Bench Racing and Brews – Birdsong Brewing Company – Charlotte, North Carolina

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BirdSong Brewing Company

 

 Free Will Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV. 42 IBU. Style: American Pale Ale. Availability: Year-Round. Pours a light amber color, the aroma has some floral and bready notes. The flavor carries some soft citrus notes and with some yeasty and floral notes. Very drinkable, I could grab this beer on a hot testing day and have several and not worry about a hang over the next morning when I have to be alert. I give this brew a solid 3 out of 5.

 

Jalepeno Pale Ale. 5.5% ABV. 45 IBU. Style: American Pale Ale. Availability: Rotating. Pours light and amber color and “oh my” the aroma is like opening a jar of canned jalapenos and since I like my food spicy this really excited me. I the taste was an initial floral citrus but then his lovely pure jalapeno flavor came though and then it was gone, the spice did not build. I was a little disappointed about the lack of spice but I was certainly excited about the flavor. I don’t think I could drink many of these because the flavor is so strong. However I wouldn’t hesitate to pick it up, it would be great to watch a Global Rally Cross event while enjoying this brew. I happily give this brew 4.5 out of 5.

 

Lazy Bird Brown Ale on Nitro. 5.5% ABV. 45 IBU. Style: American Brown Ale.  Availability: Limited(Brewed Once) Pours dark and thick and looks slightly creamy. The bouquet is very nutty. Taste matches the smell perfectly. It tastes very nutty and smooth from the nitro. Very easy drinking beer. I would mind kicking back on a cool spring day and washing the car with this beer easily accessible. I give this nitro brown ale a 3.5 out of 5.

 

Honey Pie IPA. 8.9% ABV. 80 IBU. Style: Imperial/Double IPA. Availability: Rotating. Pours a light golden color, smells very hoppy. Taste is a smooth sweet citrus hop, not as bitter as I had expected. The floral and yeast tones come out in the after taste. I don’t think I could drink more than one. Which means it would be good to kick back and have one with a friend do some bench racing and then still be able to drive home. I give this IPA a 3 out of 5

 

Mexicali Stout. 5.7% ABV. 35 IBU.   Style: Stout. Availability: Rotating. Pours dark and opaque. Smells of coffee and cocoa nibs, I did not get a sense of any chili notes coming through. The taste was an upfront bitter coffee and chocolate flavor. I sadly still didn’t get any of the chili notes coming through with the flavor. Still a very good drinkable stout on a cool day after the race this would help you warm back up while you’re changing tires back to your street tires to drive home. That is if you drove your car to the event. I give this stout a 3.5 out of 5.

 

Red Wine Barrel Aged Mexicali Stout. 5.7% ABV. No IBU Listed. Style: Barrel Aged Stout. Availability- Limited(Brewed Once) Pours dark and opaque, the smells are sweet with dark fruits and cocoa nibs. The flavor starts thick with bitterness of coffee and cocoa nibs then builds to this lovely sour dark fruit flavor. Soured stouts are my new favorite thing. This is a nice a wild beer so I would happily grab it and a cowbell take it to go spectate at a rally event while the drivers are getting wild off road. I give this lovely brew a 4.5 out of 5.

I give this brewery a 3.6 out of 5. Definitely a place worth visiting, very warm atmosphere and it had a nice porch area where you can bring your dog while you enjoy some brews. Also they have peanuts available, which I love peanuts so this excites me.   If you’re allergic stay away from the peanuts they won’t be enjoyable for you, stick to beer.

 

Images from Birdsong Brewing Company and Hilary Anderson