Durham Brew Tour Preview: Vol. 1

Yes, there is a commercial brewery tour in the Triangle (haven't tried it, so can't endorse it), but some extremely lucky folks are scheduled for a mini-tour limited to the Bull City this Saturday as a pre-Thanksgiving (beer)feast. As a primer for those visitors that have not experienced the varied offerings of Durham breweries, CP will dedicate its week to previewing the three scheduled Durham breweries.  Think of it as a program, or Playbill, for Saturday's activities. After all, you don't want to be saddled with a pint of English bitter when what you really want is an aged persimmon ale, right? We will preview each of the three scheduled breweries this week and hopefully provide a rough roadmap for drinkers that have been exposed to many beer styles and for those that may be new to "different" brews.  We start with the second (logically) of the tour's destinations, Bull City Burger & Brewery.

BCB&B is the youngest of the Durham triumvirate, and, in our opinion, has shown the most growth in quality of beer since their first pour in March 2011.  Upon visiting the site four days after opening, we found NO BCB&B beers ready (though they did offer other local taps) due to poor forecasting.  Disappointed, your CP staff visited some three weeks later and came away underwhelmed after tasting five serviceable but unremarkable brews.  In the time since, however, BCB&B seems to have found its groove, churning out solid base beers with envelope-pushing seasonal concoctions.  Using the time-honored CP formula for virgin brewery visits, we offer the following:

1.  Beer For Folks Who Don't Like Beer:  BCB&B staff would steer you to the Bryant Bridge Gateway Ale as it is the "lightest" of their offerings (and the most like mass-produced beers - think of a more flavorful Miller Lite - but don't tell BCB&B I said that), but I would encourage you to try the "Goat" Bullock Bock.  Bock is a light (don't let the caramel color fool you) German style beer that is quite malty and very smooth, and the Bullock is an excellent example of an easy-drinking, sweet brew.

2.  Beer For Folks Who Want Hops, Hops and More Hops:  Not a perfect choice at BCB&B right now; their IPA (OK, but not spectacular) is not on tap, so we'll have to go with the Parrish St. Pale Ale (a nod to the restaurant's downtown location).  Their Pale Ale is reminiscent of Sierra Nevada's classic offering, with not quite the bite, but a much richer color.

3.  Beer For Folks Who Think They Are In Siberia In January:  These are the folks that drink stouts and (for wusses), porters all times of the year.  Right now, BCB&B has you covered with its Watts Oatmeal Stout, complete with a nitrogen-powered tap.  If you don't know why that's important, you probably don't need to taste this beer.  A perfectly carbonated stout that's not overwhelmed with coffee beans, the Oatmeal Stout holds its own with any locally-produced stout.

4.  Beer For Folks Who Will Try Anything:  Two offerings here; first, for those who want to fully experience the autumnal mood, BCB&B pours their Rhine ESP (Ephemerally Spiced Pumpkin) Ale.  Admittedly, I did not try this one, but the pumpkins used were grown just outside of Boone, NC, so why not?  Second is the Movember Moustache Ale - a nod to the heretofore obscure (to me, anyway) Movember movement that supports men's health.  An English bitter ale with very little bitter, it's what we snooty beer folks call a session beer - the sort of which you can down three or four without thinking about it (before you fall off your barstool).      

BCB&B's burgers are considered among the best in the Triangle and their fried pickles are also excellent.  I have found their bartenders to be among the most knowledgeable in the area about their beers, if not the most garrulous (not that this is a bad thing).  With a large bar and an adequate outside patio, you will enjoy your foray into downtown to visit BCB&B.  Only warning is that BCB&B has the lightest barstools in the Triangle...you will know what I mean once you are there.  Tomorrow:  Fullsteam.