How a wine lover converted to local beer

Sarah Brigham didn’t like beer. She loved wine, and still does. Rosé or vino verde on a hot summer evening. All things bubbly – Cava, Prosecco, Champagne. Pinot noir as a go-to red.

“The truth was, I had no idea what beer was all about,” said Brigham, 33. “I was only familiar with mass-produced mega brands, which lack in flavor and character.”

Then, 12 years ago, she met Justin Brigham, her now-husband and business partner.

Since Justin was an avid homebrewer, Sarah started to learn a bit about the process.

The first taste to hook her palate: Belgian beer styles.

It helped that Justin brewed a Belgian Blonde with her in mind.

“It was bright, fresh, slightly peppery, with notes of apple and pear and I’d never tasted anything like it in my life,” Sarah said. “I was hooked. French and Belgian styles were my gateway into craft beer.”

She started to try hoppier beer styles they had at home, and those that Justin brewed. But she found them bitter and couldn’t find a taste for them.

As Justin tweaked his IPA recipes, Sarah started to notice less front-end bitterness and more of the “wild” hop flavors. She started to get excited about the tasting notes.

“I could taste tropical fruit for the first time,” she said. “I could taste stone fruit. I could appreciate hoppy beers.”

Now IPAs are her favorite. They even beat out wine in her mind.

“Beer’s versatility is almost endless,” she said. “…I believe there is a beer, or several, for everyone.”

Her switch to beer wasn’t just taste-based, though.

“There’s also a charm to independent breweries that is undeniable,” Sarah said. “Craft beer has such a strong connection to place. Every single independently owned craft brewery in Charlotte is a part of the community.”

So it’s no surprise that she and Justin opened Sycamore Brewing in South End three years ago.

Still, Sarah’s beer journey hasn’t completely stalled her appreciation for wine.

“My understanding of the brewing process has pushed me to learn more about wine and in turn, I have a deeper appreciation for it,” she said.

Especially if a fire, a good book and a blanket are involved. Then she reaches for a big glass of hearty red wine.

“I still love wine and enjoy it on occasion,” Sarah said. “Wine and craft beer can tell a story about place and passion.”

She was also adamant that wine be available in the taproom at Sycamore, even though she and Justin have been busy brewing more than 300 beer recipes since opening their brewery.

“I wanted guests who weren’t familiar with the world of craft beer to feel comfortable coming into the taproom for a drink,” she said. “The idea being, over time we could convince them to try a beer or two depending on their wine preferences and eventually maybe even convert a guest or two.”

Photos: Chris Rodarte, Sycamore Brewing

This story was originally published October 30, 2017 at 11:00 PM with the headline "How a wine lover converted to local beer."