NC's Best Drinking IPAs/ DIPAs

^^ they are killing it

 

since they brew in state, is Sierra Nevada and New Belgium in the discussion? or have they gotten too big for the discussion.

 

Coming to cans

 

Had a Grove, He's So Fine and Hop Geyser last night. Grove was best of the 3 IMO.

 

I sure hope this latest batch is closer to the first batch they brewed!

 

The 4 IPA's I like to have on hand because they are all good, each a little different. Have some of each on hand at the moment.

Greenman - Trickster IPA - a juice bomb
Lookout - Hop Shine IPA - crowlers from the source
Pisgah - Greybeard IPA - just good
Highland - Daycation IPA - a real suprise, light, crisp, hoppy. Marketed in grocery stores in 15 can packs at a good price.

There are others, but these are the one's that standout.

 

They do more that just 'brew' in the state, but are part of the local scene. They are family owned or employee owned, not corporate owned, and that is important. They offer their expertise and lab resources to other local brewers, and both make some very drinkable IPA's. Torpedo and Ranger can often be found in my refrigerator.

 

Trickster really surprised me since I didn't care for the previous Green Man IPAs I had tried.

 

Had a lot of great IPA this weekend. Grove, New Anthem 5, Long Story. I do think Grove was the best.

I got a four pack of Hop Geyser at Brew n Que on Saturday, have not tried it yet. Was bummed they were sold out of burnt ends by the time I got there.

 

Went to Brewery Bhavana this weekend and the Pithy is definitely on point - delicious.

Also indulged in their food - seafood dumplings might be the best thing I have ever eaten!!!!

 

I can't seem to find it on their website or Yelp, but do y'all know if you can eat food at the bar at Bhavana? Was going to get reservations for my friends birthday but they have none for that day...and it's two weeks out

 

I can't recall for sure, but I want to say yes, though hopefully someone can confirm. It does get awfully busy there, might be a challenge to find seats at the bar if there is group of you.

 

Yes, you can. Or at least I did a few months ago.

 

Yes you can eat at the bar and reservations are booked for like 2 months out - it is that good!!!!

Best bet is to go there about 4PM - enjoy some beer and at about 4:45 or so line up for first come first serve tables. You should be good to go that way - I did it this past Saturday for a party of 5 and it worked.

 

This batch of Trickster was solid. I also really like their Rainmaker when you can get it fresh. Looks like they have a new NE-IPA on tap up there this week, but I doubt that makes it down the mountain.

 

I am the same way, I had it in the past and it didn't didn't seem that special. Tried it again after a friend recommended it, and it was a winner.

 

So I really enjoyed Hop Geyser. Really juicy. Brew n Que had a few four packs of it, maybe I start going to them as my regular bottle shop.

 

On my first visit, I was a little skeptical of the whole bookstore, flower shop, bar/restaurant thing, but I really liked all of it. Great food and excellent beer, plus the flowers all around really looked nice.

 

I've arrived on Friday night at 6pm and they had plenty of tables on the bar side that are first come, first serve. I've showed up at 5:30 on a Wednesday night with no reservation and was able to sit on the dining room side.