By Brian Beauchemin

As we turn the corner into a steadier stream of enjoyable temperatures, Charlotte breweries are providing a captivating mix of beers. A wide array of IPAs leads the pack but lagers provide a close second, some of which provide interesting flavor twists including lime and hibiscus. Alongside these traditional brews, there are a few that include coconut or peanut butter and jelly just to keep our taste buds guessing. Unless otherwise stated, all products are already available in taprooms and/or in the local market. 

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Birdsong Brewing

The brewery’s spring seasonal, Rewind Lime, returns April 18. The 4% ABV contemporary American light lager with lime is a twist on their classic lager. Utilizing lime essential oil and lime zest, the crisp and refreshing beer has bright lime aromatics and is a great addition to all things summer. Available through June. 

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Devils Logic Brewing

Perpetual Paradox is a 7.5% ABV classic west coast IPA brewed with Centennial hops creating piney, resiny, and citrusy notes.

Another west coast IPA, Accidentally on Purpose, is hopped with Amarillo, Cascade, Citra, and Strata hops. The 6.7% ABV brew has notes of tangerine, lime, gooseberry, and passion fruit.

Releasing April 25 in the taproom only, Southern POG is a 4.8% ABV fruited gose. The beer features a traditional gose recipe but conditioned on peach, orange and pink guava.

Bumping into May, Bang-a-Uey releases May 1. The 5.5% ABV New England pale ale drips with aromas of orange creamsicle, pineapple, and lemon/lime. The next day Space Rodeo enters the market. The American IPA is brewed with Amarillo, Cascade, and Citra hops providing the 7.2% ABV brew with grapefruit and stone fruit notes. 

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Lower Left Brewing

Rose Tattoo is a 5.6% ABV Irish red ale that proves smooth, deliciously malty, and infinitely drinkable. 

Rhymes With Kolsch is a German-style Kolsch that’s a crisp and approachable cold-fermented 5.2% ABV ale.

One of the brewery’s most anticipated annual seasonals, Three Hour Tour, has a cult-like following. Releasing April 20, the 5.2% ABV coconut vanilla blonde ale is made with organic toasted coconut and Madagascar vanilla, 

The yet-to-be-named German hefeweizen has a tentative release date of April 24. 

The 5% ABV brew is their first in this style and will be split 50/50, with half remaining traditional and the other half having either blueberry or blackberry added. 

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NoDa Brewing   

Brewed in honor of head brewer Chad Henderson’s 40th birthday, Old Dog, New Hops is a west coast-style IPA. The 7.6% ABV beer utilizes HBC 648, Experimental 16660, and Experimental 0220 hops and is draft-only at their North End taproom.

Only one keg of B-Side Project: Hop Drop ‘N Roll with Orange Guava exists and it will be tapped April 19 in their North End taproom. The 7.2% ABV American IPA was brewed with orange and guava. 

Two beers release on April 26^th. SLURP Tsunami is a 9.2% ABV imperial west coast IPA. Citra, El Dorado, Experimental 17701, Mosaic, Simcoe, and Strata hops provide bold fruit and pine notes. Komorebi is a clean, crisp rice lager brewed with Jasmine rice providing the 5.3% ABV beer a unique flavor combination that hits all the right notes for the spring season.

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Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

Bock Party is the brewery’s seasonal German spring bock and launches April 19 in their brauhaus. The bock captures the promise of warmer days ahead, combining a slight malty sweetness with a refreshing touch of citrus from its noble Bavarian hops. The resulting brew is fresh and crisp whose smooth character masks the 6% ABV.  

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Pilot Brewing

Hang Session, a 4.9% ABV cold India Pale Ale releases April 12th. This modern take on a west coast-style IPA utilizes lager yeast for fermentation while still boasting big hop characteristics from copious amounts of Galaxy and Cashmere hops. Lagering yields a clear beer and dry finish while the hops produce bright citrus flavors of orange and grapefruit.

The brewery releases their spring staple Mimosa Gose April 13 just in time for the warmer weather ahead. The refreshing German tart wheat ale fermented with blood orange purée has a low coriander note and restrained sea salt character. They’ll be giving away Mimosa Gose swag including tattoos, pens, stickers and koozies as part of the release. The 4.2%.ABV brew is a GABF and US Open medal winner. 

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Protagonist Beer

McFly Bohemian Pilsner is a lager collaboration with the state’s newest brewery, Atomic Clock Brewing in Durham, NC (owned by former head brewer of Town Brewing, Brian Quinn). Utilizing 100% Epiphany malt, this beer is a clean, crisp, and classic 5.6% ABV pilsner.

Bloom provides a unique twist on a lager. The 4.1% ABV lager is brewed with Spirit Tea’s Rosella tea blend. This lovely blend of tea featuring hibiscus, lemongrass, and licorice root imparts not only a gorgeous red hue to the beer, but a lovely citrus note as well. Releases April 13. 

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Sycamore Brewing   

Honeysuckle Summer Ale is a 5.3% ABV golden ale utilizing a custom malt blend, featuring barley grown in Virginia and malted in Asheville. The brew is fruity and floral upfront, with toasted wheat bread, light honey, peach, and herbal notes supporting.

Spaceman Spliff IPA features a newly released hop, Alora, in tandem with Strata hops.  The 7.1% ABV hazy IPA initially swarms with peach, guava, watermelon, sweet citrus, and yuzu, moves to earthy, dank notes in the middle, and finishes with a taste of grapefruit zest. 

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Triple C Brewing

Pound Pils is a 4.9% ABV hybrid pilsner brewed with noble hops for a crisp hop bite and fermented on the higher side for a dry malt finish. 

Uncle John’s is the brewery’s rendition of a Belgian wit beer brewed with coriander and fresh orange zest. The 4.9% ABV white ale abounds with citrus aroma and flavors and a classic dry finish. Releases April 12. 

A 4.7% ABV peanut butter and jelly gose, Salted Goober, will be available April 19. Strawberry, blueberry, and grape jam combine with the spread of salty peanut butter in this sour beer. Sweet and salty go together like peanut butter and jelly. 

Neon Limes, their summer seasonal, returns April 26. The 5.7% ABV American lager with lime is crisp, clear, and ready-to-drink for hot temperatures. 

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Wooden Robot Brewery

Wild Zitrone is a 6.5% ABV farmhouse ale aged for two years in an oak foeder, then rested on Meyer lemon zest. The resulting beer pronounces crisp citrus aroma, delicate sourness, and rounds out with a smooth, dry, oaky finish.

Inspired by classic Vienna lager, Johnny Cab is a 5.2% ABV crisp and refreshing beer with a deep golden hue, toasty and bready flavors, and a delicate kiss of hops.