BREW LOCAL ARCHIVES
BREWS OF THE WEEK
BOTW ~ Week of July 22nd, 2015
Shipyard Brewing Company
GingerBreadHead
We love talking about
delicious beers. But this time
we are switching it up and
bringing you something slightly different. The worst beer we’ve ever had! And since our palates are pretty tolerant, that’s saying a lot!
Shipyard Brewing Company decided gingerbread cookies would make a good tasting brew. That may be true in some form, but not here. At all. GingerBreadHead is a medium-dark, highly aromatic brew. It smells like a gingerbread cookie - malty, sweet, and a hint of peppery spice. Sounds innocent enough for a novelty flavored beer.
It’s hard to describe the body of this brew due to the overwhelming sweet syrupy taste and texture. Can a beer actually be thick? The addition of molasses may be what attributes to this, but the molasses and ginger flavors seem completely artificial. Add almost non-existent carbonation and a very low alcohol content - we felt like we were drinking a flat, overpoweringly sweet soda. Are we drinking a beer? I guess so, as long as we don’t have to have a second! It was a chore just to enjoy the first.
We might suggest this brew for the drinking experience, but unless you want to know what NOT to drink, steer clear of this super syrupy brew and head to your local brewery for a refreshing, perfectly balanced pour of something else immediately!
1 Out of 5 Bottles
BOTW ~ Week of February 25th, 2015
Good Hops Brewing
Windsail Pale Ale
In deciding BOTW for this round, we didn’t know whether to go bottled or brewery, as there are so many good choices out there! But in the end we felt compelled to stay local and give this weeks award to Good Hops Brewing in Carolina Beach for their Windsail Pale Ale.
Pale Ales are among the most popular of beer styles. At times they tend to be too bitter, too hopped, and too ambitious, with the wrong balance of flavors. There are some, however, that are the complete opposite and are able to embody what this ale should be!
GHB’s Windsail Pale Ale is definitely one of those. It is made with “gently roasted pale malt and sweet caramel and honey malts”. The hops are subtle yet noticeable, and give more flavor than bitterness. The beer is medium colored and certainly light in body, with a slight hoppy aroma. It has a pleasing smoothness and an enjoyable 6.5% alcohol.
We greatly enjoy all this brew has to offer every time we drink it, and it stays faithfully on tap at Good Hops Brewing, so be sure to stop by their wonderful place and have one for yourself! While you're there, don't hesitate to try a flight of their brew-worthy lineup!
4 Out of 5 Bottles!
BOTW ~ Week of March 4th, 2015
Blue Moon Brewing Company
Cinnamon Horchata Ale
This week we are stepping away from delicious draft pours and taking note of a very unique bottled beer. Blue Moon Brewing Company's Cinnamon Horchata Ale happened upon us quite unexpectedly in a build-your-own 6-pack from the grocery store. Since then we have looked very hard for more of this tasty brew, yet only get lucky enough every once in a while to catch a variety 12-pack with two prized Horchata Ales inside.
The backstory to the brew is charming - the brewer’s grandmother used to make Latin horchata (which is originally non-alcoholic) for him as a boy. He felt these flavors would translate well into a fermented beverage and well, he was so right! The first thing one notices is the sweet cinnamon aroma of this fairly light colored and light bodied beer. The brew is extremely crisp and refreshing, then leads into the creamy aspect given by the addition of long-grain rice. Cinnamon notes permeate both taste and aroma. They say more sugar - less spice, but balance perfectly. While the total effect and creaminess of this winning brew is wonderful, it is surprisingly light and drinkable - if only there were more around to drink!
So if you can locate this beer, snag it up quickly and enjoy the wonderful taste. Perhaps you’d like to let us know where exactly you were so lucky to find it? :-)
5 Out of 5 Bottles!
BOTW ~ Week of February 18th, 2015
Wilmington Brewing Company
Jalapeno Saison
For our premier review we chose the obvious (to us) and picked Brew Local’s current favorite number one beer. This brew is special! Dare we say it might be the best beer our lips have ever tasted? It’s not a bottled beer or even one that may ever be brewed again (although we pray that it is!). Wilmington Brewing Company consistently serves many, many top notch beers but this Jalapeno Saison does it’s own thing every time.
This brew is a fairly light colored, although medium bodied, Saison that has just enough sour to perk your buds without battling the full notes of jalapeno that soon follow your first sip. This incredible flavor is without heat nor palate overload. The beer is unfiltered, wherein it gets it’s body. There is also a very slight fruity note, which we suspect to be mango, and it further balances everything in the glass. With a good 6.3% alcohol, I truly think that this is the perfect, uniquely drinkable beer for both the connoisseur and easy beer drinker alike.
We can’t believe we are saying this - because then it will be gone even sooner! - but get yourself a glass of this delicious Saison before it’s gone at Wilmington’s very own Wilmington Brewing Company!
5 Out of 5 Bottles!
Top 5 BEST & WORST
BEERS RETIREES
NONE YET!
:-)
