Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for February 2012 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

Guild Participates in Washington, DC Beer Tasting with NJ Chamber of Commerce

Member breweries supplied 19 beers for the 2nd Annual New Jersey Beer tasting in conjunction with the NJ Chamber of Commerce’s Walk on Washington. The goal was to display the wide variety of beers and breweries now springing up in the Garden State, as well as the impact on employment and tourism each local brewery has. During the tasting, Guild members Michael Kane (Kane Brewing), Rick Reed (Cricket Hill) and Gene Muller (Flying Fish) met with more than two dozen state legislators as well as U.S. Senator Robert Menendez. Other breweries sending beer were Carton Brewing, Iron Hill, Pizzeria Uno and Triumph.

Super Beers for the Super Bowl

For Super Bowl XLVI The Star-Ledger is offering their list of eight “worthy” brews from New York/New Jersey and eight more from New England. The Brewers Guild is well represented with brews from Cricket Hill, Flying Fish, Ramstein and New Jersey Beer Co. Check out the full list!

Flying Fish Releases Exit 8 Mid-month

The long-delayed eighth stop on the multi-year Exit Series trip brings us to, coincidentally, Exit 8 and celebrates what puts the “Garden” in Garden State.

To celebrate Exit 8, one of New Jersey’s big farming areas, Flying Fish has brewed a beer that uses a lost local ingredient: chestnuts–and a popular current one: local honey. This full-bodied hybrid Belgian-style brown ale brings forward a nutty character from the chestnuts, accented by the flavors of honey, roasted barley and oat flakes. There’s a nice spiciness from the Mt. Rainier hops while Chinooks add a touch of pine. Fuggles and Columbus round out the hop profile. Exit 8 pairs perfectly with hearty foods like roast pork, sausages or a nice aged gouda.

Bottled conditioned, 8.3% abv

New Fermenters and a Grain Silo as Cricket Hill Grows

Lots of exciting news coming from Cricket Hill:

Cricket Hill has purchased 2 additional 30 bbl. Fermenters from Switchback brewery in Burlington, VT. These are the original fermenters that Switchback started with and they were shedding tears as we pulled away! In addition, we are expecting delivery on our grain Silo in late February. All this to keep up with our beer production for our newest distributors! Cricket Hill has signed with SKI distributors for New York city and surrounding counties. We have also signed with G&G distributors for central Connecticut! And lets not forget Loveland Distributors in Richmond VA. The fermenters are expected to be up and running Mid-Feb and will be a welcome addition to our little brewery!

We sadly say good-by to assistant brewer Rob who has decided to pursue a career in the granulation business. We will miss him but we welcome back Colin to fill his spot.

Our March release is in the cooker! Look for this years version of our American Brown Ale that proved to be so popular last year.

Our bourbon barrel aged Russian Imperial Stout and our Sour Bourbon barrel Porter are available at the brewery only and only during our brewery tours.

Join the JJ Bitting Birthday Celebration on February 25th

JJ Bitting Brewing Company has their combo 15th Anniversary in business/Mardi Gras party scheduled for Saturday, February 25th. They will be tapping a celebratory Abbey Ale for the occasion. The Barley Legal Barleywine (9%) is expected to debut around the end of the month too. The WHALES IPA will be a regular beer for the foreseeable future but with a subtle variance in each batch… Something for our hop-head regulars to tune in to. Come in to help them celebrate 15 years in business!

Cape May Brewing Turns on the Love Light with Chocolate Covered Strawberry Stout

Cape May Brewing Company will be releasing their Chocolate Covered Strawberry Stout for Valentine’s Day! Join them on Saturday, February 11th at their tasting room. So romantic!

Moonshine Barley Wine Packing a Punch at Harvest Moon

February is shaping up to be an exciting month at Harvest Moon. A revamped version of their Moonshine Barley Wine will hit the taps sometime mid-month. This years Moonshine Barley Wine is a touch lighter in color, slightly more hop forward than last years and stronger; coming in at 11.5% making it the strongest beer ever brewed at Harvest Moon! Also coming out later this month will be Paddy’s Irish Stout and an Abbey Single. They will also be doing two very limited beers for Valentine’s Day this year: a Strawberry Kolsch and a Raspberry Brown Ale.

SHOREzine Offering Online Tour of Kane Brewing

The online magazine SHOREzine is offering a video tour of Kane Brewing Company. Take a virtual visit to Monmouth County to see one of New Jersey’s newest and most exciting breweries.

Look for High Point at International Great Beer Expo on Saturday 2/4

The High Point Brewing Company will be serving their beers at the International Great Beer Expo in Secaucus on Saturday, February 4th. The second annual event will feature some of the biggest names in brewing. Join them at the Meadowlands Exposition Center.

High Point We will be doing a promotion at The Shannon Rose in Woodbridge on February 8th from 6-8pm.

February Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for November 2011 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

Flying Fish Announces Plans for New Brewery

Flying Fish Brewing Company has announced plans to relocate their brewery to a new location in Somerdale, NJ. The new building will be three times the size of their current location in Cherry Hill. Some of the features will be a state-of-the-art 50 barrel German-manufactured brewhouse and a solar panel farm on the roof. More information available here.

Harvest Moons Celebrates Anniversary of Ferment the World

The second annual “Fall Harvest” Beer Dinner at Harvest Moon Brewery & Cafe is sold out. The event takes place on Thursday, November 3. It is serving as both their fall beer dinner and a celebration of the one year anniversary of their Ferment the World hombrew meetings (check out fermenttheworld.com for more info on the meetings). Keep your eyes open for another Harvest Moon beer dinner sometime in February or March.

The second week of November will see the return of Harvest Moon Nut Brown to the taps. It will be followed by the Black ‘O Lantern Pumpkin Stout just in time for Thanksgiving.

Buela’s Pumpkin Ale Rolling Out at Krogh’s

Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub, 23 White Deer Plaza, Sparta, will finish up November with Buela’s Pumpkin Ale. This is a great Seasonal beer with overtones of cinnamon, allspice and nutmeg…all the typical flavorings of Fall! December kicks off with an Abbey Ale and closer to the holidays they will be tapping their Celebration Ale! Happy Holidays to everyone from Krogh’s! For questions and for reservations, please call them at 973-729-8428. Reservations are recommended for the dining room.

Cricket Hill Comes Out of the Dark, Releases Nocturne

Cricket Hill is back! The brewery lost power for four days after the freak storm pummeled New Jersey. This on top of the floods of September has caused havoc with their production schedule!

But their winter Reserve CRICKET’s NOCTURNE has been released on time and is tasting great. Cricket’s Nocturne is a dark lager that combines a mild crispness with subtle toasty, chocolate notes to make it the perfect thirst quencher on days when there’s a chill in the air. It’s a great accompaniment to hearty winter meals, or dessert by the fireside. This winter lager’s unique balance of easy drinkability and richness of flavor make it the ideal “snowblower beer.”

The Cricket Hill winter seasonal Paymaster Porter is now available and soon to be in stores near you. The Paymaster Porter is a dark brown ale with major coffee flavors but no burnt aftertaste. The background is slightly chocolate with wonderful candied undertones. It finishes with a marvelous mixture of chocolate and coffee. An unfiltered ale that lives up to the gentle session beer reputation that their brewery has become well known for. Watch for the Bourbon Barrel aged version of this porter coming later this month available in 22oz. bottles!

RUSSIAN IMPERIAL STOUT COMING IN JANUARY!!!!

Catch Winter Wheat Doppelbock Debut on High Point Tour

This month’s High Point Brewing Company tour on Saturday, November 12th will feature the debut of their award winning Winter Wheat Doppelbock. It is a rich, complex wheat beer with an ABV of 9.5%. There will be two tours, one at 2 pm and one at 3:45 pm.

For weekly updates and holiday hours, check out their Facebook page or email them at comments@ramsteinbeer.com and ask to be added to our email list.

Caught on Camera: Barrel Tapping at Triumph Princeton

John Leaver of The Princeton Echo put together a video on the barrel tapping at Triumph Brewing Company in Princeton. Check out the video on YouTube.

More Video Fun with Iron Hill and Chocolate

Beer-stained Letter has put together a video with the story behind Iron Hill Maple Shade’s recent chocolate beer and event they put together with Reily’s Candy. Enjoy some tasty viewing!

All Four Cape May Brewing Beers Available for Saturday Tour

Cape May Brewing Company will feature all four of their beers for tastings and growler fills this Saturday, November 5th, from 12-4. For the first time the IPA, Wheat, Honey Porter and Stout will all be in the house!

Carton Brewing Beer Tasting Event this Saturday

Great beer and delicious food come together Saturday, November 5th at Nicchio Restaurant in Belmar. Chef Eric’s imaginative creations come together with the craft brewing cousins Chris and Augie Carton. More details at nicchiorestaurant.com.

November Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for September 2011 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

Guild will be featured at National Pavilion at GABF

If you’re heading to the Great American Beer Festival this month, look for the National Guilds pavilion. Ten special New Jersey beers (not available on the event floor) will be poured over the course of the event, so stop by and sample and say hi to your local brewers.

Three New Breweries Join the Guild

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild is proud to welcome three new members — Cape May Brewing Company, Carton Brewing (Atlantic Highlands) and Kane Brewing Company (Ocean). The breweries will be profiled in upcoming newsletters.

Team Cape May Brewery to Raise Money for MS

Cape May Brewing Company has put together a MS City to Shore team — Team Cape May Brewery — to raise money for MS. Named by Bicycling Magazine as the “Best Cycling Getaway in NJ,” the Bike MS: City to Shore Ride promises to be the best cycling experience on the east coast. Cape May Brewing Company is proud to support the cause. They have a team of 10 individuals who will ride 75-100 miles on Saturday, September 25th from Cherry Hill to Ocean City. Anyone is encouraged to join Team Cape May Brewery, contact info is available at capemaybrewery.com. Check out their bike jersey below!

Trap Rock to Host Triumph Beer Dinner

Reservations are now available for the Trap Rock Beer Dinner on October 11th. The guest brewer will be Triumph Brewery of Princeton, NJ. Chef Andy will prepare a special pairing menu once the beer selection for the evening has been decided. His theme for this dinner will be locally produced food. The price will be $75 per person, including tax and gratuity. Details available online. Call (908) 665-1755 to make your reservation now.

JJ Bittings Gearing up for the Central Jersey Beer Fest

JJ Bitting Brewing Company is gearing up for the Central Jersey Beer Fest 2011 on Saturday, September 24th. The event runs from 1 to 5pm at Parker Press Park. Tickets are available at JJ’s and at the gate, $25 for drinking adults, $15 for non-drinkers and kids under 12 are free. In addition to fine hand-crafted beers there will be live music, great food and a souvenir sampler glass. JJ’s will be tapping the W.H.A.L.E.S. IPA, an Oktoberfest and a Nut Brown Ale in addition to the usual Golden, Amber and Raspberry.

High Point to Debut Oktoberfest

Saturday, September 10th is the September Open House at High Point Brewing Company and the debut of their Oktoberfest. They will be featuring a wooden barrel tapping of the Oktoberfest. There will be 2 sessions — 2 pm and 3:45pm. Their Oktoberfest can be found at many fine bars and restaurants, including the Office Beer Bar & Grill. It will also be served at the 26th Annual NJ Oktoberfest at Crystal Springs Resort on September 17.

Kane Brewing Company Now Open for Tours

Kane Brewing Company is now open for tours and tastings every Saturday from noon to five. Tours will be held every hour from 1pm to 4pm. Call (732) 922-8600 for more information.

Best for Wurst–OktoberFish is Back for 10th Anniversary

Now in it’s 10th edition, this edition of OktoberFish is better than ever. The Flying Fish Brewing Company take on this classic German style uses German malts, hops and yeast. A beautiful reddish color, savory malt profile and delicate hop flavor make this quest beer quite drinkable. OktoberFish is great with food–and especially great with lederhosen.

This is their most limited seasonal, so enjoy it while you can in 12 oz. bottles, 1/2 and 1/6 kegs.

Krogh’s Celebrates Fall

It’s Fall at Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub, 23 White Deer Plaza, Sparta, and they kick off the season with their crisp Oktoberfest brew! This is followed by their popular Pumpkin Ale also on tap in October. November they will be featuring an Abbey’s Ale as their Seasonal. Fall is a great time to visit Krogh’s and they now have outside tables for your dining and/or drinking pleasure (weather permitting, of course). Come check them out. Give them a call for reservations, questions, or directions at 973-729-8428.

Harvest Moon Heading to Great American Beer Festival

The Harvest Moon Brewery & Cafe is gearing up for their first ever trip to GABF at the end of this month. The Monkeyshine Weizenbock has just returned and will be entered at GABF along with their Full Moon Pale Ale. September will also see the tapping of their Hodgepodge Black Ale and towards the end of the month their Pumpkin Ale will be returning. They hope to find time get the Oktoberfest filtered before GABF but it might not be out until the first week of October.

Gaslight Annual Oktoberfest Starts September 22

Gaslight Brewery & Restaurant will be having their annual Oktoberfest starting Thursday, September 22. Join them for a special menu and beers.

Cricket Hill Weathers the Storm

From the Cricket Hill Brewing Company news desk:

I know you have all been reading about Fairfield in all the papers with the incredible flooding that hurricane Irene has caused. They closed the highways into Fairfield and for 4 days no one was allowed in or out. The street we are on was flooded with over 3 feet of water! The buildings on both sides of us had over 4 in. in their offices and warehouse. The front half of our building had 4″ in the machine shops. We had nothing!!!!!!! Because GOD LOVES BEER!!!!

And just in time Tim Mason has returned from Doemens Brewing Academy in Munich Germany. He will be working here until he finds a brewery that wants its beers brewed in German!

So to show our thanks Cricket Hill has released our Fall Seasonal; Fall Festivus! This is a harvest Ale with a light amber color. It has a good balance of earthy malt with a blend of floral and pine hops in the nose. It is the way to spend an autumn afternoon and evening and into the night!

We also have put our Porter into Four Roses Bourbon barrels for its 3 month stay. We will be bottling it in November and it will be available in 22oz. bottles. Last years release was spectacular and this years should be even better!

We have submitted two of our beers, the East Coast Lager and the Cricket’s Nocturne, to the GABF for judging. We also will be serving our American Ale and our Small Batch Dubbel at the Cricket Hill Booth(H30). The Fall Festivus will be served at the New Jersey Booth! See you all there!!

For the 2nd year in a row Cricket Hill will have our beers at the MONDIAL DE LA BIERE in Strasbourg France. We are honored to have been asked back and with the help of Tony Forder and Steve Krawczuk our beers arrived safely!! Stay tuned for Cricket Hill’s infamous Colonel Blide’s in brand new 6-packs! As our distributors have told us…It’s about time!!!

 

 

Cheers,
Rick & John

New Jersey Beer Co. Tours and Tastings on for Saturday

New Jersey Beer Co. tours and tastings will be open this Saturday, September 10th, from 2pm to 6pm. The brewery sustained some flooding from Hurricane Irene but is back in operation. Read more about it on nj.com.

September Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for August 2011 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

In this issue:

• Harvest Moon Gears Up for Great American Beer Festival
• Flying Fish Turns Sweet 15
• Fall Comes Early to Cricket Hill
• Krogh’s Nears the 1000 Brew Mark
• Enjoy Weiss or Bock at Ramstein
• Iron Fish is in the Tank
• August Events

Harvest Moon Gears Up for Great American Beer Festival

August is shaping up to be quite a busy month at Harvest Moon Brewery & Cafe with the return of Rutgers students and faculty, as well as gearing up for their first ever trip to the Great American Beer Festival! The first week of August will see the release of two new beers, the Citra Double IPA and Sorachi Saison. The second week will see the return of their Harvest Hefeweizen and near the end of the month they will be releasing their smoked porter and Monkeyshine Weizenbock (one of the beers being taken to GABF, along with the Full Moon Pale Ale).

Flying Fish Turns Sweet 15

August 1996 doesn’t seem that long ago, but what a different world: Google was still two years from existence. Spam was more of a curiosity than a daily headache. The US government was heading toward a budget surplus. The Flying Fish web site looked like this.

And on the 10th of that month, Flying Fish brewed its first batch. Fifteen years and 5,450 batches later they are going strong and on the cusp of a major expansion.

Also, stay tuned for news on the next release of Oktoberfish–Best for Wurst!

Fall Comes Early to Cricket Hill

The Fall is upon us and with it comes the Fall array of beers at Cricket Hill Brewery. Their Fall Festivus is scheduled for release during the month of August while we say goodbye to Jersey Summer Breakfast Ale (until next year).

August will see Cricket Hill at several festivals throughout the month!

• National Mead day on Saturday, August 6th will find their Home Brew club (Back Yard Obsessive Brewers) meading away at the brewery from Noon till 4pm.
• The North Fork Festival on August 13th in Long Island at the Martha Clare vinyards. 2 till 6pm.
• Beer Show at the Lakewood Blue Claws baseball game sponsored by Cricket Hill distributor Shore Point. Come watch a good baseball game and enjoy some of the best beers on the Planet Earth.
• See you at the New Jersey Brewers night at the Barcade in Jersey City! Thursday August 25th. Times TBD
• Cricket Hill will be at Stoudt’s in Adamstown PA for their August Brewfest on Saturday August 27th!

What an August!!!

Krogh’s Nears the 1000 Brew Mark

For August, Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub at 23 White Deer Plaza in Sparta will be featuring a “Tom Klosterhoff Cream Ale” seasonal.

Coming up in September, Krogh’s will hit the marker of making 1,000 brews! They will be having a 1,000 brew celebration … details will be made available shortly!

Call them for directions, reservations or questions at 973-729-8428. Enjoy the rest of the summer…hopefully with one of the seven Krogh’s brews in hand!

Enjoy Weiss or Bock at Ramstein

Ramstein has two new beer currently on tap — Berliner Weiss and Summer Bock, limited quantities available. The Blonde Wheat beer has just been bottled this week in their new packaging — look for it in stores! Their next tour is August 13th, one session at 2 PM.

Iron Fish is in the Tank

Brewers Chris LaPierre of Iron Hill Maple Shade and Casey Hughes of Flying Fish have joined forces to create Iron Fish, a collaborative Imperial Black Belgian IPA. The release is planned for Saturday, August 27th. More details on the Iron Hill blog.

August Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for July 2011 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

In this issue:

• 15th Annual Guild Fest Another Success
• New Head Brewer Welcomed at Cricket Hill
• Krogh’s Best of Show Beer on Tap
• Flying Fish Teams Up with WXPN for Xponential Music Fest
• Harvest Moon Rolls Out Iowa Farmhouse Ale
• Summer Brews at J.J.Bitting
• Second Anniversary Celebration at Iron Hill Maple Shade
• It’s Blueberry Saison at Trap Rock
• July Events

15th Annual Guild Fest Another Success

More than 700 folks enjoyed Jersey’s finest beers on the Battleship NJ last month with 14 breweries attending–each of which poured two or more styles. This year Cabot Cheese provided complimentary samples and the Cabin Dogs again rocked the bandstand. Thanks to all who attended and help support NJ breweries.

New Head Brewer Welcomed at Cricket Hill

Cricket Hill Brewery welcomes Mehmet Kadiev as the new head brewer! Mehmet has made the trek up from the Hog haus Brewing Company in Fayetteville Arkansas and brought with him a wealth of brewing knowledge! He and his girlfriend Beverly will be living in Jersey City and making the trip across route 3!

Take a look at their new website, crickethillbrewery.com. They have updated it with new graphics, a new format and loads of new information!

Cricket Hill’s old friend Hopnotic IPA, one of their flagship brews, has undergone a facelift! With a new label and a matching 6 pack carrier the art seems to leap out at you and screams “Try Me”.

Their newest release, a Belgian Dubbel is the second of their Small Batch releases this year. This fine brew was Keith Kobal’s 3rd place winner in the Cricket Hill home brew contest last winter. This ale at 8% has a full-bodied and strong malt background to balance the pleasant banana and nutmeg flavor. Don’t let the higher alcohol or the coppery color fool you–this Ale is very refreshing and will keep you smiling through the long Summer nights!

The Cricket Hill Friday tours continue to bring a lot of new faces into their local brewery! Every Friday from 5 till 7 they hold a tour with samples available. They try to have live music available and as always Rick gives his enlightened speech around 6:30. Come and join us!

Krogh’s Best of Show Beer on Tap

Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub at 23 White Deer Plaza in Sparta has the 2010 NJ State Fair “Best of Show Beer” on tap. Winner of the 14th Annual Home Brew Contest was Peter Kennedy and he brewed his beer right at Krogh’s. His Patersbier is a Belgian-style ale “with a twist” and worth checking out before it’s gone!

Krogh’s will be wrapping up July with an I.P.A. Looking ahead to August, they will be tapping a Belgian Wit beer followed by a Cream Ale. Any questions or to make a reservation, please call 973-729-8428.

Flying Fish Teams Up with WXPN for Xponential Music Fest

The Xponential Music Fest is a three day family-oriented festival which has about as diverse a selection of music as you will find locally this summer (as well as plenty of Flying Fish beer): Emmylou Harris, Citizen Cope, Clap Your Hands Say Yeah, Booker T., Ben Folds, North Mississippi Allstars Duo and many more. Conveniently located by public transportation, lots of parking and with a great view of the Delaware River and the Philadelphia Skyline.

Website: xpn.org

Harvest Moon Rolls Out Iowa Farmhouse Ale

July will see the return of the Iowa Farmhouse Ale to the Harvest Moon Brewery & Cafe as well as the release of the second Saison in their Summer Saison Series. This Saison will be brewed with Sorachi Ace hops and lemon peel creating a very dry, citrusy beer with strong lemon notes.

Summer Brews at J.J.Bitting

J.J.Bitting Brewing Company has brewed more Woodbridge Lite and more Bierstasse Hefewiessen. They will have Garden State coming up in a week to satisfy those hop cravings. JJ’s will also be pouring beer at Parker Press Park July 4th and 9th during the concerts.

Second Anniversary Celebration at Iron Hill Maple Shade

Join Iron Hill Maple Shade on Saturday, July 16th from noon – 5 PM to celebrate their second anniversary. They will release their anniversary beer Second Rising — a double IPA. On Tap: A firkin of Christmas in July, a Bourbon Strong Ale. There will be complimentary appetizers and a raffle for Mug Club members.

It’s Blueberry Saison at Trap Rock

Trap Rock Restaurant & Brewery has Saison Du Roc and Schroeder Weiss on tap to meet the summer demand. Blueberry Saison and a very special Dr. Otto’s Rye will debut this month.

July Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for May 2011 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey…

Tickets on Sale for 15th Annual Beer Festival

The 15th Annual Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Beer Festival will be taking place on Saturday, June 18th from 1-5pm. Tickets are $45 (must be 21 or older). Sample great craft beer, enjoy good food and hang out on the deck of the Battleship New Jersey!

Tickets are available now through TicketWeb!

High Point Wins Best of Show at TAP NY

High Point Brewing Company won the gold medal best of show at Tap NY 2011 for their Ramstein Double Platinum Blonde Hefe-Weizen.

Ramstein Double Platinum Blonde is available on draft at fine establishments in New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania (including Biggies in Carlstadt, NJ, Stirling Hotel in Stirling NJ, Iron Monkey in Jersey City, Office Beer Bar and Grill in multiple NJ locations and Brauhaus Schmitz in Philadelphia). Growlers can be filled at High Point’s gift shop and tap room from 9:30am – 6:30pm Monday through Friday and Saturday afternoons till 4pm.

High Point open house and tour on Saturday May 14, 2011. 2 sessions (2-3:30PM & 3:45-5PM). Look for Ramstein Imperial Pilsner on draft throughout May.

Harvest Moon Tapping Maibock, Readying Summer Saion Series

The first week of May will see the release of Harvest Moon Brewery/Cafe Maibock lager. May will also kickoff their “Summer Saison Series” with the release of their Belgian Saison. Also keep an eye out for the Harvest Moon Chinook Double IPA!

Woodbridge Lite to Debut at JJ Bitting

JJ Bitting Brewing Co. in Woodbridge will debut Woodbridge Lite in May. They will also offer a dry hopped version of The Whales Brew. Currently on tap is Victorias Golden Ale, JJ’s Raspberry Wheat, Rat Pack Pilsner, Garden State IPA, and Black Jack Oatmeal Stout. And the JJ’s deck is open for business!

Krogh’s Features Gruney’s Belgian Dubble

Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub in Sparta will be featuring a Gruney’s Belgian Dubble as their handcrafted beer for May. Stay tuned for June as they unveil “The New Jersey State Fair Best of Show 2010 Home Brew!” More details on this to come next month. For reservations or questions, call them at 973-729-8428.

Philadelphia Daily News Profiles Ship Inn

The Ship Inn in Milford was featured recently with an article in the Philadelphia Daily News. An article heading that includes “good food, good brews” is always promising!

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Iron Hill Maple Shade

Head to Iron Hill Maple Shade this Thursday 5/5 and sample Oscura – a dark Mexican lager with a pronounced roasted malt aroma and flavor, and a crisp, clean finish.

River Horse Packs ‘Em in for ShadFest 2011

River Horse Brewing Company has posted pictures from ShadFest 2011 on their Facebook page. The images prove once again there ain’t no party like a shad party.

The Reviews Are In for Basil T’s

Basil T’s in Red Bank has recently been featured with positive reviews from the Jersey Shore Restaurant Review and Monmouth Health & Life!

NJ Beer Co. Garden State Stout in Jersey City Festival Saturday, May 7

The Jersey City Festival & Adopt A Lot Kickoff Party takes place Saturday May 7th from 9am to 10pm. New Jersey Beer Co. will be there featuring their Garden State Stout.

The Garden State Stout was also recently reviewed by The BewThusiast.

The Gaslight Brewery Eliminator is Back in Town

With a reputation that precedes it, The Eliminator from Gaslight Brewery & Restaurant has swaggered back into town. At 8.6% it will kick you in the head. A little sweetness and the cold fermentation gives it a smoothness that has the potential to pack a punch like a 2×4 wrapped in velvet and bubble wrap.

Cricket Hill Releases Summer Breakfast Ale – Summer is Officially Here

The summer has come again to the Jersey Shore and with it comes Jersey Summer Breakfast Ale from Cricket Hill Brewing Company. This unfiltered Breakfast Ale is as fresh and full of flavor as a day down the Shore! Fermented with Belgian Yeast, this beer has a slightly tangy, fruity taste that pairs as well with bacon and eggs as it does with a back yard barbeque. Summer Breakfast Ale is always a summer favorite!

Exit 4 Reigns Supreme in Washington Post’s 2011 Beer Madness

Exit 4 from Flying Fish Brewing Company has trumped the competition in the Washington Post’s 2011 Beer Madness. There were 64 beers blind-tasted by a pretty discerning panel and Jersey kicked butt, winning the final round against Lagunitas Maximus. Get the story from The Washington Post and also from NBC10 News.

May Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for February 2011 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

Brewers Guild Members Making Tasty Pairings in 2011

The collaborative spirit is flowing forward as Garden State Craft Brewers Guild members pair up for tasty creations. In mid-January Flying Fish and Iron Hill Maple Shade answered a long-simmering question — what do you get when you combine some of Iron Hill’s Coffee Stout with Flying Fish Exit 13 Chocolate Stout? Jersey Bites provides a review of the event.

Also in January Basil T’s and Tun Tavern teamed up to produce Cocoa Fuego, a chocolate-chili pepper-cinnamon beer. Read the write up by Beer-Stained Letter.

Are more brewery pairings in the works? To be the first to know be sure to Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/njbeer. Also, follow us on Twitter, twitter.com/njbeer.

Harvest Moon Black IPA is Pouring

After many delays the Black IPA from Harvest Moon Brewery/Cafe is finally pouring. Next week they will be tapping our weizenbock.

Planning for the Harvest Moon March Beer Dinner is in the works, stay tuned for a date. Check their website for more details as they become available.

February Love Brewing with Krogh’s Augie’s Alt

February means love is in the air and for all the beer aficionados out there, Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub at 23 White Deer Plaza in Sparta, has an Augie’s Alt on tap! Krogh’s will welcome March with a Sullivan’s Irish Stout. Please call ahead at 973-729-8428 to make sure they have what you want on tap or to make a reservation.

Winter Happenings at Cricket Hill

The Cricket Hill Brewery Reserve Series beer — Bourbon Barrel Aged Porter — has aged over 4 months in barrels from the Four Roses Distillery! Chocolate and coffee overtones of a fine Porter mingle perfectly with vanilla and bourbon notes from the White Oak making this incredible beer delightfully smooth and an aromatic masterpiece!

The Cricket Hill Seasonal Paymaster Porter has once again lived up to its reputation. This years batch was rated a 91 by Rate Beer! The Paymaster’s Porter is a dark brown Ale with major coffee flavors but no burned aftertaste. The background is slightly chocolate with wonderful candied undertones. It finishes with a marvelous mixture of chocolate and coffee. A non-filtered ale that lives up to the gentle session beer reputation that the brewery has become well known for.

The Reserve Series American Brown Ale is back by popular demand! Cricket Hill has added another batch just to insure there is enough to last through the cold winter’s nights.

High Point Representing New Jersey on USA Beer Map

High Point Brewing will serve Ramstein beer at the International Great Beer Expo on Saturday, February 5th. High Point scores some big accolades, rated by CBS news as one of the Best New York Area brewers (quite a feat for a NJ brewer). Also, Ramstein puts New Jersey Beer on the Map of United States of Beer.

The High Point brewery giftshop and tasting room will be opened during normal business hours M-F and Sat. afternoons during February (weather permitting). Formal guided tours will resume in March. Visit ramsteinbeer.com or on Facebook at Ramstein-Beer for more info.

Tun Tavern Home-brew Contest Winner will be Featured at AC Beer Festival

Tun Tavern is sponsoring the ultimate home-brewing contest. The winning recipe will be brewed on the Tun’s 10 barrel system and will be served at the Atlantic City beer festival. Click for details on entering.

Annual Mugger’s Ball at Ship Inn on February 7th

For those who have worked so hard to complete the Ship Inn beer list and got their pewter mug, the Ship Inn is holding our annual Muggers’ Ball with food, drink, and amusement to be had. This is the party for you!!

Monday Feb 7th from 7 PM onwards

Call (908) 995-0188 for more information

International Great Beer Expo at Meadowlands on Saturday, February 5th

Cricket Hill, River Horse, Flying Fish and High Point will be representing the Brewers Guild at the International Great Beer Expo. Event takes place February 5th at The Meadowlands. Tickets available.

Flying Fish Has New Exit Beer Next Month

Details have not been released yet, but the seventh beer in the Flying Fish Exit Series will hit March 1. What exit? Well, a clue is that it’s a place that Milton Friedman, Mario Batali and Mr. Magoo have in common.

BrewThusiast Reviews New Jersey Beer Co. Weehawken Wee Heavy

The BrewThusiast has ventured through the snow to sample the Weehawken Wee Heavy from New Jersey Beer Co. Be sure to check out the blog for the verdict.

February Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for January 2011 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

New Jersey Breweries on Facebook and Twitter
You can find them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. The Brewers Guild and its members were doing social media before social media was cool. Here are some links:

Facebook

• Garden State Craft Brewers Guild
• Basil T’s
• Cricket Hill
• Flying Fish
• Gaslight
• High Point
• Iron Hill
• JJ Bittings
• Krogh’s
• New Jersey Beer Co
• River Horse
• Triumph of Princeton
• Tun Tavern
• Uno Chicago Grill – Metuchen

Twitter

• Garden State Craft Brewers Guild
• Basil T’s
• Flying Fish
• Gaslight
• Iron Hill
• JJ Bittings
• Krogh’s
• New Jersey Brewing Co
• Triumph of Princeton

Harvest Moon Hosting Jimmy D Charity Event on Sunday, 1/16

The Harvest Moon Brewery/Cafe will be hosting their annual Jimmy D’s charity event on Sunday, January 16th to honor the late former New Brunswick deputy fire chief James D’Heron and help support the Connecticut Burns Foundation Children’s Burn Camp, a charity that was very dear to his heart. There will be a live DJ all day, a 50/50 raffle and other fun events. For more information call 732.249.6666 or visit harvestmoonbrewery.com.

Late January will see several new beer styles grace Harvest Moon taps, including a black IPA and a weizenbock.

Krogh’s Kicks Off 2011 with Vanilla Porter

Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub at 23 White Deer Plaza in Sparta has a Fallon’s Vanilla Porter as its current seasonal. Coming up in February, their next handcrafted beer will be an Augie’s Alt and then a Sullivan’s Irish Stout in March. Call ahead at 973-729-8428 to make sure they have what you want on tap or to make a reservation.

Cricket Hill Releases Winter Seasonal – The Paymaster’s Porter

As the new year enters so does Cricket Hill’s winter seasonal : The Paymaster’s Porter! The Paymaster Porter is a dark brown Ale with major coffee flavors but no burnt aftertaste. The background is slightly chocolate with wonderful candied undertones. It finishes with a marvelous mixture of chocolate and coffee. It is truly an Ale that lives up to the gentle session beer reputation that Cricket Hill has become well known for! So take that same Porter and age it in Bourbon barrels. What you get is their current reserve series beer: A bourbon barrel aged Porter that defies imagination with its flavor!

Cricket Hill held its first annual home brew contest with the all around winner becoming one of this year’s Reserve Series Beers and the runners up to become small batch beers. Each will be brewed by the home brewer under the watchful eye of our Head Brewer David Manka. There were 33 entries, all of which were well made and very difficult to pick one over another.

The runner’s up were:
Doug Petkoski – Imperial Ipa
Bill Kovach – American Pale Ale
Keith Koval – Belgian Dubbel

The Grand Prize:
Bill Kovach – Russian Imperial Stout

Each of these brewers received a pint glass and a Bourbon barrel and get their beer brewed by a production Brewery!

Stayed tuned for the next Cricket Hill release in February…an American Brown Ale.

River Horse to Host Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival Chili Cook-off

2011 will be the 15th annual chili cook-off at the Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival. Come in from the cold for their spicy hot competition, featuring some of the tastiest, tangiest and most original chili created by the finest local restaurants and accompanied by Lambertville’s award winning River Horse Brewery beers. The event takes place Sunday, January 30th. Admission includes commemorative pint glass. More information available on the Lambertville-New Hope Winter Festival website.

Jersey’s Finest — a collaboration between Iron Hill Maple Shade and Flying Fish

Join the fun on January 15th from noon to 4 PM. Iron Hill Maple Shade welcomes guest brewer Casey Hughes of Flying Fish Brewing Company.

ON TAP FROM FLYING FISH
Exit 13 Chocolate Stout
Grand Cru Winter Reserve

ON TAP FROM IRON HILL
Luca Brasi
Cask-Conditioned Half Caff
Jersey’s Finest – a blend of Flying Fish Exit 13 and Iron Hill’s Luca Brasi aged on whole vanilla beans and cocoa nibs

Flying Fish Exit 13 Chocolate Stout Draft Released

After getting all the bottles shipped in time for the holidays, Flying Fish released a limited amount of Exit 13 draft throughout New Jersey. Catch it while you can. Also, all bottles have been shipped, so if you still want some, grab it when you see it.

Flying Fish Brewing Company gives you behind the scenes access to the labeling of Exit 13–the sixth stop in their Exit Series of big bottle beers. See the video on the Flying Fish website.

High Point Preparing to Unleash ICE Storm Eisbock

Ramstein ICE Storm Eisbock is scheduled for release during the week of January 17th. Samples and Growler fills available at the brewery. Check out ramsteinbeer on Facebook for exact date and more info.

High Point Brewing Company was selected to participate in a very special beer dinner at Blue Hill at Stone Barns on January 30th. The event features locally brewed beers with local ingredients. High Point will brew a batch of beer with locally grown and malted spelt as well as local honey.

High Point Brewing Company’s gift shop and tasting room will be opened normal business hours M-Sat. during January and February (weather permitting). There will be no formal guided tours till March 12th.

January Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for December 2010 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

Flying Fish Releases Exit 13 Belgian Chocolate Stout

The sixth in its series of beers celebrating New Jersey, focuses on an exit probably best known for it’s view of the Newark airport, but it is also home to the Port of Newark-Elizabeth Marine Terminal, one of the busiest in the world. Many food products come through the port, including the Belgian chocolate they used for what they’re calling an import/ export stout.

This fuller “export style” stout gives a sturdy base for the rich chocolate flavor. A mix of imported and domestic malts are highlighted by roastiness from dark wheat. An Irish ale yeast and Pacific Northwest hops combine to create an excellent dessert beer as well as one to share in the cool weather with friends. More information at exitseries.com.

New Jersey Beer Co. Says Brewery Glassware is Nice, Exclusive Access is Even Better

For the beer lover there is an endless supply of gift ideas that crop up around this time of year. Glassware, bottle openers, books, apparel and even beer itself are all great ideas. There are homebrew kits and instructional DVDs that can bring hours of enjoyment. The New Jersey Beer Co. has gotten a little creative with its holiday offerings and is selling memberships to its Reserve Club, an exclusive group that is eligible for insider benefits and the opportunity to brew on NJBC’s 10-barrel system.

The first 200 people to sign up for the $100 memberships will receive a second year in the club at no additional cost. Members will receive a growler of each of the brewery’s four seasonal beers before they go on sale to the public as well as a first chance to sample and purchase small-batch special releases. A brewery t-shirt and 20% off all merchandise from the brewery store for the duration of membership is also included.

Steinberg plans to hold several members-only events at the North Bergen, NJ brewery and regular opportunities to brew alongside the New Jersey Beer Co. staff, something many home brewers will appreciate. “We want to give people a chance to experience the brewery in a deeper way,” said Matt Steinberg, the brewery president. “This is more than the standard tour and tastings we currently offer, it’s really a chance to be part of the brewery family and connect with like-minded people.”

Memberships to the Reserve Club are available at njbeerco.com or by contacting NJBC via email at info@njbeerco.com.

Gaslight Victorian Dinner on 12/15

The annual Gaslight Victorian Dinner happens on Wednesday, December 15th. Tickets are selling fast so be sure to get yours soon! Be sure to check out the menu!

Thursday 12/2 is Sierra Nevada Promo Night. All four of the 30th Anniversary beers will be on tap and in bottles. Also on tap are Bigfoot, Celebration, Northern Hemisphere Harvest, Estate Harvest & Tumbler. Bottles of Bigfoot, Celebration, Northern Hemisphere, Southern Hemisphere & Estate are also available. Special Pricing & giveaways. 7pm til close.

Ramstein Winter Wheat Doppelbock Featured at High Point Open House

On Saturday, December 11 High Point Brewing Company will host it last open house until March 2011. High Point will feature its Ramstein Winter Wheat Doppelbock for sale and samples. Bring your growlers.

For Holiday shoppers, the brewery gift shop and tasting room will be open every day except Sundays and holidays throughout December. Call 973-838-7400 or visit us on Facebook at ramsteinbeer for more details.

Guild Breweries Coming to Allentown Craft Beer Festival

The Allentown Brew Works Craft Beer Festival takes place this Saturday, December 4th. Tickets are selling quickly! Cricket Hill and Flying Fish will be among the 40 represented breweries.

New Jersey Beer Co. Stout Named “Best Thing to Come Out of New Jersey Since Bon Jovi”

New Jersey Beer Co. has run away with the title “Best Thing to Come Out of New Jersey Since Bon Jovi” by New York Press. Read more about how NJBC is giving New Jersey brewing a good name.

December Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.

Welcome to the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Newsletter for September 2010 — keeping you posted on what’s brewing in New Jersey.

Follow the Brewers Guild on Twitter!

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild is now tweeting! Be sure to follow us on Twitter @njbeer.

Best for Wurst–Flying Fish Oktoberfish is Back

Flying Fish Brewing Company brings back for its ninth year their take on this classic German style. The O’Fish uses German malts, hops and yeast. A beautiful reddish color, a savory malt profile and nice hop flavor make this Fest beer quite drinkable. OktoberFish is great with food and especially great with lederhosen.

OktoberFish is available only for a short time, so enjoy it while you can. Available in 12 oz. bottles, 1/2 and 1/6 kegs.

E-A-G-L-E-S & E-X-T-R-A PALE ALE – If you’re lucky enough to get tickets for the Eagles this season, you can find Extra Pale Ale on draft at the Link. If you can’t get tickets, you can still enjoy all your favorite Flying Fish at home–and you probably won’t have to wait in line at the bathrooms!

Krogh’s Oktoberfest Beer Hits on September 17th

Krogh’s Restaurant & Brew Pub at 23 White Deer Plaza in Sparta, NJ will be tapping their anxiously awaited Oktoberfest beer on September 17th! This will be followed by a delicious, crisp Pumpkin Ale in October!

As was previously mentioned Krogh’s sponsored this year’s 14th Annual Home Brew Contest at the New Jersey State Fair/Sussex County Farm & Horse Show in August. They would like to pass along that Peter Kennedy was the winner this year and his “Best of Show” beer, a Belgian Specialty Ale, will be brewed at Krogh’s next spring. Krogh’s will keep you posted of this “Best of Show” ale as time gets closer. Any questions or to make a reservation, please call 973-729-8428.

Cricket Hill Announces the Inaugural Best of the Brews Fest

OCTOBER 2…THE DATE for the 1st annual “BEST of the BrewsFest”

Cricket Hill Brewing Company proudly announces the inaugural Best of the Brews Fest at Hidden Valley Ski Resort in Verona NJ!!!

On Saturday October 2nd from 1 till 5 pm with a VIP luncheon at 11:30, Cricket Hill will host over nine breweries attracting beer lovers from all over North Jersey and Southern New York!

Visit bestofthebrewsfest.com for complete information.

Tickets are for sale in advance for $40 with a $5 discount for on-line buyers who mention promo code: CRICKET2! Live music all day long!

Cricket Hill is now available in Virginia! The long wait is over, Specialty Beverages in Richmond VA has launched Cricket Hill as its newest member of a very elite portfolio of great craft beers.

Both bottles and draft of East Coast Lager, American Ale, Hopnotic IPA, and the Fall Festivus are now in stores and ready for purchase.

John and Rick spent last week down there with introductory tastings and Pub Launches. It was a blast.

High Point to Release Ramstein Oktoberfest

In September, High Point Brewing Co. releases its #1 rated Ramstein Oktoberfest (rated #1 by Beer Advocate). A wooden barrel taping ceremony will be held on Saturday September 11th at High Point Brewery in Butler, NJ. Free admission and samples event runs from 2-5pm, limited availability. Barrel will be tapped by a local political dignitary.

Ramstein Oktoberfest will be only available on draft in NJ, NY and PA. Some locations include the Office Beer Bar and Grills in NJ, DBGB and Colicchio & Sons (NYC) and Bridgewaters, Resurection, McGillin’s and Brauhaus Schmitz in PA.

On September 18th Ramstein Oktoberfest will be featured at Crystal Springs Oktoberfest in Vernon, NJ. Ramstein Oktoberfest promotional barrel tapings at The Office Beer Bar and Grill in Morristown on Sept 16, Ridgewood on Sept 23 and Montclair on Sept. 30.

JJ Bitting to Host 4th Annual Central Jersey Charity Beer Fest

JJ Bitting Brewing Company will be hosting their 4th Annual Central Jersey Charity Beer Fest on Saturday, September 25th at Parker Press Park in Woodbridge, NJ. The event takes place from 1pm to 5pm. Great handcrafted beers, live music, food, crafts and a great time for all. Tickets are on sale for $25 drinkers and $15 non drinkers and can be purchased at the brewpub.

September Events

The Garden State Craft Brewers Guild website is continuously updated with new events. Check out the calendar to see what’s brewing in New Jersey this month.