Inside Birdsong Brewing Taproom
Sometimes you get lucky and get brews from friends or family from their vacations, if they think about it. Other times you have friends of friends share beers with your friend and in return the share it with you. Well the latter happened to me recently, a co-worker's friend came back from Charlotte and had gotten a beer she enjoyed from her friend in North Carolina. My co-worker knew I have had beer from the brewery that her friend got her beer from. We discussed the beers and I mentioned one of the beers I had before from the same brewery. She instantly got excited that I had tried the beer she had gotten and she offered to share one with me. I thought it would be cool to do a review of this beer from the brewery. I have had a few beers from this brewery from Charlotte, North Carolina and I can say they do a great job with their takes on beer and different styles of beers. Let's review the brewery that I am trying another brew from tonight.
Throwback to my last visit at Birdsong Brewing Company
Birdsong was started by Chris and Tara Goulet, they partnered with
Conor Robinson who thought Charlotte need a small neighborhood brewery. The
brewery would be a place where folks could stop in for a pint or take one home
with a growler. Birdsong started in 2011, since then they have brewed many
different beers. With the rapid growth they purchased a building in the Belmont
Neighborhood of Charlotte, NC. It was a 30-barrel brew house with room for up
to 1,200 barrels of fermentation capacity. Birdsong
opened up a new taproom in April 2015 and is geared up for a growth in
production thanks to its creative and hardworking employees. Birdsong believes
#CanDoWillDo which is their philosophy behind their passion. Birdsong believes
in locally sourced and sustainability. They recycle the peanut shells from
their taproom to a local cattle farm. and eighty percent of their production is
draft beer. Kegs are the ultimate reusable product that helps them be
sustainable and limit their discarded waste. They stay local and minimize transportation to keep a mindful approach
economically and environmentally. The bottom line is not the only guiding
principle.
Can of Doin' Thyme
I have had the pleasure of visiting the tasting room at the brewery while I was on Beercation down in Charlotte. Let's discuss tonight's beer of the night, I am having Doin' Thyme Witbier by Birdsong Brewing Company. Doin' Thyme has an alcohol by volume or ABV of 4.3% and an IBU or bitterness of 15. From the can, "Our innovative Belgian-style Wheat uses coriander, lemon peel, and fresh thyme for a crisp, refreshing springtime treat. Using locally grown thyme from 100 Gardens in Charlotte, Birdsong is pleased to donate a portion of Doin' Thyme sales to help 100 Gardens in its quest to engage students and incarcerated individuals in learning new skills and actively helping the community." Great to see and learn how Birdsong walks the walk and helps support the local community.
Appearance of Doin' Thyme Witbier
The appearance of this Witbier is typical for the style of beer that it is. Doin' Thyme has a cloudy pale appearance to it. There is a yellowish to golden hue about this ale. Noticeable amounts of carbonation in the beer and there is a thin layer of foam or head to the beer. The head or foam as you pour the beer is thick but quickly simmers away leaving only a remnant of the head or foam around the edges. Doin' Thyme has an interesting aroma for a Witbier. The aroma follows sort for a typical beer in this style, but there is a subtleness to the aroma as you take a whiff. The aroma is subdued. The spice notes are there and noticeable, the thyme is a major player in the spice aroma. As well as coriander is for this style of ale. The lemon peel and citrus aroma are in the background to the spice aroma. There is a crispness to the aroma that is inviting and makes you want to take a big gulp for your next sip.
Birdsong Logo
I took my first sip and instantly notice the crispness of the beer. I notice the Belgian spices right away in the Witbier. It is not overpowering and does allow you to pick up on the spice notes in a Witbier. The coriander is present in the taste of the beer, which then allows the thyme to shine through. The thyme, I would have thought might have thrown of the style. But it played into the crisp wit style. The lemon peel and citrus notes come after the thyme and allow the drinker a break from thyme. The way these blend together is enjoyable and allows for a crisp light refreshing beer. The body of this ale is light to medium and the mouthfeel is crisp. There is a dry finish to this beer and the taste notes just mix so well together.
Doin' Thyme Witbier
Make sure that if you visit Charlotte, North Carolina, that this brewing company is on your list to visit. Their refreshing takes on styles of beers and their support for the community is fantastic and refreshing to see the involvement. Doin' Thyme was a crisp and refreshing brew that I think anyone who likes Witbiers, would enjoy and should have on their list to examine. I look forward to the next time I visit the brewery. Hopefully it is on a THURsty THURsday and one of their release days. Doin' Thyme is a seasonal brew and is available from March to May. I also saw on their instagram that Birdsong is going solar and that they will generate 50% of their power needs from solar panels they are adding. Sustainability is very important and the renewable energy source and locally sourced items are important to lowering their footprint.
Check out Birdsong Brewing Company on their website and stay up to date with them on social media:
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