NC Beer of the Week Double Edition

It’s Tuesday my dudes, we’re hanging out with Lars at Jarvis Street Bottle Shop and trying a couple of beers for an NC Beer of the Week post. We’re mixing it up and trying two different beers since we are surrounded by vast quantities of selection. The beers in question are from some great, not so far away, breweries: New Anthem and Crystal Coast.

Joe’s Beer

New Anthem Beer Project “Bend and Snap”
Style: IPA
ABV: 5.7%

This amarillo and citra hopped IPA with lactose poured a nice hazy pale yellow out of the bright pink can. There was a robust white head that foamed up and dissipated to a nice layer atop the beer, leaving a bubbly lace on the sides of the glass. 

The aroma of the beer was juicy to say the least and featured smells similar to sweet citrus fruit and sweet tropical fruits. There was a pleasant musty dankness to the beer that played well with the sweet aromas and helped tone them down. By this point my mouth was watering for the first sip. 

Mouthfeel was smooth and pleasant, likely due to the lactose in the beer. There was a light bubbly carbonation that helped pull the beer off the palate. There was a slight drying on the finish but I didn’t mind as it made it so much easier to take another sip. 

The taste of the beer was juicy and approachable. Bitterness was low and it delivered mouthfuls of aromatic hops. Notes of stone fruit, tropical fruit, and tangerine-like sweetness took over my palate and I enjoyed each sip thoroughly. 

Drinkability of this beer is at a high with the smooth mouthfeel, mildly sweet flavor, and lower ABV. I could easily see myself having a few of these on a hot summer day…something I just might do.

Nick’s Beer

Crystal Coast Brewing Company “Macon Waves” (w/ Peach and Apricot)
Style: Double IPA
ABV: 8.5%
IBU: 40

As we enter the heart of “beach szn” it felt appropriate to dive into a beer that exemplified the ocean. Crystal Coast had a great looking can sporting photography from Christine Chadwick Visuals, and the picturesque beachfront scene attracted me to grab “Macon Waves.” This variation has peach and apricot, but they have also brewed DIPAs in this series that contain other fruits.

As I got a glass to empty the contents of my can, I immediately noticed something odd about the orange-yellow liquid coming out. Underneath a foamy, white head was what looked like some pulpy juice; in reality, it’s likely that some secondary fermentation occurred after being canned and that there was some residual yeast floating around. This might not look the most appealing to people, but after knowing the beer smelled and tasted healthy, I didn’t let it bother me.

On the nose, there was definitely a ton of stone fruit aroma. The smells of peach and apricot were evident and made the beer quite sweet-smelling. The hop character was a bit floral and juicy and was a little subdued by the fruity aromas. Perhaps a bit more sweetness was imparted by the yeast, too.

I really liked the smooth mouthfeel of “Macon Waves,” which was perhaps a surprise given the appearance. I didn’t notice any of the particles when I took my sips, and it just reassured me that I didn’t need to be concerned about drinking this DIPA. The carbonation was at a great level that helped make it a refreshing brew.

Again, sweetness was the most detectable and obvious factor when tasting. Peach and apricot, in conjunction with the juicy, floral hops and imparted yeast flavors created a DIPA that was not overly bitter or harsh on the palate. I found myself enjoying each sip, as they got closer and closer in succession.

This beer exemplifies the adage “Don’t judge a book by it’s cover.” While the beer had a cloudy appearance with some suspended particles, the aromas, taste, and drinkability were all great in my opinion. It was almost too easy to get down for a beer at 8.5% ABV. I’d like to try some other variations of “Macon Waves” at Crystal Coast the next time I head down to the beach. I recommend you giving this beer a try!