OMB Copper - The Olde Mecklenburg Brewery

tomgeorgia

Georgia

4.38/5  rDev +7.1%
look: 4 | smell: 4.25 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Had this beer in a growler years ago and then more recently on draft. Agree with the over reviewers that this beer is an underutilized and underappreciated style, German Altbier. It was one of their first beers and definitely a winner. Very clear and an excellent example.

Serving type: growler

03-15-2013 18:23:24 | More by tomgeorgia

jpro

South Carolina

4.1/5  rDev +0.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

1L swing-top growler filled a few weeks ago. Into a standard shaker pint -

A: As the name says... copper. There's a nice, light beige head - about a finger's worth - that forms on the pour, but manages some respectable retention and leaves a few spots of lace.

S: Toasted grains and bready malts dominate the nose; there's some light caramel in there, too; maybe a touch nutty, as well.

T: Follows the nose, for the most part... very "organic" malt flavors: grain, bread, etc; a touch sweet, but there's a bit of a bright, earthy hop bite (not much) on the finish that counters the sweetness; a smidge metallic, too.

M: Much fuller that I remembered from last time; carbo is still in the medium range (despite the 3 week old growler fill); super smooth.

O/D: A great beer that's very traditional; it's always nice to pick up a few of these when I visit the QC. Very smooth, drinkable and well balanced. Very good beer from such a young brewery!

Serving type: growler

08-26-2011 21:54:15 | More by jpro

ebeard2

Virginia

3.38/5  rDev -17.4%
look: 3 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

I was recently in the Charlotte, NC area for a wedding so I figured I would seek out a local brewery to give it a try. I discovered the Old Mecklenburg Brewery. This brewery had four beers on tap, of which the OMB Copper was my favorite.

This is an Altbier style brew. Amber in color, hence the "copper" name. It has a medium body, and goes down quite smoothly.

After sampling the beers on tap I purchased a growler of OMB Copper to enjoy back at the hotel. The beer has a good flavor and color, however nothing about this beer really wowed me. It was good, don't get me wrong, however there wasn't anything super special about it to make it stand out from the crowd.

All in all a good local brewery with some good beers, however OMB Copper is not anything I would go out of my way to try. If you happen to be in the Charlotte, NC it is worth a tasting, but other than that I wouldn't bother.

Serving type: growler

08-03-2011 02:06:15 | More by ebeard2

S7R4nG3

North Carolina

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

Poured from a growler dated 6/27 (7/2 as of this post).

Beer poured a golden amber with a fair amount of a cream colored head.
My nose seems to pick up some light citrus notes, definitely malty with a slight hint of unroasted nuts.
Taste is very refreshing with good carbonation. Again definite hints of malt and citrus with a good contrast to hop bitterness. Great lacing across the glass as I am downing it.
Mouthfeel is very nice, good full coating without seeming heavy or syrupy. Able to envelop your entire mouth and leaves a nice sweet/bitter hop aftertaste.

Definitely a beer I will be having again. A great beer to sit down and enjoy after a hard day out in the blazing sun. Very refreshing and overall a great tasting beer.

Serving type: growler

07-03-2011 01:47:52 | More by S7R4nG3

bamarita

North Carolina

5/5  rDev +22.2%
look: 5 | smell: 5 | taste: 5 | feel: 5 | overall: 5

Absolute awesomeness. best beer in the world. i love omb copper. live near theer and get like 3 growls a week and i think it is just the best stuff ever. go out and try some. i will even buy you some. it is a copper color with white head and smells real malty with noble hops and some malt tastes and sweets. it is awesome.

Serving type: growler

03-28-2011 06:30:19 | More by bamarita

SouthernBeerGuy

North Carolina

4.75/5  rDev +16.1%
look: 5 | smell: 4 | taste: 5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

Absolutely one the best brews ever recreated. If you live anywhere near Charlotte, you must come try OMB Copper.

Just returned from the brewery with one growler of Mecklenburger, one Copper, and one Dunkel !

The Copper pours a nut brown color with a stiff head that sticks to your glass. Presents caramel biscuits with underlying notes of dates/raisins.

Serving type: growler

01-22-2011 04:17:22 | More by SouthernBeerGuy

BeerAdvocate

Massachusetts

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Review from BeerAdvocate Magazine Issue #36 (Jan 2010):

Clear and copper, so the name is fitting; stiff lacing. Clean, toasty maltiness in the nose. Smells of toasted Portuguese sweet bread with a side of spicy herbal hops. Maltiness brings the palate to new heights as complex layers of toasted bread, caramel, dried hay and fresh- baked crackers unfold with each sip. Faint grape skin and nougat. Hopping is assertive and clean, yet is capped right below where the maltiness peaks, meaning there is a perfect bal- ance here. Long, beautiful, malty finish.

Authentic is the first word that comes to mind; stellar is another. If you are even remotely close to Charlotte, N.C., make a trip and get a growler or two. Kudos to the brewers for hit- ting the bullseye on this one.

Serving type: growler

01-11-2011 01:55:21 | More by BeerAdvocate

jpmclaug

South Carolina

4.5/5  rDev +10%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 5

This is my first time rating this but I've killed several growlers of this. I typically pick up a growler of this every time I am in Charlotte. Poured from the growler into my a int glass

A - Clear copper color with a shade away from white head on top.

S - Light lager malt aroma mingles with a light noble hop aroma.

T - A crisp malt flavor mingles with a light noble hop bitterness. The malt really shines in this giving a pleasant aftertaste. Slightly sweet but not much. A really nice well balanced lager

M - crisp light to medium bodied with a standard amount of carbonation

D - I could put this back all day. It is so easy to go through a whole growler of this while watching a football game. If you love a good lager then this is for you. I know I will pick this up again and again.

Serving type: growler

10-17-2010 16:59:37 | More by jpmclaug

mikesgroove

South Carolina

4.05/5  rDev -1%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 4.5

Big thanks to kkipple for getting me the growler! I was thrilled to have a nice session able one to enjoy with dinner this evening. Served cold and poured into several pint glasses, this one was consumed on 01/26/2010.
 
The pour was very nice, medium amber n color with a very clear look to it. Holding it up to the light reveals almost a mid range orange hue. Nice head of white then comes up and over the top of the glass, settling down very nicely and leaving some good lacing along the sides and the bottom of the glass. Aroma is rich, caramel malts and grassy notes leading the way here. Warming brings up a nose that is full of bready and grainy notes as well as a touch of a fruit, apricot, something light and dominated by sweetness that adds just a little bit of kick to the nose. Smooth, very smooth and mellow body here, almost slick, but the carbonation saves it from becoming too much. Rich caramel flavor washes across the tongue and melds perfectly with a smooth and even bready flavor. Nice finish on here is semi dry and really does not wash out for several minutes before it settles. Really quite drinkable as the lasting taste of nuts and light herbal notes blends well with caramel and a touch of grape skin. Super drinkable, I had no issue at all with finishing this one off.
 
Overall a very solid offering here. Nice flavor, good aroma, pretty classic for the style. A nice welcome into the world of Old Meck for me and enough to warrant me stopping in there again sometime soon.
 

Serving type: growler

01-27-2010 14:04:45 | More by mikesgroove

botham

Illinois

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 3.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

growler fresh from the brewery poured into a tasting glass. pours a rich brownish amber with three fingers of loose eggshell colored head. good retention and rocky lacings.

aroma is of caramel malts and grain with a light note of candied sugar in the background, along with a light note of dark malts that stays in the background.

taste is more of the same with a malt, caramel, and light crain profile. nicely proportioned on the palate with a fresh profile and a very flavorful composition.

mouthfeel is light to medium bodied with a fresh and flavorful profile and a finish of residual grain. nice on the palate.

drinkability is good. for an alt, this is a solid example, on the level of well done German examples. full of caramelly and malty notes with a solid profile. cheers!

Serving type: growler

09-09-2009 18:58:51 | More by botham

dirtylou

Washington

3.55/5  rDev -13.2%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

37oz growler out in the parent's fridge

charlotte has a microbrewery - alert the freaking masses.

appearance: served in a standard pint, clear amber body with a light bubbly beige froth

smell: light toasted grain, caramel malt, some herbal hop notes

taste: its a nice alt, but after plowing through a case of the New Glarus Alt, this just seems a little tame. I think it will work well for their business model which aims at distributing to bars/restaurants - its approachable enough that many can enjoy but is also actually a relatively unknown style (to the masses). The flavor profile is delicate but well balanced - grassy herbal hops, tangy caramel, toasted grain and malts. I like it, but it just isnt very exciting

mouthfeel: well done, creamy medium body and not too watery

drinkability: pretty nice - heavier than the abv would suggest though

Serving type: growler

06-25-2009 23:00:35 | More by dirtylou

Kegatron

Pennsylvania

3.9/5  rDev -4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

A liter, swing top growler into a pint glass. Big thanks to my buddy Barscream for hooking me up with a growler of this first offering from the brand new Olde Mecklenburg Brewery.

The pour lives up to the name, coming out a brilliant clear copper color, with several fingers of foamy eggshell white head. This peters down into a thin yet firm retention, that leaves some nice looking thickish swathes of lacing back. The aroma is caramel and bread, along with some sturdy floral and spicy hop notes, which give this some zip.

The taste is solid mix of toasted malts, toffee sweetness, and some light zesty citrus character. A tight and spicy feeling hop profile gives the profile some crispness and a lightly drying bitterness in the finish. The mouthfeel is medium bodied with a firm feel, yet this also possesses a softer carbonation, which when mixed with the thankfully lower ABV, keeps things flowing rather nicely in the mouth.

Very solid take on the Alt style and a good first effort for OMB period. Fuller flavors and just the right amount of crispness in the body helped enhance the drinkibility of this. I looked forward to more offerings from this new to the Charlotte area brewery.

Serving type: growler

05-26-2009 16:47:17 | More by Kegatron

DarkBeerDrinker

California

4.33/5  rDev +5.9%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.25

Had my first try while on a business trip to North Carolina, and was very pleased. It has a smooth flavor that goes wonderfully with a nice Rib Eye. I enjoyed the fact that the after taste on the beer was as good as the taste when the beer hit your mouth. Comparison for me would be Boont Amber Ale or Moose Drool.

Serving type: on-tap

05-12-2013 01:37:21 | More by DarkBeerDrinker

APBT91

North Carolina

4.43/5  rDev +8.3%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.25 | overall: 4.75

1st review on BeerAdvocate.

pours light brown orange color depending on light angle.

a light smell of bread, caramel.

medium body with flavors of bread, caramel, yeast, and a copperish flavor ( i tried to eat a penny when i was a kid, i know, dumb).

This is currently in my top 3 favorite beers and always fresh since i only live 30 minutes from the brewery, lucky me!

Serving type: bottle

05-09-2013 17:13:06 | More by APBT91

Cylinsier

Pennsylvania

4/5  rDev -2.2%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On tap at the brewery.

Pours a light brown with a white lacing.

Aroma of light bready malts, a bit of caramel in them.

Bready caramel malt flavor with a hint of hop bitterness.

Medium body with light tingly carbonation.

A solid lager, good flavor and great balance. Great session candidate.

Serving type: on-tap

04-15-2013 22:59:34 | More by Cylinsier

flexabull

California

4.15/5  rDev +1.5%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.5

Bottle courtesy of wilwfu, thanks again!

Pours a slightly hazy amber color with a small but solid white head.

Aromas are quite beady, with notes of spices, smells good.

Taste is nice. Pronounced breadiness up front, notes of spices, light caramel and hints of cream and smoke. Finish is very smooth, with faint mineral hoppiness.

Mouthfeel is very good. Plenty of body without being heavy, smooth, with excellent carbonation.

Overall... Dang, this beer was certainly a very pleasant surprise. This is one of those beers that takes on a simple and classic style, and I must say, OMB pretty much nailed it. This is very full flavored, easy drinking, and enjoyable beer. Well done OMB.

Serving type: bottle

12-01-2012 05:26:15 | More by flexabull

BEERchitect

Kentucky

3.53/5  rDev -13.7%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

It may not be en vogue. It may not be sexy. It may even get lost in ambitiousness. But the versatile ancient German altbier has found a home at Mecklenburg.

The effortless hybrid beer kicks off with a charming and rustic bronze color that projects garnet highlights through brilliant clarity. The beer is capped by a confident white froth that stands most of the session and laces the glass lightly.

Medium aromas of freshly kilned barley, bread crust, and an almost-caramel note that proves appetizing and very inviting. The light spicy note of noble hops carry an inherent floral undertone that balances and complements the malts and begins to insinuate fruit aromas.

Dry malt complexes reveal in taste with a accute and understated sweetness from malt that's more of medium toast, toasted pecans, barleycorn, and something that carries the taste of caramel with very little of the sweetness that's associated with caramel. It's simply a dry malt taste that invites a balance of grass, wood, and spice from historic German hops and a light iron-like smack to finish. Though the balance achieves balance, I'd really like to see the hops projected a bit more.

Medium-light in body, the grains and light sweetness allow for a rounded texture to rise first. But the carbonation recedes and the drier, toastier elements promote a crisp and clean finish that's aided by hop crispness and light alcohols.

Mecklenburg's flagship Copper Ale does Dusseldorf proud with a very versitile beer with an array of entrees or as a rather satisfying session unto itself.

Serving type: on-tap

11-28-2012 17:52:15 | More by BEERchitect

sommersb

Tennessee

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

Tasted On: 11-24-2012
Freshness: Unknown
Packaging: Draft
Glassware: Stange
Purchased: On tap at the brewery

A: Dark copper color, with lots of bubbles seen in the glass. The white head of a finger features excellent lacing and very good head retention.

S: Aromas are of roasted grains and noble hops.

T: Taste is moderately bitter from the noble hops, with a toasted malt backbone balancing it out well.

M: Crisp and clean with a light body. Finishes moderately bitter.

O: Nothing flashy here but a solid amber ale. This is a style you don't see much of and Olde Mecklenburg has made this their brewery standard. Well done, this is a brew where the sum is greater than the individual parts.

Serving type: on-tap

11-25-2012 03:00:22 | More by sommersb

plaid75

New York

4.03/5  rDev -1.5%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4

On draft at The Uptown Bar and Lounge, Charlotte, NC.

Poured a rusty brass hue with a one finger foamy white head. There was good retention and very good lacing.

The smell featured clean, yet earthy German malts with a flight cut if noble hop.

The taste consisted of crisp caramel malts offering a light earthiness, a soft toast and lingering toffee. The noble hops cleaned the flavor up a touch.

The mouthfeel was typical of the style.

Overall a very tasty and easy drinking ale.

Serving type: on-tap

11-11-2012 20:47:17 | More by plaid75

wedge

North Carolina

4.25/5  rDev +3.9%
look: 4.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

@ Olde Mecklenburg

Copper red color topped by a gorgeous head of thick frothiness. All kinds of lacing left of the glass. Gentle toast, floral, and biscuit aromas...mild overall, but nice. Chewy malt and soft noble hop flavors finishing with a delightful hit of fresh grain. Appropriately clean and easy to consume in large quantities. Very well-crafted. I enjoyed the hell out of this. We picked up a pack of bombers to bring home, so I hope it's just as satisfying and enjoyable from the bottle.

Serving type: on-tap

11-05-2012 16:48:04 | More by wedge

garuda

Pennsylvania

4.28/5  rDev +4.6%
look: 4 | smell: 4 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4

A - Well, it's copper, clear, with a white head that has decent retention and lacing.

S/T - Fresh baked biscuit, toasted grains, a little nutty, and finishes with an ever so slight noble hop presence.

M - Medium body, crisp, clean, very smooth.

O - Easy drinking with a nice depth of flavor.

Serving type: on-tap

10-17-2012 12:37:13 | More by garuda

jsprain1

Minnesota

3.58/5  rDev -12.5%
look: 4 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

A- Coppery-brown with a two finger offwhite head. Decent retention and some lacing.
S- Aroma is bready, a bit of toast, a bit of caramel and some fruit.
T- A good bit of fruityness floats in there with a reasonably malty flavors of bread and toast. Balanced, but the finish leaves me wanting.
M- Medium body for style, carb is good, but a bit too crisp for the style.
O- It's a decent beer, but there isn't that much exciting about it. Worth a try, but not worth putting much effort into seeking out.

Serving type: on-tap

08-29-2012 00:27:55 | More by jsprain1

oberon

North Carolina

4.13/5  rDev +1%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 4.5

My first OMB beer to try.Poured into a becker a rich clear copper with an awesome sticky one finger white head atop,great definition and clarity,top notch looks.Fruity esters along with sweetish pizza dough in the nose,oddly enough even a little booze for such a "small" beer.Fresh pizza dough and caramel sweetness upfront on the palate with some mild fruity esters and a hint of leafy hops,again the fresh dough comes in late in the aftertaste.This is one damn fine rendition of an alt beer it packs alot of subtle delicious flavors,Iam lookin forward to trying the rest of the OMB line.

Serving type: bottle

08-03-2012 20:17:03 | More by oberon

thagr81us

South Carolina

3.4/5  rDev -16.9%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 3.5 | feel: 3.5 | overall: 3.5

Served from tap into a New Belgium Fat Tire shaker. Poured copper (surprise, surprise!) with a half finger white head that subsided to a minimal amount slowly. Maintained decent lacing throughout the glass. The aroma was comprised of sweet malt, wheat, bread, and grain. The flavor was of sweet malt, wheat, banana, bread, and grain. It had a light feel on the palate with medium carbonation. Overall this was a fairly decent brew. There were quite a few nice flavors and aromas going on in this one, but it really didn’t stand out over some other brews I’ve had from the same style. While this was unfortunate, it wasn’t disappointing. If this one were a little more complex it could have been something special, but it just feels as if they held back some. Hopefully they will go for it in the future and truly shock all the craft beer drinkers out there in the future.

Serving type: on-tap

05-15-2012 11:42:35 | More by thagr81us

kylehay2004

Florida

3.78/5  rDev -7.6%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3.5 | taste: 4 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.5

Enjoyed while in downtown Charlotte. Made my way to the brewery the next day.

A: thin white head on a clear crimson and copper body. some lacing.

S: mostly caramel malts. Not too complex or strong.

T: sweet caramel malts, breads and grain with the hoppiness in the finish providing a mild bitter, musty note.

M: medium body and moderate carbonation.

Overall: not too bad. One of the most drinkable of their brews but after trying more at the brewery this one seems a little under flavored and simple.

Serving type: on-tap

04-22-2012 22:57:22 | More by kylehay2004