Tour De Charlotte! Birdsong Brewing Co.

The Basics

Location: Birdsong Brewing Co., 1016 N Davidson St, Charlotte, NC 28206

Website: birdsongbrewing.com

Facebook: facebook.com/birdsongbrewing
Instagram: @birdsong-brewing-co

Vibe/Atmosphere: laidback industrial, urban treehouse, modern tavern

Beers We Tried: Shine a Light, Rewind, Pink Robots, Jalapeno Pale Ale, Higher Ground, Fake Plastic Trees

Parking: lot

Important NC Beer Explorer Tip: When consuming alcohol, always have a designated driver. Be safe out there, friends!

About a year ago, we had some family visiting from out of state, and as per our usual practice, Ben took the gang to the local bottle shop to select an array of craft beers for our gathering. Someone chose Birdsong Brewing Co’s Jalapeno Pale Ale, and at the time, our reaction was, “Um, no thanks!” We hadn’t come around to flavored beers yet, and so when the company was gone, the one unconsumed can languished in the refrigerator for a while.

Then came the day when we were serving Mexican food, and “Olé!” – we reached for the Jalapeno Pale Ale. To our surprise, we loved it! Subsequently, we researched Birdsong and decided it was a must-visit brewery for our first Tour de Charlotte. We are also fans of their Lazy Bird Brown Ale.

In the beginning, Conor approached brewing from his culinary background, and his beer was food-inspired. He also tried to replicate the flavors of some of the beers he tried, which is how most everyone starts out as a brewer. He said that Birdsong has become more experimental with time.

He and Jack are very hands-on. They are protective of their brand as well as the workplace culture they’ve fostered. They know that there is a specific Birdsong employee type, although it's difficult to quantify. They just know it when they see it – it includes qualities like open-mindedness and a dash of quirky creativity.

Speaking of quirky creativity, we asked Jack what was the most crazy beer he ever made. He said that he made a “Hot Cheetos and Takis” beer back in 2019 for a local competition, and it really tasted just like his food inspiration. That particular beer wasn’t on the menu the day we were there (it’s not in regular production), but we tried plenty of other interesting and tasty pours. By the time we left, Birdsong had us “singing their praises.”

As we rolled up on Birdsong Brewing mid-afternoon on a Wednesday, we checked out the large outdoor patio space and the inviting taproom with regulars sprinkled around the reclaimed wood tables and conversation spaces. It felt like an urban oasis. We let the bartender know we were there to see Brewer Jack Bannon, and then we were delighted when both Jack and Head Brewer Conor Robinson came out.

Conor has been there since the beginning in 2010, when husband and wife, Chris and Tara Goulet were ready for a change. Chris was tired of the corporate grind and Tara needed a break from managing a local bakery. A friend and co-worker at the bakery, Conor Robinson, was learning how to home-brew. Chris and Tara thought Charlotte was missing a small neighborhood brewery where folks could stop in for a pint or take home a growler of super-fresh, unfiltered, American-style ale. They invited a handful of close friends over to pitch a business plan and serve Conor’s beer, and Birdsong Brewing Company was born.

Birdsong is also known for their focus on sustainability. They are the first Charlotte solar-powered brewery. Environmentalism is important to us as well, so the focus on sustainability resonated with us.

The day we arrived, Jack and Conor came off of the canning line, which is famously old and cranky. Listening to them talk, it almost seemed as if Conor kept it running with duct tape and zip-ties, but that’s the thing – brewery equipment is incredibly expensive. Once a brewery has made their investment, they do all they can to maximize its lifespan.

Given the challenges of the day, we were sensitive to the timing of our conversation, and we also learned that it was Conor’s birthday! But the brewers quickly put us at ease and settled into our conversation. And that’s something we found at every Charlotte brewery – brewing is a people business first, and a beverage business second.

As we sampled our flights, we asked Conor about the changes post-pandemic. He said that the pre-pandemic was sort of the “golden era” of craft brewing in NC, and they definitely lost some customers back then. People stopped coming into tap rooms and didn’t necessarily all come back. With more financial pressures, people are drinking more at home these days, so Birdsong sells many more cans than barrels, and it used to be the other way around. However, everyone in NC brewing always anticipated the “beer bubble” would burst. So now, it’s a matter of adjusting to current marketing conditions and changing tastes.

NCBE's Beer Notes - Birdsong Brewing Co.

• Shine a Light Watermelon Lime

  • Style: Fruited Sour

  • ABV: 5%

  • Color: lightly hazy yellow

  • Aroma: watermelon

  • Taste: tropical thiols, tangy lime, bread

  • Mouthfeel: astringent

  • Aftertaste: short and sourish

• Rewind (2024 Gold medal, NC Brewer’s Cup)

  • Style: Lager

  • ABV: 4%

  • Color: yellow

  • Aroma: faint

  • Taste: clear, clean, cracker (Pils-like)

  • Mouthfeel: light

  • Aftertaste: bittery and grassy

• Pink RobotsRaspberry/Blackberry

  • Style: Kettle Sour

  • ABV: 5%

  • Color: hazy fucia

  • Aroma: fresh raspberry

  • Taste: raspberry tea, buccolic, undertones of old country house, pleasantly funky

  • Mouthfeel: medium body, creamy

  • Aftertaste: lightly astringent

• Jalapeno Pale Ale (Very Popular)

  • Style: Pale Ale

  • ABV: 5.5%

  • Color: bright yellow, slightly green

  • Aroma: peppery

  • Taste: Crunchy feel and flavor (we don't know how else to describe it). Makes you crave carnitas. Bitter herbs and green onion.

  • Mouthfeel: medium

  • Aftertaste: both balanced and bitey

• Higher Ground

  • Style: West Coast IPA/High Gravity

  • ABV: 7%

  • Color: dark yellow/golden, slightly hazy

  • Aroma: pine and citrus

  • Taste: Classic West Coast - citrus, pine, but with noticeable malt backbone. Tropical fruit notes of pineapple, guava, mango.

  • Mouthfeel: dry, hop-forward

  • Aftertaste: bittery

• Fake Plastic Trees

  • Style: Hazy IPA

  • ABV: 6.4%

  • Color: yellow/golden, slightly hazy, fine bubbly head

  • Aroma: grapefruit, biscuit

  • Taste: milder hop flavor than most NEIPAs but still juicy; lemon grass

  • Mouthfeel: pillowy

  • Aftertaste: subtle bitterness

Tell us what you think about Birdsong Brewing.