QCBF 2014 Ticket Announcement

nweldy | December 6, 2013 - 4:36 am

That time of year is BACK and QCBF tickets are on sale NOW.  We are so appreciative of the support QCBF has received since the inaugural festival back in 2012 that the upcoming event has grown to a new site:  the Silver Hammer Studios at the NC Music Factory (817 Hamilton Street, 28206).  Also new in 2014 is the festival’s host, ACEing Autism, and our partnership will help bring programming to Charlotte.

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As for event day, please welcome newcomers The Unknown Brewing Co., and District 9 Brewing Company to the breweries lineup as well as several of your favorite craft beer-centric establishments, which you can view on our exhibitors page.  We can’t wait to have so many friends on hand to greet you come Feb. 1st!

We are also thrilled to announce that as part of our partnership with Earthspun® Apparel, the first 100 ticket orders will receive a FREE Beer Bottle Brown® t-shirt, so please be sure to indicate your shirt size on the checkout form.  T-shirts will be picked up at the Earthspun® Apparel table at the festival.  Take a look!!

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Two Tasting Sessions:

1 – 4pm

6 – 9pm

Tickets are $35 per session

Buy Tickets

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5 Good Questions with Good Bottle Co.

nweldy | November 27, 2013 - 2:40 pm

Good Bottle Co. is exactly what you would expect out of a bottle shop, except any guest would argue that the beers Chris Hunt purveys are not just good, they’re excellent.  From its sleek and strategic design, to its black and white draft list (with accompanying map for the geography buff in all of us), Good Bottle Co. does a very good job of providing its customers a wide selection of local, regional and national craft beers.

We traded Q’s for A’s with owner Chris Hunt and can’t wait to welcome his Good-ness to Queen City Brewers Festival in just a couple more months.

1.)  You’re an Asheville native, a perennial Beer City USA winner and favorite.  How did you end up in Charlotte, and was Good Bottle Co. always in your plans here?

No, actually we moved to Charlotte in 2001 for work.  When we moved from Asheville it was still very early as far as craft beer was concerned.  I’ve always enjoyed good beer, but had no idea what was to become of the beer scene in Charlotte.  As I traveled for work I began seeing places in Atlanta and Raleigh popping up and the beer scenes in both cities beginning to grow.  I began noticing that South End was a great hub for craft beer but felt it really needed a true craft beer centric store.  We felt that being a part of the growth and education of craft beer in Charlotte was a key ingredient to the success of our store.  It’s great to see customers who just six months ago wouldn’t even smell an IPA and now they are asking which hops were used in the beer they are currently drinking.

2.)  Good Bottle Co. has a unique look and layout as compared to other craft beer stores in the area.  What was your goal with this approach?

We wanted it be be unique, inviting and relaxing.  I knew that one thing that would grow craft beer in Charlotte was a place where people wanted to hang out, drink good beer, ask questions. We feel that we are a store first, bar second and that has been consistent since day one.

 

3.)  Craft beer has experienced amazing growth across the country the last 10 or so years, that’s especially true in North Carolina and more recently here in Charlotte.  How do you balance local and regional offerings with beers from outside the area?

For us we have always focused on local, regional and national in that order.  I think having local beer is key because that is a big part of any craft beer culture.  When people travel, they look for local beer.  When people have friends and family in town they want to show them local spots and drink local beer, so it is important for us to have as many local options as possible to truly highlight and support the local CLT beer scene.

4.)  Your store is a welcome and visible sight for any beer-lover traveling down South Blvd.  What do your customers have for food options while enjoying a bottle, can or draft beer on-site? 

Penn Station next door is like having a food truck without wheels every day.  Several times a day we see (and smell) hot Philly cheese steaks, sandwiches and great french fries at the bar.  We encourage people to bring or order food while they are here.  Mac’s is always a good option as well.

5.)  Clearly you have hundreds of breweries and their respective offerings at your fingertips.  What’s Good Bottle’s “house beer”? 

Most of the local breweries could be classified as our house beer.  We have poured more Capt Jack from Olde Meck than anything.  It’s often our Father In Law Tap (lightest/least hoppyest beer). Some beers that I am enjoying right now include Lonerider’s Pistols at Dawn Stout and the IGOR bbl Russian Imperial Stout from Fullsteam.

Bonus question:  If you could feature any beer in the world on draft, what would it be, why and (aside from yourself) who would get the first pour? Troegs Nugget Nectar. It’s an Imperial Red with a perfect balance of big malt and big hop flavors.  First pour would have to go to one of our investors Scot because he usually hand delivers me a case each and every year.

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Salud Beer Shop and Three Amigos Spice Up Charlotte’s Beer Scene

nweldy | October 17, 2013 - 12:10 pm

There is a family connection that spans NoDa’s arts district and the Central Avenue corridor, and for fans of craft beer and Mexican fare, they can thank brothers-in-law Jason Glunt of Salud Beer Shopand Dalton Espaillat of Three Amigos Mexican Grill and Cantina for bringing these two incredible worlds together.  While Salud has been serving the NoDa-area world-class craft beer since March of last year, it’s been Jason’s influence over that same time span that Three Amigos has significantly upped its craft offerings.

“It’s pretty simple,” explained Dalton. “Craft beer can pair well with any style of fresh, authentic food. You can enjoy the best of both worlds at Three Amigos.”

Queen City Brewers Festival grabbed a corner booth with the bros, and we’re thrilled to welcome this unique duo to the 2014 festival lineup.

QCBF:  Jason, thank you for providing NoDa a proper craft beer store.  Give us one highlight from your first year and a half in business.

Jason:  It’s really been an ongoing highlight and that is thanks to my very supportive customers.  I think it’s been the evolution of craft beer drinkers that has been so enjoyable to watch.  Seeing them transition from lagers and pilsners to hearty stouts, super hoppy IPAs and Belgian saisons; that is what makes it fun.

QCBF:  Dalton, as a restaurant owner, how has the rise of craft beer benefited your business, and how do you communicate to the public that Three Amigos offers quality craft beer?

Dalton: That’s the beauty of our close-knit craft beer community.  The message is getting out there organically, and among the craft beer audience specifically, I’m seeing more and more repeat business.  Loyalty is so important to a restaurant so I ask that my customers keep the FourSquare and Untappd check-ins coming because it’s putting us on the map.  But I’m noticing too that food sales are up as a result of offering craft beer.  For instance, Tuesday’s we offer all craft beers half-off, often times at cost, because it’s important to introduce your typical Corona drinker to something with a lot more flavor – like a mole stout.  Our two taps predominantly feature local beers like Birdsong’s Jalapeno Pale Ale and NoDa’s Ramble on Red.  We move those kegs in and out pretty quickly so it’s clear local beer pairs well with our menu items.

QCBF:  Jason, how did you come up with Sourfest and why is it important to Charlotte’s craft beer culture?

Well, it starts with me and I like sours [laughs].  It’s not that sours are popular all of a sudden so we’re jumping on the cool train to throw a festival around it.  It really comes down to my personal taste; the history and the process of making sours which I feel is unique and compelling enough for this beer category to have its own annual event.  What’s really cool is that there are a number of NC breweries dabbling in this style so we’re excited to have them on hand.  Overall, it is a niche event, but that’s important because it shows that Charlotte’s craft beer audience is progressing and becoming more educated about different beer styles.  Who knows, maybe we’ll see barrel-aged beer festival down the road.

QCBF:  How do you feel about the proposed growler-filling laws changing and what can your customers expect?

Jason:  to be honest I’m on the fence about it.  I’m already tight on space so there’s little I can do for up-fitting like adding a sink or storing growlers that is even possible.  Plus, I’m rotating a lineup of rare beers – many times they’re gone the same day – so it just wouldn’t be right to fill a couple growlers for one customer at the expense of say a half-dozen customers that would like to try a particular beer.  Bottom line, I want to do right by the breweries and if we find that there’s equipment or sanitation materials we can’t provide to properly fill growlers, then we won’t do it.  But it’s a work in progress so we’ll see how this plays out.

Dalton:  I was going to go for it until Jason just convinced me otherwise! [laughs]

 

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Queen City Brewers Festival announces partnership with ACEing Autism and its 2014 event site

nweldy | July 31, 2013 - 1:00 pm

The 2014 Queen City Brewers Festival (QCBF) will help launch Charlotte programming for its new nonprofit partner, ACEing Autism.  ACEing Autism’s mission is to make the sport of tennis available to children with Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and to use tennis as a means to enhance fitness, motor development, attention, and social skills for children with ASD.  ”We have an outstanding volunteer base that includes tennis professionals, tennis enthusiasts, students, autism professionals, and parents of children with ASD,” noted ACEing Autism president and founder, Richard Spurling. “Partnering with a social event in QCBF helps raise awareness of our programming coming to Charlotte.” ACEing Autism clinics will be conducted at a Mecklenburg County tennis facility, maintaining QCBF’s ties with its 2012 and 2013 beneficiary, Partners for Parks.

In addition, QCBF is moving to more spacious accommodations at the Silver Hammer Studios at the NC Music Factory.  Just earlier this year, NoDa Brewing’s own Chad Henderson warmed up the Silver Hammer Studios with his exceptional TEDx Charlotte talk.

NCMF - dark backgroundAs always, QCBF will be exclusive to the Charlotte-area breweries that are raising the Queen City’s profile both within the Tar Heel State and across the craft beer map.  Each brewery will showcase a variety of its beers and brewers are encouraged to bring one “super” flavor or style of beer especially for QCBF, as the event takes place the day before the Super Bowl.
There will again be two tasting sessions:  1-4PM and 6-9PM. Tickets will be limited and go on sale December 5, 2013. Updates will be posted regularly on:

www.QCBrewFest.com
www.facebook.com/qcbrewfest
Twitter profile:  @QCBrewFest

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Carolina Beer Temple is Open for Worship

nweldy | July 3, 2013 - 12:15 pm

We can thank Microsoft for personal computing as we know it, but did you know we can also thank the software behemoth for the Carolina Beer Temple in Matthews, NC?  Thanks to frequent work travels to the Pacific Northwest as a Microsoft Project Management specialist, a beer-focused adventure to Belgium and a thorough tour of breweries across North Carolina; owner Rob Jacik and his wife knew they had the beginnings of a recipe for a craft beer business back home in Charlotte.

Carolina Beer Temple, which just opened in May, combines a premium mix of craft bottles, cans and growlers along with 16 rotating taps (and several interesting craft beer books are tucked into its shelves).  Naturally, North Carolina and Belgian-based beers are the stars of the store and QCBF was eager to meet them.

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So bring us through the process by which we are now sitting in Carolina Beer Temple?

Well, we can thank Highland Brewing’s Oatmeal Porter for my gateway into craft beer.  I remember specifically I was at the Rheinland  Haus in Dilworth in ’94 or ’95 when the manager at the time, Charlie Emmanuel, offered me a pint and it was unlike anything I had ever had.  That beer opened my eyes to craft beer, which was fortunate because at the time I was working for Microsoft and traveling frequently to what is essentially the craft beer capital of the world:  the Pacific Northwest.  It was there that I really became one with a phenomenal craft beer scene.

About five years ago it was clear that after 15 years hammering away in a corporate role – I guess barrel-aging is more appropriate (laughs) – I needed to soak up a new challenge.  So during my five year plan to wind down my corporate gig and open Carolina Beer Temple, several quality stores like Salud, Good Bottle and Davidson Beverage opened in and around Charlotte.  That ultimately led to my wife and me opening up shop here in Matthews.

How do you go about selecting your inventory? Is there a formula?

I’d say 80% of what I carry I’ve tried.  The other 20% have a strong reputation or it’s a matter of customers asking for that particular brand.  The hard part is keeping up with the number of new releases to market, but that’s a good problem to have (laughs).  On the draft side of the business I have noticed a trend:  40% of my customers look for an IPA, 40% want a stout or porter and the other 20% are on the fringes which is where I’ll mix it up with Belgians ales, one-offs and so on.

Do you feel safe saying that Charlotte is a bona fide craft beer destination? 

Definitely.  I’m so glad to finally be saying that having lived in Charlotte since 1985.  Before Charlotte craft beer took off in recent years, we had Highland, Duck Rabbit, Mother Earth and a few others in the area making some really good beer.  But it excites me to see Charlotte evolving from a very corporate and chain-based environment to a place where several independent small businesses are making an impact in the community.  Case and point right here on this strip – we’ve got the Black Chicken next door, a creperie, Thai Taste is family owned – it’s an overall shift for Charlotte and definitely one that is worth checking out.

Why should a craft beer fan – local or visiting – spend some quality time at Carolina Beer Temple?

You know it can be hard to distinguish ourselves from a selection standpoint because there is so much variety out there.  But I’d say one distinction is that we offer a wide variety of North Carolina beers, and Belgian beers you’re not accustomed to seeing.  Those are the two categories you could say that we specialize in because, truthfully, those are the beers I believe in the most.  Having traveled Belgium extensively and obviously knowing my North Carolina beers inside and out, I’m able to connect with my customers through those beers so you get the best of both worlds at Carolina Beer Temple.

With several hundred brands and every type of beer flowing through your store, but you were required by law to only drink one specific beer, what is it?

(Nervous laugh) It all depends on the day you summon me.  Today, it would be Kasteel Cuvee de Chateau.

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