Sub Noir Brewing Company

 

My favorite Raleigh, NC brewery. It's small time so they have very few taps open at a time (at most 4), but they are delicious. The brews are a touch hit or miss as I've had one or two tastes that weren't great, but it's ALMOST always 4 out of 5 or better. My favorite beer is Paul's Brewtique, which is a killer lavender ale. It's a bit off the beaten path but well worth visiting. There's also a lot to do there with several old console video game systems (NES through Dreamcast) and a plethora of board games. The servers are either the father or wife of the brewmaster, and they're both super kind.

 

 

Love this place. Just wish they had more beers on tap at a time, because they are all so solid. In time I guess

 

There's some good things happening in non-descript strip malls in industrial areas throughout North Carolina. Sub Noir is the second such establishment I've found my way into that wound up being much better than anticipated going in.

The spot isn't much to look at; the interior is still the boring office-like space that I'm sure they inherited when they moved in. They've managed to spruce it up a bit with an HDTV and another smaller TV with a wide range of gaming consoles attached. And I give major points for having all four Dragon Warrior games on original Nintendo - my favorites growing up. I don't know if they realize this, but they're sitting on at least $150 right there. Those games are rarities.

The beer is being poured out of a chest freezer converted to a kegerator, but don't be fooled - it's much better than the setup would lead you to believe. Their double pale was unbalanced - you can't have that much ABV without the hops to balance it, in my opinion. And the stout aged on cocoa nibs was a bit thin and metallic on the back end. But their other two brews on tap were exceptional.

One was a saison that was peppery, clean, and smooth - everything that I want in the style. And then they had a funky cherry sour ale that was delicious. Even my wife who hasn't quite acquired the sour taste yet really enjoyed it. With just enough funk and just enough sour to play off each other without the brew being overwhelmed by either, this was one of the better brews I've had in some time.

Unfortunately, they aren't allowed to sell growlers yet, or I would have taken one home. Fortunately, according to the "bartender," the guys in the back are really into barrel aging and sours in general, so I expect to see a lot of really fun concoctions coming out of Sub Noir in the next few months.

I'll be back to try them.