NeverSummer

Just a heads up to everyone... I saw today that Suffolk Punch landed on a worst 10 health score list for November. https://www.charlottestories.com/10-worst-charlotte-restaurant-health-scores-in-november/

I'm surprised anyone is going to the Park Road Duckworth's.

I heard the same about Town from friends of mine. They had a pretty dim view on all the beers they tried.

Has anyone tried Heist's beer Blurred Up? I saw they are selling cans of it, but at $17.99 a 4 pack, I'm a little apprehensive.

I have really enjoyed them. I think Sycamore has hit a bit of a new rhythm on their releases, but to each their own, I guess. Juice Willis was next level IMO. Honestly, I expect these juicy IPAs to have less carbonation. My friend who brings Trillium back from up North introduced me to the “proper” style, and it always seems less carbed. I dunno. My two cents. I missed the Heist release entirely. Great news! Did anyone make it to Divine Barrel? I saw some pictures of people drinking their beers on the instagrams.

Hyde's beer is horrible. What are they thinking?

Those photos are awesome. ^ I was referring to the interior rendering I saw on the Agenda. I dunno... it seems off brand, but perhaps not for South Park.

It all reminds me of a Cheesecake Factory.

I agree. Their beer is completely unremarkable. On the other hand, their interior designer is excellent.

The Great American Beer Festival awards were yesterday. Charlotte breweries claimed three medals in total. OMB won a medal for Hornets Nest, and Sycamore won two medals for Sun Grown!

I am pretty sure they are just moving through the wall into the neighboring footprint. It is an expansion of their current spot.

March 2018?!?! That's insane.

I bought two four packs of it on Thursday and have had no issues. It's what you would expect an amber to be, in my opinion.

I just saw on the social webagrams that Sycamore is celebrating national IPA day this Thursday with seven IPAs on tap at just $3 a pint and a free glass. I know where I'll be. I tried their newest IPA yesterday, Citropical, and it is unreal good. Plus Patrick Hazy will be on tap. If any of you guys make it, look for me in a green Russian River shirt. I'll buy you a beer.

Right on. I feel the same way about Jalapeño Pale Ale that you do about Salty Coconut (of which I'm a big fan). Case and point to how polarizing beer can be. Even between us "experts".

...and all of the "bottle shop owners, bartenders, and others" named a beer with virtually no distribution as the best? That makes complete sense. In regards to local beer experts, I'd love to know what qualifies one as a "beer expert". Beyond drinking beer and having an opinion, what raises one's beer skill level to expert? The most badges on an Untappd account? The most hours spent waiting in line next to Matt McKenzie to get limited cans or bottles on a Saturday? Again, no shots fired at any brewery here. I love Charlotte beer. If I had to guess, I'd bet Matt McKenzie picked this list based on personal taste, not the sources listed.

To elaborate on why I said this list is nonsense... It is important to remember the make-up of the user base that generates Untappd and BA ratings. It obviously skews heavily to beer "nerds", "geeks", whatever you want to call them. OMB sells more beer than any of these breweries. Clearly the beer is good, otherwise people would not drink it. However, the list of the best beers is driven, seemingly, by beer nerd heavy apps. Does popular opinion not count? Heist makes a minuscule fraction of the amount of beer that OMB or NoDa brew. Should Salud NoDa be considered? How about a home brewer with amazing skills and recipes. That is an exaggeration, but I hope you all get my point. I love beer, but I never rate anything. I am a grown man, and do not get any thrill out of digital merit badges. Taste is subjective, after all, and perhaps this list is misleading, mis-titled, or both. In no way am I bashing any of the beers themselves, just the bullcrap criteria used to generate this nonsense list.

That list is absolute nonsense.

I'm sorry, but the thought of NoDa being labeled "the most innovative brewery in NC" just about made me shoot my coffee through my nose.

Just saying...

I was thinking about heading over to Free Range this week. I haven't been over there in such a long time, and it seems like a good second stop after a visit to Heist. How is the beer these days?

I made the necessary decision that on inauguration day, I needed some numbing. Sycamore's new IPA "Patrick Hazy" is phenomenal. Just a heads up.

Anyone else see that Wooden Robot has a bottle release coming up on the 20th? $16 for a pint's worth of beer, plus tax. Limit of 4.

Sycamore has a kitchen and has done their own food. Now they are bringing Papi Queso into their kitchen full time. I, for one, can hardly wait! Pig Macs and Peak Farms is a next level combination.

I'm going to go ahead and throw this out there. I think we are all guilty of being a bit hypercritical of the goings-on of the Charlotte beer scene from time to time. I know I am. In the interest of some lighter hearted conversation, what is your favorite Charlotte beer at the moment? I had a friend in from out of town and we knocked back some Peak Farms, 3Cs and Hop Drops last night. Maybe it's the hop charged hangover today, but I am feeling the warm and fuzzies from Charlotte beer at the moment. We're all very lucky to have such good offerings in our backyard.