OMB Copper is an amber ale from The Olde Mecklenberg Brewery right here in Charlotte, North Carolina. It’s dark, for an amber ale. Way on the copper side of amber for sure. The nose picks up nutty malty scents, and flavor is balanced and mild. It’s a medium bodied, very smooth and easy drinking ale, though the mildness makes it a touch boring, in my mind. All in all though, a great beer worth drinking regularly.
I give it a 4.25 out of 5.
Sierra Nevada Bigfoot is a fantastic example of a barleywine ale. The thick head in the picture is more a result of a careless pour than the beer. Toasty caramel notes in the nose, and a full-body with a flavor that’s strong and evenly balanced between the malts and the hops. This is an excellent beer.
Mighty Arrow is New Belgium Brewing’s spring seasonal and I recently snagged a six pack. It’s a solid pale ale, hoppy, and not overly-bitter. It is a little lighter than I was expecting, almost more of a summer brew. A fine, if unremarkable beer, it’s one I could drink over and over.
I give it a 3.75 out of 5.
Another day, another canned brew from Oskar Blues Brewery, and today it’s a big IPA. It’s a big beer at 10%, and full bodied, with a good balance of sweetness vs. bitterness. The hops didn’t seem to have the complexity or richness that I’d expect from the hops in a top tier Double IPA like a Dogfish Head or a Stone, but it’s definitely a nice beer.
I give it a 3.5 out of 5.
Old Chub is a thick, dark, heavy Scotch ale from Oskar Blues Brewery, the same fine folks who make Dale’s Pale Ale. Old Chub is characterized by dark, sweet malts and a medium to full body. I have to be honest, it’s not really to my taste. If you’re a fan of very malty beers, this one might be right up your alley.
I give it a 2.5 out of 5, and that’s really due to it not being my cup of tea rather than the quality of the beer.
To describe this IPA from Bell’s Brewery in one word, the word would have to be bitter. Now don’t get me wrong, I love bitter, hoppy IPAs, but this one is a bit heavy on the bitter, and light on the hops and flavor. It’s a bit of a one note tune. I certainly enjoy it, but it just isn’t complex, flavorful, or interesting enough to be one of the greats.
I give it a 3.9 out of 5.
We’ve come to the last of the Highland, and the first spring seasonal. Little Hump is a refreshing and clean pale ale with pine-scented nose and excellent slightly bitter hop flavors. Beers like this make me happy that spring is on its way.
I give it 4.3 out of 5.
One of my favorite “expensive” beers. I first had this on tap when I visited my father in law in South Carolina. I’ve been a fan ever since.
A higher ABV (9.0), this isn’t a gulping beer. It’s almost mead, and works best in a pint or wine glass. It’s supposedly from a 2700 year old recipe from the tomb of King Midas (where it gets the name).
You can definitely taste the honey in it, and the muscat grapes also give it a champagne feel, too.
I give it a 4.5 out of 5.
Review Submitted By: Nicolas Webb
A thick, dark beer, dark as a porter or Imperial Stout, Highland’s Black Mocha Stout is a weighty, heavy-bodied stout offering scents of roasted coffee and malts. The taste is strong with coffee and cocoa. It seems to be typical of Highland to temper the sweetness, and the Black Mocha Stout is no exception. Very little sweetness here, but excellent flavor. Another really good beer from the folks in Asheville.
This is an amber ale, but with a distinctly strong, smooth and only slightly bitter hoppy flavor. It reminds me a lot of a good IPA and I’d say that it actually tastes more like an IPA than an amber ale. Very tasty, and very drinkable.
I give it a 4.4 out of 5.
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