Beer of the Week! 02/09/21

Black Narrows Cockle Creek

Regularly $16.99 / Now on Sale for $15.96
Scottish Style Ale

Black Narrows Brewing Company on Chincoteague Island is not in the business of making good beer. They’re in the business of making good Eastern Shore Virginia beer. What we mean by that is that Black Narrows is dedicated to having their Virginia beer reflect Virginia. In fact, they want to catch the taste of their area of Virginia, and they aim to do it by using as many local ingredients as they can. (Currently, they’re up to 83%.)

The Cockle Creek is their Scottish Style Ale … via the Commonwealth. To make this malt-forward style, Black Narrows has found kindred spirits with Charlottesville’s very own Murphy & Rude Malting, who dedicate themselves using only Virginia grown barley in their malting.

The Cockle Creek has a Scottish Ale’s breadiness with some deep fruit notes. (You’d almost think they snuck some cherries in there.) The most extraordinary thing is, though squarely in the style, the brew doesn’t have the richness of an ale out of Edinburg. Somehow it tastes very much of its place. It’s light-bodied, and there’s faint feeling of the sea about it. We could see ourselves drinking this brew on the Eastern Shore, eating some local oysters. Who knew you could do that?

Bonus Beer of the Week (‘Cause if Miley Cyrus can do an NPR Tiny Desk concert, then anything can happen.)

Solace Foggy Goggles

Regularly $15.99 / Now on Sale for $14.96
New England Style IPA

“Foggy Goggles is one of our favorites. Big juicy flavors from the Mosaic and Simcoe combination.”

• Solace Brewing Company