Back for Nawth Cakkalakka as of 0030 hours this morning, my dear friends, and I must begin by apologizing for my lack of foresight that led to my inability to update while on vacation. So… sorry.

Well, now that’s over, it’s time to move forward and not look back. So, I ask myself:

What is the best way to rejoin cyberspace after a week long absence? How can I endear myself to my loyal readers once again?

The answer is simple: BEER!

So, before I resume my postponed Hip Hop Week on Monday, I will share two beer reviews from my vacation, beginning with North Carolina’s own Blowing Rock Ale, a pale ale recommended to me by two beer enthusiasts employed at the Corolla location of Brew Thru. Below are my tasting notes and an interesting fact about contract brewing (you’ll find this tidbit in my overall rating portion).

Appearance:
thepaintedman rates this:

A fine looking deep golden colored ale with good clarity. There was little head after I poured the beer into my pint (a beautiful Arrogant Bastard Ale glass that I dropped and shattered this afternoon, drat!). This pale ale appears moderately carbonated.

Aroma:
thepaintedman rates this:

Basically all aroma was from the hops… a pleasant floral scent. There is no diacetyl and virtually no malty aroma to be found.

Flavor:
thepaintedman rates this:

Bitter in all the right ways, albeit not strong IPA type bitterness. This bitterness is matched by some good malt presence, despite the lack of malty aroma. While I can’t seem to find anywhere exactly what type of hops are used, the specific quality seems very American to me. Like the aroma, the flavor has a floral quality that is very pleasant.

Palate:
thepaintedman rates this:

My favorite thing about the beer is the mouthfeel. It feels light and effervescent with each sip, but finished very crisp and strong. There is a dry, hoppy aftertaste… and while this is often a bad thing for me, it was great in this case. Virtually perfect palate for a warm weather selection.

Overall Rating:
thepaintedman rates this:

The palate is the best element in this refreshing Spring/Summer style American Pale Ale. What I found most interesting as a Pennsylvanian, was what I found upon further inspection after I poured my pint. Where is this NC beer brewed? WILKES-BARRE, PA! Not surprising, actually as Lion Brewery (located in Wilkes-Barre) makes it’s living brewing recipes of others as a prominent contract brewer. Reading Premium resurfaced in my home area of Reading, PA in the past few years… I soon thereafter found that it was being brewed in Wilkes-Barre. Numerous beers are developed, reintroduced, etc. and then given to contract breweries to do the dirty work. After enjoying this “North Carolina” original, I chuckled to find it was made 2 hours up the road from my home rather that 8 hours South.

While on vacation this week in the Outer Banks, it was imperative that I picked up a 6 pack of something from NC, to sample the local flavor. I accompanied my sister and her friends on a beer run to the local Brew Thru and asked the attendant about local beer. After telling me that their best local beer was out, she pulled out the micro list and showed me where the NC beers were on it. As a fan of English ales, Highland Brewing’s Gaelic Ale seemed a logical choice.

Out of Asheville, NC, Highland seems to be a respected brewery. With a few seasonals that sounded interesting and 5 year round brews, Gaelic Ale is their lead beer. Here are my notes:

Appearance:
thepaintedman rates this:

Pours a deep amber color with great clarity and a slight reddish tint. There is a small, creamy head that is maintained throughout.

Aroma:
thepaintedman rates this:

Here’s where I am a bit disappointed, as despite there being nothing unpleasant about the aroma… there is nothing really pleasant either. There is some faint malt aroma, but it is little to none.

Flavor:
thepaintedman rates this:

The flavor is full… and quite tasty at that. American hops varieties are noticeable, specifically cascade and chinook. This is a beer where you can identify quite easily that the prominent hops flavor is American. There is a moderate malt quality and a somewhat bitter finish. The flavor could be compared to some ESBs and Reds, but is something of its own.

Palate/Mouthfeel:
thepaintedman rates this:

While there is some sweetness to the flavor, the palate is quite dry. As noted above, there is a dry, hoppy finish. This creates a slight aftertaste, not altogether undesirable, but not fantastic either. There is a lot of body, without the beer being too heavy or thick.

Overall Rating:
thepaintedman rates this:

Overall, my first dive in NC’s beers was a positive and promising experience. Gaelic Ale is a solid session beer and only loses some points due to the lack of any discernible aroma (note that while little to no smell may be somewhat intentional, I like a good aroma to my beer). At 5.8% ABV, this American amber/red style is no pushover, but it won’t house you after just a beer or two.