If you happen to find yourself in Blue Ridge, Georgia, and you happen to love beer, well my friends you are in luck. There’s lots to do in Blue Ridge, at the foot of the Blue Ridge Mountains, from outdoor hiking to zip lining to camping to shopping and-oh yes- beer drinking! Blue Ridge has three breweries tucked into this cozy little mountain town, and lots of good restaurants and beer bars to boot. One of the breweries, The Blue Ridge Brewery, is a brewpub and a darned good one at that.
The Blue Ridge Brewery has the added benefit of having a Bed and Breakfast right next door, and as all the pubs and breweries are in walking distance, you might want to consider that. More so as you enjoy a pint of Moonlight Tripel, the strongest offering I had here.
The Blue Ridge Brewery offers a generous menu as well as an array of guest beers, too. You can check them out on the chalkboard next to the bar, or just ask your server as I did. Pints run about $5 or you can get a sampler flight of four 4-ounce samples for $7. My server added the two other house beers at no extra charge.
Blue Ridge Brewery doesn’t name all of its beers as they do with The Blood, but I did enjoy a tasty Kolsch, Porter, Oatmeal Milk Stout along with “My IPA” and Moonlight Tripel. We sat out in their back patio area as it was a fine spring day and enjoyed our drinks in the warm weather.
My glass of Blue Ridge Brewery Moonlight Tripel arrived an appropriate hazy golden orange color with a thin film of head and a distinctly aromatic banana nose. Taking a sip I got light rich malt up front followed by banana, pineapple, cotton candy, more yeasty funky notes and a warm dry alcohol finish.
A very nicely done Belgian style tripel with the richness, warmth and yeast flavors I want from the style. No ABV was given but it seemed the strongest of the beers that I tried here, perhaps in the 7% to 8% range. A sipping beer to be sure, and methinks after a few of these you will definitely need that bed and breakfast across the street.
And remember, try a new beer today, and drink outside the box.
*Pricing data accurate at time of review or latest update. For reference only, based on actual price paid by reviewer.
(B)=Bottled
(D)=Draft