Birdsong Brewing Announces Paradise City Session IPA

"Take me down to the Paradise City where the hops are green and the beers are pretty... Oh won't you please take me home!"

Pardon my misremembered lyrics, but Birdsong Brewing in Charlotte, NC has announced its first new year-round beer since 2012. Paradise City is a Session IPA brewed with Cascade, Chinook, Amarillo and Idaho #7 hops. Here is the full release from Birdsong: 

CHARLOTTE, NC — Just in time for the 6th annual “Spring Beak,” Birdsong Brewing Co. is launching a new beer on April 1: Paradise City, a session IPA.

Paradise City, the first year-round beer to join the Birdsong lineup since 2012, is a medium body, crisp IPA with lots of upfront hop aromas. It’s forward on the tangerine and citrusy side with a little hint of more complex piney notes, says Chris Goulet, Birdsong principal owner.

“We've really been focused on designing a hoppier beer that will hold up well in a can,” he says. “We have some room in our lineup for low ABV (alcohol by volume) sessionable styles. And we have access to some hop varieties that we haven't used in the past, which should be pretty fun.”

Paradise City was born from a recipe created by assistant brewer Jeff Bowman. Clocking in at 4.8 % ABV and 45 IBUs, the malt bill is heavily 2-row pale with some Carapils, wheat, C40 and a touch of oats, Goulet says. The hops will include some of Birdsong’s all time favorites like Cascade and Chinook with a prominent place for Amarillo and Idaho #7.

“Idaho #7 is a relatively new variety that has really sparked some creative experimentation from the brew team,” Goulet says. “Sometimes it just clicks together.”

Paradise City is perfectly suited for tossing in a backpack or cooler, enjoying around a campfire or on the beach. It’s got a lighter flavor profile and a lower ABV, while maintaining the beloved hoppy characteristics of a traditional IPA.

Paradise City will make it’s debut April 1 at the brewery’s sixth annual Spring Beak event, which coincides with the launch of Charlotte Craft Beer Week and North Carolina Craft Beer Month. Spring Beak is a day-long celebration at the brewery, 1016 N. Davidson St., noon-10 p.m., featuring tiki torches, beachy vibes, live music, special Spring Beak pizza from Libretto’s food truck and custom Paradise City frozen treats from King of Pops.

Paradise City will be available in cans and kegs in the Charlotte area initially, but Goulet says the brewery has plans to increase distribution to eastern and western North Carolina and South Carolina based on reception and demand.