Beer Review: Carolina Brewery Jumpin' Bean Coffee Stout

As the old saying goes, "Support Your Local Brewery!" I've had numerous beers from Carolina Brewery, be it on tap at the brewery, at Tyler's or Village Draft House, or from a growler purchased at Sam's Blue Light or Whole Foods. I have developed the opinion that their seasonals tend to be much better than their year-round brews, which are mediocre at best. I was pleasantly surprised to find their latest seasonal available in growlers at Sam's was a coffee stout. I poured the beer into a Duvel snifter a nice opaque black with just a hint of ruby highlights and a thin diminishing head. The aroma was a decent amount of freshly brewed coffee blending nicely with roasted malts. The taste was a little heavy on the coffee, with a bit of bitterness, almost like coffee that's been sitting in the mug a bit too long, I've had my share of coffee stouts in the past few years, and it's become one of my favorite styles of beer, especially on a cold or chilly night, and this is one that just doesn't do it for me like most of the other one's I've tried. I guess I would say this one was worth trying, but not likely one I'd try again.

Brew Review: Founders Cerise (Has Founders gone pink?)

For my first few reviews I decided to go with some newly released brews, first up: Founders Cerise. Founders has only been available in NC for about 8 months now, and we've gotten a decent spectrum of the top-notch brews that they produce; from Breakfast Stout which was available right off the bat at Flying Saucer and has been ever since, to Curmudgeon, a very tasty old ale, to Double Trouble, one of the 10 best Double IPAs I've had yet. Also, we were lucky enough to have access to their absolute best brew, Kentucky Breakfast Stout, although a few kegs to try it on draft would have been nice. Anyway, although I'm certainly not always in the mood for fruit beers, I was certainly intrigued to try their new "Cherry Fermented Ale" known as Cerise. Upon pouring the beer into the Founders pint glass I bought at Sam's Blue Light last night, I was surprised to find a pink tint to the beer. I've seen this before in some fruit beers and gimmick beers such as Coney Island Freaktoberfest, but I certainly did not expect this from Founders, oh well, it's not as blatently pink as others I've seen. The aroma was loads and loads of cherry, with just a bit of malts to back it up. The taste was very much on the tart cherry side, not quite a Flemish ale, or Ommegang Three Philosophers, but close. This one was certainly one of the most interesting beers I've had from Founders. While its not something I'd likely buy another four pack of, it is one I'd be willing to try again every now and then, I would also love to try it on draft.