Craft Beer Collective

Foothills celebrates Winston-Salems 100

Video and story about Foothills brewing 100 Foot beer to celebrate from WFMY

Winston-Salem is preparing to celebrate its 100th birthday, and to mark the occasion, Foothills Brewery is making a limited edition beer called Hundred Foot.

The name was chosen to reflect the collaborative nature of Winston and Salem joining to become one city 100 years ago, and the beer is a cream dry ale hopped with, appropriately, centennial hops.

The only batch was bottled live during News 2′s Good Morning Show on Friday.

Hundred Foot will be available at most of the city’s centennial events, at Foothills’ downtown Winston-Salem pub; and in limited release 22 oz. bottles at selected retail establishments.

#NCbeer in the Media

There has been a flood of North Carolina beer stories in mainstream media over the past week and a half. Since we’re here to preserve that information here are links to those articles.

After years of self distribution, Winston Salem’s Foothills Brewing has signed on with established wholesalers to take on distribution throughout the state.
http://www.bizjournals.com/triad/news/2013/01/11/foothills-brewing-expands-distribution.html

New and Observer announce new beer column by John Frank. Plus Carolina small batch series and Crank Arm News: http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/01/15/2608919/pintful-a-new-voice-in-beer-news.html

Hickory Brewers profiled in Hickory Record including Olde Hickory, Howard and in construction Skullcoast: http://www.hickoryrecord.com/news/article_450024ea-5d10-11e2-a2ff-0019bb30f31a.html

Crank Arm Brewing announce location in Raleigh
http://www.wral.com/crank-arm-brewery-to-open-in-downtown-raleigh/11959798/

More Wake County Brewers to open in 2013. Welcome Hosanna Brewing to the scene:
http://www.newsobserver.com/2013/01/12/2602968/more-beer-brewing-in-southwest.html

Raleigh Telegram profiles the North Hill’s Yard House and their pricey menu: http://raleightelegram.com/201301174690

NC Beer & Band Festival

Second Annual NC Beer & Band Festival at the Lincoln Theatre
Saturday May 12th 3-8pm

Breweries on hand will be Roth, Natty Greens, Husk, Lonerider, Olde Hickory, Carolina, Carolina, Mother Earth, Weeping Radish, Duck Rabbit, Triangle, Highland and Foothills brands.

Seven NC Bands on Two Stages
Featuring: Hobex / Yo Mama’s Big Fat Booty Band / Simplified / Clay Pigeons / Mac & Juice

Food Truck Triangle with Valentinos, American Meltdown, Chirba Chirba Dumplings

$25 Advance / $30 Day of Show or $30 Advance for Day & Night Shows

http://lincolntheatre.com/schedule.htm

5Q: Flying Saucer Anniversary Party

The Flying Saucer in Raleigh is turning 12 this year and to celebrate the team there has put together a truly rare beer event featuring 12 barrel aged beers from 12 breweries with Heaven Hill distillery barrels. To explain the event in detail and to discuss how Raleigh has changed as a beer city, we sent five questions over to Saucer GM Jeff Mickel and here is what he write for us.

Congratulations on 12 years of beer in Raleigh! How has the Raleigh location evolved and changed over the years?

Thank you! We are very proud to have been serving quality hand-crafted beer in Raleigh for so long. When Flying Saucer first opened in 2000, the majority of our customers were unfamiliar with craft and imported beer and considering the limited availability of those beers in the market at the time, it was not surprising. Due in part to the 6% alcohol limitations and the relatively small demand, the first few years proved hard for us to obtain the variety of beers that we enjoy today. Along with others beer joints in the community, I think Flying Saucer helped to introduce craft beer to an eager public and also helped educate them. Through those efforts the demand for quality beer has grown each year in the Triangle. Now, after 12 years, we find ourselves in an environment where the world’s best beers are easily accessible and the demand for them is high. We’re happy to be procuring world class beers for the Raleigh beer enthusiasts after 12 years.

For the anniversary party you gave 12 breweries 12 bourbon barrels for special one off barrel aged beers. Tell us how you set up the event? (how long in planning? procuring barrels? Shipping etc)

The idea for celebrating our 12th Anniversary with barrel aged beer started to get tossed around early last year. We wanted to do something that would really appeal to our Beer Knurds and barrel-aging beer adds a level of complexity to many great beers. Flying Saucer teamed up with Heaven Hill Distilleries in North Carolina and to procure 12 of their spent barrels. The barrels starting stacking up within a few weeks and by September we were ready to ship them out. We contacted our favorite breweries and pitched the idea… “Stop your normal production routine, fill our barrel with something unique and awesome, age it, then keg it off and ship it back along with the barrel”. Much to our surprise they all quickly agreed to the idea. The majority of the barrels were filled in October and have just recently been kegged for shipment. The first kegs and barrels began arriving this week and we are expecting the rest to show up over the next two weeks.

What can we expect on the day of the anniversary party? Is everything on cask or draft?

The turnout for our anniversary party last year was outstanding and we are looking forward to a great crowd again. The idea is to keep it fun and simple – bring a friend or two and share some great beers with us. We kick off the hourly tappings at noon and continue to tap a new beer each hour until the final one goes on at 11pm. Thirty minutes before the hour, we’ll randomly pick the next brew that we’ll tap, then announce it to the Knurds that are in attendance along with posting it on our Twitter feed @FlyingSaucerRal and our Facebook Page FlyingSacuerRaleigh. Each hour we’ll start pouring a new barrel aged jewel. In addition to the tappings each hour, we’ll be raffling off the actual bourbon barrel that the previous beer was aged in. The Beer Knurds simply need to turn in a UFO Club print-out for that beer and they can get a raffle ticket.

What are some of your favorite things about beer culture in North Carolina?

It’s hard to narrow down my favorites with so much going on here right now, but the news about Sierra Nevada opening a new brewery in Asheville really sticks out as an indicator that North Carolina is on the map as place with great beer culture. In addition to that, Raleigh Beer Week, Charlotte Oktoberfest, and the World Beer Festivals (among many other events) really help to bring our culture to the masses and I’m just proud to participate in the beer movement.

What is in your beer fridge right now?

Right now my private stash is pretty strong, but right now I’ve got a 4 pack of North Coast Old Stock and a couple of Evil Twin bottles that are front and center.

Saturday, March 3rd – all day!
328 West Morgan Street / Raleigh, NC 27601

http://www.beerknurd.com/stores/raleigh/
Flying Saucer Rolls Out Barrels for Anniversary Party

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Brewvival Preview

I know that several CBC readers are headed to Charleston this weekend to attend Brewvival. That’s why I’m dedicating two posts on Chucktown this week. This is the first.

Never heard of Brewvival? Brewvival is simply the South East’s premier beer event. Select brewers are invited to bring their best brews to a festival style format. Yes, there is a band playing in the background you’ll soon forget. And the food is served up by some pretty good food trucks. But the star of the show is the beer selection.

Unlike most of the festivals here in North Carolina the beers at this festival are paid for, allowing brewers to bring the rarest and most experimental brews they have. You’re going to find an array of barrel aged beers, dry hopped IPAs, cask conditioned ales, Imperial this and double that. You get the idea. The selection goes beyond the typical “here’s my regular line up of beers you’ve already tried” beer festival. 17.5% abv is the cap on beer in South Carolina and you’re likely to come across a few beers that meet this limit.

A handful of North Carolina Brewers are headed to Brewvival and here is the list from the brewvival website:

Fullsteam Summer Sour Basil Saison 5.4% / Bourbon Barrel-Aged Southern Lager 5.5%
The Duck Rabbit Craft Brewery American Barleywine 11.0% / Barrel-Aged Baltic Porter 10.0% / Brown Ale 5.6% / Milk Stout 5.7%
Highland Bourbon Barrel-Aged Black Mocha Stout 5.3%, Cold Mountain Winter Ale (cask) 5.2%, Footloose Tripel 8.7%, Love Is in the Ale (cask) 8.1%
French Broad Brewing Company IPA 5.9%, Koko the Stout, Oak-Aged Wee Heavy-er (cask) 7.0%
Foothills 2010 Sexual Chocolate 9.8%, 2012 Sexual Chocolate 9.8%,
Barrel-Aged People’s Porter 7.0%, Jade IPA 6.4%

For South Carolina beers I’m looking forward to trying my first beers from Holy City Brewing, revisiting Westbrook and of course the host brewery Coast Brewing, who will be offering 7 beers.

In addition to all that, I’m looking forward to selections from Allagash Brewing Company who are bringing two “Wild Ales,” Evil Twin Brewing Company and their American stout called Cherry Pop, Saint Somewhere Brewing Company Fierté du Sud cask and Stillwater Ales Holland Oats… because it’s called Holland Oats!

http://brewvival.com/beer

Sexual Chocolate Coverage

The big day for Sexual Chocolate 2012 has come and gone. Last Saturday the bottle release event was hosted by Foothills Brewpub in Winston-Salem. Here is the WXII coverage that was later picked up by CNN.

Direct Link

and this classic:

Foothills Bottle Labels

Not long after the above picture from @footsales made it’s way online we find the first bottle label approvals for Peoples Porter, Torch Pilsner (22 oz bomber) as well as acquired brands Cottonwood Endo IPA & Carolina Blonde (both 12oz bottles) (with Foothill’s logo added to the artwork).

Foothill’s purchased the Cottonwood & Carolina brands (as well as equipment) from Mooresville based Carolina Beer & Beverage earlier this year and ushered in a new production facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina that will be responsible for each brand.

WGHP Video about recent tap room law

Liberty and Foothills brewers chime in on law change that may pave the way for New Belgium or Sierra Nevada (or both) to open breweries in North Carolina.

Some state craft breweries will be allowed to offer tastings and sell beer on site thanks to a law recently signed by Gov. Bev Perdue.

While overall beer sales were down a bit last year, craft beer sales were up by 12 percent.

DIRECT LINK

Winter & Holiday Beers

This is an update of my winter beer post from 2010. This time I’ve included label art and photos whenever they we’re available.

Here is a score card of Christmas and Winter brews in the North Carolina Beer scene with commercial descriptions from each respective brewery (except where noted).

How many have you tried?

HIGHLAND Cold Mountain Winter Ale
Our ever-changing spiced winter seasonal. A tasty brew that complements all your holiday festivities. It is typically malty in body, lightly hopped, and rounded out with spices that we vary from year to year.

OUTERBANKS BREWING COMPANY Santa’s Little Sledgehammer
A deep red Strong Ale boosted with Belgian Candi Sugar, fermented with Trappist Ale yeast and finished with ‘secret spices’! It’s smooth and creamy-rich, with a warm and
chewy texture and subtle spiciness. (10% abv.)

LONERIDER Belle Starr Dubbel
Be wary of Starr’s smile, there is something sinister behind her innocent look. Belle Starr is a Belgian-style Dubbel brewed with a rare Belgian yeast strain, caramelized beet sugar and festive holiday spices. Expect hints of dark fruit, sweet cinnamon-apple and a warming finish. ABV is 7.7%

MOTHER EARTH Silent Night Bourbon Barrel Aged Imperial Stout
Embellished with a hint of coffee and a touch of molasses, you’ll enjoy a bold, yet delightfully smooth brew. I pronounce this Barrel Aged Imperial Stout a sipper.

OLDE HICKORY Christmas Ale
Brewed with fond memories of fresh baked cakes and cookies, our Christmas Ale is made with local honey, freshly grated ginger and cinnamon and fresh orange zest. This special holiday beer is perfect for the merry season and best enjoyed in the company of friends and family.

ASHEVILLE BREWING Xmas Jam White Ale
Low-alcohol (4.5 percent ABV), Belgian-style wheat beer dosed with coriander and orange peel. This aromatic treat is as cloudy as a San Francisco morn, with vibrant carbonation and a twangy edge that hums on your tongue. (description from Slashfood)

OLDE MECKLENBURG Brewery Yule Bock
Get your goat on with this holiday special. Nothing warms you around the Christmas fire better than this super smooth, malty lager. But supplies are limited so make sure you get yours early. 7% ABV.

WEEPING RADISH Doppelbock
A very strong and rich lager; dark brown with ruby highlights. Brewed with over 50% Munich malt. A Bavarian specialty first brewed in Munich by the monks of St. Francis of Paula. (8.3% ABV)

NATTY GREENE’S Red Nose Winter Warmer
A winter warmer with a nice nutty malt / spice balance! Coming in slightly above 6% abv tastes like winter … smells like Christmas with nutmeg and ginger notes. (Craft Beer Collective – Dave)

LUMINA Holiday Ale
no description available

CAROLINA BREWERY Santa’s Secret
Our winter ale, brewed especially for the holidays, boasts a combination of six different malts all working together to produce a rich beer with a soft creamy mouthfeel. Without revealing all of Santa’s secrets, we can say that this tasty elixer contains a careful blend of coriander, cinnamon, orange and allspice. We think you’ll agree – it’s the closest thing to Christmas in a glass.

AVIATOR FrostNipper
Our interpretation of a fall seasonal beer. This beer will curl your toes and put goosebumps on your arms. A fine collection of traditional fall spices make this a great addition to the holiday season…it will make all humbugs cheery. The beer is dark in color…a bit darker than brown ale. There is a combination of Perle and Willamette hops to provide a contrasting intensity with the fall spices. The beer contains a generous amount of smoked malt. (7.3% ABV)

Just because they don’t have Santa Clause and snow flakes on their labels doesn’t mean that Foothills, Big Boss are not making winter brews:

FOOTHILLS Total Eclipse Stout
Robust full bodied stout made with roasted barley, black and crystal malts. Total Eclipse has a full mouth feel and a well balanced hop bitterness.

BIG BOSS Aces and Ates Coffee Stout
Our winter stout is brewed with ten different malts to create a complex and distinctive beer. We add organic fair-trade coffee, which is specially produced for Big Boss by coffee experts Larry’s Beans. We offer this synergistic seasonal brew for a limited time in the winter season. 8% abv

Do you have some other labels for me? CBC? Send them my way!!

WINTER & HOLIDAY RELEASE BREWS FROM 2010

#ncbeer video reviews

Here are some recent #ncbeer reviews found on the interwebs!

Hopcast on Olde Rabbits Foot

Highland Oatmeal Stout

#TastyTweetUp

Updated 12/08/11 with draft list!

Craft Beer Collective presents a Tasty #ncbeer Tweet Up on Wednesday December, 14th at 8pm. This is a social beer meet & greet at Tasty Beverage Company in Raleigh featuring a secret Santa stash of draft & bottled beers.

You’ve seen the usernames on Twitter. Now come meet the faces behind them! Hold the date and tell a friend!

RSVP by tweeting you “I’ll be at #tastytweetup” and we’ll do our best to have a name tag waiting for you.

Featured North Carolina beers
Foothills bourbon aged Peoples Porter
Big Boss bourbon aged Bad Penny
Olde Hickory Southern Cross Pilsner

Google Page for Tasty

Untappd Page for Tasty Beverage

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Fall Beers in NC

While there is not a lot of variation in the typical Märzen, Märzenbier or Oktoberfest style it’s still a popular beer with brewers in the fall. Here are a few of those examples you can find in a beer store’s shelf near you. Also, check your local brewpub for even more options!

WEEPING RADISH

HIGHLAND

FRENCH BROAD

DUCK RABBIT

LUMINA

FOOTHILLS

OLDE HICKORY

There are only a a few Pumpkin Ales brewed here in North Carolina. Here are a couple bottled examples and please note that the Cottonwood beer is currently in production in PA.

BIG BOSS

COTTONWOOD