Tasting NC Beers from The Triangle

Beers from some of the breweries pouring at the North Carolina Brewers Celebration in Charlotte on June 27. (Photo by Daniel Bradford)

On June 27, All About Beer Magazine will host the North Carolina Brewers Celebration in Charlotte. The festival is a showcase of North Carolina’s finest breweries, specialty beer bars, hop and grain farmers and more. In the weeks leading up to the festival, we’ll be posting tasting notes on beers from breweries attending.

Mystery Brewing Jack Thorne

Mystery Brewing Co.

Hillsborough

5.2% | London Porter

A dark khaki head sits atop a very dark brown beer that fills the room with aromas of dark chocolate and fresh roasted coffee. Upon further sniffing you will find some subtle smoke lying underneath. Great malt flavor of burnt toast, coffee and chocolate hang on as a hint of citrus combines with a semi-dry finish to leave you wanting more of this classic style.

Availability: All regions of North Carolina during the spring season

Carolina Brewing Hop Roar West Coast IPA

Carolina Brewing Co.

Holly Springs

7.2% | IPA

This hopped-up IPA is not shy on aroma and flavor. We are greeted with an explosion of pine sap and grapefruit pulp before we can get the glass up to our nose. Those aromas mimic the flavor of this beer with the addition of some spruce and hints of tropical fruit. While the malt doesn’t do much to sweeten this beer it does provide complementing biscuit notes to help balance the flavors. We finish where we started with a lingering pine hop finish.

Availability: Triangle and Charlotte, single batch, draft only

Big Boss Saints and Sinners

Big Boss Brewing Co.

Raleigh

5% | Flanders Red

We are pretty sure this is the first Flanders we have tasted that has been brewed with corn grits, but hey, why not? Tart cherry juice and balsamic vinegar dominate the nose of this light orange, moderately carbonated sour. The medium acidity really enhances what we perceive as ripe red apple, sour cherry and light vinegar. The most interesting characteristic of this beer is the finish. Those tart flavors quickly fade to a bready and cereal-like finish. A great introduction to the style.

Availability: All regions of North Carolina

Fortnight Blonde Ale

Fortnight Brewing Co.

Cary

5% | Blonde Ale

One panelist describes this as “refreshingly elegant and complex without being confusing.” Deep straw in color with a fruit-forward nose, most likely some white grape and apple. The body is light with medium carbonation which complements the light bread maltiness very well. Some crisp hops at the end help to balance out those fruity esters coming from the ale yeast.

Availability: Triangle, Greensboro, Winston-Salem and Charlotte

Gizmo Bee Keeper Honey Wheat

Gizmo Beer Works

Raleigh

5.5% | German Hefeweisen

Not your traditional hefe. A burnt orange beer with high clarity deviates from the usual pale yellow and cloudy liquid we are used to. It smells like a hefe with banana, pear and light clove. And while upfront it tastes similar with a little caramel thrown in, the finish is where the honey comes in for sure. Some pronounced tannins with light honey flavor and sweetness finish this beer off. A nice twist on the style.

Availability: Winston-Salem to the Coast; limited availability in Charlotte and Asheville

Aviator Double Ugly Rye Pale

Aviator Brewing Co.

Fuquay-Varina

6.5% | Rye Pale Ale

Some of us on the panel love rye, some don’t. But we all really enjoyed this seasonal offering. The head was nice and fluffy with muted rye bread and pepper aromas. As we sip there is no arguing the spicy rye is dominating but not at the expense of caramel and butterscotch malts and orange citrus hops. A dry finish makes this a flavorful summertime brew.

Availability: All regions of North Carolina

These beers were tasted by Chris Rice, Daniel Bradford, Dylan Stroupe and Adam Harold. Click here to learn more about the North Carolina Brewers Celebration.