July 2021

Y’all. July was insane. I visited Columbia South Carolina, Portland Oregon, Hood River Oregon, part of the Oregon Coast, Bend Oregon, Seattle Washington, Boston Massachusetts, Portland Maine, Bar Harbor Maine, and had some killer beers at home in Charlotte in-between. Trying to narrow down this list of my top beers in July was ridiculously difficult after visiting 65(!) new breweries in July, a few of which are some of the top breweries in the country. Check out my top beers in July below:

Everything from Great Notion Brewing in Portland, OR

Hi it’s me, already cheating for choice number one. It is impossible for me to pick one favorite beer from Great Notion that I had—I visited two of their taprooms and had a flight at each, so I had 10 beers on tap and 4 beers in cans throughout my trip. Some highlights were: Carnibaal Smoothie-Style Ale with raspberry, blackberry, blueberry, cotton candy, and marshmallow flavor that is a collaboration with @baabaabrewhouse, Orrerey Imperial Pastry Stout, Big Papaya Fruited Sour with papaya, Shepherd of the Forest Imperial IPA with Strata, Galaxy, Citra, and Vic Secret, and The Mad Batter Imperial Stout with chocolate, vanilla, almonds, and coconut.

Native/Wild Estate Honey From Oxbow Blending and Bottling in Portland, ME

Native/Wild Estate Honey is a Spontaneously Fermented Barrel Aged Farmhouse Ale with Maine grains, aged hops, well water, and estate honey. We enjoyed everything we tried at Oxbow and the highlight was definitely this bottle. Duckfat also has a location onsite to pair your beers with some killer fries.

Everything from The Ale Apothecary in Bend, OR

It is impossible to choose again here, so why not just talk about all of the beers? Ale Apothecary is a super unique little spot in Bend where all of their beers are 100% barrel aged, wild fermented, and naturally carbonated. I had every beer available when I visited: Pear Sauvie with @meccagrade barley and rye malts, @sauvieislandhops Crystal hops, and pear juice; Sahalie malted barley & wheat and @goschiefarms Cascade hops, house lactobacillus culture, aged up to 1 year in oak barrels then a month-long dry-hopping in oak barrels; Walking Fish dry-hopped brew transferred onto freshly harvested Crystal hops from @sauvieislandhops; Sahati barley & rye malts with @goschiefarms Cascade hops brewed in a fallen spruce tree; Farmhouse with barley, rye, wheat, and oats aged in barrels 3-4 months, dry-hopped in the barrel, and naturally carbonated with Oregon honey.

Twice the Daily Serving From Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA

I always love this series from Trillium! This version of Twice The Daily Serving is a Berliner Weisse with blackberry, plum, and raspberry. Visiting Trillium was incredible and of course we left with a plethora of cans for the rest of our time in New England! I enjoyed this one with the sunset over the bay in Southwest Harbor, Maine near Acadia National Park.

Speling van het Lot VIII.ii: Schaarbeekse On A Toast (Medium) - Blended & Alive (Season 17|18) Blend No. 47 From Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen in Lot, Belgium

Did you get all of that? 3 Fonteinen always produces some of the best Lambics around and this one was no exception! It was incredibly smooth and had a nice hint of cherry without being overwhelming. Here is their description of this brew: Speling van het Lot” (Twist of Fate) is a series of small batch experimental brews, barrel maturations, fruit macerations and/or blends. This 8th version features the maceration of Schaarbeekse cherries on charred/toasted barrels. This Schaarbeekse On A Toast has macerated for 265 days on a fresh 1,000 liter medium toasted French oak barrel, in a proportion of 1 kilo of Schaarbeekse cherries per liter of Lambic. After the maceration, the fruit Lambic was blended with young Lambic for a continued fermentation in the bottle.

Pear Mary 2019 From Cascade Brewing in Portland, OR

Cascade is a must visit in Portland! I absolutely loved getting to taste a bunch of their Sours and hanging out in their patio space. My favorite beer I had was Pear Mary 2019, a blend of sour blond ales aged in oak wine barrels then naturally fermented with juice from Northwest-grown pears and infused with fresh rosemary. I also enjoyed Chêne des Fous 2018, Apricot 2019, Garden Party 2017, and Belmont Street Bramble.

Double Dry Hopped Fort Point from Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA

Fort Point is Trillium’s classic juicy Pale Ale, and the DDH version of it was absolutely incredible. It is the classic Fort Point recipe with Columbus hops and then double dry hopped with Citra hops.

Eleanor from Fair Isle Brewing in Seattle, WA

Eleanor is a Farmhouse Ale refermented on elderberries with Hallertau Mittelfruh hops. It has a berry body with notes of cinnamon, clove, and earthy flavors. Fair Isle was my absolute favorite stop in Seattle! They specialize in creating mixed-culture Saisons and they absolutely crush it. I can’t wait to visit them again in the future!

The Purple Kriek From de Garde Brewing in Tillamook, OR

The Purple Kriek is a Spontaneous Wild Ale aged in oak barrels with black and red raspberries and Montmorency and Morello cherries. de Garde is a must visit on any trip to Oregon! They are consistently ranked one of the top breweries in the country, with good reason.

Back in the Zone collaboration From Mast Landing Brewing in Westbrook, ME and Orono Brewing in Orono, ME

Back in the Zone is an Imperial IPA with Citra, Mosaic, and Rakau hops. Mast Landing’s IPAs were absolutely stellar. I loved everything at the taproom outside of Portland, Maine and luckily they were on tap at several spots in Bar Harbor as well!

CHECK BACK NEXT MONTH TO SEE MY TOP BEERS OF August!
CHEERS —ALEXIS

A Day Trip to the Oregon Coast

I highly recommend checking out the Oregon Coast! I chose to do a day trip from Portland, which was a long day but absolutely worth it! From Portland I started just below Tillamook at Cape Lookout, drove up to Astoria, and then back over to Portland.

Oregon Coast Tips:

• Anticipate that the coast will be much colder than other areas in Oregon—bring layers and a rain jacket for the foggy mist, not necessarily a swimsuit

• Each city on the coast is quite different, so definitely check out at least a couple of different spots!

• Traveling with a group? AvantStay has some amazing larger homes for rent! Use my link here to save $250 off your booking!

Check out my full guide to Portland!

Hike on the coast!

There are several hikes along the coast in Oregon, so it really depends on where you want to launch from. I did the Cape Lookout Trail which ended up being about 5.3 miles, 52 flights up, and took about 2 hours. It is just outside of the town of Tillamook, right on the coast.

The trail itself was a bit muddy and overgrown in certain parts, but it provided great views! I recommend starting early, I was the only one there at 8am and when I left at 10am it was pretty busy.

Tillamook

From the hike head into Tillamook, a sleepy little town just inland from the coast. People flock to Tillamook to visit the creamery, but don’t miss de Garde Brewing.

Tillamook Creamery

The hub of creamy cheese and ice cream! This is a massive tourist attraction in Tillamook overflowing with visitors. There is a self-guided tour you can walk through to learn more about the creamery process and then they have ice cream, cheese, grilled cheese, and burgers available on their food menu.

Five Rivers Coffee Roasters

A tasty coffee shop right across the street from the creamery!

de Garde Brewing

de Garde specializes in Spontaneously Fermented beers. All of their beer is produced in a coolship, then barrel aged, and then finally bottle conditioned. They have won a plethora of awards are are arguably the best brewery in Oregon. They are located right downtown in a small little taproom with a nice patio. Their tap list is small but mighty.

Rockaway Beach

A sleepy little beach town just north of Tillamook.

Cannon Beach 

Cannon Beach is one of the more popular beach towns along the Oregon Coast. As a result, anticipate pretty terrible traffic and parking. The beach itself is dog friendly which makes everything more fun. You can also see the surrounding mountains from the beach.

Pelican Brewing 

Pelican is extremely popular and has 3 locations—Cannon Beach, Pacific City, and Tillamook. They have a full food menu that is a bit pricey but tasty. I was honestly surprised by the quality of their beer because it is essentially a tourist hub that is more of a restaurant, but the beer was great!

Haystack Rock

A massive rock in the ocean that is worth seeing!

Astoria

Astoria is pretty large city located at the top of Oregon. The Columbia River separates the city from Washington to the North and the Pacific Ocean borders the city to the West. It is a port city and it is the oldest city in Oregon!

Fort George Brewery

Fort George is housed in a large building in the heart of Astoria. They have both the upstairs and downstairs of the building providing ample seating. They also have an elevated patio with views of the water and the city. They have a full food menu that is focused on pizza. Fort George makes fantastic beers, particularly IPAs and Sours.

Buoy Beer Co.

Buoy is located right on the ocean and provides great views of the surrounding water and mountains. They also have a full food menu if you arrive hungry. The inside space has a glass floor to look at the ocean and creatures below. Buoy can definitely be touristy because of its location but the beers were good and the views were worth it!

Have you checked out the Oregon coast?! What is your favorite spot? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

A Day Trip to the Columbia River Gorge

The Columbia River Gorge is the perfect day trip from Portland, Oregon. This scenic area is just about an hour away from PDX. It is full of hiking, waterfalls, water sports, and fantastic craft beer.

Check out my full beer and travel guide for Portland!

Here is my day trip itinerary for the Columbia River Gorge:

Hike in the columbia river gorge

Multnomah Falls is the highest waterfall in Oregon and one of the most popular tourist attractions in the area. I recommend doing the Wahkeena Falls loop which hits five different waterfalls. I did this AllTrails hike which ended up being 5.8 miles, 134 flights up, and took about 2.5 hours.

The trail starts along a ridge heading from Wahkeena Falls to Multnomah Falls. Multnomah Falls are truly an incredible sight. From the base of the falls you head up the trail across the iconic bridge on the falls and into the land of switchbacks. You wind up for quite a while until you’re at the top of the Multnomah Falls, and then head into the woods. First you encounter Wisendanger Falls, and then Ecola Falls which is a bit smaller and harder to see from the trail. From Ecola Falls you wind through the woods for a while until getting to Fairy Falls, which you essentially follow all the way back down the mountain to the trailhead at Wahkeena Falls.

The trail provides great views of the surrounding gorge and was a delight to hike throughout. It was mildly overgrown in some areas when I visited and there were a plethora of large slugs, so just watch your step! I recommend starting your hike early to avoid the crowds. Getting there anytime between 7-8am was fine, but by 10am the parking lot was packed. There are several other waterfalls and hikes along the Historic Columbia River Highway as well!

Multnomah Falls

Hood River

From your hike head further into the gorge to the town of Hood River, the heart of the Columbia River Gorge. The drive is right along the river and absolutely gorgeous!

I recommend making Stoked Coffee your first stop. This cute little coffeeshop is right on Hood River Waterfront Park. Grab a coffee and meander through the park or find a bench to watch the windsurfers!

Hood River also has several breweries worth checking out:

Full Sail Brewing

Full Sail Brewing

Full Sail has a small elevated patio with nice views overlooking the Columbia River. They have a full food menu, average beers, and restaurant-style vibes.

Ferment Brewing Co.

Ferment Brewing Co.

Ferment has a huge deck-style patio right on Waterfront Park. The views here were my favorite in Hood River. They have a full food menu with delicious offerings and fantastic beers—the best of the day! Ferment can be quite popular, so expect a line if visiting during peak season.

pFriem Family Brewers

pFriem Family Brewers

pFriem is probably the most well-known brewery in the area and for good reason—their barrel aged beers are top notch. With that popularity comes long waits for a table, so I recommend heading to Bear’s Den next door. This is their beer-only outdoor section, whereas their taproom has a full food menu and more of a restaurant set-up. pFriem is also right on Waterfront Park, but they are on ground level so you don’t get the views that you do at Ferment.

Views from the Wahkeena Falls trail

Have you visited the Columbia River Gorge? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

June 2021

June absolutely flew by but it was still packed with some delicious beers! We took two trips to Atlanta, a quick stop in Greenville, and hosted our first fully vaccinated bottle share. In no particular order, here were my top beers in June 2021:

Check out my guide to Atlanta here!

Emergency Chute from Variant Brewing Co in Roswell, GA

Emergency Chute is an Imperial New England IPA. It is brewed with Vic Secret, Simcoe, and Citra hops resulting in a smooth and juicy flavor. This was my first visit to Variant and first time trying any of their beers. I was super impressed!

Self-Reliance: Strata from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT

Self Reliance is Hill Farmstead’s Farmhouse IPA series. This version is brewed exclusively with Strata hops. It was brewed in March 2020, conditioned in puncheons for four months, and then double dry-hopped. Every beer in this series has been fantastic!

The Time Between Dog and Wolf from Resident Culture Brewing in Charlotte, NC

The Time Between Dog and Wolf is an Imperial Pastry Stout. It was Bourbon Barrel Aged for 14 months in Willett Bourbon barrels that previously housed dark, robust maple syrup from High Low Farm in Woodstock, VT and single origin coffee beans from Finca La Laja in Veracruz, Mexico sourced by Pure Intentions Coffee. It is rich, flavorful, and thick. Best served with Ashworth Cookies.

Dot Matrix collaboration from The Eighth State Brewing Company in Greenville, SC and BlackStack Brewing in St. Paul, MN

Dot Matrix is a Mixed Fermentation Gose with malted wheat, passionfruit, raspberry, guava, grapefruit and black truffle sea salt. This collab is tart, fruity, and delicious. These breweries have been two of my favorites for quite a while now, but I am continually impressed by the beers they produce.

Vary from Halfway Crooks in Atlanta, GA

Vary is a Czech Pilsner with Saaz hops and Czech yeast. This is the malty version of another one of their Czech Pilsner’s, Var. Don’t let the term malt scare you here, it is still clean and crisp as you want a Pilsner to be. Halfway Crooks absolutely crushes the Lager game so it’s no surprise that they are on the list. It was difficult to choose which Halfway Crooks beer to add here out of the 6 beers from them I got to try this month!

Check back next month to see my top beers of July!
Cheers —Alexis

The Best Breweries in Asheville

Asheville has a plethora of breweries, but which ones are the best? I’ve rounded up the top 5 breweries in AVL for your next beer trip!

Check out my full guide to Asheville here!

Burial Beer

Burial is hands down the best brewery in Asheville. They are one of the top breweries in the country so this should be no surprise. Burial’s OG South Slope taproom can get packed on the weekends, but it is worth the wait for their fantastic brews. Their other taprooms in Asheville include Forestry Camp, Eulogy, and Visuals Rooftop Wine Bar. Their top styles are juicy New England IPAs, thiccc Imperial Stouts, and crispy Lagers.

Zillicoah Beer

Zillicoah makes incredibly fantastic Lagers and Farmhouse Ales. Their serene location just north of downtown is right along the French Broad River. It is the perfect spot to relax with a clean, crisp beer.

Dssolvr

Dssolvr makes both classic beer styles and insane hype beer styles, but they do everything well. Whether it’s a clean crisp Pilsner or a quadruple fruited Sour Ale with marshmallow you can expect it to be phenomenal. Dssolvr’s taproom is located in downtown Asheville and has a small patio space out back.

Cellarest Beer Project

Cellarest is a killer spot for Lagers and Farmhouse Ales in West Asheville. They have a unique approach to beer with wood fermentation and complex flavors.

New Origin Brewing

New Origin is always a solid spot for IPAs and Stouts. They are located on the east side of town with a robust tap list full of tasty beers.

Special Mention: Highland Brewing

Highland is Asheville’s oldest brewery and is still one of the best! They began in 1994 and have since grown into a staple of the Southeast. Highland makes every style of beer you can imagine, but they are best known for their Gaelic Ale, an Amber. Their 40-acre property in East Asheville includes a taproom, meadow, packaging hall, event center, rooftop bar, and trails.

What do you think are the best breweries in Asheville? Let me know in the comments! Cheers —Alexis

The Best Breweries in St. Louis

The St. Louis area has a plethora of breweries (60+) and I’ve narrowed those down to the top 8 breweries in STL. These spots are cranking out the best beer in the city and are absolute must-trys!

Check out my full guide to St. Louis here!

In ranking order, here are the top breweries in St. Louis:

#1: Side Project Brewing

Repeatedly ranked one of the top breweries in the country, Side Project is the absolute G.O.A.T. of STL beer. Their beers are all barrel aged and a majority of them are barrel-fermented. Think Imperial Stouts, Barleywines, Wild Ales, and Saisons—but don’t overlook their IPAs that the staff produces through Shared Brewing.

Peanut Butter & Stout at Narrow Gauge Brewing

#2: Narrow Gauge Brewing

Narrow Gauge is located just Northwest of STL in Florissant, Missouri and produces the best New England IPAs in the area. Juicy, hazy, and delicious is the name of the game at Narrow Gauge. Their Imperial Stouts are also fantastic!

#3: Perennial Artisan Ales

Perennial has been in the craft beer game since 2011 and they make a huge variety of beers. Abraxas is their most popular beer which is an Imperial Stout with ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and cinnamon sticks, but if Stouts aren’t your style Perennial will still have something you can fall in love with.

#4: 2nd Shift Brewing

2nd Shift also makes an impressive variety of beers—essentially any style of beer you are looking for you can find at their taproom. Lean into the crazier sounding brews and you won’t be disappointed.

Daisy Glaze New England IPA at Heavy Riff Brewing

#5: Heavy Riff Brewing

Heavy Riff is in the heart of the Dogtown neighborhood of St. Louis and has a whopping 25 taps to choose from. Their Wild Ales are particularly fantastic and they are quite possibly the only brewery I’ve seen to have a Brown Ale with an untappd rating of a 4.2.

#6: Bluewood Brewing

Bluewood opened their doors in 2019 within the old Lemp Brewery Stables, giving their space a particularly unique atmosphere. They make a wide variety of beers as well as their own Mead.

German Chocolate Cake at Wellspent Brewing

#7: Wellspent Brewing

Wellspent makes some incredibly delicious beers! They are particularly known for their barrel aging and Imperial Stouts. Their taproom has great vibes.

#8: Urban Chestnut Brewing Company’s Midtown Biergarten

This German-style brewery has a very traditional tap list and classic biergarten vibes. I recommend getting a stein of something clean like a Pilsner or Lager and the pretzel sticks.

Have you been to St. Louis? What are your favorite breweries?! Let me know in the comments! —Cheers, Alexis

May 2021

May brought my first real beer trip out of state since pre-covid! I visited St. Louis for the first time and had some fantastic beers, check out my guide to St. Louis here! May also brought some stellar beer trades from out of state! In no particular order, here were my top beers in May 2021:

German Chocolate Stout from Wellspent Brewing in St. Louis, MO

This is an Imperial Stout aged on coconut, cocoa nibs, and vanilla beans. It tastes exactly like German Chocolate Cake and was absolutely phenomenal! Thick, chocolatey, and just the perfect hint of coconut and vanilla. I definitely recommend checking out Wellspent if you’re in the St. Louis area!

Twice The Daily Serving: Tropical Punch from Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA

I always love the Twice The Daily Serving series from Trillium and this one was no exception! It is a Berliner Weisse with guava, passionfruit, mango, pineapple, and lime. It is thick, juicy, and packed with flavor. Most Berliner Weisses and Fruited Sours have a pretty low ABV but this one packs a punch at 7%! I cannot wait to visit Trillium in July for the first time, it is going to be epic.

Abraxas from Perennial Artisan Ales in St. Louis, MO

Abraxas is an Imperial Stout brewed with ancho chili peppers, cacao nibs, vanilla beans, and cinnamon sticks. This is a classic Imperial Stout released every year and has been one of my favorites for a while. This was my first time getting to try it on draft though and it was even better! I love the combination of spiciness and sweetness.

Even More Hydra collaboration brew from Mortalis Brewing in Avon, NY and Evil Twin Brewing in New York, NY

This is a Fruited Sour with blackberry, raspberry, blueberry, marshmallow, and cacao nibs. I’ve been lucky enough to have a couple of the Hydra series from Mortalis and they have been delicious. This one is a special collab brew making it even more fun and it’s a hearty 7% ABV.

Bourbon Barrel Aged Ego Death from Resident Culture Brewing Company in Charlotte, NC

This Bourbon Barrel Aged version of Ego Death is an Imperial Stout conditioned on toasted hazelnuts and cacao nibs and aged in Willett bourbon barrels for 14 months. This is straight fire! The non-barrel aged version of Ego Death is also very good, just obviously without the bourbon kick and a thinner Stout overall. BBA Ego Death was a knock-out. I was blown away by how well the flavors worked together. I cannot wait to try the vanilla variant of it that we got as well!

Up Up Down Down Left Right Left Right B A from Narrow Gauge Brewing in Florissant, MO

This is an Imperial IPA triple dry hopped with Citra, Mosaic, Galaxy, and Nelson Sauvin hops. This is named after the Konami Code for all you gamers out there. Narrow Gauge makes absolutely fantastic beers and I was thrilled to get to visit their taproom outside of St. Louis. I snagged a 4-pack of this juice bomb of an IPA to bring back to CLT with me because it was so good!

CHECK BACK NEXT MONTH TO SEE WHAT MY TOP BEERS OF JUNE 2021 WILL BE!

CHEERS -ALEXIS

2 Days in Raleigh, NC

Raleigh is such a fun beer city to visit nestled in The Research Triangle of North Carolina. It is absolutely booming and one of the fastest growing areas of the country, so there are plenty of things to do and a plethora of breweries to explore! Below is a two day guide to hit the highlights of Raleigh. If you’ve got more time to explore check out my full guide to Raleigh, Durham, and Chapel Hill here!

Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing

Day 1

Today you will conquer downtown Raleigh!

Start your day at A Place at the Table. This is a delicious spot for breakfast sandwiches plus you can support others through their pay-what-you-can model. Do good for the community you are visiting!

Next head over to the North Carolina Museum of History to get your nerd on, an 11 minute walk from breakfast. It is free to enter and they have some fantastic exhibits!

Okay we’ve eaten, we’ve learned, now let’s get to the important things—beer! From the museum walk 15 minutes to Burial Brewing: The Exhibit. Burial’s Raleigh location is a must visit and some of the best beer in the city.

For lunch or a snack, Burial is nestled in Transfer Co. Food Hall that has a plethora of food options to choose from that are each fantastic!

Next take a longer stroll (22 minutes) or a quick Lyft (5 minutes) to State of Beer, a beer bar with a solid tap list and a large outside patio to enjoy your brews on.

From State of Beer head over to Raleigh Beer Garden, a 12 minute walk to the world’s largest selection of beers on tap. Seriously, check out their Guinness World Record.

For dinner we’re heading to Trophy Brewing and Pizza, a 19 minute walk or 4 minute drive from the beer garden. They have delicious pizzas and a wide variety of beers to choose from!

End your night at Crank Arm Brewing Company, a 15 minute walk from Trophy to work off some of your pizza. This bike themed brewery is super fun and has a large selection of beers to indulge in.

Altered State Brewing Company

Day 2

For day 2 where you will explore some really fantastic breweries on the northwest side of Raleigh!

To start the day, there are two routes you can go:

• Option 1: Grab breakfast pastries from the incredibly delicious Boulted Bread and then go for a hike! There are a plethora of options in the Falls Lake Recreation Area ranging from 2 miles to 26 miles and from easy to hard, so pick your own adventure and enjoy your time in nature!

• Option 2: Brunch at Wye Hill Kitchen & Brewing! This is a great spot downtown with views of the skyline and great food and drink.

From your breakfast/hike or brunch head over to Barrel Culture Brewing & Blending, a 10 minute drive from the hiking area or about 25 minutes from brunch downtown. Barrel Culture has particularly fantastic Sours and Wild Ales.

After Barrel Culture check out one of the newer breweries in Raleigh, Heyday Brewing, a 15 minute drive away, on your way back down towards the city. They’ve got Louisiana flair, great beers, a nice outdoor space, and tasty food if you’re ready for some lunch after your hike! Brunch folks you can eat again too, no judgment here!

Your next stop is Funguys Brewing, a fantastic brewery 15 minutes from Heyday. They specialize in Fruited Sours and juicy IPAs in their little industrial taproom and are well worth checking out!

From Funguys make the 5 minute drive or 14 minute walk to Altered State Brewing, another newer brewery in Raleigh. They have a tiny taproom but plenty of outdoor seating and great beers! Black Fire Brewing is right next door as well!

For dinner walk 5 minutes over to Wilson’s Eatery which shares a space with Lynwood Brewing Concern. If you are still looking for more brews afterwards Big Boss, Bowstring, Nickelpoint, and Neuse River are all in the area as well.

Need a place to stay? We absolutely loved our time at The Origin in downtown Raleigh! It is within walking distance of most things downtown, super new and cute, and dog friendly!

If you’ve got more time in Raleigh, here are the rest of my recommendations!

The Origin Hotel

Have you been to Raleigh? What are your favorite spots? Let me know in the comments! Cheers -Alexis

April 2021

April brought a trip to the mountains in Linville Gorge and another visit to Raleigh, so there were plenty of good beers to be had. In no particular order, here were my top beers in April:

Need A Hug from Fonta Flora Brewing in Morganton, NC

Need A Hug is an Appalachian Wild Ale brewed with blueberries and elderberries. Fonta Flora makes some of the best Wild Ales and Lagers in the game and this one is at the top of the list for me. I absolutely loved how packed with flavor yet simultaneously light and refreshing it was!

Double Sunset from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY

Other Half has made many versions of this Imperial Stout, this one is made with Coava Coffee Roasters Guatemalan Nayo Ovalle Coffee, vanilla and milk sugar. This beer is absolutely phenomenal and one of my favorite Stouts so far this year. I unfortunately broke the bottle of the other version we had and will forever be full of regret because this one was a banger!

Whistlin’ from Suarez Family Brewery in Hudson, NY

Whistlin’ is a Farmhouse Saison with fresh lemongrass fermented with a mixed culture and aged in oak casks. It is both citrusy but also slightly spicy from the country beer vibes. It is light, refreshing, and extremely tasty. This was the perfect beer to enjoy on the deck in the mountains.

Charge the Channel collaboration brew from Vitamin Sea Brewing in Weymouth, MA and Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA

Vitamin Sea and Trillium are two of the best in the game when it comes to IPAs so it is no surprise this brew is delicious. Charge The Channel is an oated Double IPA with Citra, Rakau, and Galaxy hops. It is smooth, flavorful, and juicy—everything I am looking for in a DIPA.

Blade of Hercules collaboration brew from Fidens Brewing in Colonie, NY and Mortalis Brewing in Avon, NY

Fidens is the new hype brewery and honestly I am jumping on the train. This is the second beer I’ve had from them, the first being an IPA, and they were both top notch. Fidens collaborated with Mortalis, another superb brewery to create this delectable Stout. Blade of Hercules is an Imperial Stout with marshmallow, graham cracker, and cocoa nibs. It tastes like smores in a glass but in a good way, not a smoky and sticky way. I highly recommend getting your hands on some Fidens if you have not already!

Check back next month to see what my top beers of May 2021 will be!

Cheers -Alexis

March 2021

March was full of fantastic beers and a trip to Raleigh visiting some amazing breweries and sharing some fantastic beers! You can also tell from my selection here that we’ve finally seen a turn in the weather—this month includes many more fruity and refreshing beers!

In no particular order, here were my top beers in March 2021:

Lunchbox Series Blackberry PB&J from Funguys Brewing in Raleigh, NC

Funguys releases different variants of their Lunchbox Series of Smoothie Style Sour Ales, each that are Peanut Butter and Jelly inspired. This one is brewed with peanut butter, blackberry, and lactose, and truly tastes like you’re biting into an elementary school lunch sandwich. All of their Sours are incredibly delicious so you really can’t go wrong, but this one really exceeded expectations.

Deferred Stimulus from Cerebral Brewing in Denver, CO

Deferred Stimulus is a Double IPA with Galaxy and Cashmere hops coming in at 8.4% ABV. Cerebral makes some of the best Juicy IPAs in the game and this one is no exception! The color is warm and inviting, the smell is fresh and hop-filled, and the flavors are powerful and smooth. I absolutely love getting my hands on Cerebral’s brews and can’t wait to visit them again in the future!

Summer Jam: FrosE Collaboration from Barrel Culture Brewing and Blending in Durham, NC and Kings Brewing in Rancho Cucamonga, CA

This collab is a tiki-drink inspired Fruited Sour Ale with pineapple, mango, coconut, and key lime. At 7% ABV, this is a powerful Sour from two fantastic breweries. It is thiccc, packed with flavor, and super easy to drink. I had this one on tap during our visit to Raleigh and it was so good I also scooped a 4-pack to go!

Abstract Harvest from Heist Brewing and Barrel Arts in Charlotte, NC

Abstract Harvest is a Fruited Berliner Weisse with passionfruit, pink guava, pineapple, and lactose. It is extremely refreshing but super packed full of flavor. At 7.8% ABV it is definitely a boozy brew, but the fruits hide the alcohol and it is super easy-drinking. Pair this with a pizza from Livy’s and you won’t be disappointed!

Self-Reliance: Motueka from Hill Farmstead Brewery in Greensboro Bend, VT

This batch of Hill Farmstead’s Farmhouse IPA, Self-Reliance, has hand-selected Motueka hops from Freestyle Farms, their agricultural partner in Upper Moutere, New Zealand. It was conditioned in oak puncheons for 3 months and then bottled since March 13, 2019. This was truly phenomenal and will probably be one of my favorite beers of the year.

Intern Backpack collaboration from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY, Shared Brewing in Maplewood, MO, and Monkish Brewing in Torrance, CA

Intern Backpack is an Imperial IPA with hand selected Centennial and Nelson Sauvin hops plus Vic Secret and Galaxy hops. This is a true juice bomb coming from three of the best breweries in the country—Other Half, Monkish, and Shared. Shared is by Side Project Brewing and where they create their non-Barrel Aged beers. I look forward to getting to try more of their fantastic creations!

Soft Parade from Short’s Brewing in Bellaire, MI

Soft Parade was my original favorite craft beer! I grew up in Michigan so Short’s and Soft Parade were everywhere, but now as a North Carolinian I rarely get to revisit this delicious classic. Soft Parade is their flagship Fruit Ale brewed with pureed strawberries, blueberries, raspberries and blackberries. It is fruity and refreshing but still 7.5% ABV!

Extra Extra Juicy Bits from WeldWerks Brewing in Greeley, CO

Juicy Bits is already a phenomenal beer and one of the best IPAs in the country. Extra Extra Juicy Bits is the Double Dry Hopped Double IPA version of this classic beer with Citra, Mosaic, and El Dorado hops. This is an incredible beer and one of the top IPAs I’ve personally had. Don’t want to take my word for it? This brew won a gold medal at the 2019 Great American Beer Festival in the Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale category.

Check back next month to see my top beers of April!

Cheers -Alexis

My Top Beers in February 2021

February brought A LOT of good beers! A trip to Asheville + a shipment of all of Other Half’s anniversary beers + some amazing goodies from friends means that this month’s list is a little longer than normal because it was just impossible to narrow things down!

In no particular order, here are my top beers of February 2021:

Toasty Camp Flight at Forestry Camp by Burial Beer Co. in Asheville, NC

Okay so yes this is totally cheating to have 4 beers as one selection but they were all so good! I will narrow it down to my top 2: Lecha Reserva from Bottle Logic Brewing in Anaheim, CA and Rogue in Exile from Eighth State Brewing in Greenville, SC in collaboration with Burial Beer Co. in Asheville, NC. Lecha Reserva is an Imperial Stout aged in tequila and bourbon barrels with chili pepper blend, cacao nibs, cinnamon, vanilla beans, and lactose. The spice perfectly flavors the chocolate base and adds a nice punch. Rogue in Exile is an Imperial Stout with caramel, toasted coconut, Mexican vanilla, honey dates, halawi date, and milk sugar. The flavors combine for a brownie-like thiccc sipper.

Vera Mae (2019) from Hill Farmstead in Greensboro Bend, VT

Hill Farmstead never ceases to impress! Vera Mae is a Farmhouse Saison with organically grown grains, American hops, Vermont wildflower honey, dandelion flowers from the Hill Farmstead fields, and their unique farmhouse yeast. The 2019 edition was aged in oak puncheons and wine barrels for two months and then bottle conditioned for more than a year. The result is a slightly sweet and earthy bottle of goodness.

Triple Juicy Diamonds collaboration from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY and WeldWerks Brewing in Greeley, CO

You know it’s a juice bomb when two of the best in the game come together for a Triple IPA collaboration! Other Half and WeldWerks both individually crush the IPA game and this one is no exception. This is an Imperial IPA with Citra, El Dorado, Mosaic, and Galaxy hops. This one might end up on my best beers of 2021 list at the end of the year, it was so good!

Ken Burns Presents: Guava, Passion Fruit, and Apricot from BlackStack Brewing in St. Paul, MN

BlackStack is so insanely underrated! I visited their taproom in 2018 and had the best IPAs of my trip to the Twin Cities. Since then I have been lucky enough to get some beer mail to continue to try even more of their beers. Their ‘Ken Burns Presents’ series of smoothie style Berliner Weisses has been incredible. This is the 11th edition of the series and is a Foeder-Fermented Fruited Berliner Weisse with guava, passionfruit, apricot, and milk sugar.

Holy Ghost from Parish Brewing Co. in Broussard, LA

Holy freaking Ghost! I am a huge Parish fan after living in Louisiana for almost 5 years so I was thrilled when they released this special version of their best beer—Ghost in the Machine—for their 10th anniversary! This is a Triple IPA with oats, raw wheat, and dry hopped with Nelson Sauvin, Galaxy, and Citra Cryo hops. Fingers crossed this one makes another appearance at some point like the Double Dry Hopped version has!

5th, 6th, and 7th Anniversary from Other Half Brewing in New York, NY

Okay yes I’m cheating again by picking 3 beers in one BUT how can you possibly not include all of this amazing juiciness in a top beers selection?! 5th Anniversary is an Imperial IPA with oats and Citra, Galaxy, Mosaic, Nelson Sauvin, and Citra Cryo hops. 6th Anniversary is an Imperial IPA with Citra, Mosaic, Sabro Incognito, Galaxy, Cashmere, Riwaka, Strata T-90, Cashmere, Tomahawk, and Citra Cryo hops. 7th Anniversary is an Imperial IPA with Citra, Citra Cryo, Motueka, Riwaka, Cashmere, and Eukanot hops. I loved being able to do a side by side tasting of these stellar beers to pick out the small differences between them. I’d love to see Other Half continue to release years past anniversary beers each year to see how things change over time!

Devil’s Edge collaboration from Devil’s Logic Brewing and Edge City Brewery in Charlotte, NC

Devil’s Logic and Edge City are both newer to the Charlotte beer scene, with Devil’s Logic opening in December 2019 and Edge City in April 2020. They’ve each jumped right into the mix of 40+ breweries in the CLT area with impressive beers and nicely curated taprooms. Together they created Devil’s Edge, an Imperial IPA with Citra, Simcoe, and Vic Secret hops. This juice bomb is perfectly hopped and incredibly tasty. You can enjoy it on tap at either location or snag a crowler to enjoy at home.

check back next montH to see mY top beers Of march! Cheers -Alexis

The Best Breweries in Georgia

When I visited my first brewery in Georgia in June 2014 you had to purchase a “tour” of the brewery and receive tokens for a few beer samples with your tour. The brewery was not allowed to directly sell you beer. You could not walk up to the bar, grab a pint, and take a seat as we all know and love today.

Thankfully in September 2017 that finally changed with a new law, leading to a huge increase in breweries in the state. Further regulation changes since then, such as the state’s max ABV and how much beer a brewery is allowed to produce, have opened the gates even wider for more breweries to blossom. Now in 2021 Georgia has just over 100 breweries.

In alphabetical order, here are the best breweries in Georgia:

Check out my guide to Atlanta and my guide to Savannah!

Contrast Artisan Ales

Located in Chamblee, Georgia, a city in the northeast Atlanta suburbs, Contrast Artisan Ales is a cute little spot with killer beers. They’ve got a small but mighty tap list particularly filled with IPAs. There is a high level of craftmanship being poured into each of their brews. It is worth the journey to the suburbs to check out them out!

Creature Comforts Brewing Company

Located in Athens, Georgia, Creature Comforts makes essentially every style of beer under the sun. They are strongest at Saisons and Mixed-Cultures, really honing in on the craftsmanship of funky beers. Their clean beers are also really well done, and Classic City Lager is a delightful all day sipper. Creature Comforts is also opening a second brewery and taproom in Los Angeles.

Halfway Crooks

Located in central Atlanta, Halfway Crooks is a Lager-focused brewery that is absolutely incredible. Their beers are delightfully crisp and packed full of flavor. Their Lagers, Saisons, and Pilsners are particularly top-notch.

Monday Night Brewing

Monday Night has two locations in Atlanta—the original taproom is in Midtown and The Garage, their Sour and Barrel Aging facility is located in the Lee + White West End establishment. Monday Night was one of the OGs of the craft beer game in the South. They were the first brewery I ever visited and what truly got me hooked on craft beer and exploring breweries! They always have a wide variety of beers to choose from and they do each style well. Their decadent Stouts and small batch juicy IPAs from their Hop Hut series are my personal favorites. Monday Night has also expanded to Birmingham and Nashville.

Pontoon Brewing

Located in Sandy Springs, Georgia, a northern suburb of Atlanta, Pontoon crushes the Sour and Stout game. Name an adjunct and you can probably find it in one of Pontoon’s beers. They throw some crazy things into their recipes but they turn out delicious! Located in a strip mall setting, Pontoon’s environment isn’t what you’d expect for a brewery with a pretty large distribution but their beers are top notch.

Two Tides Brewing Company

Located in Savannah, Georgia, Two Tides is located in a converted house with a super unique setting. Each “room” of the brewery has a different vibe and the balcony porch lets you embrace the lovely Savannah ambience. Two Tides is particular fantastic at crafting IPAs and Sours. They are always getting creative and making unique small batch beers so their tap list changes frequently. I’d recommend doing small pours so you can sample their smattering of beers. They’ve also embraced beer slushies to help cool you off during that humid Savannah summer.

Wild Leap Brew Co.

Located in LaGrange, Georgia, Wild Leap continues to impress with their IPAs, Sours, and Stouts. Their Alpha Abstraction series of Double IPAs always produces incredibly delicious juicy IPAs with a punch. Their Truck Chaser ice cream style Double IPAs are always highly sought after as well, and for good reason. Wild Leap is incredibly underrated and one of the best in the craft beer game. Fun fact, they also make their own craft vodka!

If you are exploring Georgia, here are my guides to Atlanta and Savannah! Cheers—Alexis

The Best Breweries in South Carolina

South Carolina has over 75 breweries and some that are truly crushing it. Living in Charlotte, South Carolina is just a half an hour away so I frequently head down to SC for adventures and of course brewery exploration.

In alphabetical order, here are the best breweries in South Carolina:

Birds Fly South Ale Project

Located in Greenville, SC, Birds Fly South crushes the wild beer game. Sours, Cuvees, Farmhouse Ales, Mixed Cultures, Saisons, Wild Lagers—if it has got funk, BFS does it and does it well. They are housed in Hampton Station, a mixed used development with a few other spots that you can explore. White Duck Taco is always a good idea to pair with your beers.

Charles Towne Fermentory

Located in Charleston, SC, Charles Towne makes great IPAs and Lagers. Don’t expect a huge variety or a huge tap list when you visit, but the things they do they do well. The head brewer used to brew at Trillium and then Tired Hands, so you know they crush Hazy IPAs. Their small taproom is located in the Avondale neighborhood.

Edmund’s Oast Brewing Co.

Located in Charleston, SC, Edmund’s Oast has three different locations: The Brewery, The Restaurant, and The Exchange. The brewery location is my personal favorite and will soon be right next to Juan Luis, a popular taco spot taking the former space of Workshop Food Hall for those familiar. The Exchange is connected to The Restaurant is is a great spot to grab to-go beers. Each Edmund’s Oast location has different Happy Hour specials that are fantastic, I highly recommend looking to see what they are featuring before you visit. Edmund’s Oast does each style of beer well, but their Sours are the best in my opinion. No matter what you order you will be impressed!

The Eighth State Brewing Co.

Located in Greenville, SC, Eighth State nails Fruited Sours and Pastry Stouts. They make insane beers because they are willing to go out on the edge and use things in their beers that others would never dare. You never know what you’re going to find on the tap list but just lean into it and enjoy! They’ve also got sandwiches and bread from Swamp Rabbit Cafe to go with your beers which is truly fantastic.

Slow Play Brewing

Located in Rock Hill, SC, just south of Charlotte, Slow Play makes incredibly juicy and delicious IPAs. They have a wide variety of beers if IPAs aren’t your thing, but if you enjoy them you will love this spot. They’ve also got an amazing food truck that lives onsite—Cibi Cibi!

Westbrook Brewing

Located in Charleston, SC, Westbrook is one of the OGs of craft beer. Personally I think their Stouts are their strongest style (can you tell from my flight above?) but they do each style of beer well! They are most known for Mexican Cake, an Imperial Stout with cocoa nibs, cinnamon, vanilla, and habanero peppers. Their taproom is in Mount Pleasant but you can find their beer across the state and neighboring states as well.

If you’re exploring South Carolina, here is my full guide to Greenville and here is my full guide to Charleston!
Cheers —Alexis

Charlotte Greenways Guide

Charlotte greenways are super confusing and there are no good resources out there to understand them, so I decided to create my own guide as I explored them! I prefer a mountainous and more difficult hike, but sometimes a greenway is ideal for after work or if you’ve got less time to explore. If you’re looking for a longer and more nature filled adventure, check out my guide to the best hikes near Charlotte here!

Other resources out there are just completely inaccurate in regards to distances and segments of the trails. AllTrails has the same issues with inaccuracies, but has some helpful maps and GPS directions to parking lots so I will link those for each greenway.

You can hop on most greenways at any point along the trail, so if you don’t want to do the full thing or if there is a more convenient area to join based on where you live, know that you can simply walk onto the greenway from most neighborhoods. That is also true in regards for areas to park—all of the greenways have a designated parking lot but you can park in most neighborhoods along the trail as well.

These are all the greenways within the outer 485 loop of Charlotte, but at some point I may force myself to venture into the suburbs! Whether you are walking, running, or biking, Charlotte has a fantastic greenway system!

Four Mile Creek Greenway

This greenway is in Matthews and a nice stroll along a creek. It is 4 miles total roundtrip out and back. This is definitely one of the more crowded greenways in CLT, but it is still worth checking out. Here is the AllTrails link to where to park along the road or in the neighboring subdivision. Check out Seaboard Brewing for homemade beer and pizza or Carolina Beer Temple for a great tap list of beers after your walk!

Stewart Creek/Wesley Heights/Urban Irwin Creek Greenway

These three greenways intersect in West Charlotte towards Uptown. At one point there is a fork where you can decide to follow Stewart Creek or Irwin Creek, but they are both about the same distance. Overall each trail is about 3.5 miles. I would recommend parking at the Stewart Creek Greenway Trailhead (904 Woodruff Place).

The trail starts in nature and then gets much more urban as you continue on, going right to Uptown. Town Brewing and Blue Blaze Brewing are both right near the trail to enjoy a beer after! Here is the AllTrails link to show the map of Irwin Creek and Wesley Heights. Here is the AllTrails link to show the map of Wesley Heights and Stewart Creek.

Irwin Creek GReenway

This short section of greenway is 3 miles out and back near South End. It runs from Revolution Park with a turf football field across a golf course to Clayton Park. It is a little odd to venture directly through a golf course, but the trail is pretty empty and the rest of it follows a creek through a more relaxing setting. Here is the AllTrails link for this section.

Little Sugar Creek Greenway

This greenway is segmented across parts of Charlotte and has multiple different sections, arguably this is the most confusing greenway in CLT.

Personally I prefer the section that starts in Villa Heights and goes through the Belmont neighborhood towards Uptown. There is a parking lot near The Hobbyist, a great coffee shop and craft beer bar. Grab a coffee to walk with or a beer afterwards! This section is 2.5 miles total roundtrip out and back. It starts at Cordelia Park and ends at Alexander Street Park. Here is the AllTrails link that will give you GPS directions to the parking lot and a map of the route. Occasionally the bridge under Parkwood Avenue will flood, if that is the case you can simply cross Parkwood on the main sidewalk and then rejoin the greenway.

A more urban section of the Little Sugar Creek Greenway winds through Midtown and Myers Park. This section is mostly just sidewalks through the city, but some sections are more scenic. It starts at Freedom Park and goes 2.5 miles towards Uptown. You could also hop on near the Target and Harris Teeter in Midtown and go in the opposite direction. Here is the AllTrails link that will provide you with a map. Grab a beer at Devil’s Logic along the way.

There is also a long section in South Charlotte that runs from near Marion Diehl Park to 485. AllTrails has it broken into two different trails: here is the link for the further north section starting near Marion Diehl Park and here is the link for the section starting at Huntingtowne Farms Park.

Mallard Creek Greenway

This trail is over 9 miles long out and back and is located up near UNC Charlotte. You do need to cross a road at one point, but otherwise it is pretty relaxed. Here is the AllTrails link, but I personally enjoyed combining part of Mallard Creek Greenway with Toby Creek Greenway. You can also connect to Clark’s Creek Greenway if you choose.

Toby Creek Greenway

Toby Creek Greenway runs across part of UNC Charlotte’s campus. It is just over 6 miles long total and connects to Mallard Creek Greenway if you’d like to expand your journey. Part of this trail is more nature filled than the section that goes through campus, but it is interesting to stroll across campus and provides great people watching. Here is the AllTrails link with a map, but the parking lot and distance are inaccurate.

Clark’s Creek Greenway

This trail is about 5 miles total out and back and is nice and nature-y. Park at Mallard Creek Elementary and enjoy your walk along the river! It can be muddy if it has recently rained. I thoroughly enjoyed this one personally. Here is the AllTrails link with a map and directions.

Campbell Creek Greenway

This 3 mile trail is right off Independence Boulevard making it convenient, but you will hear some road noise throughout your walk. It follows the creek throughout and is more nature filled than some of the other options aside from the noise.

As a heads up one of the Google Maps locations will take you to an apartment complex without parking options, so I’d recommend the parking lot AllTrails directs you to. Here is the AllTrails link. Unfortunately this parking lot is not at the exact beginning/end of the trail, it is right on Margaret Wallace and intersects the trail. If you follow the path from this parking lot on the same side of the road as the parking lot you will hit McAlpine Creek Greenway in about a half mile. If you cross Margaret Wallace from the parking lot the trail runs about two miles which is the main section of Campbell Creek Greenway.

This greenway is right near Edge City Brewery so I definitely recommend stopping by for a pint after!

Mcalpine Creek Greenway

McAlpine Creek Greenway is quite long at about 8 miles and connects to Campbell Creek Greenway as noted above if you’d like to extend your journey an extra 3 miles. McAlpine Creek starts near James Boyce Park and it leads to McAlpine Creek Park which has an additional 3 miles of cross country trails that you can explore. Personally I found this trail to be a little smelly unfortunately, you’ve been warned. Here is the AllTrails link for directions to the parking lot that I’d recommend, please note this route is not completely accurate as far as distance and correct markings, I just think the directions are helpful. This greenway is also right near Edge City Brewery!

There is also a lower section of the McAlpine Creek Greenway running 8 miles out and back going further South, here is the AllTrails link.

SHORTER GREENWAY OPTIONS

Personally if a greenway isn’t at least 3 miles I don’t find it to be worth my time and effort, but here are a few shorter options for those of you interested:

• Briar Creek Greenway

• McMullen Creek Greenway

• Taggart Creek Greenway

Cheers and happy exploring! -Alexis

My Top Beers in January 2021

Some people choose to do Dry-January, but personally that’s not something that I have ever or probably will ever choose to do.

First, my birthday is in January. Second, I like beer. Third, to me, forcing yourself to not do something is not a healthy option over moderation. Fourth, it’s a global pandemic, we celebrated a new President, and we faced an insurrection on our nation’s capitol.

In summary, I drank some beers in January! Here are my favorites, in no particular order:

CLIMB THE BALLMER PEAK FROM TRILLIUM BREWING IN BOston, MA and Equilibrium Brewery in MIDDLETOWN, NY

The second batch of this Triple IPA loaded with hand selected Citra hops. I love a good collab and EQ teaming up with Trillium was bound to be amazing! I brought this one up Stone Mountain, and although it wasn’t the Ballmer Peak it was a great peak to enjoy such a delicious beer. Check out all my favorite hikes near Charlotte here!

Even More Gummy Saurus from Evil Twin Brewing in New York, New York and Tripping Animals Brewing in Doral, FL

Even More Gummy Saurus is a Fruited Sour with coconut and marshmallow. I did not have high expectations for this beer because I am not a huge coconut fan and I generally like my Fruited Sours to be berry focused, but this one was stellar. Best paired with college basketball watching.

Marvoloso V7 from Commonwealth Brewing Company in Virginia Beach, VA

Wow. This one was an Imperial Chocolate Stout aged on Basil Hayden’s Bourbon and Woodford Reserve Rye barrels and conditioned on marshmallow, coconut, walnuts, cocoa nibs, Tahitian vanilla beans, and Ghirardelli dark chocolate. I enjoyed this adjunct-packed Stout at Carolina Beer Temple, we were lucky enough to visit when they were doing a Commonwealth tap takeover! Their outside patio area is great, I definitely recommend checking them out!

Hommage Bio Frambozen from Brouwerij 3 Fonteinen in Brussels, Belgium

Lambic Life! This is the Season 17|18 Blend Number 60 version Lambic with raspberries, cherries, and local honey. There is nothing that makes you feel quite as boojie as a Lambic basket. This was a special treat for my birthday from a good friend that we enjoyed at The Whale Beer Bar in Asheville. They’ve always got a killer tap list and can/bottle list as well!

Dessert Cart from Mountains Walking Brewery in Bozeman, MT and The Whale Beer Bar in Asheville, NC

Dessert Cart is a Pastry Stout brewed for The Whale's 3rd Anniversary using Mountains Walking’s thick and decadent Pastry Stout base conditioned on toasted coconut, toasted pecans, cocoa nibs and Tahitian vanilla bean. Creamy, thicc, flavorful, and delicious! We enjoyed this can at Salud Beer Shop, one of my favorite spots in Charlotte.

Second Hand Shanty from Vitamin Sea Brewing in Weymouth, MA and Resident Culture Brewing in Charlotte, NC

This is a Triple IPA Double Dry-Hopped with Mosaic, Strata and Michigan Copper. Vitamin Sea and Resident Culture both crush it in the IPA game so it was no surprise that this collaboration was great. I personally preferred Vitamin Sea’s version, but both were absolutely fantastic!

Tune in next month for my February favorites! Cheers -Alexis

My Top Beers in December 2020

December was a month of a lot of beers. We took a beer trip to Richmond, Virginia, we checked out some new local breweries, college basketball and football heated up, and of course the holidays meant less work and more celebrating!

In no particular order, here are the best beers I drank in December 2020:

Squeeze Play by Slowplay Brewing in Rock Hill, SC

We visited Slow Play just south of Charlotte for the first time in December thanks to a collaboration I did with Discover South Carolina. I was absolutely blown away with how delicious the beers were, how friendly the staff was, how great the spacious patio was, and how delicious the food was from the onsite food truck Cibi! Cibi! My favorite beer I had was Squeeze Play, a Hazy IPA with Amarillo, Citra, and Mosaic hops.

Starve Exhibit D from The Veil Brewing in Richmond, VA

We were incredibly lucky that Rebecca and Daniel from @WanderingHops shared this amazing Stout with us when we stayed with them on our beer trip to Richmond! Starve Exhibit D is an Imperial Stout aged 18 months in Bourbon and Brandy barrels with honey, vanilla, and marshmallows. It was thicc, Bourbon-y, and packed with flavor! If you’re not already following @wanderinghops on Instagram get on it! They drink delicious beers and take incredible trips!

Blackberry, Banana, Cream Cheese, French Toast JREAM from Burley Oak Brewing Company in Berlin, MD

This is a Fruited Sour with lactose conditioned on blackberry, banana, cream cheese, maple syrup, cinnamon, vanilla, and brown sugar—it is absolutely phenomenal! This is by far the best JREAM I have had from Burley Oak and one of my top Sours I have had in a long time! I can’t wait to make it to their brewery someday, hopefully in 2021!

Everything at The Answer Brewpub in Richmond, VA

Okay okay this is cheating I know, but honestly everything I had at The Answer was SO good! My flight included the following beers, from left to right in the photo: Hoptone Galaxy Anniversary edition of the Hoptone IPA series featuring CY 2020 Galaxy Hops; Quadrupole Mother of Berries Joose with Boysenberries, Loganberries, Blackberries, and Raspberries; Quadruple Mother Pulka Joose with Red Raspberries, Redcurrant, Strawberries, toasted Marshmallow, and vanilla; Sleep Paralysis @smoothambler Barrel Imperial Stout with Peanut Butter and Oreos. Check out my Richmond recommendations here, but if you can only make one stop in RVA I would highly recommend The Answer!

Grandma’s Apple Pie Gose from Westbrook Brewing in Mt. Pleasant, SC

This is a Gose with apple puree, vanilla, cinnamon, sea salt, coriander, and lactose. At just 4% ABV, it is the perfect dessert beer without being too heavy. It tastes just like apple pie and is super yummy!

Heavy Mettle Collab brew from The Veil Brewing in Richmond, VA and Trillium Brewing in Boston, MA

Heavy Mettle is an Imperial IPA with Galaxy and Amarillo hops from Trillium Brewing, but thanks to the Freaky Friday beer collab initiative going around The Veil brewed this version! It was super juicy and I absolutely loved it, which is no surprise given my love for Galaxy hops. We paired this brew with pretzels from Eastern Standard Provisions—I definitely recommend checking them out! I got a box at my doorstep courtesy of my mom filled with pretzels and mustards accompanied by easy to follow directions on how to heat them in the oven and they were super good!

Tune in next month to see what my first favorites of 2021 will be! Cheers! -Alexis