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!

Throwback Thursday: CAPRI Birra Artigianale Ligea (Belgian IPA)

Posted on by Evan

I am not a huge fan of IPA but I actually love Belgian IPAs. The Belgian yeast strain tends to cut through some of the bitter hops making the flavor less intense and softer. This IPA style is quite popular but not as popular as US west coast IPA that you tend to find in southern California especially San Diego. While I was on vacation in the great Country of Italy I went to Napoli to the Isle of Capri and by the end of the day while waiting on the boat back to Napoli I had CAPRI di Birra Artigianale Ligea (Belgian IPA), 5.0% abv. Three brothers who have a love for craft beers make this beer on the Isle of Capri. CAPRI di Birra Artigianale Ligea pours a yellowish gold color with a tow finger white head. I found there to be little rays of sun coming through the whine glass with a decent amount of carbonation bubbles. The aroma is soft with hints of apples, pears and light lemon zest. Ligea has a nice soft fruity taste that has a nice bit of bubble behind a crisp apple, and hints of lemon zest. I got a little amount of hop flavor there but nothing to bitter. The mouth feel is medium with a nice softness and has a good slightly bitter finish. The aftertaste is like a nice lemon and apple flavor with a hint of a grassy note. But as this beer warms up the fruity flavor fade and the hoppy grass note come alive. I found Ligea to be very refreshing after a nice warm day on Capri. CAPRI di Birra Artigianale Ligea is an A. I very easy drinking beer and very delicious. If you every get to the Isle of Capri or to Napoli I highly recommend drinking CAPRI di Birra Artigianale Ligea. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Throwback Thursday: Rogue Ales Dead Guy Ale

Posted on by Evan

Originally reviewed on December 23rd, 2015.

I know it’s a little late in the year for Rogue Dead Guy Ale, 6.5% ABV, in Newport Oregon, which is a German Maibock. This ale is brewed with their very own Pacman Yeast, and eight other ingredients such as 2-row, C-15, Munich Rogue Farms Dare & Risk Malts; Rogue Farms Revaluation and Independent hops and Free Range Coastal Water. Maibock is usually had during the month of May. Yeah, this not May here, but I still drank it. Dead Guy pours a deep reddish Amber hue with a faint orange tint, with a one and a half finger of bright pearly white head that fades into a thick halo with minimal lacing left behind. The aroma is malty but not overwhelming with malts making Dead Guy smell like a malt bomb and nothing else. Dead guy has a malty taste that is at first light, then as it washes over your tongue and becomes a bit stronger, just enough for your taste buds to become familiar with these malts. I found there also to be a bit over a slight fruity sweetness that comes in says hello then goodbye. The mouthfeel is just barely full bodied with a nice subtle sweet malt fruit finish with a lingering aftertaste of the same. I rather enjoyed Rogue Dead Guy Ale. I say this a B+. It’s a good American take on a German-styled Maibock with American ingredients that turn out nicely. But the Germans do this style better in my opinion and I would not choose this over a German made German Maibock, but that is not to say this Rogue is terrible, which it isn’t. It’s an easy drinking Maibock, which is fine by me. You should try Rogue Dead Guy Ale for yourself. It’s easy! Cheers! Happy Holidays! Please Drink responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

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

  • Wednesday, July 18th. Sycamore Brewing Tap Takeover. Vintner’s Hill Wine Room and Espresso Café. 6 pm-9 pm. Join us as Sycamore Brewing takes over our taps! A local favorite, Sycamore Brewing believes fresh beer made with top-notch ingredients should be enjoyed by everyone. So, a few years back, with proud roots in Charlotte, they set out to brew beers that bring people together and drink easy from the first sip to the last. After humbly perfecting some of their favorite recipes over the last decade, they’re honored to share them with you. If you like exceptionally fresh, tasty beer, we invite you to gather a few friends and neighbors and enjoy a pint of Sycamore.  
  • Thursday, July 19th. Generously Hopped V15: Big Brothers Big Sisters. Wooden Robot Brewery. 5 pm-8 pm. Join us for the launch of Generously Hopped V15: Big Brothers Big Sisters! Our rotating IPA series allows us to combine two of our favorite things, experimentation and working to help improve our community! Each month, Wooden Robot will be partnering with a local non-profit organization to raise awareness and funds. Every batch of Generously Hopped IPA will feature a brand new recipe and local non-profit, with $1 of every large pour and crowler fill benefiting our partner organization.
    We are pleased to announce that our next partnership will be with our friends at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Central Carolinas! We are hosting a night with this amazing organization on Thursday 7/19 from 5-8pm to kickstart their batch of Generously Hopped V15.
    Grab a pint of beer and support a great cause!
  • Thursday, July 19th. Amélie’s & Birdsong Collab & Sorbet pairing! Birdsong Brewing. 5 pm-7 pm. Join us on Thursday, July 19th from 5-7p for a special Birdsong and Amélie’s French Bakery & Café beer release and pairing! “La vie en Lavender” is a Lavender Lemon Tart Saison that was brewed as a compliment to Amélie’s Lavender Lemon Macaron Sandwiches! Amélie’s will be on site sampling the sorbet sandwiches from 5-7p and we will be donating $2 for every pint sold of La Vie en Lavender to Time Out Youth! The beer will be available all day and eventually at Amélie’s Uptown location so if you can’t make it from 5-7p, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to taste this delicious brew! Amélie’s is a French bakery and café located in Charlotte NC, Rock Hill SC and Atlanta GA. Their mission is to foster a feast for the senses and unique experience for each and every person that walks through their doors.
    * The Lavender Lemon Sorbet Sandwich is sandwich made of 2 classic French macaron cookies w/ lavender lemon sorbet in between. It’s also dairy & gluten free!
  • Friday, July 20th. Hazy River 2.0 IPA Collaboration can release.  Triple C Brewing Co. 4 pm-10pm. Version 2 of 4 of our collaborations with the Catawba Riverkeeper Foundation releases on 7.20. $1 from each pint and 4 pack of cans will be donated. Pints are $6 and 4 packs are $15 with a case limit. Only 30/40 cases. “Because Beer can be Hazy, but not our Rivers.” 2.0 was hopped with El Dorado and Ekuanot hops.
  • Saturday, July 21th, Brunch Release of “Hot Fuzz”. Legion Brewing. 11 am- 2 pm. It’s back! Our summertime favorite, “Hot Fuzz”, a Jalapeno-Peach Kettle Sour, returns to the tap room this Saturday, July 21st, at 11AM. This mouth-watering, effervescent Kettle Sour brewed with 100% Riverbend Malt and locally sourced jalapenos and peaches, and the perfect sipper for a hot summer day.
    We will be serving up some tasty treats for brunch, including our
    Hot Fuzz Chicken Biscuit- a homemade peach biscuit, piled high with a chicken breast, jalapenos, bacon and a spicy honey spread; and our Hot Fuzz Waffle, topped with a peach compote and housemade Chantilly cream, served with bacon.
    Our friends from Farmers First Coffee Company will be on hand for the coffee lovers out there!
    Hot Fuzz is one of our quickest selling beers, so be sure to grab a pour while you can!
  • Saturday, July 21st. Belgian Independence Day 2018! Trackside Crafts Pineville. 12 pm-10 pm. It’s Belgian Independence Day, and this will be our 2nd year celebrating great Belgian beers. Join us all day for $2 off crowlers, as usual, and check out some of the best Belgian beers Kit could find!
  • Sunday, July 22nd. Cousins Main Lobster at D9 Brewing. D9 Brewing Company. 1 pm-6 pm. Cousins Maine Lobster is back at D9 Brewing for a Sunday full of original crafted ales and authentic Maine lobster.
  • Sunday, Jult 22nd. Barleywine, Berg’s and a Share with Central State Brewing. Salud Beer Shop. 12 pm-7 pm. Join us this Sunday as we tap Central State’s Bashi Farmhouse Barleywine along with some other Central State Goodies. Of course we will down Underberg’s and feel free to bring some bottles to share Barleywine or any other style. Central State Dad Jake is coming all the way down from Indy to party with us and Central Stare Southeast rep Jordan. Let’s show him some Charlotte love.
  •  Tueday, July 24th.  NoDable Release: For Richer or for Pourer. (Raspberry Blonde) NoDa Brewing. 4 pm-9 pm. Every single week, we release a brand new “NoDable” beer on Tuesday! This week we’re releasing a tasty raspberry Blonde called For Richer or Pourer.
    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!  

Sierra Nevada Southern Gothic unfiltered Pilsner

Posted on by Evan

Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Southern Gothic Unfiltered Pilsner, 5.2% ABV, another local grocery store find is somewhat of a new beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. and it’s sort of follow a trend where Brewers are not filtering their beer especially IPA. Southern Gothic Unfiltered Pilsner pours a hazy slightly clouded golden color with a two and a half bright white head that slowly dissolves and gives off a semi-sweet sour bread and light malt notes that take you into a flavor of a semi-sweet breaded flavor with some chalk like flavors and the flavor becomes sours as it warms with a faintly bitter finish with a chalky aftertaste that slips into a very faint bitterness. This beer isn’t that good I give Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Southern Gothic Unfiltered Pilsner a D+. I was hoping for a better beer from Sierra Nevada Brewing, this was a letdown and yes it’s not so bad that you can’t finish it. Maybe the Pilsner style isn’t a beer that should be unfiltered. I just don’t think I would hurry back to Sierra Nevada Brewing Co. Southern Gothic Unfiltered Pilsner nor would I recommend it! Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!