5 Charlotte Iconic Beers
RNCguru Presents: The 5 Iconic Beers of Charlotte
If you are visiting Charlotte for the 2020 RNC convention and want to dabble in the city’s awesome beer scene, this is where you start. Or, if you are new to Charlotte and curious about a local expert’s beer opinion, this should provide some perspective.
Captain Jack- Pilsner by Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
This is not Olde Meck’s most popular beer – that’s Copper, nor is it their best tasting – which in my opinion is the Fat Boy Baltic Porter. However, it is the most iconic, being named after Captain James Jack who delivered the May 20, 1775 “Mecklenburg Declaration of Independence” to the North Carolina representatives at the Second Continental Congress.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery is credited for helping launch the microbrewery trend in Charlotte. They produce award winning traditional German style beer.
Hop Drop and Roll- IPA by NODA Brewery
Hop Drop and Roll helped put Charlotte’s beer scene on the map by winning the 2014 World Beer Cup Gold Award in American-Style IPA. Charlotte, as a beer town, is the little sister to Asheville, NC, which is in the ranks of Denver, Portland and Grand Rapids, MI.
NODA is also known for Jam Session, Coco-Loco and great seasonal beers.
Juicy Jay- IPA by Legion Brewery
This was one of the first Juicy or East Coast style IPAs in the Charlotte market. At one, point it was the most popular beer in Charlotte. Charlotte is an IPA town; almost all local brewery’s leading beers are IPAs.
Charlotte’s most popular IPAs are: Birdsong – Higher Ground, Lenny Boy - Citraphelia, Sycamore - Mountain Candy and Triple C Brewing - 3C IPA.
Golden Boy- Blonde Ale By Triple C Brewing
If you are not into IPAs, you still have a lot of options. Tipple C is one of the original Charlotte breweries along with Olde Meck, NODA and Birdsong. Sycamore also has a Southern Girl Blonde Ale, but if IPAs are your thing, Triple C Brewing has a Double IPA called the Baby Maker – this is also an iconic Beer.
Black Blaze Milk Stout by Blaze Brewery or Sugar Creek Porter by Sugar Creek are also good dark non-IPA choices.
Jalapeño Pale Ale- Spicy by Birdsong Brewery
The Jalapeno Pale Ale is spicy, but not high heat hot. It’s a good “try something different” beer. This is none of Charlotte’s more popular eclectic beers along with Wooden Robot’s - Good Morning Vietnam, a blonde vanilla coffee ale.
Free Range Brewing - Cream of the Crop, a Carolina cream ale and the Hospitali Tea by Unknown Brewery are two unique Charlotte brews.
Republican Convention Beers?
In 2019, Unknown Brewery crafted a beer named after long time Republican Labor Commissioner Cherri Berry - Elevator Lady. In 2012, when the DNC was in Charlotte, Mother Earth Brewery created a DNC label for their Endless River Beer. As of now, there is no RNC or Trump inspired beers for the Convention and since Charlotte is a blue town, I wouldn’t expect any to be announced.
*all photos are from the brewery websites