Olde Mecklenburg Brewing visit

I was in Charlotte for work and made contact with Ryan on this board prior to going down.

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is in the south end, a few blocks off of a very modern light rail line. Starting a few blocks north the area is very high end middle class and upper class trendy. Looking around the immediate area it was within the recent past downscale, with razor wire in many spots. Ryan said they are moving within the next little while, at least the tap room portion and most of the equipment. They are also going to silos, which is good because they have a huge area of grain bag pallets.

They have many large tanks, but only a 12 barrel tun and kettle. They are running long shifts to keep up with demand. They also take back growlers, and clean and fill them on the line and recirculate them that way, which Ryan said until recently was the law in NC, and now they prefer it due to QA issues with the customers.

The taproom is very sparse but nice indoors, think festhall, with outdoor tables for bikers and dog lovers and such. The food is German festhall, and very good. Ryan says they make it on site.

The Copper (Alt) is very good, as is the Pale Ale. Both could serve as style reference beers. The Dunkel is also good. I am sure the Wit is great, too many years of Oberon has spoiled my taste for normal, style correct, wits. The Pilsner is clean and has flavor, but also had the Bud Light Platinum aftertaste.

Ryan is a great guy and host, as are the staff.

 

Okay, I shall.

ETA: I did, and cut the comment about the BLP comp


I also got back from the pool at my building, and drinking White House copy Honey Porter homebrew in 88 degrees in the sun may have been an error on my part. However, not as bad as ending up at Connollys on Fifth after OMB, Liberty, and Carolina Alehouse and wondering why you can't see.

For those that don't know, Connollys is an Irish bar with an actual Irish bartender, but they have it all in dark wood and lit to less than gaslight levels. I called the hotel, told them I was drunk, in Connollys, couldn't see, and I broke my sandal strap. The shuttle was there before I finished my second beer.