NC's Best Drinking IPAs/ DIPAs

I asked the bartender if it was close to kicking and he said no not really. But when it comes to little Trophy, not close to kicking still isn't that long because those batches are pretty small. I'd get in there in the next couple days if you want to try it. Hope that helps.

 

It does, thanks!

 

No growlers FYI.

 

Has anyone had the new Surf Wax yet? I see it on Untapped and haze is gone in this one too.

 

Burial released a "new" Ceremonial - session IPA this week. I asked on social media if this was hazy or no hazy and they replied "hazy". I will be picking this up for sure!

 

As opposed to what? What is everyone's obsession on whether it is hazy or not?

 

Hazy doesn't necessarily mean better, but a lot of the ones that have that characteristic also tend to have other characteristics that a lot of people are enjoying these days. Namely lower bitterness, softer mouthfeel, and a more pronounced juiciness as opposed to more piney and resinous. That's how I describe it at least, but I'm sure everyone is a bit different.

With the Burial ones, it's not that just because it's not hazy means it's not good. But when two consecutive batches of the same beer look completely different, you know something has changed with it.

 

This:

 

I got you. Makes sense. It seems that is where things are headed. I still like a nice balance. I enjoy a bit more bitterness than most.

 

First batch was hazy, with bitter citrus notes, and a nice grassy dank smell. This batch (I believe is the third canned batch) is clear, with a malty presence and sweet fruits. I reminds me more of Hawk Bill than that first batch of Surf Wax cans. Too bad, the first batch was my favorite so far.

 

I like the hazy/northeast style mainly because it generally comes off as less sweet to my palate. It doesn't take much for an IPA to be too sweet for me and almost all DIPA's are. I don't want balance generally, prefer a full on hop assault.

But I think there will always be a place for more balanced west coast style ones as evidenced here a lot of people prefer that.

 

speaking of good NC IPAs...anyone hitting the 1st can release of Yardbreather at Dreamcatchers tonight in Waxhaw? 5pm... its been pretty awesome on tap with the last few batches...

Come join us for our 1st ever can release! Get a 4 pack of 16oz Yard Breather cans for $14/4 pack. There is no purchase limit. Plus we will have a few specials on tap to celebrate:
Yard Breather with pineapple
Yarrrd Breather with coconut
Yard Breather with grapefruit
The Milk Pail - a citrusy Pale Ale made with Lactose
Unladden Swallow part 2- Our American Stout with the addition of Sospeso's Bourbon barrel aged coffee

 

I'm gonna be down in the Greensboro area for my fiance to interview for a job. What's my best shot at high quality IPAs from NC. Sounds like Burial is off their game currently?

 

Been meaning to check this place out since I'm in Union County...but haven't heard a whole lot about them? What's their deal? Have you had a good bit of their stuff to be able to speak to quality? Styles that they are good at?

 

I wasn't overly impressed with anything they came out with when they first opened but as with most small breweries they get into a groove and get better with time. (anyone remember painfully average the beer was a Heist when they opened?)

I heard good things about their BBA Milk Stout that was their first bottle release and this Yardbreather is a very good NE IPA. Its in a nice space and def needed for us Union Co people

Oh and its Dreamchasers...they havent caught it yet..lol

 

Well, I wouldn't really say that Burial is "off their game," but that they're always tinkering with their batches. Instead of labeling the beer as new editions (a la Wooden Robot's "What She's Having v. 21), they just release it under the same name.

Surf Wax, for example, has gone through several different versions since it first popped up. This is what it looked like when Burial first brewed it:

And here's a picture of "Surf Wax" looked like from a canning last year:


Two pretty different beers, but both "Surf Wax." My point is that Burial isn't necessarily trying to make each canning batch taste the same as the last. Sounds to me like they've tinkered with the recipe some more and folks don't like it as much as the last batch. I'm sure the summer run will be different yet again.

 

Gotcha sounds good to me. I appreciate the information.

 

In Greensboro, you have a couple options.

If you're looking for something in particular from a bottle shop, use BeerMenus, as several of the bottleshops in town update their inventory with that website. If you're looking for a specific beer on tap, check the Untappd nearby verified venues, as several of the bars in town update their inventory with Untappd.

If you're looking to grab a pint at a bar today, check out Jake's Billiards (big selection, $2 off drafts on Wednesday) or Old Town Draught House (okay selection, 1/2 off most drafts on Wednesday). Some of the bottleshops are drink-in (Gate City Growlers, Beer Co, Craft City Sip-in), if you're looking for a pint while you browse.

Bestway Grocery is the default option in Greensboro. Big selection of local options. They're having a Burial tasting this afternoon at 5pm, and will have several Burial beers on their growler station. Only downside is that there's no real mix-n-match 6pks (aside from imports) and no bar... yet... Check Beermenus and Instagram to see what they have.

Gate City Growlers does fill growlers, as the name implies, but their growler prices are a little steep. They do always have a great taplist though (often kegs you won't find anywhere else in GSO), and you can grab a pint while you browse. Pretty much everything is available to be mix-n-matched, and some singles refrigerated, too. Check their Beermenus page.

Beer Co is a little bottleshop/bar downtown. They only have 6 taps, but Josh always grabs good kegs and their pint prices are very reasonable. Large selection of refrigerated singles, which is good if you're looking to mix-n-match and start drinking soon. Check their Beermenus and Instagram Pages.

The Pipe and Pint is only open until 6, but they have the best prices of the bottleshops in Greensboro. They have the best prices on Old Hickory stuff (Event Horizon, Lindley Park) around. They don't do as much business as the other stores, so sometimes you can find stuff there that sells out from Bestway a few days earlier. I will say to check the dates if you're looking for hoppy stuff, as again they aren't quite as busy. Check their Beermenus page.

Craft City Sip-In is a little further from downtown, but another good option. Another drink-in bottleshop. CCSI offers half-pours and flights if you would like to try a couple different things. CCSI tends to be a little more expensive with their to-go bottles, but you can mix-n-match there, too. Look for them on Facebook to see what they've got on tap most recently.

Beerthirty is another drink-in bottleshop downtown (near Joymongers and Preyer). You can find their taplist on Beermenus. Flights available if you want to try a couple beers. Large single section for mix-n-match 6pks. Nice folks that work there, but I don't end up visiting as often as I should.