Past Newsletters
Vol. 9 No. 3
| Brewery | Beers Featured |
| Carolina Brewing Company | Charleston Pale Ale |
| Carolina Brewing Company | Charleston Brown Ale |
| Abita Brewing Company | Turbo Dog |
| Ybor City Brewing Company | Ybor Gold Amber Lager |
Carolina Brewing Company
The Carolina Beer Company is located in the small town of Mooresville, NC, just 30 miles north of Charlotte. It resides in Barley Park, on an 8-acre lot, in a 40,000 square foot building. It was founded in November of 1997, by Mike Smitty” Smith and John Stritch. Barley Park is a business park that was developed by Smitty, who owned a successful commercial construction business before making the jump into operating a brewery. It wasnt a blind jump though, as his family had ties to the largest ice cream-milk dairy in the area, which gave him some insight into the beverage industry.
Smittys business partner, John Stritch, has over 28 years experience in the beer industry! He is a graduate from Cal Ploy University and worked for Miller Brewing Company for eight years in Sales and Marketing. His last position was the Sales Manager of Texas, which is Millers #1 sales territory. John left Miller to become the VP of Sales for the Houston Distribution Company and later became the GM / President of Miller Brands, Inc. in Denver, CO. You might say he knows a little bit about beer. And thats hes finally putting that knowledge to good use brewing true craft microbrewed beers!
With their 50-barrel brewhouse and twelve 100-barrel fermenters, the Carolina Beer Company is capable of brewing up to 35,000 barrels per year. Their bottling/packaging line is capable of doing 3,000 cases per day, while their kegger can clean and fill kegs at a rate of one keg per minute!
Their flagship brew, the Carolina Blonde, is still their biggest seller, with over 50% of their sales volume coming from this one beer. We liked it, but preferred their fuller-bodied products and think you will too! John also brews Carolina Light, Charleston Wheat, Cottonwood Endo IPA, Cottonwood Low Down Brown, along with the two we are featuring this month, the Charleston Pale Ale and Charleston Brown Ale.
For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (704) 799-2337 or check out their web site at www.carolinablonde.com.
Serving Temperature: 45-50° F
Original Gravity: 12.0° Plato
Final Gravity: 4.0° Plato
Int'l Bittering Units: 44.0
Alcohol by Volume: 4.2%
The Charleston ales take their name from the South Carolinian port where the English first introduced their ales to the Carolinas. Johns Pale Ale is brewed with Galena, Willamette, Mt. Hood, and Cascade hops, and a combination of Crystal 20, Crystal 40, Munich, and 2-row pale malts. Right before you take your first, note the wonderful Cascade hop aroma that screams from this tasty ale. Look for a well balanced malt-hop profile in the flavor and a lingering bitter finish. Try this one with your favorite spicy dish.
Serving Temperature: 45-50° F
Original Gravity: 12.5° Plato
Final Gravity: 2.9° Plato
Int'l Bittering Units: 25.0
Alcohol by Volume: 5.0%
If you like big malty sweet ales, youre gonna love the Charleston Brown Ale! Look for a dark caramel and chocolate malt aroma in this dark amber, almost brown colored English style ale. Note a dominating dark caramel maltiness as well as roasted chocolate malts in the finish. These strong malt characteristics are the direct result of using heaps of roasted Belgian and Munich malts, including 2-row pale, crystal 60, chocolate, and Munich. We found this brown ale to be nicely balanced with both Chinook and Fuggles hops. Overall, an excellent American Brown ale. Consider pairing it with smoked salmon.
Abita Brewing Company
The Abita Brewing Company is the oldest craft brewery in the southeast. It was established in 1986 and is located about 60 miles north of New Orleans in Abita Springs, LA. The word abita” means spring” in the Choctaw language. So, one might argue that the brewery is actually located in Spring Springs, LA. A bit redundant and repetitive, dont you think?
The Abita Brewing Company is one of the more popular gathering places for this small town of about 2,000. They offer a full-service restaurant, which is housed in the renovated building where they used to brew and bottle their beers up until 1994. It features handcrafted cypress window frames, a bar made from cypress and slate, and beaded wainscoting. From either of the two dining rooms, one of which can be reserved for private parties, visitors have a view of the Tammany Trace Hiking Trail. From the main dining room, there is also a view of the 15-barrel brewhouse.
Within this wonderfully designed brewpub, they also manage to brew some tasty beverages, including root beer. Some of the styles of beer they brew are bock, wheat, amber, golden, red ale, fall fest (Oktoberfest), purple haze (Raspberry Wheat), Christmas Ale, the TurboDog, and a German Style beer called AndyGator. Not only do they bottle their beers for sale, they also have some specialty beers that only available at the brewpub.
For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (985) 892-5837 or check out their web site at www.abita.com.
Serving Temperature: 40-45° F
Original Gravity: 15.0° Plato
Final Gravity: 3.0° Plato
Int'l Bittering Units: 30.0
Alcohol by Volume: 5.0%
Sort of an unusual name for a beer, but its workin for us! We think that Turbodog most likely gets its name as this big dog packs a bit more of a punch than the rest of the brewerys lineup at 6% ABV. This puppy is brewed with Chinook and Willamette hops, and a combination of British Pale, Caramel, and Chocolate malts, a combination that gives this full-bodied pooch a rich body and dark color. Look for a sweet malty (and wet) nose followed by a sweet chocolate-toffee like flavor. Youll not find many hops while lapping this tasty nectar, but you find heaps of flavor! Overall, a full flavored malty hound that would match up perfectly with your favorite beef or lamb dish.
Ybor City Brewing Company
In the 1800s, Ybor City, FL was the cigar capital of the world. This city was the location of the first cigar manufacturing company to settle into Florida. Jose Martinez Ybor led the migration of the Cuban cigar industry to Ybor City in Tampa. It wasnt until the depression, along with the boom of cigarettes that the cigar industry rapidly declined.
This led to many of the factories being closed, abandoned, and torn down. One building though, the Seidenberg and Co. cigar factory, built in 1894, withstood the test of time. This happened to be the building where the first cigar manufacturing firm, Seidenberg and Co., in Florida was located. Now, you ask, Why are we telling you all of this?" Well, if you move ahead by a century from the date Seidenberg opened its doors at this location (1894) that is when the Ybor City Brewing Company first opened its doors (1994) in this exact same brick building.
Not only is the building loaded with history, the brewerys president, Humberto Perez, is a third-generation brewer, whose grandfather founded one of the largest breweries in Venezuela – Cerveceria, about 70 years ago. And just like the cigar factory, this brewery keeps some of the same traditions; all the brewing is done by hand. Nothing is automated in this brewery!
Ybor brews four different styles of beers, including Ybor Gold, Ybor Brown Ale, Calusa Wheat, and Gaspars Porter, along with a variety of seasonal brews. This month, we are featuring their flagship brew – Ybor Gold, a nice hoppy amber lager.
For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (813) 242-9222
Serving Temperature: 40-45° F
Original Gravity: 11.8° Plato
Final Gravity: 2.8° Plato
Int'l Bittering Units: 21.0
Alcohol by Volume: 4.7%
Now, with all that hype about the brewery, you might be curious as to what it looks like. Look no further than the label on this beer and youll find a fairly detailed depiction of the ole brick beauty! Ybor Gold is an Amber lager, brewed with a combination of 2-row pale, caramel 40, and carapils malts, and hopped with both Northern Brewer and German Hallertau hops. We found it true-to-style, finding the nose slightly malty and offering a bit of hop spiciness. This light copper brew has a pleasant malt flavor with a balanced, slightly bitter-hop finish. Consider pairing this with some barbequed ribs or grilled fish.
Ask Murl
Dear Murl,
Ive actually got two separate questions for you, if you can fit it in your busy schedule of gnawing on rawhide and lapping up your no doubt complimentary shipments from Malt of the Earth. Ive recently moved to Texas and have noticed that Longneck bottles are far more prevalent here than anywhere else in the country. Can you shed any insight as to why this may be? Secondly, and not related in anyway whatsoever, whats the difference between cold-filtered” and draft” beers?
Betsy Schmeling
Fort Worth, Texas
Dear Bets,
Does my acute canine sense of smell detect an air of attitude with your opening statement? I do a lot around here. Product research and Quality Assurance are two areas I take damn seriously. And by the by, lets get one thing straight. Not only do I get a complimentary subscription, I get pallets of beer... to my bowl... when I want it... and served in my favorite stein cause I am the Main Mutt at Corporate if you get my meaning.
So, what was your question again? Sorry, you got me all frothy here. Texas. Longnecks. Right. On the longneck thing, I really have no idea; however I suspect that its some kinda phallic, cowboy-related subliminal deal suggestive of ones manliness. On your other inquiry, all beers are cold when they are filtered. Cold-filtered implies fresh”, and naturally draft beer means very fresh”. Both are really no more than slick marketing terms used by the big boyz to woo the general public into consuming mass quantities of their otherwise lack-luster products.
Woof!
Murl.
Food For Thought...
Blazing Golden Mustard Wings
Did ya know that spicy Buffalo wings were invented by a bar owner in Buffalo, NY to drive beer sales?! Makes sense now, doesnt it? Well, youre gonna dig this recipe. Its wings with a fabulous twist as theyre doused in a pungent, potent, mustard sauce! Keep your shipment on ice for the feast!
- 2/3 cup Pale Ale
- 1/3 cup honey, warmed
- 1 clove garlic, finely minced and mashed
- 1/8 to ¼ teaspoon cayenne
- 3 tablespoons cornstarch
- 36 chicken wings
- Olive oil
Blend the first 5 ingredients and marinate wings in refridgerator 4-6 hrs. Drain and pat dry wings. Heat oil to 375 degrees in a deep skillet. Fry wings a few at a time until crisp and cooked through. Drain on paper towels.
Mustard Sauce
- 2 cups Pale Ale
- 1/3 cup dried yellow mustard
- ¼ cup brown sugar
- 2 teaspoons hot mustard powder or hot red chili powder
- 1 ½ tablespoons cornstarch
- 4 tablespoons butter
- 1 small onion, finely minced
Combine first 5 ingredients and let stand ½ hour. Heat butter over medium and sauté onion until limp and translucent. Stir beer mixture into onions. Cook over medium, stirring constantly until thickened. Pour hot sauce over fried wings and serve.
Feeds 5 adults, 2 Australian Sheep Dogs, or William The Fridge” Perry.
Source: Great American Beer Cookbook, Brewers Publications, Boulder, CO.
Norm's Corner...
As spoken by Cheers' Norm
Woody: Whats going on, Mr. Peterson?
Norm: Another layer for winter, Wood. Gimme a beer.
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