February 5, 2025
Craft beer releases for February 2025
Valentine’s Day brings a couple sweet treats
By Brian Beauchemin
The progression of locally brewed lagers continues with eight releases this month. Ranging from pilsners to bocks, they provide a diverse palate for lager lovers. Cherries and chocolate make their way into our hearts for sweet Valentine’s treats. Hops are always plentiful with a range of IPAs but for those clinging to cooler weather beers, a variety of darker brews make their way into taprooms as well. Unless otherwise stated, the beers are already available in local taprooms or supporting establishments.
Birdsong Brewing
Czech it Out is a 5.5% ABV Czech-style dark lager brewed with Saaz hops and a German lager yeast. Expect light notes of chocolate and caramel with a crisp and refreshing finish thanks to the Saaz hops.
Good as Helles is a tropical helles lager dry-hopped with Strata providing aromatics of mango, passionfruit, and orange with a hint of dankness. The 5.4% ABV lager releases February 13 in the tap room and February 17 in distribution.
A 6.2% ABV fruited sour brewed with blueberry and strawberry purée, Rain yields big berry notes with a hint of effervescence. The sour returns to the taproom February 27 and early March for wholesale distribution.
Cabarrus Brewing
Killarney Irish Red Ale is an Irish red ale brewed with Bestmalz Red X base malt and Centennial hops, and is naturally carbonated. This 5.4% ABV red ale pours a deep amber hue with a rich, ruby-red glow. The malt profile is beautifully balanced, offering a smooth blend of caramel sweetness, toasty bread, and subtle hints of biscuit, making each sip incredibly smooth and satisfying. The malt-forward base is complemented by bright, floral notes from Centennial hops, adding a mild citrusy zest and a touch of earthy pine, without overpowering the malt character. Releases February 28.
Lower Left Brewing
A coconut imperial porter, Oakanut is brewed with organic toasted coconut and aged on bourbon-infused American oak. At 9% ABV, the porter is dark, rich, and chewy with an abundance of toasted coconut complimented by mild oak, bourbon, and vanilla spice notes. Releases February 5 in the taproom and distribution.
NoDa Brewing
A longtime brewery classic returns February 7. Goodwill Hunting is a Northeastern-style IPA with massive hop additions late in the boil and both during, and after, fermentation. Citra, Simcoe, CTZ, and Summit hops deliver citrus and piney character. The 7.4% ABV IPA has a full mouthfeel from oats and wheat malt along with fermenting on the Conan yeast strain.
Cordially Yours is a cordial-inspired porter accented with black cherries, chocolate, coconut, and vanilla for a decadent sweet treat releasing on Valentine’s Day. The 6.3% ABV porter will be draft-only in the brewery’s taproom.
A double dry-hopped West Coast IPA, Hype Lyfe – Strata is a test batch with the Hyper Boost form of the hop, Strata. Hyper Boost is a new advanced hop product that isolates most of the desired characteristics of different hop varieties. Although Mosaic and Citra Cryo hops are also used, the Hyper Boost Strata features heavily in the gluten-reduced, 6.3% ABV IPA. Releasing February 21 on draft only, the beer is clean and dry in finish with assertive bright pine and fruity hop character.
Oh Naur, the Condensation! is an international pale lager that is triple decocted and hopped exclusively with southern hemisphere hops such as Motueka and Galaxy. The 5.3% ABV clean, crisp lager is a collaboration with Percent Taphouse available February 28 on draft and cans in the brewery’s taproom.
Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Two OMB staples return this month. STING is a 7.5% ABV weizenbock packed with rich banana and bubblegum flavors delivering a smooth and creamy finish. Available exclusively in both taprooms.
Munzler’s Vienna lager is crisp and satisfyingly smooth with a slight toastiness courtesy of darker malts typical of the style. The 4.9% ABV lager releases February 6 in their taprooms and distribution.
Pilot Brewing
Ginger Snap Cookie Blonde Ale was brewed to support the brewery’s Charity of the Month, House of Yes. The 5.4% ABV gold-colored ale evokes the flavors and warmth of your favorite ginger snap cookie. However, the ginger and spiced flavors come directly from the malt and not added spices. Gingerbread Cookie Malt from Infusion Malts based in Boortmalt, Belgium infuses their malt with spices during the malting process. House of Yes seeks to build and support the comedy arts community through training, performance, and collaboration. They aim to democratize stage access, improve mental health, and connect diverse communities through play.
Late Czech Out is a 4.7% ABV Czech-style dark lager which releases February 7. A rich, dark, and sweet Czech lager with light roast character and subtle notes of chocolate. Noble hop character balances out the sweetness to yield a clean, smooth, and flavorful lager.
A German-style amber lager, Dunkles Bock is a dark, strong, malty German lager that emphasizes the rich and toasty qualities of Vienna and Munich malts, while still finishing dry and encouraging another sip. The 6.3% ABV brew releases February 14.
Sea Bird IPA is a 5.4% ABV American IPA with low bitterness and high hop flavor and aroma. Single hopped with Columbus hops, showcasing earthiness, black pepper, spice, and subtle floral and citrus. The use of flaked maize helps to yield clarity, and leaves a nice, dry finish. Releases February 21 in draft and four-packs to-go.
Red Clay Cider Works
Blueberry Crumble, is a 6.5% ABV semi-sweet pastry cider that reminds you of Grandma’s blueberry crumble but in liquid form. This semi-sweet pastry cider is loaded with blueberry and vanilla, notes of caramel, and finishes with a touch of cinnamon.
Releasing February 8 in time for Valentine’s Day, Chocolate Cherry Cordial is a 6.9% ABV semi-sweet cider. Their core cherry cider is infused with cocoa nibs and almond to make a delicious elixir for that special someone in your life.
Triple C Brewing
Two variants of the brewery’s Chocolate Covered Pretzel Stout (CCPS) release February 13. Both are bourbon barrel-aged and clock in at 9.2% ABV. Cookies & Crème CCPS is brewed with chocolate, vanilla, and coffee. Oatmeal Crème Pie CCPS is brewed utilizing oatmeal, brown sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and coffee.
Releasing the next day on the fourteenth, Douglas is a classic American brown ale. The 5.7% ABV brown is complex, yet simple. Sweet malt flavors of caramel and hazelnut mix with a mild baker’s chocolate aroma blended with toffee and citrus undertones.
Man Cave is a 4.9% ABV kellerbier, an unfiltered German pilsner with a pleasant noble hop aroma and medium bitterness. The clean and refreshing, crisp, dry lager releases February 21.
Wooden Robot Brewery
Perfectenschlager is a 5.2% ABV malty, bready, and crisp amber lager. Wooden Robot has a word for when everything in a beer comes together perfectly – Perfectenschlager.
A special version of Pilmatic, Thrillmatic is dry-hopped with fruity Strata hops. The 5.2% crushable lager pleases with a bold hoppy, citrus aroma while finishing clean and crisp.
