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 

Small Batch Beer Co. Winston-Salem

Most breweries are kid friendly this one has been in the past but on our most recent visit...  Not so much. But hey they aren't in business to sell to kids so I'm not going to fault them. 

They brew on a 1 BBL system but have a very extensive craft and import bottle selection so they have something for everyone. They also have a nice wine selection a few specialty cocktails and non-alcoholic beverages as well.

Today I'm having their Limonhead Cutrus IPA and I'm not getting the smokey flavor and aroma that I got the first few times. This is a light bodied flavorful American IPA with a nice citrus aroma with low malt aroma. Flavor is very forward with a nice clean hop finish. A very dry citrus IPA but not bad. At 6.5% ABV this is one you need to be careful with as it could sneak up on you. 

My second one was the Downtown Abbey Ale. A smooth light bodied low hop malty beer that even a hop head like myself can enjoy. Still creamy as the style would suggest. Aromas are low and don't come out high but that's ok. Flavor is low on hop bitterness and hop flavor but the malt shines with a caramel undertone. Smooth mouth feel. 

They have a number of Saison styles available but my pallet is in no condition to tackle them on this visit. 

Small Batch is a place that invites you in with all it's southern charm for a totally different drinking experience. 

Bad beer. Who is responsible?

My closest friends, Facebook and Twitter followers know I love and use the popular beer app called Untappd. It's a great app as it allows breweries to see what people are saying about their beer.  It also allows establishments to track who is drinking what in their location provided the consumer is syncing their post to Facebook, Twitter and/or Foursquare.  I use the app to keep up with what I've had and where as well as to make notes on the beer I've had. 

Recently I was in an establishment and Anchor Steam was on the tap rotation.  I've been a fan of Anchor Steam for years but never had one on draft.  I ordered one and was not happy with the flavor.  It tasted very yeasty and bread like and I asked the bar tender if the keg had just been put in.  At times when a keg is changed out it gets jostled around and any sediment can mix with the beer.  I was told that it had been up for a day or two.  Needless to say I just wasn't impressed with this beer and was slightly disappointed because I have enjoyed it for years in bottles.  I posted on Untappd with the comment "Either a bad keg or I prefer it in a bottle."  I finished the beer and ordered a different one next.  I spent a little more time in the establishment chatting with other patrons and had forgot all about my post.  As I was leaving one of the owners of the establishment approached me and said if I ever posted about bad beer in their establishment then I would be banned from coming back in.  This shocked me for a few reasons.  One, I am pretty regular in visiting this place and the owners know me as a beer snob. Two, I would never publicly insinuate that any establishment was selling bad beer on purpose.  Three, it happened in front of other customers that may or may not have heard the exchange. 

I have had bad beer in the past at various locations and I would usually mention to the bar tender, manager or owner that they may have an issue with a keg.  Usually the problem is researched and if proven to be a bad keg it is removed from the line.  I've never said a beer was bad based on the fact I didn't like the taste.  If that were the case then every bar or restaurant I ever entered would be getting complaints on the Budweiser and Miller/Coors products.  I know the difference between a beer I don't like and a beer that has some quality control issues. 

Getting a bad beer isn't necessarily the fault of the establishment.  I think it's the responsibility of the establishment to remove a bad beer from the line though.  I have been in an establishment that knew it had a bad keg and had the keg replaced by the distributor but they still left the bad keg on their line. 

Also this week I was in a grocery store mulling over the beer selection and picked up a 6 pack that was a full month out of date.  In this case it is the fault of the establishment and the distributor. 

As consumers we should be obligated to alert the establishment regarding a potential problem with a product.  Any good establishment will have a Cicerone, BJCP Judge or a few trust worthy customers that can all verify if there is a problem with a specific beer.  Simply ignoring the problem won't make it go away and could lead customers to believe that the establishment does not care about the quality of their product. 

I'd be interested to hear comments on this subject.

Cheers!

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/

White Street Brewing Co.

Located in Wake Forest home of Southeastern Baptist Theological Seminary the White Street Brewing Company is Wake County's best kept secret.  Nestled in a 100 year old building, investor and visionary Dino Radosta has created one of the most unique breweries this writer has ever been in.  The tour actually starts out with the history of the building and how Dino came to start White Street and his vision in creating an eclectic atmosphere for folks to enjoy good beer.  Another interesting aspect is that Dino was not a home-brewer.  Most breweries are started by guy's and gals that have brewed in their kitchens for a few years and then decide to share their craft.  Dino actually learned how to brew on the 10BBL system that he bought for the brewery.  He realized quickly that while he could brew good beer he needed consistency and hired Chris Bivens as brew-master.  You will see Chris at brew-fest pouring White Street beer and Chris has the personality and know how to be a huge asset to WSBC.  Dino recently brought GABF Gold Medal winner Ian VanGundy on board as Director of Brewing Operations.  WSBC is planning an expansion to a 50BBL system in a production facility soon but will keep the current and original location open as a tap room and brewers play ground.  Ian will have his hands full but with his experience, passion and knowledge he is very capable of the task at hand.

The beer is excellent and the personality of Dino and Chris come out with each style.  One very interesting fact is they actually change the water profile of each beer they brew by adjusting PH and minerals.  I live in Rockingham County and we have Miller/Coors here.  I've had the opportunity to go through Miller/Coors and speak with their brewers and other employees and this is a task that Miller/Coors does not do.  You are guaranteed a good beer from White Street based on the attention to detail they put in their water, grains, hops and yeast.

Distribution is handled through Jeffries Distributing and WSBC is expanding the market so it won't be long before everyone in NC will be able to enjoy these beers.

White Street Kolsch-style Ale pours an old-gold with a fine, white head. A subtle fruitiness aroma extends to the palate with hints of pear and melon. Crisp and refreshing.

White Street Imperial Pale Ale: A blend of West Coast hops and crystal malts give this beer a unique citrus undertone on the palate while a generous dry hop delivers a huge aroma. Bold and refreshing.

White Street Scottish Ale Pours deep mahogany, produceing a tight tan head that gives way to a complex maltiness. Herbal and spicy notes play nicely in a caramel essence to produce a beautifully sessionable beer.

White Street Black IPA is ruby black with a frothy mocha lingering head offering the full punch of spicy, citrusy hops. A wonderment of toffee, deep plums and peppercorn, it finishes with a dance of roastiness and hop bitters. This is my "go to" beer.

White Street Belgian Singel: Floral with hints of apricot, pear and crisp green apple, this light gold beer finishes with a balance of hops and Belgian yeast. Complex and intriguing.

Cheers!!!
http://www.whitestreetbrewing.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/