By Brian Beauchemin

Although I typically don’t call out specific beers, this month I make an exception in honor of Dan Wade, the co-owner of Wooden Robot who unexpectedly passed away in February. Dan was well respected and loved by all who knew him, whether they were in the craft industry or not. Always with a smile, he was a friend to many. In honor of Dan, and as a tribute to him, Wooden Robot released two beers this month to celebrate his life. NoDa Brewing also released a beer, and will donate 100 percent of proceeds to the Wade Family Fund. 

Unless otherwise stated, all products are currently available in taprooms and/or in the local market. 

Birdsong Brewing

My Precious, the brewery’s newest beer in their IPA series, releases March 21. The 6.3% ABV New Zealand IPA showcases the vibrant citrus kick of the southern hemisphere country’s hops. Nelson Sauvin, Waimea, and Riwaka hops create a juicy brew with bold grapefruit and orange notes. A golden, balanced malt bill keeps the bitterness in check and provides an excellent canvas for these expressive hops.

The seasonal release of All Knight Long means it’s baseball season yet again. This delicious Blonde Ale with a golden hue, a dry finish, and a slight sweetness on the palate sports an easy-drinking 4.5% ABV. This baseball park favorite returns March 28. 

Devils Logic Brewing

Nowhere Fast is a West Coast IPA hopped with Chinook, Nelson Sauvin, and Strata. 

The 6.5% ABV taproom-only brew blooms with citrusy, piney, and tropical fruit notes.

An American lager, Lake Loop Lager is brewed with flaked rice and hopped with Hallertau Blanc hops. The rice lightens the body and allows the hops to shine through while maintaining lager character. The 4.6% ABV rice lager showcases notes of sauvignon blanc grapes, zesty citrus, and passion fruit. Available in the brewery’s taproom and at the Whitewater Center.

Another beer utilizing flaked rice, Under the Water Tower 2024, releases March 28. The 4.6% ABV Kellerbier was brewed with flaked rice and hopped with Hallertau Blanc hops. In addition to the taproom, the beer will have limited distribution in the Elizabeth neighborhood as an annual release supporting the Elizabeth 8K run. 

Lower Left Brewing

Tech Noir is a 6% ABV robust porter with a complex malt bill, rich creamy body, and notes of dark fruit, toffee, chocolate, and coffee. 

On draft only, Lower Left Ginger Beer is a gluten-free, lightly-sweetened 5% ABV ginger beer made with fresh ginger, lemongrass, lemon peel, vanilla, star anise, and cinnamon. 

Iggy Stardust is a 6.5%ABV New England IPA double dry-hopped with Strata, Galaxy, and Citra.

Moving over to the ‘left coast’, Citranova is a West Coast IPA releasing March 20. According to the brewery, this award-winning IPA is brewed with “Citra, Citra, and more Citra hops”. 

NoDa Brewing   

“The Charlotte beer community lost an amazing person with the unfortunate death of Dan Wade of Wooden Robot,” NoDa Brewing shared following the news of its fellow brewer’s passing. “Dan was an amazing person who was respected and loved throughout the industry, and respected and loved as a genuinely good person outside of the work to which he dedicated himself.” NoDa brewed For Dan in honor and memory of Dan. This 5.5% ABV tribute beer is a double dry-hopped hazy pale ale hopped with Nectaron, Strata, and HBC 638. 100 percent of this beer’s sales proceeds will be donated to the Wade Family Fund. Help support Dan’s family by raising a glass of this beer at either of NoDa’s taprooms. 

The next iteration of the brewery’s SLURP series, SLURP Surfin’ is a West Coast IPA dry hopped with Mosaic, Simcoe, and Centennial hops in tandem with grapefruit zest. The 6.5% ABV brew highlights bright, fruity, and piney flavors. 

NoDa brewer, Rebecca Miller, brewed West Coast What utilizing the 2024 Pink Boots Hop Blend in honor of International Women’s Month. The 4.5% ABV beer is a west coast-style pilsner, a relatively new and emerging style based on a classic pilsner lager but utilizing modern, West Coast hops for flavor and aroma. The combination of the Pink Boots hop blend (Ahtanum, El Dorado, HBC 638 and Idaho 7) and additional Citra hops deliver a great tropical hop character on top of a clean pilsner base.

The King Never Died is a classic American-style IPA brewed and dry hopped with Simcoe, Cascade, Centennial, Chinook, CTZ, and Mosaic hops. The 6.6% ABV brew pays homage to the classic IPA style that inspired the brewery’s flagship IPA, Hop Drop ‘N Roll, but with a unique hop blend and malt composition. This brew experiments with a new yeast called Super Bloom that produces the same oils that hops produce, allowing for substantially fewer hops used when making this IPA. On draft at their North End Taproom.

Mutha Shuckin’ is 6.0% ABV oyster stout. Releasing March 22 for the 5^th annual Mother Shuckin’ Oyster Roast, the oysters provide a slightly savory and briny touch to a straightforward American stout.

A Healthy Fear of Birds is a classic saison brewed with a blend of pilsner, wheat, oats, and other malts in tandem with a hefty amount of Saaz hops. The French saison yeast utilized for fermentation results in a refreshingly dry and complex beer made for the summer months. Available March 29, the 5.9% ABV beer was inspired by a homebrew from a NoDa cellarman, Ian, who also named the brew. 

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Releasing on draft only at their brewery, Alt Father is a German dopplesticke brewed traditionally with only malts, hops, yeast, and water. The 8.8% ABV beer releases March 29 and is their biggest, booziest beer yet — essentially an Imperial Copper.

Pilot Brewing 

Hazy Skies Hefeweizen, a 5.8% ABV German wheat ale, returns this month. The award-winning brew is a pale, refreshing German-style wheat ale with a dry finish, fluffy mouthfeel, and banana-clove character. 

Sweet Child Of Mine Sweet Stout released St. Patrick’s Day. The small brew release features a dark-colored, chocolatey and mildly roasted London ale. This 5.1% ABV, full-bodied beer displays a dark chocolate character and a full mouthfeel with some residual sweetness in the finish. 

Releasing March 22, Greg’s Cream Ale is an American “lawnmower” beer – easy-drinking and refreshing, with a little more character and body than typical American lagers. The 5.5% ABV is also a small-batch brew with one dollar per beer sold donated to their March Charity of the Month, South Charlotte Dog Rescue.

Protagonist Beer

Slater West Coast Lager is the blend of an easy-drinking 5.4% ABV lager with the bold hop character of a west coast IPA. Clear, crisp, refreshing, and packed with the perfect amount of hoppy goodness. Amarillo, Cashmere, and Mosaic hops provide wide ranges of passionfruit, berry, and resinous flavors. 

Catherine Strawberry Basil Sour is a session sour ale striking the balance of sour, sweet, and savory. The 5% ABV brew utilizes basil and strawberry purée to provide a crushable tart beer made for sunny days. The brew will also be featured at the US National Whitewater Center this spring and summer.

Southern Strain Brewing

Already a hit in the taproom, the 4.9% ABV Concord Common is the brewery’s version of a classic style originally brewed in 1896 by the oldest craft brewery in the US, Anchor Steam. Usually referred to as a “California Common” or “Steam Beer”, the brew utilizes a unique lager yeast fermented a little warmer than usual, giving it a slightly fruity character. Expect toasty malt with just a slight sweetness, but completely balanced from Northern Brewer hops. Anchor Brewing closed its doors in July of 2023 and this beer is an homage to the original craft beer pioneers.

Stompin’ Stout is a classic stout ready for St. Patrick’s Day! Epiphany Foundation, Munich, Brueh, Chocolate, and Carolina Malt’s Roasted Barley provide the backbone of the beer with a small addition of East Kent Golding hops for balance. Fermented with their house ale yeast strain, this is a roasty, toasty, and easy-drinking 5.0% ABV stout.

Triple C Brewing

Oatmeal Vanilla Porter is a 6.8% ABV oatmeal porter aged on vanilla providing sweet vanilla and chocolate aromas, reminiscent of toostie rolls and vanilla fudge.  

Light Rail is an American pale ale utilizing traditional hops. The 4.7% ABV brew is hopped with Citra, Cascade, and Simcoe hops providing citrus, stone-fruit, and floral aromas and flavors. 

Violet Sunshine is a draft-only 4.5% ABV lavender coffee blonde ale brewed with lavender and French vanilla coffee for an easy drinking beer with a twist.  

Releasing March 22, Greenway IPA is a 6.0% ABV juicy IPA brewed with Strata, El Dorado, Azacca, and Citra hops. Aromas and flavors of candied orange, juicy mango, toasted coconut, and stone fruit emanate from the beer.

Playa is a Mexican-style lager fermented cold for a dry, crisp, and refreshing lager with aromas and flavors of corn bread and mild hop spice. The March 29 release can be served with a salted rim and lime when requested.   

Wooden Robot Brewery

At 4.6% ABV, Spring Vibes is a sessionable spring pale ale to be sipped while enjoying the fresh blooms. Inspired by the British pale ale that Wooden Robot Co-Owner Dan Wade enjoyed while studying brewing in the UK, the beer is soft, balanced, and ready to be enjoyed all day.

End Transmission is a tribute IPA released with their co-owner, boss, and friend in mind. End Transmission is a thirst-quenching 7.5% ABV IPA with tropical fruit and citrus zest characteristics from Citra, Vista, and Cashmere hops that leave you craving more. A bit of wheat in the grain bill softens the mouthfeel for a luxurious, well-rounded experience. Raise a glass to Dan!