Lynnwood Grill & Brewing Concern

The Lynnwood Grill & Brewing flies low on the radar as far as NC Breweries go but their beer flys high. The five I tried were for the most part exceptional sans one disappointment. The service was good and the waitress (Jessica) seemed to be knowledgeable. The food was good as well. In my normal fashion I first ordered a flight. The Lynnwood Light is a beer to move BMC drinkers to craft beer and its light, crisp and refreshing to drink and should convert all who try it. The Czech Yourself Pilsner was a total let down for me as there was very little aroma and the finish was harsh. I'm a Pilsner fan but this one rates low on my scale. The Bad Leroy Brown would impress any Britt to the point of feeling at home. My favorite (a GABF Silver Medal winner) was the Once You Go Black IPA. Full aroma not hop forward but a nice medium body with a strong but pleasant hop finish that doesn't linger to long. I decided to order a pint of this one and was disappointed to see the glass wasn't filled to the proper level. At $4.75 a pint one would expect a full pint. (See picture at the bottom of this post.) The Kick My Irish Stout is served on Nitrogen and one can understand why this one was voted one of the top 10 US brewed stouts after winning a Silver medal at the U.S. Beer Open Chamoionship. Overall I recommend a visit as this brewery fits what NC Beer is all about.  http://www.lynnwoodgrill.com 

Big Boss

 

Big Boss is well known here in NC and I was looking forward to a visit.  Due to my scheduling I wasn't able to visit on a tour day.  They only give tours on the 2nd Saturday of the month and I'm sure it's well worth it.  My visit only included the tap room but I must say I was taken back and impressed all at the same time.  Big Boss isn't the only brewery located in an industrial location so that didn't suprise me as much as the pure size of the brewery.  This place seems huge.  

The vintage military vehicle outside grabbed the attention of this writer and his ride along and we had to pose for a photo op.  

  

Once inside you are greeted by a narrow and steep set of stairs to get to the tap room                                                                            

Once in the tap room there are a few rooms with various games, seating and ambiance that reminds you that you're in an uncommon place.  With my aviation background I was especially impressed with the "nose art" that depicts the various brews that Big Boss has either had in the past or continue to brew now.

The bar itself is typical for many breweries we've been into over the years you are able to purchase a flight or a pint of your favorite brew.  You can also buy sixpacks and growlers to take home.

I had Angry Angel, Sacktime, Night Knight Bourbon Barrel Aged and High Roller.  The Night Knight Bourbon Barrel Aged is not available anywhere but in the Taproom and is well worth a trip to Raleigh and a trek up the stairs to drink this impeccable black IPA.

All in all I was not disappointed in my trip to Big Boss and I hope one day to take another trip to tour the brewery. 

Cheers!!!!
http://bigbossbrewing.com/

Trophy Brewing Co.

Trophy is the smallest brewpub ever but has a huge heart and passion for good beer.  They are a 3 barrel nano brewery with 3 single batch and 2 double batch fermenters in downtown Raleigh featuring a full bar and growlers to go. Their beer is something, often unique, and always tasty. The bar is comfortable and staff is well versed in the way of zymurgy, small talk and making you feel at home.

Trophy Brewing Co. represents Chris Powers and David “Woody” Lockwood’s long-held dream of having their own brewery. A place where they can take ideas about and for beers, scratched down on napkins over late night drinking sessions, and turn them into a reality. Les Stewart, the head brewer, shares the vision that Chis and Woody have for beer. His passionate but playful approach to crafting beer returns a glass that surprises most beer drinkers. As the brewer’s assistant Josh Wing rounds out the trophy brewing team. Bringing the curiosity and excitement about beer that you should expect from this brewery,
 

Best in show
American Saison 
This beer is a bright and easy drinking farmhouse ale that they give you a simple syrup to mix with it.  The day I was there the flavor was blackberry but they change the flavors often.  Not typically my style but this one was good and very drinkable. ABV 6.5% 

Biggest Flirt 
Belgian IPA My "go to" beer for this brewery. Hazy & floral with a tropical aroma ABV 7%

I also had the Quiz Wiz Belgian Wit and the Participant Berlinerwiess and while neither was repulsive I'm just not a fan of those styles and unfortunately I didn't make any notes on them.  If you're a fan of wheat in your beer then give them a shot.
 

http://trophybrewing.com/

Boylan Bridge Brewpub

 

Architect Andrew Leager has been operating a cabinet shop in downtown Raleigh since 1997. This business is called Special Projects LLC, and is located in the lower floors of the building that houses the Boylan Bridge Brewpub. 

Andrew has been brewing, bottling, and enjoying his own beer for the past ten years. His experience is the basis for taking on the operation of a brewpub.

The Boylan Bridge Brewpub has a bright and open atmosphere conducive to conversation, business, and social interaction. The architectural millwork and cabinetwork built downstairs in the shop has made the Bridge a beautiful, durable facility using fine woods, ceramic tile, and canvas covered tackboard on the walls.

The brewing operation is visible from the bar through glass doors, offering an industrial connection with stainless steel tanks and copper piping throughout.

The most popular feature of the place is the outdoor deck. It offers an expansive view of the downtown Raleigh skyline. A wood post and beam pergola structure enclose the space and provides mottled shade without trapping sound, making conversation easy.

Andrew says he doesn't care about recipes or the Reinheitsgebot but about defacto simple beer.  And simple it is with a complexity of flavors and good beer.  Boylan Bridge coddles their beer on a short line and when you get a beer from the bar it is coming straight out of the bright tanks located just below.  Andrew used his architectural skills when laying the brewery out and no space is wasted and every space is used to it's potential.  While on a 7BBL system now he is looking to expand the brewery operation into the space he currently uses as his cabinet shop and begin distributing beer.  He plans on self distribution so he can keep the control of his fine craft.

Boylan Bridge should be on everyone's list of places to stop for a pint when in Raleigh. 

Gantlet Golden Ale
This American golden has a light body and a strong hop presence. Strong bittering hops give way to citric and piney notes with a quick, clean finish. 6%ABV

Bruno Bitter
Our Bruno Bitter is an easy drinking copper colored English ale. The light use of hops balances biscuit and toffee malt flavor with an undercurrent of bitterness. 6% ABV

Endless Summer Ale
This light colored English Summer ale balances biscuity malt and bright hop flavors with a strong yeast presence reminiscent of wheat beers. 6% ABV

We Support Public Transportation By Rail Pale Ale
Our American Pale ale is generously hopped with Pacific Northwest Cascade hops. Toasty malt character fades quickly to reveal bright herbaceous hops with a crisp, dry finish. 6% ABV

Pullman Porter
This chocolaty porter straddles the line between sweet and robust. Chocolate and coffee flavors combine with a rich mouth feel to create an exceptionally sessionable ale. This pairs quite salty savory dishes as well as desserts. 6%ABV

Southbound Stout
The stout is a rich, robust and complex ale good for every season. The darkness of color comes from black barley which also imparts an almost smoky character. This malt monster is great with meat and strong cheeses. It even makes for a great dessert all by itself. 6%ABV

Hopped Off the Tracks IPA
Our hoppiest offering is bittered with Millennium hops. The malt flavor is sweet, medium bodied and balanced with the flavor of Warrior hops. 7%ABV

http://boylanbridge.com/

Gizmo Brew Works

Gizmo Brew Works is actually the former Roth Brewery that was saved from going the way of a number of other craft breweries in NC over the past 25 years.  Five guys and a girl that loved the beer pooled their money and resources together and bought the entire operation, changed the name and kept brewing beer.  Tyler from Foothills will be the head brew-master and I have all the confidence in the world that he will do a great job.

Most of the owners are tinker types so the name Gizmo just seemed to fit.  They are also home brewers so they know good beer.  On the day of our visit we met with Brian Shaw.  Brian gave the tour and kept it light and lively.  Brian is an Elementary School Librarian and while he isn't the "hot librarian" we all dreamed about he is owner/partner of a brewery and that makes him even better than the one every 7th grade male dreamed of.

Gizmo brews on a 2bbl system and has the smallest system for distributed beer in the state.  With 4bbl fermenters that means they must brew twice as much as any other brewery to just fill capacity.  They have ordered a larger system and will pass on the medal of smallest brewery to someone else.

They kept most of the Roth recipies since there was nothing wrong with Roth beer and lets face it... That's why the guys bought the brewery to begin with.  Gizmo like it's predecessor is more of a malt brewery and if your a hop head your just going to have to suck it up and enjoy malt for a bit while enjoying these brews.

Raleigh Red is the flagship beer for Gizmo Brew Works. This medium bodied amber ale has a distinct crisp, hoppy finish that lets you know what you are drinking but fades away to let you enjoy the sensation time and time again. This is a beer you will be back for.

Bee Keeper Honey Wheat Very crisp and clean. Brewing with orange blossom honey gives this beer a great citrus aroma and cleansing finish. Dry and only slight chill haze. Unfiltered and unadulterated. If you've read more than two of my writings you know that I am not a fan of Wheat Beer. However this one is very good and more than likely my "go to" beer for this brewery.

Dark Construct – Stout – 7.1% ABV
2013 Bronze Medal Carolina Championship of Beer
2012 Gold Medal Carolina Championship of Beer

Back to the tinker portion I mentioned earlier.  I was very impressed with the tap handles they have made.  It's well known that I am a welder by trade and a sub-par machinist by force so these handles made me smile.

Gizmo can be found all over the Triangle and now in select locations in the Triad.  As this brewery expands you will find them in more and more locations.  Stop in for a tour on Saturday and check Groupon for specials at times. 

Cheers!!!
http://gizmobrewworks.com/

Lonerider

Probably one of the most recognizable breweries in the state as they are everywhere.  Most decent pubs, restaurants, bars and watering holes will either have one or more of Lonerider's beer either on tap or in a bottle.  No matter how they serve it you can bet it will be good.  This writer has been a fan of Lonerider ever since I had my first Sweet Josie a few years ago after finding it at my local grocery store. 

Started in early 2009 CEO/CDO (Chief Drinking Officer) & Founder Sumit Vohra has worked tirelessly to brew a quality beer and also get his beer into the mouths of as many people as he can.  Now 4 years later they hold approximately 17% of the craft beer market in North Carolina.  With close to 100 craft brewers in the state and with some long time names here this is truly an amazing accomplishment. 

In a basic looking building in an area of Raleigh that looks more like you'd find a plant producing corrugated boxes sits the quaint little brewery that brews big beers. The only give a way that it's a brewery other than the name posted on the building is the very nice tap room attached to the front. 

This writer lived in Texas for a number of years and the tap room here at Lonerider has the feel of many of the bars I visited while living there but mostly resembles a bar in Houston TX I visited frequently called The Firehouse.  Unlike many tap rooms that don't give the feel of the brand Lonerider put some thought and effort in theirs and it shows that not only do they care about the beer but they care about the experience of drinking their beer on location.

As you enter the tap room or what they call The Hideout you notice the laid back atmosphere where leashed dogs are allowed on the patio but your horse must remain outside.

 As you enter the staff is friendly and very attentive almost immediately.  They were fairly busy on my visit but I still was greeted as I walked up to the bar.  Like most small craft brewers their beers are right in front of you proudly displayed.  You will recognize the staples but will also see the ones you can't get anywhere else.  

The menu board is nothing more than a dry erase board that tells me there is a constant change in the seasonal and limited releases.  

You will find the flagships:

Shotgun Betty uses her sharpshooting skills to target those that show a weakness for wheat beer with a body that won’t quit. This German-style hefeweizen features a rich, banana-clove nose and refreshing dry finish. 5.8% ABV

Sweet Josie This American brown ale is a complex beer balancing a nice hop bitterness with a generous amount of chocolate and aromatic malts. 6.1% ABV

Peacemaker Pale This well-rounded west coast style pale ale uses several hop varieties and a special blend of malts for a unique and bountiful hop aroma with a balanced bitterness. 5.7% ABV

As of this writing there is:

True Britt Behind this well-mannered facade lies the heart of an outlaw. True Britt is an English-style session ale that combines spicy hop flavors with a bready, malt backbone. Always trying to stay one step ahead of the law, True Britt is never one to stick around town too long. So enjoy this pub favorite before it’s gone. 4.8% ABV

The Preacher This Belgian-style Saison is created with an American twist. A spicy, fruity ale with a bright citrus hop kick.7.7% ABV

McComas Weissenhop The only way to describe this beer is to tell you to get one.  For the longtime reader of this blog it is no secret that I am typically not a fan of Wheat in beer.  Usually I don't even give it a thumbs up or down.  However this one is truly a wheat I could find myself drinking.  It's the brain child of Brewer David McComas and this beer matches his personality.  I asked if this one would be distributed and was told probably not.  Just another reason to get over to Raleigh to drink a pint or two of this one.  With Peacemaker being my "go to" for this brewery if David has this one or another one it's well worth getting.

My overall take of this brewery is it's a first class operation.  Their space may be small but they have a system that works. The smell of the wort in the brewery sent my senses reeling.  A phenomenal smell permeated the air as we chatted with David and Sumit in the brewery.

 One other thing of note is I noticed the cleanliness.  Now all breweries I've been in have been impeccably clean so this is not a jab at any of the others.  However this one seemed a little cleaner and more organized than any of the others I've been in so far.  If you're a home brewer or know anything about brewing cleanliness is key in producing a quality product.  I've been in a large commercial brewery in the past and it wasn't as clean and neat as Lonerider. 

I also can't say enough about the staff.  These guys have helped other brewers in the Triangle area and they have no arrogance what so ever.  They also do a program called "Brew It Forward" which is a home brew competition / charity event.  Visit http://loneridershowdown.com/ for more information on this program.

A quote found on their website describes them perfectly:

“Effect change, don’t be an audience. Walk your own path, and instead of thinking outside the box imagine what if there was no box.”

Cheers partner!!!

http://www.loneriderbeer.com/

Brewgaloo Shop Local Raleigh Beer Festival

On Saturday April 27th the North Carolina Beers blogger headed to Raleigh for the Brewgaloo by Shop Local Raleigh.  This one was quite different than Hickory Hops in a number of ways but it was still a good festival and the bad weather held off till it was over.  There were some great breweries there and I saw old friends and made a few new ones during the event.  This event was free to enter and they sold tokens and tickets to taste or drink beer.  5 tokens were $25 or you could get a ticket for 5 tastings for $5.  Someone stole the box of tickets so if you got there early you could only buy the tokens.  Eventually someone was thinking outside the box and went and bought rolls of raffle style tickets that they started using.

There were over 25 breweries there with most of them from the Triangle area.  We did spend some time at the Highland booth since we thought it was pretty cool that they were the only Western NC brewery there.

Here is a list of who we saw:

Big Boss, Lonerider, Roth (Which is now Gizmo but James is still the brewer), Aviator, Natty Greene's, Carolina Brewing Company, Carolina Brewery, Sub Noir, Crank Arm, White Street, Triangle, Raleigh (With the lovely Kristie at the helm of the Brewery and the booth), Mystery, Duck-Rabbit, Starpoint, Mother Earth, Deep River, Foothills, Four Friends, Olde Hickory, Highland, Railhouse, Mash House, Bombshell (coming soon), and Outer Banks.

Most of the breweries were super nice and this blogger has learned that if you're nice to the brewers they are nice to you.

It was  obvious that the event organizers didn't expect the crowd that eventually showed up but they still handled it well.  I have no real complaints but some suggestions for the organizers should they plan another beer festival.  First of all set an admission price for drinkers and another price for non-drinkers/designated drivers.  $35 and $10 seem to be fair prices.  The lines at the token booths were outrageously long and this would prevent that.  I also would keep the kids out.  A beer festival shouldn't be a place for anyone under the age of 21.  People are drinking and we all know what too much booze does to ones equilibrium and no one wants to worry about tripping over a small child or a stroller.  Finally I'd place the music away from the beer vendors.  The breweries that were near the stage had a hard time talking to their customers and customers had a hard time talking to the breweries.  Even if they don't implement these changes I will still go back if they have another one.

In the future I think I will post a "how to" on going and enjoying a beer festival.  The next blog post will be from the Eastern part of NC and maybe even a South Carolina brewery.

Prost!!!

Natty Greene's Raleigh

Nestled in the old Raleigh Electric Company Power House built in 1910 and on the National Register of Historic Places, Natty Greene's Raleigh is one of the neatest and eclectic breweries I've visited so far.  If you've been keeping up with my post you already know I am not a huge fan of Natty Greene's but still felt the need to visit the Raleigh brewery as it is a NC brewery and they do brew some different beers than those found in Greensboro.  I didn't have any of the beers that are also in Greensboro as I figure they will taste the same regardless of location.  I may take another trip to see if I am correct on this. 

I am not a Hefe-weizen fan but I did try the Hessian and just wasn't impressed but since I'm not a fan of the style I had a friend with me that likes the style and his opinion was it has too much clove in it.  I'll leave it at that and just let the drinker decide if it's good or not. 

They have a collaboration with Thirsty Monk in Asheville called Biere de Mars.  This one was pretty good and I'd hate to think that the reason I like it so much was due to Thirsty Monk being involved so I will give Natty's the credit on this one and say it's one of the best beers I've had from this company.  It's a Farmhouse style lager which smooths out the bite of a Farmhouse Ale.  Good balance of Hops and Malt as the style should.  Even with my love of over hopped beer I did have two of these and it's not a real hoppy brew.

Old Fort Cascadian Dark Ale (Black IPA) was hard to believe it came from Natty Greene's.  Hopped to the way I like it with the roasted malt that's just subtle enough to notice but not over powering.  My only complaint about this beer was that towards the end it seemed to get a tad fishy.  This could be due to oxidized lipids, when the oxygen reacts over time with the small amounts of oils in the grains/malts used in brewing.  I'm thinking I had an old batch and will be willing to drink this one again. 

Springfest Pilsner is a little hoppy for the style but I have no complaints about this beer.  I'm a firm believer that man can survive on a good Pilsner and it is my go to style of beer if I don't know what I want or what's available.  It is a tad nutty which isn't a bad thing in my opinion and as I was "checking in" with the beer on Untappd I read some others that had the same note.  So apparently this is a character of this beer.

Revolution American IPA was a huge let down and disappointment.  When I was visiting the Greensboro location I noticed a lot of "check ins" with Revolution and I requested it there but was told that it was only a Raleigh brew.  Needless to say I was looking forward to trying this beer that so many others were drinking.  First of all the oats in this brew are over powering and it hasn't got the kick of a true IPA much less an American IPA.  I almost didn't finish this beer as it tasted like it had been filtered through the game worn sock of a Durham Bulls player.  I'm assuming it's good for the Bud or Miller drinker as a bridge beer but they won't stay here long if they really start enjoying craft brews.

Spell Hall is their Anniversary IPA to celebrate the third anniversary of the Raleigh location.  It's not bad and actually is very palatable but could use more hops for the hop-head but probably the right amount for the masses that want something a little different.  It reminded me of a Sierra Nevada Pale Ale but also had a "nutty" flavor like the Springfest.  This one definitely is above the masses and I highly recommend it along with the Biere de Mars.

All in all I think I like the Raleigh location much better than the Greensboro location but then again that is just my opinion and I'll let you decide which one you like better.  Take a trip and let me know your thoughts.

Cheers!!!

Raleigh Brewing

Visited Raleigh Brewing on March 9th which just so happened to be their Grand Opening.  Kelly (My wife) and I arrived around 4:15 since the Grand Opening celebration started at 5:00 and I wanted a decent parking spot plus they also house Atlantic Brew Supply which has everything a home brewer would ever want and I needed some supplies.

We purchased our tickets to get beer and I got 5 tickets to try their 5 core beers that were available for the Grand Opening.  I started out with the Uncommon Curiosity which is a standard American Style Lager.  I wasn't overly impressed with this one but then again I am a High Gravity Hop Head so the lighter styles don't fancy me.  Over all though this is a good beer to have on a hot summer day after mowing the yard or on the golf course.  It's much better than any domestic beer you will find.  My second beer was the City of Blokes Bitter, now we are talking my style of beer and I've got more on this on at the end.  The City of Blokes is a traditional pub style ale with the right amount of balance.  This will probably be my "Go To" beer with RBC.  My third one was the Pot of Gold Stout.  This one was not listed on their line up of beers so I looked at it as a bonus.  It drinks like a porter with the creaminess of a stout.  A very good year round beer which I usually don't recommend stouts in the warmer months.  My 4th beer was the House of Clay IPA.  As I said I'm a hop head and while I think this beer could be hopped more it is probably hopped enough for the average IPA drinker.  I'd like to see this one done as a Double IPA in the future.  My 5th beer was the Hell Yes Ma'am which is an absolutely fabulous Belgian Style Golden.  I had ordered this beer with the House of Clay and had Kelly hold it in her hand to warm it up a bit as I like my Belgian's a tad warmer than my other styles.  If it wasn't for the 8.5% ABV I would make this my "Go To" beer.  This Belgian pairs with the best of the best in that style.  At this time in the evening it was getting late and my wife while being the trooper she is was getting antsy on wanting to leave.  I checked the time and it was 6:50.  I had heard at 7:00 they were going to start serving a Cask of the City of Blokes.  I flashed my "baby blues" and she went and purchased a ticket and stood in line to get me my first ever true cask ale.  Now I've had pub ales with the little nitrogen ball in them but nothing will ever compare to the flavor and feel of this beer.  It was Dry-hopped with Kent Goldings and that turned a great beer into one of the best beers I've ever had in all my years of researching beers.  I can only hope this is a staple at the brewery as I am sure it will be a huge hit. 

I highly recommend this brewery.  The staff is knowledgeable, friendly and even professional during probably the most stressful day of their careers.  I hope they keep the charm as they grow and they will be guaranteed success.

Cheers!

http://raleighbrewingcompany.com/

My lovely wife and I at the brewery.

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