brewed with an experimental hop ADHA-484! Join us for a pint, Bleu Barn Bistro has dinner covered!
  • Thursday, November 16th 6:30 pm-10:30 pm Saluda Cerveceia Mikkeller San Diego Meet the Brewers. Join us as we welcome the brewers from Mikkeller San Diego. Let’s show them Charlotte knows how to party.
    ON TAP
    Sultan’s Curse: Barrel Aged Imperial Stout with Roasted Pistachio, Cardamon and Dark Matter Coffee.
    Murk Tyson: NE style Triple IPA with Galaxy and Citra Hops
    Floccy Balboa: Triple IPA
    Freddie Murkury: NE style DIPA with Simcoe and Mosaic
    Waves: American IPA     Raspberry Blush: Coffee and Raspberry Berliner Weiss Wednesday 
  • Wednesday, November 15th 4 pm-10 pm Sycamore Brewing Company. Naughty Beer Winter Ale Release. It’s getting chilly, naughty bear! Warm up with this winter ale, brewed with vanilla, local honey, and seasonal spices!
  • Friday, November 17th 7 pm -8:30 pm Red Clay Cider Works PIE and Cider Pairing. 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, Ph.D., 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! Tickets at Eventbrite
  • Ticket holders please check in at the bar upon arrival. 
  • Sunday, November 19th 1 pm-4 pm Birdsong Brewing. Fall Oyster by Birdsong Brewing. Fall is upon us and we’re celebrating with an Oyster Roast! Our friends from Rocksalt Charlotte are bringing the oysters and the steamers down from Rappahannock River Oysters, LLC and will be on site taking care of the oyster side of things while we serve up a fresh batch of Clustershuck Oyster Stout brewed with….. you guessed it, fresh oysters! Buckets of steamed/roasted oysters will be $15 & RockSalt will be shucking raw oysters to order for $1 each! The Panthers are off that Sunday and we hope you can carve out a few hours from your pre-Thanksgiving prep agendas to relax with a few pints of delicious local beer and enjoy some super fresh oysters sold by the bucket! This event is family friendly, so all are encouraged to join! 11/19/17 1-4 PM. Rocksalt Charlotte, located in the Park Road Shopping Center, is our Oyster Roast event partner! They specialize in sustainable seafood and are proud to offer a variety of local craft beer and beverages as well. Check them out for daily oyster specials and more! 
  • Sunday, November 19th 12 pm -3 pm Red Clay Cider Works. Brunch with Red Clay Swing by Red Clay and get your Brunch fix! PepperBox Doughnuts and Breakfast Food Truck will be here to feed you, plus we’ll have cider-based cocktails & hot mulled #NCcider to handle your thirst. Come get your day started in the most delightful way!

Knee Deep Brewing Co. N/E Auburn Pale Ale

Posted on by Evan

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Knee Deep Brewing Co. N/E Auburn Pale Ale, 4.5% ABV and 42 IBU is one beer I received from a recent Brewpublik delivery. Thanks to Brewpublik for this beer. Knee Deep Brewing Co. in Auburn, Place Country California brew this N/E Auburn Pale Ale witch pours a golden color with a small one finger head white head that fizzes away into a very thin halo with citrusy, earthy pine, hoppy aroma notes on the nose. I got a little grapefruit and some slight orange on the nose that led me to a citrus fruit flavor that was a bit juicy and slightly piney with earthy hop notes towards the back of the mouth, with a nice bitter fruity finish  and a nice hoppy earthy aftertaste that linger with a faint fruited noted on your taste buds with a light mouthfeel. N/E Auburn Pale Ale has a drinkable flavor and ABV, it does go down with a refreshing ease. I give Knee Deep Brewing Co. N/E Auburn Pale Ale a B+ this is a solid sessionable Pale Ale that’s not overpowering to your taste buds nor is the opposite either. I would recommend this to anyone and I would go right back for more of this Knee Deep Brewing Co. N/E Auburn Pale Ale. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!