I kicked off October glamping near South Mountains State Park, took a trip to Brevard and Asheville, had a visit from my mom, took a daytrip to the Boone area, enjoyed a bottle share for Resident Culture’s 9th anniversary, and relished in the nicer fall weather that finally has graced us in Charlotte!
I tried 58 different beers over the past month, and here were the best of the best:
The Cellar Tenth Anniversary Stout from Side Project Brewing in St. Louis, MO
This is a blend of rye and bourbon barrel aged Imperial Stouts with no adjuncts. It was brewed in celebration of the Cellar’s 10th anniversary. An incredible beer, and truly a perfect representation of just how talented the folks at Side Project are!
DDH $2 Ketchup Y’all from Fidens Brewing in Albany, NY
This is a double dry-hopped Double IPA brewed with Eggers Lily, Eggers Nelson, Eggers Special, Eggers Motueka, Citra, and Nectaron Hop Kief. It was brewed for Fidens 7th anniversary. A banger IPA from Fidens, shocking I know.
Donna’s Pickle Beer brewed by Pilot Project Brewing in Milwaukee, WI
Donna’s Pickle Beer is a Lager that is my idea of a nearly perfect beer haha. Insanely good, packed with flavor, and I highly recommend if you enjoy pickles!
Dream2 from Wunderkammer Biermanufaktur in Wolcott, VT
Dreams2 is a Mixed Culture beer with spruce tips and honey aged 13 months in oak, 13 months in a gin barrel, and then macerated on more spruce tips. I finally broke into my Wunderkammer bottles from Vermont this summer and absolutely loved this unique beer! I can’t wait to try the other offerings I was able to get!
Between Worlds from Fonta Flora Brewery in Morganton, NC
Between Worlds is a Biere de Coupage-style blended Spontaneous Ale aged on elderflower. Elderflower is always delicious, but you typically see it in cocktails, not beers. This is a unique and fantastic beer.
The Chasm That Divides You From Your Purpose collaboration beer from Burial Beer in Asheville, NC and Inner Voice Brewing in Decatur, GA
This is an Imperial IPA mashed with wheat and oats, whirlpooled with Citra DynaBoost and Motueka Cryo, double dry-hopped with Pesh, NZH-109, Citra, and Motueka Cryo. Brewed for Burial’s Burnpile festival. A great collaboration from two folks who certainly know how to make a stellar Hazy.
Stef from Lesser-Known Beer Co in Winston-Salem, NC
Stef is a Kellerbier with Hallertau Mittlefruh hops, opened fermented and cold conditioned. Another impressive brew from these fantastic folks!
