First Sip: Steel String Brewery, Carrboro

Normally it is the policy of CP to visit a new local brewery at least twice before commenting here, but how better to encourage your visitation than to dash off a few bon mots regarding a new opening, particularly one in the vicinity of most of CP's (deliriously assumed) dedicated readers.  Do not worry, intrepid digester of blogs - a thorough discussion of Carrboro's Steel String Brewery is undoubtedly on tap (thanks, I'll be here all year), but it seems a disservice to not quickly introduce this recent addition to the Triangle brewery scene

Steel String holds down a prime spot in downtown Carrboro, directly across from the Open Eye Cafe and next to the Wendy's - and who doesn't enjoy a festive Honeysuckle Saison along with their Triple Cheeseburger - and its friendly atmosphere (not that other NC breweries aren't friendly, but it was almost if at our first visit the staff was trying HARD to be accomodating) should keep it a popular hangout for some time.  Its daunting location, less than 100 feet from Tyler's Taproom, with its impressive beer selection, is ambitious - but shows confidence.  The brewery has lots of natural light (no, not Natural Light) and is highlighted by its custom guitar-shaped bar and high-quality Saisons that portend good things for the future.  Stay tuned for a thorough review in the near future, but in the meantime if you are in Carrboro, stop in (park carefully; this is still sort of Chapel Hill) and have one or two.

 

Word to Your Mother

A quick trip to the coast provided (necessitated?) a stopover in Kinston at one of NC's fastest growing breweries - Mother Earth Brewing.  It's not quite as imposing as this photo suggests - which with the solar panels conjures images of Camden Yards - but its brewing shadow over most everything east of Raleigh is true to this perspective. 

If you have been to a few NC breweries, Mother Earth's interior is surprising - if you have visited Kinston, it's downright shocking.  Beautiful reclaimed plank floors are accented boldly with white fixtures, modern art and neon blue accent lighting. It's not quite "Amber on the main stage!" at 4:30 in the afternoon, but one can imagine their effect once the sun goes down. You have to give ME credit for artistic bent in a genre that is normally dominated by garage/warehouse chic. 

Oh...sorry, the beer.  ME's very solid standard offering of Dark Cloud Dunkel, Weeping Willow Wit and Endless River Kolsch are worth the trip (the Sisters of the Moon IPA, despite its fantastic moniker, seems to be a bit of an afterthought).  On this trip, however, the "Special Drafts" (not sure I'm forgiving the "f" there) were imaginative and well executed. First quaffed was their Pilsner drawn from a Nitro tap, which resulted in a dangerously easy-drinking European Pilsner with a great - warning: one of my favorite beer words coming up - mouthfeel. 

The Smoked Lager was next, and ME has achieved a not-overwhelming infusion of smokiness in that rarity of NC microbrews, a true lager.  A swallow contains hints of good Scotch and balances well with the slight sweetness of European malts.  Balance is the operative word here - a fantastic, different and creative offering. 

Overall, Mother Earth fulfills all the ambitious goals of a small town brewery (and a few of those much larger) - a distinctive setting that defines its space but doesn't obscure its immediate environment (a bourgeoning downtown); extremely solid everyday brews; experimental small batches that are creative but drinkable; and finally a growing reputation throughout the region that has already resulted in collaboration brews with other NC breweries and respect across the milieu. Makes me proud to be an original Down Easter. 

Asheville Beer Weekend Commences!

First stop on the First Annual CP Asheville Brewery Weekend is...not in Asheville. Couldn't wait - had to stop just off I-40 in Black Mountain at Pisgah Brewing Company. First pint is their West Coast IPA (I know - I'm so predictable), which is floral and light. Plenty of room here with a full bandstand both indoors and out. The Spring Wheat is a bit dry and refreshing. Pisgah has a mess o' beer on tap, including a Bacon Stout and something called The Vortex, which checks in at a hardy 11.2%. Love to try it but have to make it to Asheville...

Raleigh Beer Festival: Post Mortem

It pains me to not trumpet the Raleigh Beer Festival as a must-attend event - after all, how can a NC-Beer-centric blog not champion the confluence of multiple North Carolina breweries in less than 4 acres?  Two main reasons: first, this was the most popular booth (caption must be: "F*** these meddlin' kids thinking they're hip drinking this crap...and f*** that Pringles guy.")

Second, the 4 acres.  Yes, Moore Square park is one of only two parks left from Raleigh's original 1792 plan, which is cool, but cramming more than 100 beer booths in that area is, shall we say, not exactly conducive to thoughtful tastings of highly varied brews.  However, lest we sound as old as we actually are, let's hit the highlights of the festival from the NC perspective, which did offer a few new brews from old friends.


The NC beer tents were absolutely packed all day.  However, because CP has such extensive (expensive, say some) experience with the local offerings, we were able to try only the non-standard brews and savor them without re-tasting our Peacemakers, Hoppyums (Hoppyi?) and Sky Blues.  Notable were Carolina Brewing Co.'s Spring Bock, better than Shiner's with a little bit more alcohol heat and Foothills' India Style Brown.  Dogfish's IBA is the CP favorite, but we are excited to visit Winston-Salem to try the Brown on draught very soon. 

A new one for the CP staff was Huske Hardware from Fayetteville (actually the first beer of the day) - their "Ale Yeah" - very much like a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale, though I would say that there is a malty complexity under the hoppy finish that distinguishes the "Yeah" a bit from its West Coast brethren. 

Let me interject here that the hip brews in late 2012 and early 2013 seem to be Saisons and Sours.  Let me as quickly interject that these styles are, shall we say, not at the top of my preference list - this weakness prevents CP from accurately evaluating these offerings.  Lonerider's "The Preacher"and Aviator's "Saison de Aviator" (creative) from what I hear, are excellent examples.

A few other favorites that will be reviewed shortly with their breweries: Mother Earth (Kinston)'s Dark Cloud Dunkel; Raleigh Brewing Company's Hidden Pipe Porter; Railhouse Brewery (Aberdeen)'s Mastiff Stout (fantastic); and, my personal favorite from the day, Mystery Brewing (Hillsborough)'s Queen Anne's Revenge, described as a Carolinian Dark.  Even at the beer's young age, CP is fairly sure that this is the first example of this style.

CP has been and will continue to be, for the most part, positive in its reviews - particularly towards its NC brewery roster.  However, we feel it is our duty to steer our dedicated readers away from wasted earnings on brews that we, even after extensive research, cannot find redeeming qualities.  The rogue's gallery of said beers on display at the Festival is blessedly short and is as follows:

• New Belgium Shift Lager - It just can't decide between lager and pale ale.  Should have given up.
• Cervaceria Centro Famosa- "Winner of 14 International Medals!" (apparently from the East German judge)
• Goose Island IPA - You're not a microbrew!  You ARE Anheuser Busch!  Stop!
• Leinenkugel anything - Your German-sounding name doesn't fool anyone.
• National Brewing Co. National Bohemian - "Premium Bohemian-style beer".  I was always fairly sure that I wasn't a Bohemian - now I'm VERY sure.
• Sweetwater Blue - This pains me, as I love Sweetwater in general, but good gracious.

I am tempted to take to task the missing NC breweries - notably all three major Durham locations, Fullsteam, Triangle Brewing Co. and Bull City Burger and Brewery.  It was disappointing that I was not able to brag upon my Bull City brethren to my out-of-town guests, who, for better or (much) worse, are woe to trek the extra 20 miles or so past our capital city for good craft beer.  I inquired about each absence via email with the Durham breweries and was pleased to quickly hear from all three.  Triangle cited the resource requirement to staff the suddenly ubitiquous NC festivals and its need to remain selective; BCBB indicated that it is simply at capacity in stocking its brewery with beer and Sean Lilly Wilson of Fullsteam was gracious enough to agree to comment on this entry at its publication.

Also notable in their absence were Asheville's Highland and French Broad.  Never fear, CP's is heading to the mountains for a long weekend in early May for a thorough caning (or at least a timid questioning) of each brewmaster.

See everyone next Saturday at Brewgaloo in Raleigh, where the focus is (thankfully) more on local brews and should allow for a fitting close to North Carolina Beer Month.

Cask-topia

Waiting for Deadeye Jack cask tapping...

North Carolina Tents Hoppin'

Hit both NC tents and enjoying heaven two ounces at a time. Highlights are Cowboy Black from Lonerider and Dunkel from Mother Earth. Peace, love & beer indeed.

Live from the Raleigh Beer Festival

We will be blogging live today from the Beer Festival at Moore Square in Raleigh. Currently waiting in line to get in.

Josie Movin' Up: Lonerider's New Digs

January 9
My dearest Josie:

I trust that this note finds you well.  I have been on the trail for some time now, thinking of you while lying under the stars at night...wondering why I've chosen this outlaw life that has kept me from you.  I dream of our time together in the Hideout - small and a bit cold in the wintertime, but cozy and familiar - back when we first met and I fell in love with your full, brown beauty, prettier than a Tombstone sunset.  Alas, the frontier has made me her mistress, and I cannot help but heed her call.  

February 12
My dearest Josie:

Today we crossed into Montana territory, and its big skies remind me of how hard it must be for you in our Hideout this winter.  I wish I could build you a suitable house large enough to entertain friends and family and be safe from the harsh Southeast winters and sweltering summers.  The outlaw life to this point, however, has not provided me with the gold with which to satisfy my wishes for you.  Tomorrow we should cross a stage that may help in that matter....if you no longer hear from me remember that I ride to one day bring the world back to you. Please write if your freezing fingers can manage the task.

March 3
My dearest Josie:

Imagine my surprise today upon visiting Western Union to send a few pieces of acquired gold to you to find a letter from a business associate in Carolina.  After much bellyaching about the five dollars I supposedly owe him (he cheats at poker), he mentioned that he happened to see you in a shiny new hifallutin' hacienda partyin' - right on the same property that you and I shared in our early time together.  I know he is jealous of you and I, but he said that folks was drinkin' and laughin' all around you while sheltered from the cold by a huge, fancy shelter and a long, polished bar.  He even said that he thinks that folks were visitin' all hours - much more than they did when I was home.  He said that you seemed to be "available" more now than before.  Though I know he's just pushin' me, I wish you would write to let me know that nothing has changed.  Tomorrow we ride south to Nevada Territory, so please post to the fort there.


March 21
My Josie:

I have not heard from you since before Christmas - I cannot bear the thought of you wasting your time in that shiny new saloon while I am out here bedding down with critters and their like...old Zeke was in a parlor in Carson City today and heard tell from a showgirl who was just off the stage from St. Louis about a new barroom in Raleigh that offered six or seven taps of homemade beer and even reserved one for a customer's brew.  She said that there were plenty of places to rest yourself and there must be room for at least 100 folks.  She said that a bartender goes by the name of Jackie was famous in those parts and that the new place was the talk of the town.  I know in my heart that this is our beloved Hideout - but someone has plied you with riches, rebuilt our home and stolen your heart.  I ache to think of it - please write and let me know that I am just delirious from thirst.

April 7
Josie:

I have reached California and found no gold.  My dearest in Carolina has found a new love who has lavished his wealth on you and crushed my dreams.  I wish you the best in your new palace and wish only that you would acknowledge receipt of my letters with a short note.  

April 30
Miss:

I have heard wonderful things about your sister - please speak of me well to the beautiful Betty.          



 

2012 Wrap-up

I have never understood why folks publish "Best of the Year" lists before the year is actually over - what if something amazing happens on Dec. 31?  Years from now readers may think that you weren't paying attention that year or were just lazy (because your "Best of" list didn't include the obvious event of Dec. 31).  Shrewd blogger that I am, I have avoided that problem by publishing the 2012 Carolina Pints wrap-up on Jan. 2.  (Well, nothing big happened Dec. 31, but it COULD have...)

Circumstances did not allow as many posts during the year as I would have liked, but that will be remedied in 2013 - beginning with full coverage of the first beer tasting hosted by Carolina Pints the weekend of January 26-27 in Pinehurst as part of the Leigh Frazier birthday celebration.  Check back for reviews of new NC breweries and updates to previously visited and thriving favorites.  Meanwhile, here are a few highlights from 2012 (Note: all beers listed were brewed in 2012, but not necessarily for the first time)

 

• Natty Greene's in Raleigh continues to offer an astounding number of house-made brews at all times - at last visit, more than 10 were on tap, including four different seasonals.
• Fullsteam's Forager series still sets the pace for unique, locally-sourced brews, with offerings that contained (or are inspired by) persimmons, fruitcake and paw-paws.  Paw-paws!
• Mystery Brewing (Hillsborough) proprietor Erik Lars Myers published North Carolina Craft Beer & Breweries, a fantastic look at more than 45 NC breweries.  Purchasing this book (which you should) does not, however, absolve you from reading Carolina Pints).
• Lonerider (Raleigh) expanded their capacity with a new enclosed tasting room - definitely a spot to be seen in 2013.
• Mother Earth (Kinston) took home a bronze medal from the Great American Beer Festival in Denver for its Munich Dunkel and Carolina Brewery's (Chapel Hill) Sky Blue Golden Ale also won bronze. NoDa (Charlotte) received a silver for its Coco Loco Porter.
• Beers of the Year: Sweet Josie (Lonerider), Peacemaker (Lonerider), Peanut Butter Porter (BCBB), Oktoberfest (Carolina Brewery), First Frost (Fullsteam), Triangle White (Triangle), Cold Mountain Winter Ale (Highland) 
• Dogfish shout-out:  No, it's not in NC, but Carolina Pints has a secret direct supplier from the Delaware brewery, and in honor of that, please go buy a My Antonia Imperial Pilsner and drink it.  Now.  It will make you a better person.

See you in 2013 with (I promise) more reviews and discussion.  Happy New Year!