Raleigh Brewing Company overf lows with undeniably distinct atmosphere. The bare concrete floors and the open ceiling give the space a very rustic, yet modern vibe, completed by the unfettered enthusiasm of the staff and patrons.

Dartboards and murals adorn the walls, and the open ceilings and table arrange ments provide an open space that lends itself perfectly to relaxing with friends after a day of hard work.

The owners have taken care to provide a haven for people who love high qual ity drinks, from the nearby college students who like to unwind and enjoy a pint to the aficionados who care to brew their own, for whom the homebrew equipment store on the other side of the wall was opened.

The staff is very inviting, and the facility itself is near the Applebee’s on Gorman and Hillsborough Streets, so it’s close enough to campus to visit on a whim.

After soaking in the atmo sphere for a bit, it was time to get down to business and try one of Raleigh Brewing’s sig nature beers. It has six brews on tap at all times, with a few seasonal additions, rotating in whenever there’s a batch available.

There are quite a few good options, but this time I decided to go for one of their stronger, more well-known recipes: the “Hell Yes, Ma’am” Belgian Gold en. (With a name like that, wouldn’t you?)

The first thing I noticed about the beer was its color. It’s a very clear and rich beer with a golden hue reminis cent of honey. After pouring it into the glass, I observed that the smell was indisput ably hoppy with subtler fruity aromas accenting the ale’s al lure, even before the first sip.

Still, my initial reaction to the beer seemed surprisingly light, especially considering the hefty 8.5 percent ABV. The surprises didn’t end there. Even with the high al cohol content, the beer feels incredibly smooth going down, like a golden brook rushing down a serene moun tainside.

The f lavor comes in two stages, with the initial taste approaching as light and hoppy, and the aftertaste finishing a bit stronger and drier, leaving you wanting another sip. Raleigh Brewing describes the Hell Yes Ma’am as “dangerously drinkable,” a claim I can easily verify with out a second thought.

For those interested in try ing out this Belgian Golden for themselves—or any of their other signature beers, for that matter—the Raleigh Brewing Company is open most weekdays from noon to 10 p.m. and remains open un til midnight on Fridays and Saturdays. It also frequently holds events like food trucks and brewery tours listed on its website, along with other traditional tap room activi ties such as Tuesday Team Trivia.

Raleigh Brewing Company gives the feeling of an estab lishment owned and oper ated for nothing more than the pure love of beer. There’s really no good reason not to give the Raleigh Brewing Company a shot—well, a sip, at least.