I grew up on Cheerwine and just tried the new Cheerwine Ale. Here’s what I thought

I’ve lived in North Carolina my entire life, and there are lots of things I love about this state. Cheerwine ranks near the top of that list.

The cherry-flavored soda was invented in Salisbury in 1917, and over the past 100-plus years has gained a cult-like following in North Carolina and beyond.

My earliest memories of drinking Cheerwine come from sitting in a booth at Zack’s Hot Dogs in Burlington as a kid, washing down my chili- and slaw-covered dog with that delicious, red nectar in a glass bottle.

It was love at first sip — and the 50th, 100th, 1,000th sip and beyond, as I continued to drink the soda as I grew older, including at UNC-Chapel Hill, where, much to my delight, Cheerwine was an option at the dining hall soda fountains.

I even attended the 100th anniversary celebration of Cheerwine in Salisbury in 2017.

Imagine my interest, then, when I heard that there’s a new Cheerwine product on the market offering a more adult take on the classic drink. (Though some are confused by the word “wine” in Cheerwine, it’s not alcoholic in its regular state.)

Last month, Charlotte-based NoDa Brewing Co. released Cheerwine Ale, described as “a crisp, refreshing wheat ale infused with the South’s favorite cherry soda.”

Curious as ever, I set out to find the ale and try it for my Cheerwine-loving, of-legal-drinking-age self.

Here’s what I thought.

First, a disclaimer: I will be the first to say that I am not a beer expert. Until a couple years ago, I swore I didn’t even like beer. I’ve come around since then, mostly preferring — to the shock of some people — fruity sours, though I’ve very recently also started to like light wheat beers. What follows is my very amateur description of the Cheerwine Ale, along with additional information from NoDa Brewing and Cheerwine.

My (amateur) review of NoDa’s Cheerwine Ale beer

I found a four-pack of 16 oz. Cheerwine Ale cans at the Trader Joe’s in Cary about a week after the beverage was released, perfectly arranged in a small end-cap display near the chip aisle.

I tossed the pack into my cart along with my other groceries, checked out and went home to put my new beer in the fridge. I saved my taste test for our monthly newsroom trivia gathering several days later, where I poured the ale into a News & Observer pint glass in order to fully appreciate its color (and get some shameless N&O branding in).

Now, before we get to the photo I’ve included, a quick note: Yes, I am aware that there’s a large amount of foam on top of the pour. I got too excited — and distracted by the video I was simultaneously trying to film — and failed to pour the beer from the can into the glass correctly. Please don’t judge me. (Or do. I would too.)

The ale had a slight cherry red, almost orange, tint to it. While it wasn’t as much as I was expecting — NoDa’s cranberry gose, a holiday favorite of mine, delivers a bit more on the true red color, in my opinion — it was still there, and I was excited to take a sip.

After I let the foam settle a bit and took the first sip, I quickly noted that, “It does taste like Cheerwine. And beer. Together.” Very insightful, I know.

I thought about it a bit more, though, and landed on this description: It’s a light, palatable wheaty beer with slightly more than a hint of cherry — just enough Cheerwine “that doesn’t overpower the beer’s flavor,” per NoDa and Cheerwine’s description of the product.

While I could distinguish the flavors of the individual beverages on the first sip, they married as I continued to drink the rest of the can — and I did drink it all — melding into a single drink that I really enjoyed. It was crisp, fruity and refreshing, and filled a niche in my love for Cheerwine that I didn’t know existed. NoDa and Cheerwine described the ale in a news release as “a smooth-drinking, well-balanced brew,” and I’d have to agree.

Overall, I enjoyed it, and I’d definitely buy it again. I’d also like to try it on draft to see if the experience differs from the can. I hear Village Draft House in Raleigh has it on tap, so maybe you’ll find me there sometime soon.

Would a non-Cheerwine lover like this ale?

Of course, those are my thoughts as a Cheerwine lover. Would Cheerwine haters — yes, to my dismay, they exist — think the same? I’d say they should at least give it a shot.

The Cheerwine flavor was, to me, tame enough that it could appeal to anyone willing to try a slight hint of cherry in their drink. If nothing else, you’ll feel peak-North Carolina while sipping on it, and there’s certainly nothing bad about that.

The final verdict? All four cans of ale I brought were gone by the end of our newsroom trivia night, with other reporters drinking the leftover cans I didn’t use in my taste test.

Pretty good sign that it’s a crowd favorite, if you ask me.

Where to buy NoDa Brewing’s Cheerwine Ale near you

Want to try Cheerwine Ale for yourself?

The ale is available for purchase at select North Carolina retailers, including all Food Lion grocery stores and some Harris Teeter, Lowes Foods, Trader Joe’s and Total Wine locations.

It can also be found on draft at NoDa taprooms in Charlotte and Chapel Hill, as well as “a number of” other restaurants in Charlotte and the Triangle.

Learn more at nodabrewing.com/cheerwine.

This story was originally published March 10, 2023 at 9:37 AM with the headline "I grew up on Cheerwine and just tried the new Cheerwine Ale. Here’s what I thought."

Korie Dean

The News & Observer

919-335-8507

Korie Dean covers higher education in the Triangle and across North Carolina for The News & Observer, where she is also part of the state government and politics team. She is a graduate of the Hussman School of Journalism and Media at UNC-Chapel Hill and a lifelong North Carolinian.