Champion Brewing Company Fruitless Double India Pale Ale

Posted on by Evan

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I have noticed that Champion Brewing Company Fruitless Double India Pale Ale, 8.0% ABV with 70 IBUs is quite popular so while I was in the Good Bottle Co. and decided to pick one up. This beer is brewed exclusively with Mosaic hops. Fruitless Double India Pale Ale pours a slightly hazed orange color with a one and a half finger of white head that quickly falls into itself leaving very little behind but aromas of malted grapefruit with piney bitterness that makes for a taste of slightly grapefruity upfront with nice malt touches with a earthy garlic note in the middle then a bitter pine note on the end that finishes with a malted bitter finish with earthy bitter aftertaste with a light to almost medium mouthfeel. Champion Brewing Company Fruitless Double India Pale Ale is okay, I give it a C. It has a little fruit flavor and that not enough of the flavor and it has a real bitter finish. It’s not the worst but not one I’d go back too. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!     

Tröges Independent Brewery Nugget Nectar

Posted on by Evan

Tröges Independent Brewery Nugget Nectar, 7.5% ABV with 93ish IBUs is a quite popular beer produced in Hershey Pennsylvania once a year by dry-hopping with Nugget, Warrior, Tomahawk, Simcoe, and Palisade hops. Tröges classifies this as a Imperial Amber Ale but I have heard some call it a double IPA. Nugget Nectar pours a clean straw orange color with a one and a half finger white head with aromas of hoppy caramel piney resin with a little bit of orange that then give a taste of slight caramel orange with dank resin bitterness with some earthy pine notes onion the middle and back of the tongue with a bitter faint mango orange finish and a big resin bitter aftertaste with a medium mouthfeel. This is a big bitter beer that is a bit in your face towards the end and for me that hurts this beer a bit. IU give it a B-. Everything about this beer up until the finish is pretty good then hits a little snag. I can see why this is popular, it’s not so west coast IPA which helps it to stand out and it’s not around all year which help make it cool. I wouldn’t recommend have several Nugget Nectars the flavor would be too much after two or three. But I would recommend trying Tröges Independent Brewery Nugget Nectar. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Throwback Thursday: The Pike Brewery High Five Salish Lodge & Spa Hopped Honey Ale

Posted on by Evan

Originally posted July 15th, 2016

IMG_4093The Pike Brewery in Seattle Washing is one of my favorite breweries. While I was in Seattle this past spring I happened to go to The Pike Brewery and have some of their beers. One, in particular, I had I tap, Pike High Five Salish Lodge & Spa Hopped Honey Ale, 5.6% ABV with 24 IBUs, really caught my attention and I said I need to review this. Well, it just so happens that they have bottled it and are distributing into here in North Carolina. High Five is collaboration, but a different kind of collaboration, not just between to breweries, but between the Pike Brewery and Salish Lodge & Spa. Salish produces the honey that is used in this beer, along with aromatic Yakima Valley Hops. High Five pours a dark yellow color with a deep orange tint to it that makes it look more of an orange color. The head is a bright fluffy white standing two fingers tall and slowly fades into thick gorgeous laving.  The aroma is sweet with tiny traces of a hopped aroma; there is also a faint biscuit scent. The taste is that you’ll what to enjoy over and over. There is sweetness from the honey up front and a biscuit flavor in the middle and a very faint hoppy note on the back. High Five has a nice faint hoppy-sweet finish that lingers into a sweet honey biscuit aftertaste, which coats the mouth. When I had High Five on Tap at the Pike Brewery I knew it was excellent and had to review it for sure. It’s is most definitely A+ beer. I highly recommend it and would rush to have it again, and I can’t say enough good things about The Pike Brewery. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Foothills Brewing People’s Moravian Porter

Posted on by Evan

I am a huge fan of cookies and I especially like Moravian Cookies so I saw this Foothills Brewing People’s Moravian Porter, 5.8% ABV with 34 IBUs which is more of a cinnamon version of their good People’s Porter. Winston-Salam, North Carolina’s where Foothills Brewing is located was originally settled by Moravians and is still home to the country’s second-largest Moravian population and this beer is to celebrate the area’s local heritage crafted from spices that have made Moravian cuisine a staple of holiday celebrations there. Moravian Porter pours a dark/black inky color with a big fluffy yet thick four finger beige head with aromas of big cinnamon with little whiffs of a sweetness to the nose that leads down to flavor of big cinnamon, with semi-sweet spicy notes with some smoothness and a little bitterness hitting the back of the tongue, with a spicy finish and a little bitterness, a cinnamon cookie aftertaste with a somewhat full mouthfeel. I like Foothills Brewing People’s Porter, but Moravian Porter isn’t so good. I give Foothills People’s Moravian Porter a D. I am not a big fan of cinnamon especially when it is the only ingredient. That’s all I tasted not much else and yet I wanted more than just cinnamon. I would try this beer. I don’t like it even though I wanted and Foothills Brewing is a good brewery they just missed on this Porter with me. Cheers! please enjoy responsibly.

Burial Beer Co. Shadowclock Pilsner

Posted on by Evan

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I picked up Burial Beer Co. Shadowclock Pilsner, 5.5% ABV with 35 IUBs at Good Bottle Co. very recently. This beer is brewed in Asheville, N.C. with German Barley, American Corn and dry-hopped with Saphir and Tettnanger hops and is unfiltered. Shadowclock Pilsner pours a  yellow like color with a thin two finger head that falls steadily back into itself giving you sense of smell aroma of a flowery sweet lemon aroma that leads you to flavor of more floral flowers with a touch of honey sweetness with very faint lemon note that comes to a bitter yet slightly hoppy flavor on the back that finishes semi-sweet and faintly hoppy with a honeyflower aftertaste with a light mouthfeel. I do find that Burial Beer Co. beer to be good and this was close I give this a B- just a little too hoppy on the end for a pilsner but wasn’t terrible and yes I would have this again as well as recommend this Burial Beer Co. Shadowclock Pilsner to you. It was interesting and tasty, and worth picking up a few. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Holy City Brewing Paradise Session India Pale Ale

Posted on by Evan

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Holy City Brewing (Charleston, South Carolina), Paradise Session India Pale Ale, 4.7% ABV is brewed with Citra and Mosaic hops and to celebrate the prevention of drilling of the South Carolina Coast and support The Coastal Conservation League. Paradise pours a hazy yellow color with a thin two finger white head that fades into itself in a rapid manner giving off aromas of tropical sweet fruits with a nice nostril smack of bitterness with a little floral aroma that leads you to the sip of tropical fruit flavors with a nice serge of bitter floral notes that are semi-sweet that all come together to a bitter tropical finish that is a bit smooth and an aftertaste of bitter tropical fruit and floral notes with a thin dry like mouthfeel. Overall Paradise Session India Pale Ale wasn’t bad but I found the flavor to be just a tiny bit over what I would call a sessionable flavor and that gives it a C+. I mean I could probably drink three and then I would be tired of the flavor of this beer. But the flavor is spot on for a more tropical IPA and I would recommend it to anyone especially in the summertime. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!     

Throwback Thursday: Abita Brewing Company Pecan Harvest Ale

Posted on by Evan

Orginally posted on November 4, 2011. First post ever!

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If you are not familiar with Abita beer then please familiarize yourself with them now. Every season of the year Abita brews a different harvest beer. One for each season spring, summer, fall, and winter. This particular seasonal harvest ale (fall season) is brewed with pale, Munich biscuit and caramel malts and Willamette hops. Real Louisiana roasted pecans are added in the brewhouse. The Abita brewery uses natural spring water from the Abita Springs. This ale has ABV (alcohol by volume) of 5%. This harvest ale pours a nice orangey amber color. The clean white head fades away quick. This Abita has a nice aroma of fresh pecans with a slight caramel scent. On the first taste, you get a nutty flavor followed by a buttery creamy taste. Aftertaste you’ll find it to be creamy and rich almost binging your grandmother’s nutty-sweet pecan pie to your mind and a smile. It has a smooth aftertaste,  Its good! I love this one, it grew on me and I will buy it again. Abita does a great job with a lot of its beers, I can’t say the same for their brewery tour. That’s a topic for another post. So grab one now before its gone and share with family friends, and loved ones! Cheers! Please Drink Responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

Here are this Week’s news and events happing in and around the Charlotte, NC area.

  • Friday, February 9th River’s Edge Craft Dinner U.S. National Whitewater Center-Wooden Robot. 6:30 pm-9 pm. Ticket info USNWC.org. Join us at River’s Edge for Craft Dinner, taking place Friday evenings from December 1st through February 9th. Enjoy a five-course dinner created by Executive Chef Michael Rayfield with a 6 oz. beer pairing for each course. Each night will feature a different regional brewery including New Sarum Brewing Company, Legion Brewing, Triple C Brewing Co., Sycamore Brewing, Highland Brewing Company, Legal Remedy Brewing Co., Birdsong Brewing Company, Lenny Boy Brewing Co., Sugar Creek Brewing Company, Wooden Robot Brewery.
    EVENT DETAILS:
    Location: U.S. National Whitewater Center
    Brewery: Wooden Robot Brewery
    Price: $60 per person
    Time: 6:30 -9:00 pm
    Registration closes the day prior to each event at midnight
    Vegetarian, vegan, and gluten-free options are available. Please select your dietary preference after selecting a date for registration.
    Suitable for ages 21 and up
    UPGRADE: CHEF’S TABLE
    Upgraded experience featuring a chef-prepared meal inside the kitchen
    Interact directly with the Chef to learn how each dish is created, how ingredients are sustainably sourced, and receive a kitchen tour
    Price: $70 per person
    Time: 6:30 -9:00 pm
    MENU
    http://usnwc.org/relax/adventure-dining/rivers-edge-craft-dinner/   
  • Saturday, February 10th Chocolate Covered Pretzel Stout Release. Triple C Brewing Company. 12 pm-10 pm. Bourbon Barrel Aged Chocolate Covered Pretzel Stout is back just in time for Valentines Day! We are bringing back the Coconut Variant and have a new Cinnamon and Cayenne Pepper variant! All three will be on draft and in bombers.
    Limits – 6/3/3 per customer while they last!!  
  • Saturday, February 10th Juice Willis Can Release. Sycamore Brewing. 12 pm-11 pm. Welcome to the party, pal! Blast off on a Nelson and Galaxy hop juice ride! Juice Willis is heading for cans!
  •  Saturday, February 10th IPA Series Release #2 Turn To Stone IPA. Birdsong Brewing Company Remember the release of Sexy Hop IPA on our 6 year anniversary this past December? Well, that was the first beer in our brand new IPA series & we’re ready to release #2, “Turn to Stone” IPA w/ Medusa Hops! Check out the description below:
    Wild, innovative, and a first for Charlotte Turn to Stone IPA utilizes an entirely new species of hop called Medusa™. With a simple malt bill, we let the hop shine so you can experience the bright aromatics of melon and guava with a light bitterness that leaves a clean and pleasant finish.
    Turn to Stone will be released in the taproom on Saturday, February 10th. Draught & cans will go on sale at 12pm. Cans will be limited & first come first serve. Cheers!
  •  Monday, February 12th Beer and Chocolate Pairing. Catawba Brewing Company Charlotte. 6:30 pm-7:30 pm. Tickets at Eventbrite.com. indulge in different chocolates paired with a flight of Catawba Beer.
    Ticket includes a flight of Catawba Beer which consists of 4 different pours. It also includes 4 different chocolates, one to pair with each beer. Learn how the beer and chocolate were made and why the flavors compliment each other. Experience, Learn and Socialize.
    Additional beer and chocolate will be available for purchase.
    Please be advised some chocolate contains nuts.
    Limited tickets available. Tickets will not be available for purchase onsite. All taxes and fees included in ticket price. Must be 21 to attend.  
  • Tuesday, February 13th Birdsong Local Beer & Dessert Paring! Birdsong Brewing Company. 7:30 pm-8:30 pm. Sure, there are plenty of “romantic” things to do around Valentine’s Day but how about a friendly local beer & dessert pairing?
    We decided to take our favs from a few local area bakeries & pair them with some of our favorite cold weather brews from the season! It was hard work coming up with the pairings, but somehow we managed & we think you’ll be delighted! Join us on February 13th at 7:30pm for this special 4-course pairing! This pairing is for EVERYONE! $30 tickets are ONLY AVAILABLE ONLINE IN ADVANCE via Eventbrite here: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/birdsong-beer-dessert-pairing-tickets-42127290861
    No tickets will be sold the day of or at the door. Tickets are also limited so please book in advance. The menu is posted below, cheers!
    This collaboration would not have been possible without Amélie’s French Bakery & Café, Central Coffee Co., FuManChu Cup Cakes, & Golden Cow Creamery!

Hi-Wire Brewing Hi-Wire Lager

Posted on by Evan

I had Hi-Wire Brewing Hi-Wire Lager a little while back at a friends house and I thought to myself that I should review this beer. I recently picked up Hi-Wire Lager at my local Harris Teeter grocery store. Hi-Wire Lager is brewed with light Pilsen malt & German hops that pours a bright yellow color with a bright two finger slowly fading white head with sweet aromas of Pilsen malts and a light grain note that is accompanied by a taste of a sweet malt flavor of light crispy grains that finish with a light crisp sweetness with a sweet bread like aftertaste  that doesn’t stick around to long with a light mouth feel that is refreshing and smooth. When I first had this lager a while back it was great and still after having  Hi-Wire Brewing Hi-Wire Lager it’s still good, getting an A. Hi-Wire Lager is a great craft lager and one that is very sessionable with ease of dinking. I highly recommend you try Hi-Wire Brewing Hi-Wire Lager and buy many it’s that good! Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Destihl Brewery Abby’s Single

Posted on by Evan

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Destihl Brewery In Bloomington Illinois brews Abby’s Single, 5.5% BVV with 22 IBUs which is classified as a Belgian Pale Ale or a beer that was brewed by the monks for everyday consumption. Abby’s Single pours a somewhat orange color with a one and a half finger white head that fades into a little halo with a spicy phenolics noted aroma with a faint note of yeast that pulls you to a semi-sweet yet spicy phenolic and yeasted note with faint fruit flavor that has a very faint and weak bitter note on the end and finishes with a slight spicy yeast note and an aftertaste of  some fruit that is a bit on the faint side with a light mouthfeel. This was not the best Abby Single I’ve had but it was not bad, it’s a B-. Not bold enough flavors on this to push it to a great A+ beer, but it was good and tasty enough. I would recommend trying Destihl BreweryAbby’s Single it’s worth a try I think. Cheers! please enjoy responsibly!