Well, it is right in the name ain’t it? Our first March stop is at Charlotte, North Carolina’s oldest brewery, Olde Mecklenburg.
They have a line-up filled to the brim with old(e) school beer styles, so let’s dive in…
Fruh Bock – “Our seasonal “Spring bock” captures the promise of warmer days ahead, combining a slight malty sweetness with a refreshing touch of citrus aroma from its noble bavarian hops. The result is an amazingly fresh, crisp beer that masks a higher alcohol content in its smooth character.”
Copper Altbier – “OMB’s flagship, Copper, is an authentic Düsseldorf-style Altbier (German amber ale). Its full-flavored start suggests notes of graham cracker, toffee and caramel, transitioning to a smooth and balanced finish. Altbier is a “hybrid” beer – although it’s brewed as an ale, it is “lagered” (stored on the yeast at very cold temperatures) for several weeks after primary fermentation. The result is a beer that combines the full flavor of an ale with the crisp, clean refreshment of a lager. Copper is great by itself or as a complement to any cuisine.”
Hornet’s Nest Hefeweizen – “A German classic, Hornets Nest hefeweizen is the original hazy, unfiltered ale. This subtly sweet wheat beer is rich in body and finishes with notes of banana and clove from the unique hefe yeast. At OMB, we love our local history almost as much as we enjoy brewing our premium local beer. While most people think Hornets Nest is an ode to Charlotte’s basketball team, it’s actually the nickname England’s General Cornwallis gave Charlotte after 16 futile days of trying to take the city during the Revolutionary War – “Let’s get out of here, this place is a damned hornet’s nest.” Raise a glass to the spirit of rebellion in the Queen City!”
Fat Boy Baltic Porter – “a bold, full-bodied, dark beer that wraps a rich malty sweetness in notes of caramel, toffee, dark fruit and rich chocolate. Despite the higher ABV, this porter drinks smooth, owing to the use of lager yeast and extended cold conditioning. With a beer this good, every season is dark beer season! Fat Boy is a tribute to our original brewer’s passion for his Harley-Davidson motorcycle, which could often be seen parked outside of the brewhouse in the early days of OMB. Winner of a GOLD European Beer Star.”
