Throwback Thursday: Ballast Point Brewing Grapefruit Sculpin

Posted on by Evan

Originally posted on November 4th, 2015

b

I have said this many time before, IPAs are growing in popularity more and more each day. Breweries are coming up with new and inventive IPA’s all the time, it seema like there is at least 6 new IPAs a day out on the market. Here is a popular one from Ballast Point Brewing Company in San Diego California, Grapefruit Sculpin, 7.0% ABV. This is a grapefruit version of their famous Sculpin IPA. Grapefruit Sculpin pours a copper color with an off white two and a half finger head that dissipates a normal speed and leaves medium sized lacing behind. The aroma is like a normal IPA but with a nice grapefruit juice aroma to go along with the piney earth notes. I found to have sour bitter grapefruit scent to it that was nice on the nose. The taste is earth a little bitter with touches of pine and yes there is a big grapefruit flavor that reminds of Shine Ruby Red Bird but with out ginger. Grapefruit Sculpin isn’t overly hoppy or bitter, it has the right amount of it to really balance it out, but I find that the grapefruit isn’t as predominate, as it should be for a beer with grapefruit in the name. But that doesn’t kill the beer though. I think Ballast Point Grapefruit Sculpin is a B+. I would like to have it be juicier with more grapefruit. I enjoyed this and thought it was good. Just need a touch more grapefruit is all it needs. I recommend try it! 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! 

  • Wednesday, September, 18th. Flying Saucer Oktoberfest Glass Night. Flying Saucer Charlotte. 7 pm-10pm. Annual Flying Saucer Oktoberfest Glass Night

 

  • Wednesday, September 18th. Brewery of the Month-Wicked Weed Brewing. Coastal Resturant and Bar. 5 pm-7 pm. Our September Brewery of the Month is Wicked Weed Brewing. A rep from the brewery will be here on the 18th pouring samples of Uncle Rick’s Pilsner and handing out swag. Join us for a wicked good time!

 

  • Thursday, September 19th. Dank Juice Double IPA Release. Triple C Brewing Company. 4 pm-10 pm. Next up from our Barrel Room brewhouse is Dank Juice Double IPA!This Double pours a hazy golden yellow with a dense white head. Aromas of candied apricots, resinous pine, fresh mango, overly ripened pineapple. Dank flavors of juicy tropical & stone fruit, melon, green hops, and pineapple core.

    See you on Thursday!

 

  • Thursday, September 19th. Jazzy Belle Belgian Farmhouse Ale. Triple C Brewing Company. 4 pm-10 pm. This jazzy sensation has a sultry ginger bass line, a keyboard of rosemary and an earthy, pepper horn section. A melodic blend of everything great about a Belgian farmhouse ale. Pairs well with ‘Straight, No Chaser’ by Thelonious Monk.6.4% ABV
    26 IBU

 

  • Friday, Saturday, Sunday, September 19th-21st. OMB’s 11th Annual Oktoberfest. Friday 11 am-11 pm, Saturday 11 am-11 pm, Sunday 11 am-11 pm. OMB’s 11th Annual Mecktoberfest is September 20-22!

    Bier! Pretzels! Lederhosen! Dirndls! Music! Sausages! Steins! Das boot!

    Get ready for 3 whole days of Charlotte’s original Oktoberfest!

    And…… DAS BOOT! We’re bringing back our 1 Liter Glass Boot filled with bier for Mecktoberfest!

    We’ll also have some fun and exciting games & competitions this year including:

    • Stein Hoisting Competition
    • Hammerschlagen (look this up!)
    • Beer Stein Race
    • Beard & Mustache Competition
    • Costume Contest

    ——————————
    EVENT DETAILS & Highlights
    ——————————

    In addition to the Mecktoberfest Märzen Lager, all of OMB’s year-round brews will be on tap throughout the celebration: Copper Altbier, Captain Jack Pilsner, Hornet’s Nest Hefeweizen, Fat Boy Baltic Porter, & OMB’s hottest new beer, 704 Hoppy Wheat Ale.

    Enjoy the taste of authentic German fares such as Pork Schnitzel, Currywurst, German Potato Salad, Frikadellen, Bavarian Pretzels with Copper Beer Cheese, and much more.

    To build your thirst, we highly encourage you to dance and sing along with perennial crowd favorite, The Holzhackern Tyrolean Band, who will be headlining OMB’s Mecktoberfest for the tenth year running. Joining The Holzhackern this year will be the Bavarian band, Little German Band.

    There will also be fun activities and competitions for all each day as well as souvenirs to take home.

    As always, admission is free. 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 seating outdoors for well over 1,000 and hundreds more inside, there’s plenty of room for friends, families, and dogs.

    ——————————
    Friday, September 20th
    ——————————
    Hours: 11am-11pm
    Music:
    1pm-5pm
    Little German Band
    6pm-10pm
    Holzhackern Tyrolean Band

    Commemorative Glassware: Gold-leaf logoed Das Boot (1L) available for purchase with the first fill of fresh beer included for $19.99. Limited Quantity. First come, first served.

    ——————————
    Saturday, September 21st
    ——————————
    Hours: 11am-11pm
    Music:
    11am-5pm
    Little German Band
    6pm-10pm
    Holzhackern Tyrolean Band

    Commemorative Glassware: Gold-leaf logoed Das Boot (1L) available for purchase with the first fill of fresh beer included for $19.99. Limited Quantity. First come, first served.

    Fun Surprises:
    • Stein Hoisting Competition
    • Hammerschlagen
    • Beer Stein Race
    • Beard & Mustache Competition
    • Costume Contest

    ——————————
    Sunday, September 22nd
    ——————————
    Hours: 11am-10pm
    Music:
    11am-2pm
    Little German Band
    3pm-6pm
    Holzhackern Tyrolean Band

    Commemorative Glassware: Gold-leaf logoed Das Boot (1L) available for purchase with the first fill of fresh beer included for $19.99. Limited Quantity. First come, first served.

    Fun Surprises:
    • Stein Hoisting Competition
    • Hammerschlagen
    • Beer Stein Race
    • Beard & Mustache Competition
    • Costume Contest

 

  • Friday, September 19th. CLT United ’19 Release. NoDa Brewing Company. 3 pm-10 pm. The Charlotte UNITE Festival is back once again! Queen City Unity presents: The Charlotte UNITE Festival. This multicultural event looks to unite people of all backgrounds in Charlotte to celebrate our diversity.

    To support this wonderful organization and their efforts, we brewed, CLT Unite ’19. This Grapefruit Hazy IPA, sitting at 6.5%, is hopped with heavy late and dry hop additions of Azacca and Cascade hops. It’s cloudy from all the wheat and oats used and also from fermenting on grapefruit puree, giving it juicy and zesty notes of deliciousness. 🍻Help us support a good cause and stop by to enjoy this IPA, while $1 from every pint sold will benefit Queen City Unity directly. 🙌🏻

 

  • Saturday, September 20th. Woofstock 2019. NoDa Brewing Company. 11 am-4 pm. Are you looking to have a Groovy fun time? Come out to Woofstock and bring your furry friends! This year will be our 11th year for the event and it will be bigger and better than ever!

    Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love and Mid Atlantic Pug Rescue are teaming up to bring you this great event! There will be cool vendors…several rescues…AWESOME silent auction…food trucks, great craft beers, and lots of adoptable dogs!
    $5 donation at the door gets you your first craft brew on the house.

    Please check back often for updates on vendors and sponsors on this years Woofstock!!!

    Sponsors:

    NoDa Brewing Company
    Four Dogs Pet Supplies
    Three Dog Bakery Lake Norman
    First Mate Pet Foods
    Paws Whiskers and Wags
    Green Compass Global
    Williams Subaru
    Charlotte Pooch
    Chariot Creative
    AKBS Photo
    K9 Playland
    Tito’s Vodka
    TotalWine

    Vendors:
    Paparazzi Accessories
    West End Attic
    Pet Wants: The Urban Feed Store
    Camp Bow Wow Charlotte Metro
    Pets In The City
    Rachel Hemendinger Jewelry
    Barkitecture Charlotte
    TinaMarie Heckman Animal Communicator
    Epic Animal Recovery
    Scentsy
    GeekyCutesy Handstamped & Bespoke Designs
    Renewal by Anderson
    Pet People
    Paintings and Things
    Pumpkin Dog
    Pickleweeds Press
    Simply American Dog Treat Truck
    2 Sweet Pet Products
    Pet Supplies Plus
    Glow Spot Glow
    Barkitecture Charlotte
    Hip Hop Smoothies
    Brown Mutt Wood Works
    AC Healing Herbs and Gems
    Hey Buddy Boutique
    Woofgang Bakery Southpark
    Darby Acres
    Twisted Rose Designs
    VeloPops
    Lost Coz Designs
    TuxedoKat Imaginarium
    McCraws Bar B Que
    Top Golf Charlotte
    Support Local Apparel
    Spirit Connections

    Rescues:
    Great Dane Friends of Ruff Love
    Mid Atlantic Pug Rescue
    Blue Ridge Boxer Rescue
    Greyhound Friends
    You & Me Forever
    Southeast German Shepherd Rescue
    SAFE

 

  •  Saturday, September 20th. Motel Moments Milkshake IPA Can Release. Sycamore Brewing. 12 pm-11 pm. Our ‘Motel Moments Milkshake IPA’ Can Release is this Saturday at 12noon! Secretive hops rendezvous on milk sugar pillows in this silky smooth, very hazy treat.

 

  • Sunday, September 21st. Steel Creek Beer Week Kickoff Sale. Carolina Beer Temple Charlotte. 12 pm-8 pm. Tickets at Eventbrite.com. No tickets needed. Kick off the inaugural Steele Creek Beer Week right with our biggest sale ever! We are giving all of our customers an amazing 50% on ALL Crowlers, Growlers, and Wine By the Glass! Our legendary tap list is at your disposal, giving you the opportunity to take home any of them for a fraction of normal. And if you have been curious to try our newly updated list of wines, what better way to do so than at half price?

 

  • Tuesday, September 23rd. Generously Hopped. Wooden Robot 5:30 pm-10 pm. Throughout September, Wooden Robot’s monthly Generously Hopped brew will benefit Jeff Gordon Children’s Foundation! On September 24th, we welcome you to join Wooden Robot and JGCF for a “Kick the Keg” event! Starting at 5:30pm purchase a large pour of Generously Hopped and you will receive a raffle ticket to win some amazing prizes from favorites like Run for Your Life, Honeysuckle Gelato, and FitStop Performance. PLUS, Tiff’s Treats will be on-site to provide free, warm samples of their delicious cookies!

Burial Beer Co. Cocoa Bolo Coconut Brown Ale with Chocolate

Posted on by Evan

This is not your typical Brown Ale, Burial Beer Co. Cocoa Bolo Coconut Brown Ale with Chocolate, 5.6% ABV from Asheville, North Carolina and purchased from Pop The Top,  is a bigger Brown that is not at the same time. Cocoa Bolo which I don’t think is chocolate western neck attire, but it does, however, pour a black inky color with brown edges and a three-finger creamy beige head with a Mounds bar like aroma with nice toasted coconut and chocolate aromas with roasted malt notes. Yes Cocoa Bolo does taste like a Mounds bar and it doesn’t just smell like one, there is nice sweet chocolaty toasted coconut with nice roasted malts that all finish smooth and velvety with a nice faint toasted chocolate aftertaste with a tiny amount of the coconut all with a smooth medium mouthfeel. This is surprising, not heavy of a beer I mean it does have a lot going on in it but it is somewhat easy to drink for a brown all, but not the easiest. Burial Beer Co. Cocoa Bolo Coconut Brown Ale with Chocolate is an A, the chocolate and the coconut cohabitate well together for a fine sweet brown all that is worth checking out! Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!    

Throwback Thursday: Full Sail Brewing Session Black

Posted on by Evan

Originally posted on January 5th 2014

Most dark beers tend to be high on the ABV (alcohol by volume) scale, and that can either be a good or a bad depending on who you are and what you’re into. But I think that most beer drinkers what a darker beer with a lower more sessionable ABV and this beer fits that. Full Sail Session Black, 5.4% ABV is a Schwarzbier (black lager). Full Sail Session Black comes in a short stubby eleven-ounce bottle. Kind of looks like a medicine bottle. Full Sail Session Black pours a rich deep brown almost black color with a one and a half finger tan head that stays shortly and fade slower in decent lacing. I found very little light through the glass with a nice but small amount of carbonation bubbles. The aroma on Full Sail Session Black is malty with nice chocolate and roasted notes with hints of coffee note too. This beer really has a wonderful aroma to it. The taste upfront is a big chocolate flavor that washes over the front of your mouth, then comes a slight roasted note that fades into a little coffee as it passed the back of your mouth. The mouthfeel is mild but has a slight richness. The after taste of big chocolate and a tiny bit of roast stays on your taste buds for a while. Overall this was an outstanding beer! I’m giving Full Sail Session Black an A+. This beer is very tasty and easy to drink with a nice level of ABV. I would love to have this again and again. I found it to be mostly one flavor, chocolate, but that was excellent. I highly recommend trying Full Sail Session Black. So go and try Full Sail Session Black for yourself as to see what you think of it.  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!

  • Wednesday, September 11th. Sycamore Beer Pairing and Charcuterie Class. Sycamore Brewing. 6:30 pm-8 pm. Tickets $30 at eventbrite.com. Come chat with Chef Alisha at Sycamore Brewing, where you’ll pair a Sycamore flight with outstanding Charcuterie. Chef Alisha will teach you how to take care of your boards, select just the right meats and cheeses, and chat about how to pair them for your own parties. You’ll taste some delicious flavors from Spain and see some Instagram worthy boards. Grab some friends and come enjoy the night with us at Sycamore Brewing!

 

  • Friday, September 13th. Mocha Java Porter Release. Sugar Creek Brewing. 2 pm-11 pm. Sugar Creek Brewing is excited to release one of our most anticipated beers of the year Friday, Sept 13th. A local collaboration that is done with Pure Intentions Coffee this velvety smooth coffee porter is sure to please this winter. Doors open at 2pm and we’ll be doing all things COFFEE. Pure Intentions Coffee and beer flights, Mocha Java NITRO taps, cold brews and we may even bust out Hoptimus Prime and stuff it full of more beans!  

 

  • Saturday, September 14th. Gourd Have Mercy Can Release. Sycamore Brewing. 12 pm-11 pm.  You’ve been asking for it and it’s coming back! Only available in the taproom!

    It’s that time of year again! ‘Gourd Have Mercy’ Pumpkin Amber is BACK! Inspired by pumpkin pie and crisp autumn days, ‘Gourd Have Mercy’ was brewed with pumpkin and warm, fall spices.

 

  • Saturday, September 14th. Sip and Drool at Lenny Boy. Lenny Boy Brewing. Co. 2 pm-5Looking to add a fur baby to your family? South Charlotte Dog Rescue will be bringing some adoptable pups for everyone to meet and show them some love!

    Some great local vendors on-site including Yappy Hour Bakery and Stroke.

    Hungry Harvest will be on-site to giveaway 25 free produce boxes to the first people to come say Hi at their booth!

    We will have Live Music from Nathan Davis from 3 – 6pm 🍻

    We will also be tapping our Dye It IPA. A light, refreshing IPA brewed with local Carolina gold malt and hopped with Mosiac. 110 calories and 4g of carbs per 12oz 🍻 4.4% abv. pm. 

 

 

Hopfly Brewing Co. Sandsport

Posted on by Evan

This sour fruit beer, Hopfly Brewing Company Sandsport, 5.4% ABV is brewed with pineapples according to the pineapple people family playing on the beach depicted on the label. I am not a huge fan of the sour style of beer, I find it to be okay, and some are better than others but is it, not my favorite style. Sandsport pours a deeper orange color with a quickly fading two white head with no trace of it left behind. It gives off a sour fruity aroma with tart pineapple with a few faint wine-like aroma wafting into your nose. Now it tastes sourer than it smells but there is a nice sour/tart pineapple note that as it fades it kicks up another sour notch with a very faint wine-like quality with a sour finish that is a little tart with some pineapple and flows into a tart and sour tropical aftertaste that fades rather quickly with a light mouthfeel. Sometimes pineapples can be sour at very least even without souring them and I found Hopfly Brewing Company Sandsport to average so think its a C. It’s not bad just that I don’t think you should sour pineapples or not sour them as much so that some of the sweetness can come through a little. Hopfly Brewing Company Sandsport isn’t that bad and I may go back to this somewhat soon. Cheers Please enjoy responsibly! 

Throwback Thursday: Hitachino Nest White Ale

Posted on by Evan

Originally posted on June 6th, 2015


Craft beer doesn’t come to mind when you think Japanese beer. You would generally think of lager beers that go great with sushi. Don’t get me wrong these beers are good. But yes there is craft beer in Japan. It is growing in Japan and they even have a few American craft there as well. One example of Japanese Craft beer is Hitachino Nest a brand by Kiuchi Brewery. This is a pretty popular craft brewery here in the USA and it isn’t as easy to find but not so hard either. This is Hitachino Nest White Ale, 5.5% ABV, made with spices and orange juice. Hitachino Nest White Ale pours a bight cloudy pale yellow color with a thin one-finger head that fades in seconds leaving nothing behind. There is some light coming through with a nice decent amount of carbonation. The aroma is big with a spiced orange and a faint lemon scent. Hitachino Nest White Ale has a nice semi sweet taste of spiced orange that is a little tart with a yeasty note on the back. The flavor does make this beer easy to drink. I mean it does go down well. The mouth feel is light to medium with a nice semi sweet orange-lemon finish and an after taste that lingers on the tongue with nice refreshing yeasted semi sweet/spice citrus flavors. This is one of the best white ales I’ve had. I say this is A+. I found nothing at all wrong or off about Hitachino Nest White Ale. It is remarkable to find a craft white ale from Japan can be this good. I have to give them credit. I recommend that you try Hitachino Nest White Ale. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

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

  • Thursday, September 5th. Iced Maple Latte Imperial Stout. Triple C Brewing Company. 4 pm-10 pm. Fall is almost here and we are celebrating with a stout release!
    Aromas of sweet maple, fresh ground espresso, & mocha. Thick & sweet viscous mouthfeel, with notes of toffee, sweet caramel, and freshly brewed coffee.

    9.3% ABV 

 

  • Thursday, September 5th. Limited Release: Movin’ On Up Hazy pale Ale. Birdsong Brewing Co. 3 pm-10 pm. Join us on Thursday, 9/5/19 for the release of Movin’ On Up Hazy Pale Ale! Cans and draft will release at 3p!

    Balanced and crushable, Movin’ on Up combines Idaho Gem, Strata, Cashmere, and El Dorado hops for bright aromatics and a pleasant bitterness. Flaked oats and wheat allow the hops to shine. On the finish, you’ll notice tropical fruit notes and a hint of sweetness.

 

  • Friday, September 6th. Apricot Kettle Sour & Grapefruit Kettle Sour at The OG. NoDa Brewing Co. N. Davidson St. 3 pm-10 pm. Join us Friday, September 6th at the OG for not just one Kettle Sour, but two! Our Apricot Kettle Sour is a straight forward Kettle soured Ale that is tart from kettle souring for 2 days. It is fermented on Apricot puree after fermentation starts, while our Grapefruit Kettle Sour is fermented on Grapefruit puree after fermentation starts. These tart and zesty options are the perfect way to celebrate the weekend. See you on Friday! ‎🍻

    *These beers will not be available at our N. Tryon location.*

 

  • Friday, September 6th. V-Hop Triple Can Release. The Unknown Brewing Company. 6 pm-10 pm. We are so excited this time of year. The weather is changing and the beers are getting bigger. Join us Friday, September 6th for the Release of Vehopciraptor (V-hop, if you cant, pronounce it) This beer is like opening a can of delicious hop nectar. Malty sweet smooth and hoppy but not overly bitter. Come see why this clever girl has made an appearance every year since then beginning.

    9 hop additions
    9 different hops
    90 IBUs
    9.9% ABV
    Can available by the 4pack (16oz) or by draft.

 

  • Saturday, September 7- Sunday, September 8th. Journey Through Belgium Tap Takeover. Carolina Beer Temple Charlotte. 12 pm-12 am. Free tickets at eventbrite.com. 8 Belgian Beers. 1 Awesome Night.

    Belgium has long been associated with great beer. Many, in fact, would say that it is the great beer country on Earth. We aren’t ones to take sides, but we will say this: they definitely know how to make some good beer. So join us as we tap 8 Belgian beers from across a wide variety of styles, and take you on a journey to Europe in a glass. You’ll be hungry for chocolate and stroopwafel by the time we’re done

    TAP LIST IN PROGRESS:

    #BelgianBeer #Trappist #CBTCharlotte #CarolinaBeerTemple #TapTakeover #BestBeerEver #OldWorldCraftBeer

 

  • Sunday, September 8th. Auntie Anne’s at Blue Blaze Brewing. Blue Blaze Brewing. 3 pm-8 pm. We will be at Blue Blaze Brewing for the 1st Time and it is a Panthers Gameday!!! Come and join us and enjoy a Cool Draft or Two and some Warm Fresh Oven-Baked Pretzels.
    With delicious options such as our Original Pretzels, Pretzel Mini Dogs, Pretzel Dogs, Cinnamon Sugar Pretzels, Pepperoni Pretzels, Nuggets and yummy dipping sauces such as cheese, hot salsa cheese, caramel, and honey mustard, there is definitely something for everybody!!

 

 

Wicked Weed Brewing Co. Coastal Love Hazy IPA

Posted on by Evan

Wicked Weed Brewing Co. Coastal Love Hazy IPA, 6.3% ABV out of Asheville, North Carolina helps hurricane relief efforts in the southeast, United States and is the second beer in their Beer That Build Series. Coastal Love pours a somewhat dark yellow color with a three-finger white rocky head that has citrus fruit aromas, orange, and grapefruit with hoppy notes. The flavor does follow the nose with citrus orange, and grapefruit that has a nice bitter hop flavor to it and finishes nice and citrusy with that nice medium bitterness with a bitter grapefruit aftertaste with a medium mouthfeel. Wicked Weed Brewing Co. Coastal Love Hazy IPA checks off the New England Hazy IPA, it’s just exactly that and I think is an A+. It isn’t try overly had to be A NE IPA it just exactly with it supposed to be and that is great, a beer that you should try. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!   

Beer & Chips Pairing: Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier & Frito-Lays Lays Wavy Ranch

Posted on by Evan

This beer & chips paring I’ve paired Frito-Lays, Lays Wavy Ranch potato chips & Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier, 5.4% ABV. This is the oldest breweries in the world dating back to 1040, and this beer is a traditional German Hefe Weissbier from Bavaria, and the Lays Wavy Ranch chips aren’t anywhere near as old. Lays Wavy Ranch are yellow with green onion flakes with big wavy ridges, that have a ranch potato aroma to them more ranch notes comming off them.  Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier has a banana and clove aroma. The chips have a nice crunch with good amounts of ranch flavor and light green onion that complement the banana, clove, and wheat of this Hefe without washing out the ranch flavoring with a nice ranch potato finish and a light clove and banana that give way to a faint ranch flavor. Well, I absolutely love Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier it’s a classic and it does pair very nicely with Frito-Lays, Lays Wavy Ranch potato chips because Hefe Wiessbiers pair very will ranch-flavored thing like these chips and ranch dip. Frito-Lays, Lays Wavy Ranch potato chips & Weihenstephaner Hefe Weissbier Beer & Chips Paring is an A. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!