Southern Range Brewing Company Let’s Dance Let’s Stout French Toast.

Posted on by Evan

Southern Range Brewing Co. Let’s Dance Let’s Stout French Toast, 7.0% ABV brewed in Monroe, North Carolina purchased from The Butcher’s Market. Let’s Dance Let’s Stout French Toast pours a deep thick black color with a creamy three finger beige khaki head, with a roasted cinnamon sweet coffee aroma wafting off into you nose. Taste is similar to the aroma with nice maple syrup, some cinnamon, with roasted coffee notes in the middle of the mouth with a full thick mouthfeel that has a roasted bitter finish with a bit of faint sweetness that then give a nice roasted maple coffee aftertaste. This beer has a similar flavor profile to French Toast but the bitter notes on its finish give Southern Range Brewing Co. Let’s Dance Let’s Stout French Toast a C+, everything else is good but I didn’t like that bitterness on the end. I don’t mind a bitterness but this bitterness was not pleasant and did really belong with the rest of this beer flavors. But it was not so bad that it would keep me from having Southern Range Brewing Co. Let’s Dance Let’s Stout French Toast again. Please stay safe and enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Throwback Thursday: Westbrook Brewing Co. White Thai

Posted on by Evan

Originally posted October 27th, 2016.

Here is the first of The Best of the Mixed Six-Pack, Westbrook White Thai, 5.0% ABV. This brewery is out of Mt. Pleasant South Carolina down very near to Charleston SC. I have previously reviewed other Westbrook beers and have had their White Thai before though, I really should review this beer, and here it is. White Thai is inspired by flavors of Southeast Asian cuisine and is a twist on the classic witbier style. Westbrook has added fresh lemongrass, ginger root, and a dash of Sorachi Ace (a Japanese hop with flavors of citrus and dill, used mainly in IPAs and Saisons) hops instead of the traditional coriander and orange peel.  White Thai pours a hazy yellow color with a cloud white two finger head that dissipates into nice lacing. The aroma is reminiscent of some Asian dishes. There is nice lemongrass, a bit of citrus, hints of faint dill, and nice ginger on the nose.  Taste is on the bolder side with a lemon candy and some nice citrus fruit with touches of semi faint ginger, and the ginger flavor strengthens as it washes over the back of the tongue. The mouthfeel is medium to heavy with a nice sweet wheat finish and an aftertaste of lemon candy coated in some ginger, but as that aftertaste fades you get a touch more citrus fruit. Overall this was pretty good, and I say it is a B. Slightly bolder on the flavor for a beer you want to have a few of, like three or four of. I can have just about two, but that has nothing to do with the way the flavor taste. It’s more of the heaviness of the beer. I found it to be a bit heavier than other witbiers, but still something that everyone would enjoy, just not a lot, a few maybe. But Westbrook Brewing Co. White Thai is a solid tasting beer. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Allagash Brewing Co. Moselle Farmhouse-Style Lager

Posted on by Evan

I purchased Allagash Brewing Co. Moselle Farmhouse-Style Lager 6.0% ABV from The Butcher’s Market not far from me here in South Charlotte, NC. Moselle is brewed in Portland, Maine by Allagash Brewing Co. circa 1999 with Northern Brewer, Hallertau hops, Pilsner malt, Vienna Malt, Munich Malt, local oats, Lager and Saison yeast. Moselle pours golden with a two finger stead fading white head that leaves behind bare minimum of lacing behind. The aroma is complex for a lager with a slightly funky tropical aroma with a nice tropical taste with faint yeasty breaded notes some sweetness with a bit of Saison flavor to the beer with a nice medium mouthfeel that finish with a funky tropical sweetness and carries the tropical nature into the aftertaste. Allagash Brewing Co. Moselle Farmhouse-Style Lager is an excellent beer that is refreshing and crisp that gets an A+. I’m not surprised that Allagash Brewing Co. brewed such a great beer and one that I highly recommend. Please stay safe and enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

Here are this week’s news and events happening in the Charlotte, North Carolina area!

  • Friday, October 2nd, Special Release Vanilla Grodgeous Cask! NoDa Brewing Company. 3 pm-10 pm.

Pumpkin spice and everything nice… AKA Tahitian vanilla! 🍂We brewed a cask of our seasonal pumpkin beer, Gordgeous, infused with Tahitian vanilla beans. Fun fact: Casks allow beer to naturally carbonate, a process referred to as “real ale” in the UK because it is the original process of packaging beers.This brew is a taproom exclusive sitting at 6.20% ABV. It will be available in a cask at our NorthEnd taproom only. We expect the cask to run out very quickly, so come on Friday, Oct. 2nd to try it while you can!

  • Friday, October 2nd. Raising Hope IPA Can Release. Sycamore Brewing. 4 pm-9 pm.

We’re proud to announce a partnership with Brewing Funds The Cure! We’re brewing our own version of Rising Hope IPA and donating 100% of proceeds to the National Pediatric Cancer Foundation. We will release Rising Hope IPA on October 2nd in the Sycamore taproom, and for local delivery and pick-up at SycamoreBrew.com.This IPA is brewed with raspberry, blood orange, and Bulgarian rose. Don’t miss it!Read more about this amazing project here: https://www.brewbound.com/…/sycamore-brewing-partners…/

  • Saturday, October 3rd. Pumking Fest 2020. Brewers at 4001 Yancey. 11 am-11 pm.

Pumking Fest is back on Saturday, October 3. While things may look a little different this year, we still have a lot to celebrate. 🎃We will have the entire Pumking Family available, new and vintage, PLUS Pumking Whiskey!We will also have:🎃Live Music 3pm to 6pm and 7pm to 10pm
🎃 Specialty Cocktails
🎃 Pumking Milkshakes
🎃 Pumking Menu Features 
🎃 SLUSHIES!
🎃 Plus an EXCLUSIVE Pumking draft 

  • Saturday, October 3rd. Festbier Draft Release. Triple C Brewing Company. 12 pm-10 pm. Festbier – A traditional German Festbier brewed to celebrate Oktoberfest in Germany. Golden in color, with aromas of biscuit, toast, and honey. Medium bitterness from German Saphir and Perle hops with a solid malt backbone. Crisp and dry for a perfect fall beer. 6.0% ABV
  • Saturday, October 3rd. Can Release: S’mores Blonde Ale. Blue Blaze Brewing. 12 pm-8 pm.

Back by popular demand .. We are re-releasing S’mores Blonde Ale in cans and on draft in an exclusively small batch! (Limit 2 case per person)Made with real cocoa nibs & vanilla beans, this Smores Blonde Ale packs rich notes of chocolate & vanilla, while maintaining a medium body. The biscuit malt gives way to hints of lightly toasted graham cracker. With just one sip you’ll be taken back to memories of roasting marshmallows around a crackling campfire.Live Music – Scott Smith 
Food Truck – TBD 
Plus: Yappy Hour Dog TreatsFAQs: 
Can I order online and pickup curbside? 
Yes, you can! Online ordering for S’mores will be available at bit.ly/BBbeer on the day of release. In the meantime, please enjoy all of our other great beers that are currently available. Can someone else pickup my growler or cans? 
Sure! Just note the person’s name in the Notes section when cashing out. They, of course, need to be 21.Can I use my own growler to be filled? 
NC ABC requires “original manufacturer’s packaging” so in order for us to be legally compliant, we must use ‘Blue Blaze’ growlers. However, the $7 for the growler is similar to a deposit; when you are done-done with the growler, we will refund the $7 when you bring in the growler in good condition for taproom credit on anything else in the taproom.Can I order online and have it delivered to my home? 
Yes, you can! Online ordering for S’mores will be available at bit.ly/BBbeer on the day of release. We provide home delivery on Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday inside & just outside of I-485 for $5. You, of course, need to be 21 and available to present your valid ID upon delivery. In the meantime, please enjoy all of our other great beers that are currently available. Are the pints also to-go? 
The pint option is for on-site ordering & consumption across all of our styles. We implemented them recently as a way to help minimize contact points during this challenging time. Anytime you visit to have a pint with us on-site, you may order directly from your phone and we’ll bring it out to you on our patio. You don’t even need to come into the taproom, or touch any of our point-of-sale systems! There is a notation highlighting “Taproom Only” for all of these on-site options. 

  • Saturday, October 3rd & Sunday October 4th. 2020 Orval Day. Carolina Beer Temple Charlotte. 12 pm(3rd)-11 pm(4th).

So what is Orval? Orval is a brett beer, in fact the first brett beer to hit the shores of the US. This classic Belgian Pale Ale took the US by storm with its slight acidity and crisp dryness, making for a very refreshing beer drinking experience. We will be doing bottle pours of several vintages of this classic beer, as well as giving away many Orval specific glasses to the lucky few who make it here first!Orval day is a day of celebration of this world renowned beer as well as a day of charity. The brewery that produces Orval donates a portion of their proceeds from its Orval day sales to a charity, with over 600 bar and restaurants participating every year that is a big chunk of change!The charity partner this year is Safe Water Network, which helps to bring safe and clean drinking water to Ghana and India. So come out to Carolina Beer Temple to learn about and enjoy this classic Belgian beer while helping those in need!

  • Monday, October 5th. Sierra Nevada Oktoberfest Swag Pack Giveaway, Duckworth’s Taphouse & Grill Ballantyne. 6 pm-9 pm.

Come and Celebrate Oktoberfest at Duckworth’s with Sierra Nevada. Sierra Nevada Beer Steins will be given away while supplies last. We will be raffling off a Swag Pack which includes:2 pairs of Suspenders
2 Alpine Hats
2 Glass Mugs
Bottler Opener
Pennant Flag
Selfie Props
Pin the Tap on the Keg GameRaffle tickets are provided during your visit, no purchase necessary.We will announce the winner at a late date after the drawing. If you win, we will be in touch!

Sugar Creek Brewing White Ale

Posted on by Evan

Brewed here in Charlotte, North Carolina Sugar Creek white Ale 4.9% ABV is nearly fifty percent unsalted wheat, oats, coriander, and orange peel with yeast that is from the original strain from town in Hoegaaden in Belgium. Sugar Creek White Ale pours a yellow color with a two finger slowly fading head of white that does lead behind some lacing giving off semi-sweet notes and a nice aroma of coriander orange with hints of clove. Taste is somewhat similar to it aroma with a little sweetness at first with some cloves, coriander, light banana with some orange notes yeasted notes on the middle of the tongue that car on to the rear with a nice refreshing medium mouthfeel, a nice light sour spiced finish a nice refreshing coriander orange yeasted aftertaste that linger for a while. Sugar Creek Brewing White Ale is the breweries flagship beer and a very good one getting an A+. It is very true to the Belgian white Ale style and a beer that is good one after another. I highly recommend Sugar Creek Brewing White Ale. It’s one of my favorites. Please stay safe and enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Throwback Thursday: Unibroue Blanche De Chambly

Posted on by Evan

Originally posted October 29th, 2016

It’s been four of The Best of the Mixed Six-Pack, with Unibroue Blanche De Chambly, 5.0% ABV. This is a Belgian style white ale from Canada brewed with Coriander and Orange Peel then its bottle refermented, which means a second fermentation takes place within the bottle. Unibroue is one of my favorite brewers and brews some of the most amazing beers. Blanche De Chambly pours a hazy sort of bight yellow color with a bright three finger white head that slow to fade but does transition into some nice lacing. The aroma is quite nice with some spiced orange peel with a hint of a yeast character. Blanche De Chambly has a nice refreshing taste to it with nice yeasted orange peel with hints of the coriander spice. The taste is one the heavier side but really solid. The mouthfeel is one heavier side of the medium spectrum and has a nice refreshing finish of slight orange and faint spiced notes, the same can be said of the aftertaste but the is a slightly heavy feeling in the said aftertaste. This is definitely an A beer for sure. It’s a bit heavy but a lot of good Belgian style white ales are, so have many is not recommend. It this better than Westbrook White Thai? Well, Westbrook White Thai is not as heavy as Blanche De Chambly and White Thai has more of a broader flavor to it with a slight tropical feel to it. But this is a tough question. They are both White Ales, but different takes on each. One is traditional and one isn’t. But to find out which comes out on top, you’ll have to stay tuned here to find out. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

Here are this week’s news and events happening in the Charlotte, North Carolina area!

  • Friday, September 25 – Sunday, September 27th. OMB’S 12th Annual Mecktoberfest. The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery. 11 1m-11 pm.

It is bier season once more and Charlotte’s most popular Octoberfest celebration is back in all its glory with a festive atmosphere, live music, pretzels, lederhosen, sausages, dirndls, bier-filled steins & DAS BOOT!
—
DAS BOOT IS HERE!
A limited amount of our highly sought-after, gold-leaf logo’d 1 Liter glass boots will be made available each day during Mecktoberfest. Get it early and get it filled with your choice of Mecktoberfest Märzen Lager, Copper Altbier, 704 Hazy Wheat Ale, Captain Jack Pilsner, or Hornets Nest Hefeweizen.
—
BIERGARTEN
Welcome to the largest Biergarten in the Southeast! Mecktoberfest will take place on OMB’s expansive 10.5-acre wooded grounds at 4150 Yancey Road in Charlotte’s Lower South End (LoSo) with plenty of well-spaced seating outdoors, on the covered patio, and in the Brauhaus.
—
LIVE MUSIC
The Holzhackern Tyrolean Band will be playing their high-energy arrangements of traditional Bavarian songs that include English and German vocals, audience participation, dancing and sing-alongs. We will also have some surprise guest bands playing a mix of bluegrass, rock, covers and country. Full list TBA shortly.
—
BIER
In addition to our multiple award-winning Mecktoberfest Märzen Lager, all of OMB’s year-round brews will be on tap throughout the celebration: Copper Altbier, Captain Jack Pilsner, Hornets Nest Hefeweizen, Fat Boy Baltic Porter, & OMB’s hottest new beer, 704 Hazy Wheat Ale.
—
MECKTOBERFEST FOOD
Pretzels! Bier Cheese! Sausages! And all the German-fare you’ve come to love here at OMB will be served up fresh and festive through the Brauhaus and ‘Garten Grill. More festive food items to be announced shortly.
—
Shandies & More
Absolutely sparkling with fruit and citrus flavors, our Shandy menu has become extremely popular lately. 🍎 Cider Shandy: Hornets Nest Hefeweizen blended with blueberry cider. 🍋 Lemon Weizen: Lemonade blended with Hornets Nest Hefeweizen.☀️ Cider Sunrise: Lemonade and cherry cider blended with Hornets Nest Hefeweizen. Local ciders, wine, radlers, and Prosecco Pops will also be available.
–**As always, admission is free.–
We are in compliance with all current state-wide mandates for masks, indoor capacity, and social distancing.

  • Friday, September 25th. New Release DRBT Collaboration 2020. NoDa Brewing Company. 3 pm-1o pm.

We teamed together with Fullsteam Brewing in Durham and Crank Arm Brewing in Raleigh to brew a collaboration beer for the virtual Denver Rare Beer Tasting (DRBT) held by Pints for Prostates! 💪DRBT Collaboration 2020 is: • New England IPA hopped heavily with Mosaic, Strata and Azacca hops• Fermented on papayas, which are rich in Lycopene, a compound that reduces Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA) and reduces risk of enlarged prostate/prostate cancer• Double dry-hopped with no hop additions in the kettle, making it very hop-forward and tropical with little bitterness• 6.80% ABVWe’re excited for you to try this special beer that we had so much fun brewing with our brew buds. DRBT Collaboration 2020 will be available on tap only at our NorthEnd taproom beginning on Friday, September 25th.

  • Friday, September 25th. New Release: Peach Sour Ale. NoDa Brewing Company. 3 pm-10 pm.

Fruited sour beer fans get ready…  🍑Our Peche Sour Ale is the first release of our new sour ale series. 🍻• Brewed as traditional as possible with malted wheat, unmalted wheat, torrified wheat, and flaked oats in a turbid mash with a 3.5 hour boil with 3 year old, whole leaf Hallertau Mittlefruh hops.• Barrel fermented in wine barrels with a variety of funky yeast and bacteria. Refermented with local pureed peaches to add peach flavor and additional microorganisms to increase the complexity of the funky, sour character.Peche Sour Ale will be available in bottles and on draft in our North End taproom on Friday, 9/25.

  • Saturday, September 26th. ‘Mango Mischief’ Mango & Habanero Hazy IPA Release. Town Brewing Company. 12 pm.

Mango Mischief”
Hazy IPA w/ Mango and Habanero
6.1%MANGO/HABANERO/JUICYBrewed in collaboration with the NC Beer Guys, we bumped up the volume on this Hazy IPA by adding a healthy dose of juicy mango and spicy habanero peppers. Hopped with Mosaic, El Dorado, Sabro, and Michigan Chinook, this IPA’s tropical and citrus hop aromas compliment the mango and habanero exceptionally. The NC Beer Guys have been amazing promoters of the North Carolina craft beer scene for years. Check out their website for more information on upcoming beer events and releases throughout the state, their comprehensive NC Beer map, and other beer news! As the NC Beer Guys like to say, remember to always “drink local, and spend your beer dollars in North Carolina!” 
https://www.ncbeerguys.com/

Oktoberfest like you’ve never seen it before! And honestly we’re hoping to never see it this way again. But that’s not about to stop us from throwing an epic party like it’s 1999, er, make that 2020. Yes, this one will have a decidedly 2020 feel — which is to say masks are required, dirndl and lederhosen optional.The inaugural MASKED Oktoberfest will be held at Catawba Brewing’s Charlotte tasting room on Sunday, September 27. Join us as we celebrate our favorite Bavarian beer holiday with an emphasis on safety. Competitions will be held from 2-4pm, but the festivities will go all day. When we say we’ve got it all, we mean we’ve got it ALL:
Catawba Festbier and Thirty Seconds to Marzen on tap 
Stein hoist from your own table (separate men’s & women’s games)
Keg rolling competition in the parking lot
Prizes including collectable steins (filled with beer!)
Oktoberfest costume contests
Grand prize for best costume is a gift certificate redeemable for a sixtel keg of a Catawba flagship beer!
German food specials from Blue Fork 
Vintage motorcycles courtesy of The Distinguished Gentleman’s Ride
Dance demo courtesy of The JAM
Masks and social distancing
And more!Oktoberfest competitors MUST REGISTER for outdoor tables in the Festival area via EventBrite. There is no charge to enter. Attendees who are not participating in games may sit at tables spread safely throughout the tasting room and event space — no reservations required.A table reservation is good for ONE 6 or 8-top table in the Festival area. Tables are limited to no more than 8 guests.Grand prizes for best costume will be awarded at 4pm to one man and one woman.

The Unknown Brewing Company Buzzed City

Posted on by Evan

The Unknown Brewing Company Buzzed City 4.6% ABV brewed here locally in Charlotte, North Carolina is a dry-hopped Pale Ale. Buzzed City pours a darker yellow with a one and a half finger white head that somewhat steadily fades away. You get orange notes in the aroma with sharp bitterness and non the first sip it’s orange notes then I it fades in to a sharp bitterness that carries all the way to back of your mouth with citrusy notes with a medium mouthfeel. Buzzed City comes to a bitter citrus finish and an aftertaste that is bitter with lighter orange. The Unknown Brewing company Buzzed City is good but the sharpness that comes in the middle isn’t as good as the rest and that brings this Pale Ale to a B-. Buzzed City has a nice full on orange flavor that is nice and citrusy the rest knocks it down a bit, but I think you should Gove The Unknown Brewing Company Buzzed City a try. Please stay safe and enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Armor Artis Brewing Sospeso Coffee Blonde Ale

Posted on by Evan

Went out to a new local Butcher shop purchase a few items such as Armor Artis Brewing Sospeso Coffee Blonde Ale, 6.6% ABV. This is coffee blonde is brewed not far from me down in Fort Mill, South Carolina, dry-hopped with Ethiopian coffee beans from Sospeso Coffee Roasted in Waxhaw, North Carolina. Sospeso pours a brown copper color with a two finger bright sightly rocky white head that stedily fades with slightly roasted sweet coffee and coca aromas. Taste is lightly roasted with some coffee and a faint coca note and it has a very light and very faint bitter note that shows up in the back of the mouth with a meduim mouthfeel that finish with a bitter roasted note and an aftertaste that is roasted with coffee and slight hint of coca with a slight linger of bitterness. Now I have had better Coffee Blonde ales than Armor Artis Brewing Sospeso Coffee Blonde Ale. It not much of a blonde ale by the looks of it. I give Armor Artis Brewing Sospeso Coffee Blonde Ale a D+. It has a strange bitterness that isn’t a coffee like bitterness and it to much like a brown al with coffee. I would not try Armor Artis Brewing Sospeso Coffee Blonde Ale, instead I would have Wooden Robot Brewing Good Morning Vietnam, that is turly blonde and has a more subtle but great cooffe flavor that intertwines well with the blonde. Please stay safe and enjoy responsibly! Cheers!

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery 704 Hazy Wheat Ale

Posted on by Evan

A relativity Beer, Olde Mecklenburg Brewery 704 Hazy Wheat Ale, brewed locally here in Charlotte, North Carolina from one of the oldest craft breweries in Charlotte. It’s brewed with Loral, Mandarin, and Bavaria hops. 704 pours a light somewhat hazy yellow color with a three finger semi-quick fading head with a fruity (mandarin, faint lemon, and orange) aroma and with a light/faint wheat notes. Taste is crisp with a nice fruitiness of orange, mandarin and very light lemon notes, light wheat beer qualities, some light bitterness toward the back of the mouth that comes in and goes away rather quickly. 704 has a fruity bitter finish that is light on the bitterness, light mouthfeel, and has a nice but light bitter fruity aftertaste. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery 704 Hazy Wheat Ale is a good beer but the light little bitter notes give it a B+. It has very light wheat qualities to it with more of a fruity bitterness that makes it different enough and somewhat interesting. I would recommend that you try Olde Mecklenburg Brewery 704 Hazy Wheat Ale! Please stay safe and enjoy responsibly! Cheers!