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If you're reading this, then there's probably a good chance that you know the state of North Carolina has coined April as NC Beer Month. I could say it might be a little over-hyped – but since I'm an avid beer fan – I think it's just fine. And if you want to start the festivities a couple days early ... I'm fine with that as well. And that's exactly what White Street Brewing Company did on March 29 at its brewery in downtown Wake Forest. White Street hosted the first North Carolina Brewers Collaborative to its fans and brought in a few friends to share the fun.
The event, which started around noon was in conjunction with the release of White Street's first bottled beer, Koschei the Deathless. Koschei is an Imperial Bourbon-Aged Stout and named after Russian folklore – and I think I prefer the complex bourbon taste of the beer instead of a creature that has been known to kill with its touch.
| Josh Brewer (Mother Earth), Ian VanGundy (White Street), Chris Davis (Fullsteam), T.L. Adkisson (Foothills) and Luke Dickinson (Wicked Weed) made up the first N.C. Brewers Collaborative hosted by White Street Brewing Photo by: Jen Primrose |
People attending the event were given a sample glass and allowed to enjoy beers from North Carolina breweries such as Asheville's Wicked Weed, Winston-Salem's Foothills Brewing, Durham's Fullsteam Brewery, Kinston's Mother Earth Brewing and of course White Street.
The beers were great examples of what brewers in our state have been up to. Wicked Weed impressed me with its Hopburgular IPA. Brewed with blood orange purée and grapefruit zest, this was my favorite IPA of the afternoon. Jade from Foothills and White Street's Domillo Double IPA also impressed. Fullsteam had two different styles of beer available. First was its bourbon barrel imperial stout creation, simply known as Igor. The second was the Sour Working Man's Lunch.
After the tasting we made our way down the street to The Cotton Company for the business at hand. That business was the first annual North Carolina Brewers Collaborative. A panel of head brewers from all the breweries aforementioned came in to talk about the craft brewing business in North Carolina. T.L. Adkisson with Foothills Brewing; Chris Davis with Fullsteam Brewery; Luke Dickinson with Wicked Weed; Ian VanGundy with White Street; and Josh Brewer with Mother Earth Brewing. Facilitating the event was NC Craft Brewers Guild Executive Director Margo Knight Metzger.