Just a wee bit different: North Carolina

Just as the title suggests, I'm doing something kind of new in this post.  It seemed almost necissary given my regional subject matter as of late.  Growing up in the Pacific Northwest, I am used to a different system of microbrew distribution; a brewpub model if you will.  By that I mean that most every brewery operates a bar that's primary function is to sell beer directly to the customers.  Many breweries also bottle beer and and a few even manage to get their beer on tap at other local bars and restraunts, but the epicenter of the operation is at the brewery itself. 

Well, as is so often the case, they do things differently down South.


As I mentioned a couple of posts back, New Liberty in Myrtle Beach offers tours through their facility, but don't sell a whole lot of beer on sight.  The vast majority of their sales come from bottled (or canned) beer sold to the customers through specialty shops and grocery stores and from a select group of restaurants and bars.

So once again I ventured to the Liberty Tap Room in Myrtle Beach, SC.  The Liberty Tap Room is part of a chain with several locations in South Carolina.  The specialize in regional and local fare and act as lightning rod for the resurgence of microbrewing in the area.  The result is large selection of beer from all over the South.  Their Myrtle Beach location became a favorite hangout of mine during my time there.  The food there was always excellent, the atmosphere was relaxing and the staff was extremely friendly. 

The downside to this system is the fact that the amount of beer they have from one particular brewery is rather limited.  For example, today I am throwing a spotlight on a little brewery in Asheville, North Carolina.  The Highlands Brewing Company's website boasts five different beers and five additional seasonal beers available.  Liberty had only two on tap.... so it will be a rather short post.

Gaelic Ale: Little to no aroma on this one, but the flavor really sneaks up on ya.  It's an amber ale with a body of a much bigger beer.  Lots of caramel and chocolate with a creamy mouthfeel to go with it.  It ends with just moderate bitterness. 

Oatmeal Porter: The very first thing I notice about this beer is the smoky aroma and flavor along with a slightly woody flavor.  As I continued a lot more of the malty sweetness, coffee and chocolate flavors started to become more apparent.  It ends with just a little floral hop flavor.

That's all from me for now.  I've got one more dispatch from the South before I return to Yankee territory this time from Atlanta, Georgia. 
Until then, Cheers!