Hopfly Brewing Co. The Jalapeño Saison Style Ale

Posted on by Evan

I love a good pepper beer, one that is well brewed. I heard about this Hopfly Brewing Co. The Jalapeño Saison Style Ale, 6.5% from the own of Pop The Top Bottle Shop. So I pick up some. The Jalapeño Saison pours an orange hue with a quickly fleeting three finger white head that does fade but sticks around giving off Jalapeño pepper spices with a faint lemon note. Taste follows the nose with a nice hit of Jalapeño heat a little light lemon note with some Belgian yeast flavors flowing in on the back to the tongue that finishes with a little Jalapeño heat and the same Jalapeño on the aftertaste that fades a little but not completely with a medium mouthfeel. Hopfly Brewing Co. The Jalapeño Saison Style Ale has a mild heat to it which tells me that Hopfly takes out some of the Jalapeño seeds but not all. The seeds of the Jalapeño pepper is what has the heat. This beer is good but I think that three of these is enough and I give this a B-. Good but the Jalapeño flavor really masks a lot of the other flavors but it’s good. I really didn’t get much of the the Saison flavors, just the Jalapeño. So if you like Jalapeño beers then try tHopfly Brewing Co. The Jalapeño Saison Style Ale. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Throwback Thursday: Allagash Brewing Company Tripel Ale.

Posted on by Evan

Originally posted June 21st, 2015

The Belgian-style Tripel Ale actually stems from part of the brewing process; in which brews use up to three times the amount of malt than a standard Trappist “Simple.” These Tripel Ale tend to have a higher than average ABV percentage, and are generally bottled-conditioned. This means that the beer is bottle with a little bit of yeast; this means that the beer/yeast is still fermenting the sugar. There might be sediment in the bottle. Allagash Brewing Company in Portland Maine brews in the Belgian-style. This is Allagash Tripel Ale, 9.0% ABV, and it comes to this blog from BrewPublik (www.brewpublik.com). Allagash Tripel Ale pours a golden hue with a bright fluffy one and a half finger head that fades quickly into decent lacing. I found some nice amounts of light stream through the glass and there was a nice stream of carbonation bubbles racing from the bottom to the head. There are notes of apples, pears, and faint green grape with honey on the aroma. You can really get a sense of the higher ABV as well as the yeast too. The taste is crisp up front with a fruity apple and pear, and then in the middle you get more of a yeasted note with a slight alcohol flavor that becomes stronger as this beer warms. You get a stronger yeasted alcoholic flavor in the back. But overall it does have a more bubbly taste to it. Allagash Tripel has a medium to almost full mouth feel and a crisp but strong finish with an after taste of a yeasty apple/pear that lingers with a nice alcohol sting. This is a really great beer as much of Allagash beer is. This Tripel Ale is an A+. It is exactly the definition of Belgian-style Tripel Ale. Some Tripel Ales tend to have too much carbonation or not enough yeast characteristics and fall short of being a great beer. But not Allagash Tripel Ale, I highly recommend trying it! Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

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

  • Wednesday, April 17th. Brewery of the Month Wicked Weed. World of Beer Epicenter. 8 pm-11 pm. Wicked Weed will be giving out swag and pouring up pints at World of Beer Wednesday 17th of April. 5pm-8pm.
    Trivia will start at 8:15pm.

 

  • Thursday, April 18th. Imperial Red IPA Release. Catawba Brewing Company Charlotte. 3 pm-10 pm. REDiculous lovers rejoice! This small batch Red IPA will be similar to the old REDiculous IPA that we used to brew! Hoppy and a little malty. Yumm!

 

  • Friday, April 19th. New Belgium Pint Night. Brixx Wood Fired Pizza Blakeney. 5 pm-7 pm. Time for a Pint Night featuring everyone’s favorite, New Belgium Brewing!

    New Belgium drafts will be $4 a pour and, as always, we’ll be slingin’ complimentary NB glassware and swag.

 

  • Friday. April 19th. True Grit Release. NoDa Brewing Company. 2 pm-10 pm. This beer’s got grit…True Grit. Join us for the release of True Grit on Friday, April 19th, at 3 pm.

    This Southeastern Style IPA, sitting at 5.5% ABV, replaces the heavy mouthfeel of adjunct grains found in Northeastern IPAs with a staple from the South… grits. This grain adds a clean, crisp finish to compliment the intensity of the Simcoe, Mosaic, Citra, Centennial and Chinook hops. (8lbs of hops per barrel).

    Enjoy this brew and TIN Kitchen while you’re here! Don’t forget to take seconds with you (four-packs and crowlers will be available).

 

  • Saturday, April 20th. Flat Brim Hazy IPA 4/20 Can Release. Triple C Brewing Company. 12 pm-10 pm. We are letting the dank juice loose on Saturday, April 20th with our Flat Brim IPA returning on draft and in cans for the first time. This Hazy IPA was brewed with ridiculous amounts of Citra, Mosaic and Simcoe hops!

    We have two bands joining us to celebrate on the patio.

    Toleman Randall from 1-4ish followed by
    Wicked Powers from 4-7ish

    Queen Hemp Company will also be joining us on the patio to educate folks about their natural, high quality, affordable health, and wellness products for you and your pets! They will have products for sale too. More info on the first farm licensed and certified to grow and produce Industrial Hemp in Charlotte, NC under the 2014 Agricultural Bill can be found here – https://queen-hemp-company.myshopify.com/

    Golden Cow Creamery will be here with delicious craft Ice Cream, including the Flat Brim Hazy IPA ice cream.

    New Wrap Order will be here too!

 

  • Saturday, April 20th. Beer Release: Magic Bus 142 Schwarzbier Black Lager. Blue Blaze Brewing. 12 pm-10 pm. We are super excited to re-release Magic Bus 142 for the first time in a couple years. Magic Bus 142 Schwarzbier Black Lager (4.8% ABV) is a dark German lager that is light in body and has subtle coffee/roast and chocolate notes. If you love easy drinking lagers with a roasty backbone, then you are going to love Magic Bus 142!

    Swing by the taproom from 12:00 – 10:00 for a pint, or growler or keg to go!

    Food Truck- Wild Dog Hot Dogs
    Music – TBD

 

  • Sunday, April 21st. HAPPY EASTER!

 

  • Monday, April 22nd. Bee(r) Dinner. Free Range Brewing. 6:3- pm-9 pm. Tickets at eventbrite.com $45. Join us at Free Range Brewing to enjoy a four-course honey bee inspired menu all paired with Free Range beers in an effort to raise awareness to the issues facing some of our most important pollinators.

    Free Range Owner/Brewer Jason Alexander will be joined by Chef/Owner of Heirloom Restaurant and fellow beekeeper Clark Barlowe along with representatives from the Mecklenburg County Beekeepers Association to host this one night only dinner.

    The menu is below, beer pairings will be updated as they are brewed. Tickets are $45.

    Free Range Brewing Bee(r) Dinner
    April 22nd, 2019

    1st Course
    Flower Power Salad
    Chef Foraged Flowers, Orrman’s Cheese Shop Parmesan Reggiano, Propolis Vinaigrette
    Pairing: Seasonal Free Range Beer

    2nd Course
    Beeswax Cured Yellowfin Tuna
    NC Chili Sauce, Fair Share Farm Baby Fines Herbs, Hickory Nut Oil, Crispy Red Onion
    Pairing: Seasonal Free Range Beer

    3rd Course
    Garlic Crushed Potatoes, Honey-Bacon Roasted Brussels Sprouts, Fermented Honey-Bison Jus
    Pairing: Seasonal Free Range Beer

    4th Course
    Honey Water Sponge Cake
    Crispy Rose Petals, Quince Blossom Syrup, Fermented Honey Ice Cream
    Pairing: Seasonal Free Range Beer

    Dietary restrictions we receive 72 hours in advance will be accommodated to the best of our ability

    Get your tickets here!
    https://www.eventbrite.com/e/free-range-brewing-beer-dinner-tickets-58404487394

 

  • Tuesday, April 23rd. Mother Earth Food Pairing. Heist Brewery. 6 pm-9 pm. What? You thought Mother Earth was only doing beer? Nope
    We have teamed up with Mother Earth Spirits to offer a Food Pairing dinner, utilizing Mother Earth Spirits in different cocktails, along with some of our beers, because we don’t want to miss out on ALL the fun. Ambassador Heather McGillicuddy and Distiller Daniel Safley will be here to speak with everyone about their lineup and answer any questions people may have. They also will be bringing menu cards for guests to take home and make their own Mother Earth cocktails!

    Tickets for this event are $60, covering a 5-course menu that includes food and drinks. The menu will be announced next week with pairings.

    For tickets to this, please email events@heistbrewery.com.  

 

 

Beer & Chips Pairing: Allagash Brewing Tripel & Frito-Lay Simply Organic Doritos White Cheddar

Posted on by Evan

Another Beer & Chips Pairing is here with Allagash Brewing Tripel 9.2% ABV & Frito-Lay Simply Organic Doritos White Cheddar. I have previously reviewed Allagash Tripel and will be posting that review as a Throwback Thursday review this Thursday. These White Cheddar Doritos are light yellow/orange/white hue with spice flecks on them that give you a sharp cheesy, light corn tortilla aroma. Taste of these White Cheddar Doritos is good with a nice sharp Cheddar and mild corn tortilla flavor, but when you add Allagash Tripel it washes out or cleanses your pallet of the Dorito flavors. You just get the yeasted bold flavor of Allagash Tripel. This pairing of Allagash Brewing Tripel & Frito-Lay Simply Organic Doritos White Cheddar is a C. Separately they are good but together they aren’t that good, average at best. I think a lighter beer would pair better with Frito-Lay Simply Organic Doritos White Cheddar than Allagash Brewing Tripel. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Omnipollo Oaxaca Mango Margarita Slush IPA

Posted on by Evan

From Omnipollo Brewing in Stockholm, Sweden, Oaxaca Mango Margarita Slush IPA, 6.5% ABV, brewed with Lactose Sugar, Mango, Lime, Grapefruit & with vanilla added. Oaxaca Mango Margarita Slush IPA pours a yellow color with a three finger steady fading white head with fruity aromas of mango, grapefruit with a nice sweet note. Oaxaca Mango Margarita Slush IPA taste has a nice similarity to the aroma with nice grapefruit and mango with a piney sweetness on the front of the mouth and on the middle with a bitterness that start in the middle of the tongue and grows as it washing to the back and finish with nice bitter fruits and piney with a bitter grapefruit, mango aftertaste and a medium mouthfeel. Ominpollo Brewing Oaxaca Mango Margarita Slush IPA was a little more bitter than I though it was going to be but still a good beer, and I give it a C+. Oaxaca Mango Margarita Slush IPA is slightly better than average but the bitter piney flavors took over the fruity sweetness muddling them a bit. The fruity flavors that I did taste weren’t bad they were just not as forward tasting or as predominant. I would have Ominpollo Brewing Oaxaca Mango Margarita Slush IPA again and yeah you should try it for yourself. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Southern Pines Brewing Company Peach Mango Thief Fruited New England IPA

Posted on by Evan

I see more and more of the New England Style IPA or hazy IPA’s out there. This Southern Pines Brewing Company Peach Mango Thief New England IPA, 6.5% ABV and an IBU of 20, which is brewed in Southern Pines North Carolina brewed with loads of Lactose and oats, then dry-hopped with Azacca and Citra hops. Conditioned on Peach and Mango Purée, vanilla beans and coconut. Peach Mango Thief pours a darker yellow color with a three finger white head with nice retention that gives off tropical fruit aromas of peach and mango with a nice sweetness and with touches of faint bitter hop notes. Taste is much similar to the nose but you get the coconut and vanilla beans with you peach and mango with a little mild hop note coming in towards the back of the mouth that finishes with a nice tropical sweetness with a faint hop note that gives you a tropical aftertaste that lingers a bit with a medium mouthfeel. Southern Pines Brewing Company Peach Mango Thief New England IPA hits the nail on the New England IPA head, it’s got a really nice tropical fruit flavor with a lower bitterness and a nice flow of sweetness that make for a refreshing beer, one that gets an A. Peach Mango Thief is not overly sweet, it has just enough to meld with the tropical fruits as well as the coconut. So if you haven’t had Southern Pines Brewing Company Peach Mango Thief New England IPA then leave right now and go try it! Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Throwback Thursday: Miami Brewing Co. Shark Bait Wheat

Posted on by Evan

Originally posted March 16th, 2015

One of my favorite styles of beer the Wheat beer is also the first style I tied when I was getting into beer. This style is probably one of the most popular styles out there. Well, at least that is what I believe. Wheat style has a few substyles such as Dunkle, bock, and hefe, unfiltered, and filtered. This beer before us is Miami Brewing Co. Shark Bait Wheat Beer with mango juice, 5.3% ABV. Miami Brewing Co. is a relatively new brewery. There have been around since only 2011. Miami brewing isn’t located in Miami but they aren’t too far from it in Homestead Florida. Shark Bait pours a bright gold color with an almost one finger head the really dissipates quickly. I found plenty of light streaming through the glass with lots of great carbonation bubbles. The aroma on Shark Bait is nice with a fun bubble gum scent. I guess that is the combination of wheat and mango juice. The taste is much the same with a nice bubble gum flavor with faint wheat notes and a little mango, but mostly I get bubble gum throughout. This Shark Bait Wheat Beer is refreshing with a light mouthfeel. The finish is smooth and sweet with a bubble gum flavor. The after taste is a little fruit with tropical mango and still bubble gum but a little lighter than before. I really enjoy Miami Brewing Shark Bait Wheat Beer It’s a solid A. I liked the mixture of wheat and mango and the bubble gum flavor that I got off it. That was great and interesting. There is nothing I could find wrong with this beer. I recommend trying Miami Brewing Co. Shark Bait Wheat Beer. Go and try it for yourself. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly

The Beer News

Posted on by Evan

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

  • Wednesday, April 10th. Highland Brewing Barrel-Aged Cold Mountain Tapping. Duckworth’s Kitchen and Taphouse Park Rd, Charlotte. 6 pm-8 pm. Highland Brewing Barrel-Aged Imperial Cold Mountain Tapping!!
  • Swag giveaways, beer samples and a special tapping of Highland Brewing Barrel-Aged Imperial Cold Mountain!!
  • Highland brews on tap all month:
    Wanderlush
    Starchaser
    Pils
    Gaelic   

 

  • Friday, April 12th. Beer Release: NoBoS Milkshake IPA. Blue Blazing Brewing. 4 pm-9 pm. Join us for a super small, taproom-only release of NoBoS Milkshake IPA. Heading Northbound, this 5.9% milkshake style IPA was brewed with lactose, oats, and galaxy hops producing a full, rich beer with citrus & passionfruit notes.
  • Swing by the taproom from 4:00 – 9:00 for a pint!
  • 5pm Food Truck- Bayou Betty
  • NoBo is a slang term for northbound AT thru-hikers, and there A LOT of them!

 

  • Friday, April 12th. Cheese & Cider Pairing. Red Clay Cider Works. 7 pm-8:30 pm. Tickets $19 @ eventbrite.com. Red Clay Ciderworks and Orrman’s Cheese Shop are joining forces to bring you a sensational night of cheese and cider pairings!
  • Cider maker Jay Bradish and cheese expert Rachel Klebaur will be on hand to walk you through four different pairings, each with their own delectable panache.
  • Seating for this event is limited and regularly sells out, so don’t wait to purchase your ticket!
  • Ticket holders please check in at the bar upon arrival.

 

  • Saturday, April 13th. 4th Annual Pints for Paws Charity. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery 12 pm-6 pm. Tickets free @ eventbrite.com. Pints for Paws Charlotte will benefit The Live.Wag.BARK! Foundation. The LWB Foundation is a private non-profit, charitable organization located in Charlotte, NC. The mission of the foundation is to educate pet owners on responsible pet ownership.
  • There are many organizations around the world helping animals in need, but that does not solve the problem. The LWB Foundation partners with local animal rescues and shelters, city animal control and pet businesses to show pet owners how to build a bond with their pet, understand their behavior and give them the tools they need to help their pet live a long, happy and healthy life. Visit thelwbfoundation.org to find out more about how we accomplish our mission.
  • The 4th Annual Pints for Paws Charlotte will include:
  • Raffled prizes
  • Pet Focused Giveaways
  • Dog contests
  • Local Business Vendor Fair
  • Music
  • Puppy Kissing Booth
  • Dog Photobooth
  • Silent Auction
  • Dog Adoptions
  • Location:
  • The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
  • 4150 Yancey Rd
  • Charlotte, NC 28217
  • The event will take place in the OMB Biergarten from 12-6p. The OMB Biergarten is a popular place for dogs and their owners to hang out while enjoying other socialized pups and local craft beer. Olde Mecklenburg Brewery was the first microbrewery in the Charlotte area. With 8 acres of space, the Biergarten is an ideal place for families to eat, friends to meet and pets to enjoy some downtime with their owners. On a busy Spring Saturday, this Biergarten is occupied by 2,000+ people with seating for over 1,500 at once.
  • Vendor Registration is with open on January 10th, 2019. Early Bird Registration ends February 13th, but there are limited spaces! Registration at eventbrite.com
  • Email us at events@thelwbfoundation.org for more information.

 

  • Sunday, April 14th. Spring Oyster Roast by Birdsong and Rappahannok! Birdsong Brewing Co. 1 pm-4 pm. Spring is upon us and we’re celebrating with an Oyster Roast! Our friends from Rocksalt Charlotte are bringing the oysters and the steamers down from Rappahannock River Oysters, LLC and Rocksalt Charlotte will be onsite serving up their delicious oysters! Buckets of steamed/roasted oysters will be $15 & RockSalt will be shucking raw oysters to order for $15 a dozen!
  • We hope you can carve out a few hours from your busy schedules to relax with a few pints of delicious local beer and enjoy some super fresh oysters sold by the bucket! This event is family friendly, so all are encouraged to join!
  • 4/14/19 1-4 PM.

 

  • Monday & Tuesday, April 15th-16th. Founder’s Barrel-Aged KBS Tap Release. Hickory Tavern Ballantyne. 12 am. We’re tapping the highly anticipated Kentucky Breakfast Stout on April 15th! Founders Brewing Company describes KBS as an imperial stout brewed with a massive amount of coffee and chocolates, then cave-aged in oak bourbon barrels for an entire year to make sure wonderful bourbon undertones come through in the finish. This beautifully aged limited release stout carries an 12.2% abv.
  • Each Hickory Tavern in North Carolina will tap only one keg on April 15th and will sell an 8 oz pour for $8.00. Try your bourbon barrel-aged chocolate coffee stout while it’s available!
  • To learn more about the limited release, watch the video here.
    https://bit.ly/2Ua5qN7 

 

 

Burial Beer Co. Ulfberht Baltic Porter with Juniper

Posted on by Evan

I like the Burial Beer Co, beers so while I was shopping at Pop the Top Bottle Shop I picked up Burial Beer Co. Ulfberht Baltic Porter with Juniper, 7.8%, brewed with German and British malts, then fermented with Juniper, and traditionally lagers. Ulfberht Baltic Porter pours a jet black oil color with a one and a quarter finger beige head that does leave behind some spotty lacing with aromas of Chocolate sweetness and roasted malts with a faint berry note. The taste is not to far off form the nose of Ulfberht Baltic Porter, there is the roasted sweet chocolate flavor with a faint minty beery on the back of the tongue that comes to a nice sweet roasted finish with an chocolate juniper berry aftertaste with a medium/full. This hits the make on how I feel about Burial Beers, Burial Beer Co. Ulfberht Baltic Porter with Juniper is definitely a A+. I found it to be just the right mouthfeel and well brewed and balanced Baltic Porter, one that highly recommend and one will be back too. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!

Hopfly Brewing Co Tablebanger Hazy Pale Ale

Posted on by Evan

Purchased Hopfly Brewing Company Tablebanger Hazy Pale Ale, 5.4% ABV from Pop The Top Bottle Shop. Hopfly Brewing Company in Rocky Mount, North Carolina brews this hazy New England pale ale with Citra and Waimea hops. Tablebanger pours a darker yellow/orange juice color that is hazy with a tight two finger white head with fruity sweet piney aroma, found citrus fruits, oranges, and grapefruits on the nose. Taste in goos with nice amounts of mellow citrus fruits, oranges and grapefruit with a nice pine note washing over the middle of the mouth with a hoppy note on the back with a nice citrus fruit finish that is a little bitter a piney and a slight linger of orange and grapefruit on the aftertastes with a lighter almost medium mouthfeel. I have never really seen a hazy New England Pale Ale before which is interesting and is very crushable and easy with a good refreshing quality that gets a B. The citrus flavors are good but could be turned up a bit to make them stand out but are still good in this beer anyhow. It’s a good beer and I think this is a good take on a Pale Ale, and I also think this would be a super awesome IPA, but I see why Hopfly Brewing Company Tablebanger Hazy Pale Ale is not an IPA. There are too many already this is something different but not too different. I recommend Hopfly Brewing Company Tablebanger Hazy Pale Ale, it’s a good one. Cheers! Please enjoy responsibly!