-BW
Other Brews: Sky Blue Golden Ale, Copperline Amber Ale, West End Wheat, Phil N. Topemov’s Imperial Stout, Anniversary Ale, Barley Wine
Highland Brewing Company
Gaelic Ale
Highland Brewing Company of Asheville is another staple in N.C. beer. Opened before a year before the Carolina Brewery, its Gaelic Ale has become a standard.Starting with a malty taste and finishing with a nice bitterness of Willamette, Cascade and Chinook hops, the amber style ale shows a tremendous balance and is a beer you want to stick with for an entire night of boozing. 5.8 percent alcohol by volume isn’t bad either.
-BW
Other brews: Oatmeal Porter, St. Terese’s Pale Ale, Kashmir IPA
Red Oak Brewery
Amber Lager
Interesting fact: the brewery off to the side of I-85 near Burlington is actually the largest draft-only brewery in the United States. Their Amber Lager is, however, a great choice if you’re looking for a smooth drinker in the vein of German-style lagers. Made with malt and hops from Bavaria - the dope brewing region of Germany - the brewery also adds a yeast strain from the oldest brewery in the world to round out this extremely balanced beer anyone will enjoy.
-BW
Triangle Brewing Company
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Belgian-Style Strong Golden Ale
Triangle Brewing Company is a relative newbie around the, well, Triangle, but the beers the Durham company puts out are ill. The Belgian-Style Strong Golden Ale weighs in with a hefty 8 percent alcohol by volume and has such a bevy of flavors that it’s hard to get them all in one sip. While a hint of citrus can be detected, the spicy hops are what make you remember this brew. The malt aids in the complexity, but with such a clean finish, it’s also an easy drink.
-BW
Other brews: Xtra Pale Ale, Bourbon Aged Abbey Ale, Winter Stout, Habanero Pale Ale
Top of the Hill Restaurant and Brewery
Old Well White
Honestly the bar’s usually a bit crowded for my taste, but I often find myself heading up to Chapel Hill’s loftiest brew maker on lazy Sunday nights for a pint of this Carolina classic.Unfiltered but smooth, this beer finds just the right balance between sweet and spicy. The orange peel and coriander jump out at the beginning of each sip, but the pallet is quickly smoothed out by the comforting wheat flavor. Taking a drink from the Old Well is a great tradition and all, but I think this ale is just as much of a “must”drink for UNC students.
-Jordan Lawrence
Other brews: Kenan Summer Lager, Iron Mine Pale Ale, Blackwood Mountain Stout
The Duck-Rabbit Craft Brewery
Milk Stout
Farmville’s Duck-Rabbit Brewery touts itself as the “dark beer specialist,” and after a few sips of this signature milk stout, it’s easy to see why. Sweet and creamy by benefit of its lactose milk sugar, this traditionally full-bodied stout is rich and chocolatey with a clean finish devoid of any bitter aftertaste. There are some beers best paired with dessert, but this brew is a dessert unto itself, a treat to come home to after a night out.-JL
Big Boss Brewing Company
Bad Penny
As all of the beers from Raleigh’s Big Boss Brewery are named after American aircraft that flew in World War II, it would be safe to say that Bad Penny is the bomber of the fleet.Bold yet balanced with booming accents of chocolate and coffee, Bad Penny is a malty brown ale that’s full of flavor. It’s a rich experience with different notes expressing themselves throughout, but no hint overshadows any other, making for a refined and precise explosion of taste.-JL
Other brews: Hell’s Belle, Angry Angel
Carolina Beer Company
Carolina Blonde
Hailing from Mooresvile, the Carolina Beer Company has garnered a good deal of attention for its Carolina Blonde and Cottonwood Ale brands. And so far as beach beers go, there are few better than the original Carolina Blonde. Crisp and refreshing, it’s made with real barley for a fully-rounded flavor that’s not overpowering. Call it “Bud for the beer drinker who cares.” For just a few dollars more, it’s an upgrade that’s worth the minimal budget strain.
-JL
