Field Trip! The Glass Jug Beer Lab

The Basics

Location: RTP Brewery, Taproom, and Bottle Shop, 5410 NC-55 V, Durham, NC 27713

Website: https://www.glass-jug.com/rtp

Facebook: the glass jug beer lab – rtp
Instagram: glassjug_rtp

Vibe/Atmosphere: Cozy inside, spacious outside. Multiple seating areas/nooks. Large outdoor patio with food trucks, live music and more.

Beers We Tried: “RTP” German-style pilsner, “Bunsen” Vienna-style lager, “Tasman Bay” NEIPA, “Harper’s Peach” ginger beer, “Opacity” flagship NEIPA, “Robotic Geologist” Munich dunkel lager, “Molé Deviation” barrel-aged Imperial stout

Parking: Ample parking in strip shopping center

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

The Glass Jug Beer Lab opened 11 years ago as a retail craft beer bottle shop and taproom, providing the freshest way to enjoy a variety of local beers. In 2018, they became a full-fledged brewery while retaining their bottle store and guest taps. Co-owner/brewer Chris Creech said that when he started there were fewer than 100 craft breweries in the state. He felt like he knew everyone. Not so today with four times that number! But the Triangle – and especially Durham – still has a tight brewing community.

Chris told us about some of his experimental brews. He is currently brewing “Batch 340 IPA,” made with an experimental rice malt from Arkansas State University combined with conventional barley malt. But one of his stranger creations to date was a tomatillo beer as part of a local competition. He learned the hard way that tomatillo doesn’t behave like other fruits in the fermenter. Usually, during the cold crush the fruit separates and sinks – but not tomatillo. Big chunks were dispersed throughout, and he had to get creative about filtration. But he says the results were tasty! He added some habanero and other spices for an interesting profile.

Our takeaway from our visit is that Chris and The Glass Jug Beer Lab are confidently experimental. Chris has been doing this for a long time and you can trust that, if you want to try something different (like the Molé Deviation barrel-aged imperial stout we tried later), you will be in for something that is both unique and delicious. But if you are not so adventurous, you will have plenty of well-executed classic beers to choose from!

(Hot Tip: As you've seen in another post, we have an appetite for empanadas. While visiting the RTP Glass Jug location, wander down the sidewalk and check out Sarah's Empanadas! We did, and we give them two forks up!)

We visited The Glass Jug because of its place in Durham craft brewing history and also to try some of Chris’ latest releases. The Glass Jug is known for being experimental while still offering something for every taste. We sat down with Chris to taste a flight of crafts he picked out for us (see tasting notes below – including a second flight we tasted later) and got the full story behind each beer as we tasted them. For example, the Tasman Bay NEIPA is made with New Zealand hops which impart a limey/citrus character, complimenting the tropical fruit notes. The Bunsen Vienna-style lager combines Epiphany Craft Malt’s Munich malt with a smidge of a sweeter malt. The result is a fine balance between bitter/sweet with a hint of honey.

Ben's Beer Notes - The Glass Jug Beer Lab

• RTP

  • Style: German Pilsner

  • ABV: 5.4%

  • Color: clear bright yellow gold, light head with lacing

  • Taste: toasty, grainy, subtle floral/fruit notes

  • Mouthfeel: light, crisp

  • Aftertaste: dry, with balance of sweet/bitter

• Bunsen

  • Style: Vienna Lager

  • ABV: 5.3%

  • Color: clear golden amber, creamy head with beautiful lacing

  • Taste: malty flavors, caramel, honey, herbs

  • Mouthfeel: creamy, light bubbles

  • Aftertaste: lightly dry and astringent

• Tasman Bay

  • Style: NEIPA

  • ABV: 6.7%

  • Color: hazy yellow, meringue-like head

  • Taste: bright citrus, hints of lime and stone fruit

  • Mouthfeel: creamy

  • Aftertaste: long and citrusy

• Harper's Peach

  • Style: Ginger Beer

  • Inspired by Ginger's Revenge (sold so much of it decided to make their own)

  • ABV: 5.5%

  • Color: pale hazy yellow, lightly foamy head

  • Taste: fresh ginger, candied ginger, plesant peach notes to moderate the spice

  • Mouthfeel: tingly, cool-heat

  • Aftertaste: crisp snap

• Opacity

  • Style: IPA (Flagship)

  • ABV: 5.4%

  • Color: light gold, slightly hazy

  • Taste: unexpected fruit notes, not tropical

  • Mouthfeel: solid, full

  • Aftertaste: delicate hint of pine resin

• Robotic Geologist

  • Style: Munich dunkel lager

  • ABV: 4.6%

  • Color: dark ruby brown, coppery.

  • Taste: coffee and chicory notes with hints of fig

  • Mouthfeel: medium

  • Aftertaste: lovely toasted marshmallow finish, hints of burnt toast.

• Molé Deviation

  • Style: Barrel-aged Imperial Stout

  • ABV: 10.5%

  • Color: rich brown

  • Aroma: strong cinnamon spice

  • Taste: roasted coffee, whiskey, brown sugar, and chili. Slightly pruney, with cherry tobacco and vanilla notes (We're not huge Imperial Stout drinkers, but we deeply enjoyed this one!)

  • Mouthfeel: full, velvety

  • Aftertaste: nice bite of spice

Tell us what you think about The Glass Jug Beer Lab.