Foothills Brewing | People’s BBL Aged Porter

ABV: 6.0% | IBU: 42

To celebrate the end of 2015 and the beginning of 2016, I thought it would be nice to introduce PorchDrinking and her readers to a rare beauty: the People’s Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter from Foothills Brewing.

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Big Boss Brewing | Prometheus Unbound

AV: 8.0%

IBU: unlisted (low to none)

According to legend, the titan Prometheus created mankind and was mankind’s greatest benefactor, bringing us fire from the heavens. To make a long story short, he offended Zeus, and as a result Prometheus was chained to a mountain and left to suffer for all eternity. But the story does not end there, Prometheus was ultimately freed from his torment. Read More

Aviator | OktoberBeast

ABV: 7.2% | IBU: 22

As much as we all love our autumn pumpkin seasonals, I thought it would be nice to have a little break from the spices and pie references. Instead, we’ll take a look at a Märzen-style seasonal from Aviator, OktoberBeast. This is one of the first Märzen style beers I have ever had, so I think it would be informative to discuss the style more generally before we tackle what stands out about the OktoberBeast. Read More

Event Recap | Big Boss Brewing’s Tavern Ale Release

On a dark and stormy November 9th night, Raleigh’s own Big Boss Brewing premiered their Tavern Ale as part of their regular seasonal line-up. Read More

Wicked Weed | Horti-Glory Farmhouse Ale

ABV: 6.0% | IBU: n/a

During a recent two-day beercation to Asheville, North Carolina, I had the pleasure of visiting the illustrious Wicked Weed Brewery. I tried a variety of brews that were delicious, of course, but most of them will be saved for another day. Lunch at the WW restaurant granted me the privilege of discovering the first of their Terra Locale Series: the Horti-Glory Farmhouse Ale. Read More

NoDa Brewing | CAVU Blonde Ale

ABV: 4.6% | IBU: 18

From the western mountains to the eastern ocean, we’ve covered beers from all over North Carolina. We’ve been through tiny townships and out-of-the-way places. We’ve even visited the capital city. Yet, despite all of these, we’ve … Read More

Lonerider Brewing | Sweet Josie Brown Ale

ABV: 6.1% | IBU: 30

To continue with the theme of canned North Carolina beers, let’s take a look at another one from Lonerider Brewing, Sweet Josie Brown Ale.
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Ultimate 6er | Carolina Cans

Today, we’re going on a little adventure with six new (to me) North Carolina beers, all of which come in cans. There are brews representing the piedmont cities of Raleigh, Pittsboro, Hillsborough, and Fuquay-Varina; those in the foothills, Hickory and Morganton; and the Land of the Sky, mountainous Asheville. We’re gonna see a lot, so hang on and please enjoy.

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Brüeprint | Brüenette Brown Ale

ABV: 5.2% | IBU: 24

I love when I’m browsing the North Carolina section of my local bottle shop and an assortment of unfamiliar beers from the same brewery appear before my eyes. Such was my experience this past weekend. Usually, I wonder … Read More

Railhouse Brewery | Mastiff Oatmeal Stout

ABV: 6.5% | IBU: 33

Before we find ourselves too far removed from winter, I wanted to share a stout I discovered recently, Mastiff Oatmeal Stout from Railhouse Brewery. Railhouse is veteran-owned (hence the patriotic bottle cap) and -operated in Aberdeen, North Carolina. Aberdeen, like many towns home to NC brewers, is relatively small and out of the way. Located a couple hours south and west of Raleigh and an hour due west of Fort Bragg, you might never hear of it were it not for the beer. Read More

Wicked Weed | Oblivion

ABV: 8.7% | IBU: negligible

We use a lot of colors when we talk about beer. This beer is amber. That beer is black. This one is straw. That one is brown. These are all quite common. Yet, for all of my beer-drinking life, I have only infrequently come across the color red. Maybe it’s my geography. Some of the world’s best-known and most highly acclaimed beers come out of Belgium, among them a variety of reds. Rodenbach’s Grand Cru, Duchesse de Bourgogne from Brewery Verhaeghe, and New Belgium’s La Folie are just a few examples.

In spite of (and thanks to) my geography, I’ve been fortunate enough to come across a delectable sour red ale from one of North Carolina’s finest breweries, the Asheville-based Wicked Weed Brewing Company. They call it Oblivion, and they give it a little story. Read More

Ultimate 6er | A Bevy of Belgian-styles

Belgian-style beers run the gamut from light, bubbly pale ales to hearty, dark quadrupels. They can be bright, vivid, and effervescent, and they can be strong, savory, and bold. However they appear, they tend to make an impression. So much so that even the most adamant of non-beer drinkers (I’m looking at you, winos) can be won over with the right combination of fruit, spice, and alcohol. Read More

Ultimate 6er | A Bevy Of Belgian-Style Ales

Belgian-style beers run the gamut from light, bubbly pale ales to hearty, dark quadrupels. They can be bright, vivid and effervescent, and they can be strong, savory and bold. However they appear, they tend to make an impression. So much so that even the most adamant of non-beer drinkers (I’m looking at you, winos) can be won over with the right combination of fruit, spice and alcohol.

Today, I’m exhibiting a pair of Belgian-style or Belgian-inspired beers from each of three American brewers: Ommegang, Goose Island and Boulevard. The pair from Ommegang are the Rare Vos Abbey-style amber and the Three Philosophers quadrupel. Those from Goose Island are named Matilda, a pale ale and The Ogden, a tripel. The last two come from Boulevard Brewing. They are the Long Strange Tripel and The Sixth Glass, another quad.

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Mother Earth | Dark Cloud

ABV: 5.1% | IBU: Low

Out in rural, eastern North Carolina, there lies a town called Kinston. Kinston boasts as the home of at least a couple of highly notable entities: Mother Earth Brewery and the Chef and the Farmer, a fine-dining restaurant with its own show on PBS. Since we’re all about the beer here at PorchDrinking.com, I’ll leave the food commentary for another day, but I thought I should mention it in case any of you find yourself in the area. Read More

Fullsteam Brewery | Fearrington Winter Coffee Pecan Porter

ABV: 6.0% | IBU: 32

Today we have another installment in Fullsteam Brewery’s plow-to-pint series, the Fearrington Winter coffee pecan porter. In the previous installment, I discussed Fullsteam’s commitment to using locally grown produce in their limited edition brews. Fearrington Winter upholds that commitment. Inspired by southern pecans and nearby Pittsboro’s Fearrington Village coffee beans, Fearrington Winter embodies the dark roastiness and toastiness of a porter without being overly bitter. Read More

Red Oak Brewery | Hummin’ Bird Helles Golden Munich Lager

ABV: 4.5 | IBU: ~18

In addition to their flagship Amber Lager, Red Oak Brewery produces another beer deserving of extra attention, the Hummin’ Bird Helles, a golden Munich lager.

If you’re unfamiliar with the Hell style (or Helles, German for “bright”), … Read More

Wicked Weed | Black Angel

ABV: 6.6% | IBU: 16

In the shadow of the mountains of western North Carolina lies a beautiful, eclectic city called Asheville. While it’s known for many things, one of the greatest is its big and burgeoning beer scene. With dozens of quality craft brewers in the area, it takes something bold and unique to really stand out among such strong competition. Fortunately, we have just the thing in our review today of Wicked Weed Brewing’s Black Angel, a black sour ale aged in bourbon barrels on “obscene amounts of tart cherries” (it says so right on the bottle). Wicked Weed Brewing specializes in uniquely sour beers (among a slew of hoppy beers and Belgian styles), and Black Angel is perhaps one of their greatest creations. Read More

Fullsteam Brewery | First Frost Foraged Persimmon Ale

ABV: 10% | IBU: 26

Deep in the heart of Durham lies a brewery with a sensibility for locality and seasonality. Fullsteam Brewery has released an ale brewed with locally foraged persimmon fruit and have christened it First Frost. Read More

South Durham | Beer Stores & Bottle Shops

Durhamites of North Carolina, you asked for it, and here it is: the skinny on South Durham’s burgeoning beer store and bottle shop scene. Let’s start our journey near Southpoint mall on the corner of highways 54 and 751. There are at least 5 bottle shops or growler fill-stations all within a few short miles so you can visit them all in quick succession. Read More

Highland Brewing Co. | Thunderstruck Coffee Porter

ABV: 5.8% | IBU: 26

With a name like Thunderstruck Coffee Porter, the expectation is clear. Highland Brewing‘s winter seasonal should bowl us over with its coffee essence. Read More