By Brian Beauchemin

Watermelon is a summer staple – not only at picnics, but over the years in a variety of beers as well. July releases deliver us a couple brews utilizing the juicy, red fruit, a large variety of hops, and even the beloved (or sometimes hated) pumpkin beer. For the traditionalists, several German-style brews round out the month’s offerings. Between hot temperatures and family vacations, the summertime can be tough for local breweries (and restaurants) so please do what you can to visit and support our local craft scene. Unless otherwise stated, all products are already available in taprooms and/or in the local market. 

Birdsong Brewing
Rind-Stone Cowboy, a 5.6% ABV watermelon wheat beer, releases July 11. Capturing “summer in a can,” real watermelon is added to an American wheat beer leading to a crisp, dry, and refreshing brew. A great companion to barbecues, beach outings, or simply lounging in the backyard. 

Cabarrus Brewing
Sommerweiss is a 4.5% ABV German hefeweizen brewed with 100 percent German malt, hops, and yeast. The beer is full-bodied with a pleasant malty sweetness surrounded by aromas of banana and clove, but not overpowering, allowing the malt and wheat to shine. This sommer weissbier (sommer is German for summer) releases July 19. 

Joan is a 4.8% ABV French pilsner brewed exclusively with French Ingredients. The pilsner malt was grown on land that Jeanne D’Arch won battles on, hence the beer’s name. French-grown Barbe Roughe hops provide aromas of lemongrass and peach. The July 29 release is deceivingly malty for its appearance, pouring a light straw color topped by a glowing white head, and balanced with a moderate bitterness.

Devil’s Logic Brewing
The taproom-only Get the Gose on the Watermelon is a 4.6% ABV fruited gose-style ale conditioned on watermelon and lemon.

Lower Left Brewing
Cardinal Son is an East Coast IPA made with local malt from Carolina Malt House and double dry-hopped with Citra, Motueka, and Idaho 7. The beer was brewed in collaboration with Xander’s Acts of Kindness, a local non-profit that provides wishes to children with cancer. The 5% ABV brew is highly drinkable with low bitterness and loads of tropical hops. 

A traditional German-style hefeweizen made with 100 percent North Carolina malts, White Buffalo Wheat boasts notes of banana, bubblegum, and yeasty phenolic spice. The 5.2% ABV beer releases July 12. 

NoDa Brewing
The brewery’s first three releases will be on draft at their North End taproom. Red, White and Bloom is a 5% ABV session IPA brewed with Superbloom yeast and hopped with Mosaic, Chinook, Citra, and Strata.

SLURP de Sole releases July 12. The 5.5% ABV juicy IPA was fermented on passion fruit and mango and hopped with Mosaic, Centennial, and Amarillo providing bright and refreshing flavors. Releasing July 19, Carry On is a helles lager brewed with traditional German hops and malts. The 4.9% ABV beer has flavor notes of subtle shortbread, biscuit, and clean toast. 

Gordgeous, the brewery’s 6.4% ABV pumpkin ale returns July 26. Brewed with real pumpkin puree, brown sugar, ginger root, and hand-cracked spices including allspice, cloves, and cardamom. Although only July, the beer introduces the warming spiced tastes of autumn. 

Olde Mecklenburg Brewery
Mecktoberfest returns the third week of July (wholesale) and in both taprooms beginning August 2. The 5.4% ABV Märzen-style amber lager is the original Oktoberfest bier: rich, malty, and smooth courtesy of Munich malt, noble hops, and a yeast strain from the oldest brewery in the world. It’s time to prost!  

Pilot Brewing
Dunkles Bock is a 6.3% ABV dark, strong German lager that emphasizes the malty-rich and toasty qualities of Vienna and Munich malts, while still finishing dry and encouraging another sip. 

Releasing July 12, Hazy Skies Hefeweizen is a pale, refreshing German wheat ale with a dry finish, fluffy mouthfeel, and banana-clove character. The 5.8% ABV beer was brewed with three different types of wheat malt.

Next in the brewery’s rotating IPA series, Island Hopper IPA – Idaho 7 uses Hornindal’s blend, a wonderfully unique blend of Norwegian Kveik yeast strains that produces tropical flavors and complex aromas of stone fruit, pineapple, and dried fruit leather, which complement fruit-forward hops. This 6% ABV beer features Idaho 7 hops which evoke a zesty tangerine flavor reminiscent of marmalade. Its uniqueness shows up as a pleasant herbal character that melds with the citrus to come across like Earl Grey tea. Debuts in the taproom July 19.

Sea Bird Southeastern IPA is a 5.4% ABV American IPA with low bitterness and high hop flavor and aroma. Releasing July 26, the beer showcases Galaxy, Hull Melon, and Cashmere hops with flavors of white peach, mango, strawberry, red grapefruit, and lemon zest. Flaked maize helps to yield clearness and leaves an enjoyable dry finish.

Town Brewing
Order of the Sun is a specialty hazy IPA made with coconut and lactose. The 7% ABV brew provides tropical, coconut, juicy flavors with subtle creamy sweetness and a bitter finish. The beer releases July 13 only in the taproom with a release party on July 20.

Triple C Brewing
Export is a draft-only 5.6% ABV Dortmunder lager. Until about 1970 this was the most popular beer style in Germany. This pale lager has biscuit and bread malt character with a noble hop balance. Crisp and clear with a mild sweetness great for the summer heat. 

The 6.2% ABV Pineapple 3C is a fruited West Coast IPA. This is a riff on the brewery’s popular 3C IPA with the addition of pineapple and will be available July 12. 

July 19 showcases two draft-only releases. Waves of Grain is a 5% ABV amber ale with aromas of toffee, bread, and cocoa. The sweet caramel notes are balanced by a mild citrus hop flavor. Happy is a 4.7% ABV cucumber margarita gose. The margarita-style brew is crisp and refreshing with cool cucumber, tart lime, and sea salt helping provide relief from our hot summer temperatures. 

Bier, the brewery’s German pilsner, returns July 26. The 5.4% ABV lager boasts aromas of whole grain bread crust and a touch of noble hops. The medium-bodied brew has balanced malt sweetness on the palate with medium bitterness and a crisp, dry finish.  

Wooden Robot Brewery
Tactical Doggy Paddle is a Belgian-style hoppy ale brewed with local pale and aromatic malt, and dry hopped with Centennial. Featuring a malty and sweet overtone, the 5.4% ABV beer has a subtle spicy character brought into balance by aromas of pine and a crisp candy-like finish.

A 5.2% amber lager, Perfectenschlager is malty, crisp, and bready. The brewery has a word for when everything in a beer comes together perfectly – perfectenschlager.