Foothills Brewing - Carolina Blonde

Foothills advertises this brew as a Cream Ale, a somewhat obscure style often characterized by not much character. But Foothills has brewed this one to be drinkable and interesting, with a wonderful German hop expression and some wheat to maintain (and amplify) the smooth, refreshing nature of this brew. Expect a golden straw color with a sizable, fluffy white head. On the nose, look for notes of light citrus with a lemony quality, and some herbal tones. There’s a bit of tangy wheat as well, plus some crackery pale malt. In the mouth, Carolina Blonde is fairly light with a refreshing, palate cleansing, hop profile. Pale malt and wheat make for a nice, clean brew with good flavor. The German hops really shine here, offering distinct notes of lemon pith with a bit of mint and maybe even a touch of lime. The hops combine with the wheat to present a lightly tart impression that really works for us in this well-crafted warm weather brew. Cheers!

Foothills Brewing opened for business in 2005 with a brewpub/restaurant location on Fourth Street in downtown Winston-Salem, NC.  At first, co-owner and brewmaster Jamie Bartholomaus was pretty much alone in the brewhouse, crafting Foothills’ beers from homebrew recipes he had developed while attending the University of Georgia in Athens.  These days he’s got a bit more help; strong growth since those early days means Foothills now has more than 20 employees just on the beer side of their business alone.

Bartholomaus got his start in the beer world as a homebrewer, which eventually led to him working for Athens, GA’s now defunct Blind Man Ales.  After relocating to North Carolina, he did a stint with the respected Olde Hickory Brewery before jumping into business for himself with Foothills.  Since then business has grown steadily, although the last couple years have been quite dramatic (2011 saw a 46% increase in production compared to just one year prior).  After maxing out their brewpub system, Foothills acquired a new, larger, 48,000 sq. ft. facility a few miles to the southwest, which they put into production at the end of last year.

In 2011, Foothills also acquired the brewing division of Carolina Beer & Beverage, including their Carolina Blonde and Cottonwood Ales brands and all their brewing equipment.  This gives Foothills a critical upgrade: the ability to bottle their beers and package them for retail sales instead of relying solely on draft accounts.  It also means more people are now getting a chance to try their excellent brews!

For more info on the brewery, the restaurant, or their nine year-round and eight seasonal beers (including their legendary Sexual Chocolate imperial stout, released annually for Valentine’s Day in very limited amounts) visit www.foothillsbrewing.com or call 336-777-3348.