Bell’s Brewing Oarsmen Ale

Posted on by Evan

I have always heard good things about the Bell’s Brewery in Michigan. But I have only had one of their beers thus far, Oberon, which I have reviewed a while back. But now I have Oarsman Ale, a Berliner Wiess, 4.0% ABV. This is a wheat beer style from the Berlin area of Germany. Bell’s uses traditional sour mash methods to brew this year round. beer Oarsman Ale pours a hazy straw like color with a head that does fade quickly. I sound some small amounts of light trying to come through the glass and lots of carbonation. The beer was very effervescent looking. The aroma is of tart citrus like fruit with a hint of wheat malts. Overall the aroma is more on the week side of the scale. The taste is at first fruity with nice effervescent feel. Then you get a light fruit sweetness, followed by a little fruity tartness towards the end. The mouthfeel is somewhat light with a tart but slightly tangy finish. The aftertaste is tart leaning slightly towards sour. Overall not a bad beer, so I say this is a B- beer, it doesn’t blow my mind but does taste good. I found this to have a nice fruitiness about it. I would have this again and would recommend this. I am not saying this is one of my new favorites or anything. But I did enjoy this just enough for B-. So please go and try this for yourself as see what you think of Bell’s Oarsman 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, May 9th. Bell’s Brewing Tapping. Duckworth’s Grill and Taphouse Huntersville. 6 pm. Bell’s reps will be here passing out beer samples and Bell’s merchandise! On tap: Two Hearted, Oberon, Larry’s Latest Sour
  • Thursday, May 10th. Southern Tier/Victory! (tap takeover) Carolina Beer Temple Ayrsley. 6 pm-10 pm. Join us Thursday (May 10th) for a Victory Beer/ Southern Tier Brewing Company joint 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!
  • Thursday, May 10th. Pink tp Drink 2018. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. 6 pm-9 pm. Tickets at eventbrite.com Please find your best pink outfit and join Team AmWins, Team Libstrong/Drew’s Crew, and Team Reeb for a casual evening at Sugar Creek Brewery, Broken Spoke & Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. Each venue has graciously opened their doors to our teams. We will have live music, and a fresh beer with appetizers at each brewery for you to enjoy. So grab a date, find something pink, and celebrate with 24 Hours of Booty and our teams in an effort to raise funds for an awesome cause!!!
  •  Friday, May 11th. Pac Man and Pints. Lucky’s Bar and Arcade. 5 pm- 2 am. Tickets at groupon.com. Come One Come All, to Lucky’s Bar and Arcade and check out this awesome event, valued to save you over $17!!!
    This inaugural event aims to bring out all 21 and over video game fanatics to mingle in this retro bar filled with craft beer and more than 40 classic arcade games, including the signature Pac Man. The fun starts later in the evening and lasts until midnight. Once at the bar, guests will get to taste test up to four different, special-selected craft beers while taking advantage of the other classic arcade games with their 20 tokens. As gamers button mash their way to victory, the DJ spins old-school party tunes to keep in theme with the nostalgic atmosphere.
  •  Friday, May 11th-12th. 2018 North Carolina Brewers and Music Festival. Friday 3 pm- 10 pm & Saturday 11 am-11pm An amazing day of local craft beer and live music and it all takes place on a non-profit historic site and farm just minutes outside of Charlotte in Huntersville, NC.
    This year Friday Night Jam will be held on the main festival grounds (not the campground) and features Acoustic Syndicate, Larry Keel Experience, and Josh Daniel / Mark Schimick Project! Tickets for the Friday Night Jam may be purchased below.
    NOTE THAT THERE IS NOT A TASTING SESSION ON FRIDAY, ONLY ON SATURDAY.
    For all the info go to www.ncbrewsmusic.com or follow us on Facebook @NCBMF
  • Saturday, May 12th. IPA Series Release #4 Goat Fuzz Single Hop. Birdsong Brewing Co. 12 pm- 10 pm. So far we’ve brought you, Sexy Hop, Turn to Stone, and Hazy Sexy Cool in our 2018 IPA Series and we’re ready to give you #4 in the series, Goat Fuzz Single Hop IPA!
    Goat Fuzz, a huge hit at our 6th Anniversary, is next in our IPA series. Our brewers were drawn to Ekuanot™ hops, pronounced “Ee-kwa-not”, due to their rich hop oil content and aromatics of orange peel, papaya, lime, and melon. Sometimes you just feel like frolicking through fields of bright aromatic delicious fruits, butting your horns, gobbling it all up, and causing all kinds of mischief. Birdsong understands…This single hop IPA has got you covered.
    Food – Strudelteig Food Truck 4:30-9pm
    Live music – The Abbey Elmore Band 5:00-7:00
  • Saturday, May 12th. Pop the Top 1-year Anniversary. Pop the Top Bottle Shop. 12 pm -11 pm. We are celebrating our 1 year anniversary & want to say THANK YOU for an amazing first year!! We will have a free pint glass for the first 50 customers, free food throughout the day from local food truck New Wrap Order and special beer releases all day. The SouthEnd Art & Soul Festival will be right next to us on Camden Rd as well and we would love for everyone to check both of us out – Cheers!!
  • Sunday, May 13th. 2dh Annual Crawfish Boil at Sycamore! Sycamore Brewing. 12 pm- 7pm. Join us for the 2nd Annual Crawfish Boil in the Sycamore Beer Garden by Kickstands Kitchen, out of Baton Rouge, Louisiana!
    Live music, Craft Beer, Wine and Cider, Great times!
    *3lbs for $20* Comes with corn and potatoes.
    *No pre-sold tickets – first come, first serve until sold-out*
  • Sunday, May 13th. Mother’s Day Chocolate Mead, Roses, and Truffles! GoodRoad CiderWorks.  12 pm-7 pm. Come join us on Mother’s Day for a limited (5 gallon) batch of a modified version of our Cherish chocolate mead. All moms will receive a rose in appreciation of the hard work they do.
    We will also have raspberry truffles from The Underground Truffle, LLC to pair with the chocolate mead. Yum!
  • Monday, May 14th. Coronado Brewing Tapping! Duckworth’s Grill and Taphouse Ballantyne. 6pm -8pm Rep on hand for sampling and giveaways – glassware, stickers, and more!
    Beer List:
    CoastWise Session IPA
    Orange Ave. Wit
    Peach Cruiser Hazy IPA
    Cliff Dive IPA
  • Tuesday, May 15th. Bold Missy Dessert Pairing. The Casual Pint (Rivergate). 6 pm-8 pm. Tickets at events.r20.constantcontact.com. Join us for a special Dessert & Beer Pairing, guided by Bold Missy’s Head Brewer & Featuring Bold Missy Beers paired perfectly with a trio of succulent sweet desserts. Tickets are $25 and seating is limited, grab yours now: http://beerlife.co/missy


Founders Brewing Co. Solid Gold Premium Lager

Posted on by Evan

Founders Brewing Co. Solid Gold Premium Lager, 4.4% ABV and 20 IBUs is a relatively new beer from the Grand Rapids, Michigan brewer, and is part of a wave of craft lagers hitting the market recently. Solid Gold Premium Lager a canned beer that pours a clear golden hue with a fine two fingers white head that slowly creeps into somewhat nice lacing in the glass giving your nose crisp aromas of midwestern grains with a little faint hop note that lead a taste of light refreshing crisp flavor of light malts with a bit hop a hoppy corn note towards the back of your tongue with a nice crisp refreshing gain like finish that followed by a faintly hoppy yet crisp aftertaste all with a light mouthfeel. This is a quite easy drinking beer. You can sit and have several with out wrecking your palette. But I have had lagers that’s are a bit better, so Founders Brewing Co. Solid Gold Premium Lager receives a C+. It’s slightly better than just average and it’s no Budweiser, Miller, or Coors beer. It’s definitely a craft lager. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Mikkeller Brewing San Diego Drinco De Mayo

Posted on by Evan

Happy Cinco De Mayo! We have this Mikkeller Brewing San Diego Drinco De Mayo Mexican Style Lager, 4.8% ABV. Mikkeller Brewing has several breweries around the world originating in Denmark. Drinco De Mayo pours a clear golden color with a foamy two and a half finger white head that’s slow fading into nice lacing giving off corn and grain aromas with slight hop scents with a faint dry cracker like note as well that come together in a flavor or corn and grains with a hoppy semi-sweet bitterness in the middle and slightly hitting the back of your tongue with a nice crisp finish and a clean and light yet slight bitter aftertaste with a light mouthfeel. I didn’t find Mikkeller Brewing San Diego Drinco De Mayo Mexican Style Lager to be the best it was average, getting a C. Good effort from Mikkeller Brewing San Diego. You could have a few of these no problem but I don’t think I would come back to this Mexican Style Lager. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

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!