March! Warm weather officially landed on us this month in Charlotte which meant plenty of backyard beers, especially while watching March Madness and tennis. I kicked off the month in Hendersonville and Asheville, NC with many brewery visits and also headed to Wilmington for Feast Wilmington, then ended the month with a bottle share. Of the 115 beers I tried this month, here were the best of the best:
Take Me Higher collaboration brew from DSSOLVR in Asheville, NC and Corporate Ladder Brewing in Palmetto, FL
Take Me Higher is a Double Barrel Aged Brown Sugar Barleywine that was barrel aged 40 months in wood. It rested first in 8-year Elijah Craig Bourbon Barrels for 20 months and then Apple Brandy Barrels for another 20 months. This packed a punch but was a delightful flavor combination.
Doom Loop from Freak Folk Bier in Waterbury, VT
Doom Loop is a Triple IPA with Citra, Galaxy and Strata CGX hops. This was my favorite Freak Folk Bier to date! What a delicious, juicy, smooth TIPA.
Life and Fate XXV from Root and Branch Brewing in Copiague, NY
The Life and Fate experimental multi-oat/wheat Double IPA series from Root and Branch can’t miss! It is wild to see they are already at number 25—if you haven’t gotten your hands on one of these yet it is time to seek one out!
Hormesis from The Eighth State Brewing Company in Greenville, SC
Hormesis is an Imperial Stout aged 1 Year and 11 Months in a Laird's Apple Brandy barrel with toasted coconut, Scotch Bonnet peppers, Habanero peppers and Tahitian vanilla. I somehow stumbled upon this via some friends at a beer release and it was a great blend of heat and apple brandy!
Void Nectar from Brujos Brewing in Portland, OR
Void Nectar is an Imperial Hazy India Pale Ale Double Dry Hopped with Galaxy, Citra and Nectaron hops. Another juice bomb from Brujos that was just a little tooooo easy to drink.
Barrel Aged Coconut Pistachio Cheesecake collaboration brew from Other Half Brewing in Brooklyn, NY and Southern Grist Brewing in Nashville, TN
This was a creamy, flavorful delight from two greats! Pistachio is not usually my favorite adjunct but this was very well balanced and delicious.
