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Courier News January 25, 2011

Most Central Jersey beer drinkers can't help noticing that in recent years, many more labels of craft beers — some brewed locally, some from other states and even overseas — have cropped up on their neighborhood liquor store shelves, restaurant menus and tavern taps. But most are probably unaware of the company that put the vastly expanded universe of choices before them: Hunterdon Distributors, which is celebrating 15 years in business in 2011. (read more)

Happy Holidays from Hunterdon Distributors!

Only six days left until Christmas! We hope by now you’ve got all your holiday shopping complete, but chances are that’s probably not the case. Never fear, there’s always beer!  Definitely a crowd pleaser at the holiday get–together and also a much better gift idea than that boring scarf or sweater! With all the fantastic beers on the market these days, there’s something for almost everyone. If you’re completely stumped and don’t have time or the energy to think about it, don’t worry. We have some great last-minute ideas laid out for you below that will surely make everyone on your gift list very happy this season. 

 

 

Variety Samplers - perfect for those fickle-minded friends in your life or for helping to spice up that family party. Plus they don’t require any wrapping at all and will look great under the tree as is. Some fantastic 12-packs you should surely not pass up include Smuttynose, River Horse, Flying Dog, Great Divide and Troegs which all feature a sampling of their year-round brews plus a tasty winter warmer of some sort. In addition, we now have two variety packs from Yards: one packed full of their mainstay Philly brews and another dedicated solely to the Ales of the Revolution series. You can’t really go wrong with any of these options, so pick up a couple and call it a day!

Gift Packs - If you want something a little fancier, grab a Chimay or Erdinger gift pack which come complete with a signature goblet or glass. For the Scottish-beer fan, go for esoteric collection of Historic Ales from Williams Brothers. You can almost bet that this gift sampler of ales made with Scottish pine, gooseberries, heather and elderberries will be remembered year after year!

Magnums - If you’re looking for a single bottle of something special, go for a 1.5L magnum of Chimay Blue. If you want to make a really big impression, go for the 3L Jeroboam! There’s no way your friend or family member will be able to drink all that beer by themselves….making it a gift for both them AND you! Other large format Belgian-style ales you’ll find in the market these days include La Chouffe, Scaldis Noel and Allagash Tripel.

Whiskey – Enough talk about beer. If you have a serious whiskey connoisseur in your life, pick up a Wasmund’s Distiller’s Art Barrel Kit. This awesome gift set comes packaged with two bottles of either Single Malt Spirit or the Rye Spirit and a two-liter charred American White Oak mini barrel that your happy gift recipient can use to replicate the aging process. This is no doubt, the gift that keeps on giving…hopefully on each time you pay that person a visit!

Happy shopping everyone and have a wonderful holiday!!

Spotlight on: Yards Variety Packs!

Christmas has arrived early for all you Yards fans as we are introducing not one, but two styles of variety packs this week! No more fretting over which case of Yards to buy. Now you can have it all in one fell swoop! The signature Yards Variety Pack is chock full of all your favorite Philly brews: the crisp and delicious Philly Pale, the lip-smacking IPA, the sweet malty Brawler and the World Beer Cup award-winning ESA. Not too shabby. And if that isn’t enough, you can also pick up a 12-pack of the Ales of the Revolution series to round out your evening of Yards bliss. You’ll find all three of their historic recreations in this goodie box: General Washington’s Tavern Porter, Thomas Jefferson’s Tavern Ale and Poor Richard’s Tavern Spruce Ale. The perfect gift for the history buff on your shopping list or anyone who just appreciates a great bottle of beer!

Both styles of variety packs will be available year-round from here on out, but don’t wait too long to pick some up as they will surely be a big hit for the holiday season!

Cheers and Happy Holidays!

Also in-stock from Yards:

6-PACKS:

 

DRAFT:

 

Check the Beer Finder to Yards beers on tap near you!

Spotlight on: River Horse Oatmeal Stout

When the bad weather has you staying local this winter season, THINK LOCAL and grab some delicious craft beer brewed right here in the Garden State. River Horse Brewing Company, located in downtown Lambertville, NJ, has been whipping up some tasty beverages for us since 1996. Their year-round classics – Hop Hazard, Special Ale, Tripel Horse and Lager – are tasting as good as always and their seasonal offerings have been selling out quicker than we can spell hippopotamus! In addition, their Brewer’s Reserve Series has spurred a fever of experimentation at the brewery, resulting in a collection of exciting new recipes to round out their already rockin’ portfolio.

This week we’re releasing the latest from the Brewer’s Reserve Series: the dark and delicious Oatmeal Milk Stout. Back by popular demand, this sweet stout brewed with oats and milk sugar and displays rich notes of bitter coffee, roasted malt, toasted oats, vanilla and a combination of dark and milk chocolate.  Full-bodied with an incredibly smooth and creamy finish that will keep you yearning for that next sip! 6.7% ABV. This is the perfect beer to enjoy with tiramisu, panna cotta or a big plate of cookies. If you’re a fan of the cheese, grab a big hunk of buttery farmhouse cheddar!
Oatmeal Milk Stout is now available in 6-packs and on draft!

 

Also in-stock from River Horse Brewing Company:
Bottles:

Draft:

 

Check the Beer Finder to locate River Horse on tap near you!

Spotlight on: Dogfish Head Craft Brewed Ales

2011 has been a big year for Dogfish Head! Exciting rock band tribute beers, collaborative projects, plans for a massive brewery expansion and over thirty unique styles of beer released in one year! But it ain’t over yet! There’s still one month left to go and it’s shaping up to be a good one. Chicory Stout, Immort Ale and Olde School Barleywine are all hitting the New Jersey market this week. That gives you plenty of options to make sure your taste buds are happy and your belly is full well until 2012 arrives! Cheers!

	Chicory Stout This off-centered stout is one of Dogfish Head’s tried and true brews created way back in 1995. Sam’s recipe puts the spin on your classic stout by adding roasted chicory, licorice, Mexican coffee and a touch of St. John's wort to counteract those winter doldrums! Hearty yet mellow with big earthy and smokey notes and lingering flavors of chocolate and coffee and at only 5% abv it makes a terrific session stout. Try it with spicy Mexican dishes with mole sauce or a decadent chocolate espresso molten cake! Now in 4-packs and on draft!
	Olde School Barleywine Dogfish Head’s famous after-dinner libation brewed with dates and figs. Decadent, sweet and warming at about 15% abv. Enjoy now or cellar for later, if you can wait another season! Now available in 4-packs
	Immort Ale This 11% oak-aged indulgence is made with maple syrup, peat-smoked barley, juniper berries, vanilla and a combination of Belgian and English yeast strains. Not for the weak at heart. Also one to enjoy now or savor later.  Now available in 4-packs and on draft

 

Check out these other delicious Dogfish Head beers in-stock now!

60 Minute IPA 6-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs	90 Minute IPA 4-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs	Indian Brown 6-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs
Raison D’Etre 6-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs	Midas Touch 4-packs Sixtel Kegs	Palo Santo Marron 4-packs Sixtel Kegs
World Wide Stout 12-oz bottles	Chateau Jiahu Sixtel Kegs	Namaste Sixtel Kegs

 

Check the Beer Finder to locate Dogfish Head beers on tap near you!

Happy Thanksgiving!

The biggest eating day of the year is just a few days away. If you’re hosting the holiday at your place, chances are you’ve been consumed with cleaning, making grocery lists and scouring over cookbooks. If you’ve lucked out and all you have to do is show up at Aunt Mary’s house, you’ve probably just spent most of your days dreaming about gravy soaked mashed potatoes, watching football and haven’t thought much about shopping of any kind. Whichever scenario sounds more familiar, we are here to remind you of one very important part of the day that should not be neglected: the beer menu! So it’s time to either (A.) put away the cookbooks or (B.) wipe the drool from your face and get yourself to the store to do some shopping of the fun kind! But before you head out to stock up, take a look at some of our ideas below. We have a wide-variety of beer styles highlighted that will take you from cocktail hour all the way through to “food coma stage.” So grab a pen and some paper and get your game plan in motion. A Thanksgiving without an ample supply of beer is no Thanksgiving at all. 

 

Bon Appétit and Have a Happy Thanksgiving!

From all of us here at Hunterdon!

Spotlight On: Flying Dog K-9 Cruiser Ale

The latest in our winter seasonal rollout is the K-9 Cruiser Winter Ale from Flying Dog! This English-style strong ale is deep amber in color with tons of sweet malty goodness. Gently hopped to 30 IBUs with Millenium and US Saaz and fermented with an English ale yeast. Strong notes of caramel, toffee and spice and plenty of alcohol to keep your insides all warm and toasty! Try this seasonal brew with hearty dishes like roasted lamb or wild game, rich hard cheeses and dense, sweet dessert like pecan pie or a caramel apple crisp!  
K-9 Cruiser is now available in 6-packs and on draft! Get it before it cruises on out of here!

 

Check out these other Flying Dog beers in-stock now:

	Doggie-Style Classic Pale Ale One of the best examples of the American Pale Ale on the market.     Rated the #1 Pale Ale by The New York Times! Available in 6-packs, Half and Sixtel Kegs
	Snake Dog IPA Lots of grapefruity goodness. Hopped with Warrior and Columbus to 60 IBUs. Great with spicy cuisine! Available in 6-packs
	Raging Bitch Belgian IPA One of our top selling beers this year! Big, hoppy, sweet and very food friendly! Available in 6-packs and Sixtel Kegs
	Tire Bite Golden Ale A crisp and refreshing session brew. Perfect on its own or with light appetizers and salads. Available in 6-packs
	Old Scratch Amber Lager Malty, delicious and a four-time GABF medal winner! Available in 6-packs and Half Kegs
	Double Dog Pale Ale An 11.5% double pale ale to savor in a snifter. Available in 4-packs
	Road Dog Porter A dark and roasty Scottish-style porter with notes of chocolate and coffee. Available in 6-packs
	Gonzo Imperial Porter At 9.2% abv this big, bad porter is not for the weak at heart. 99 points Ratebeer.com Available in 4-packs
	Variety 12-Packs If you can’t decide, grab a sampling of all your favorite stray dogs!

Look for Flying Dog ON TAP at these New Jersey restaurants:

Harrigan's Pub Sea Girt	The Shepherd & The Knucklehead Haledon
Adam’s Beer Garden Rockaway	Princeton Sports Bar Princeton
Dublin Square Pub Cherry Hill	Pint Bar Jersey City
Andy’s Corner Bar Bogota	The Stirling Hotel Stirling
Bistro La Source Jersey City	Surf Taco Jackson
Circa High Bridge	Tiger's Tale Montgomery
Cloverleaf Tavern Caldwell	UNO Chicago Grill Maple Shade
Dogtooth Bar & Grill Wildwood	Cherry Valley Country Club Skillman
High Street Grille Mt Holly	Hamilton Manor Hamilton
Lamp Post Bar & Grill Jersey City	Trinity Restaurant Keyport
Mohawk House Sparta	Twin Light Taphouse Atlantic Highlands
Old Bay Restaurant New Brunswick	Tiff's Restaurant Pequannock
P.J. Whelihans Maple Shade	Biggies Clam Bar Carlstadt
Tap House Grille  Wayne	Barcade Jersey City
27 Mix Newark	54 Main Bar & Grill Madison
The Exchange Rockaway

Cheers!

Spotlight On: River Horse Belgian Freeze

Check out the new get-up for our favorite Jersey hippo! The River Horse Belgian Freeze is back, complete with a rockin’ new look that’s sure to give everyone a good chuckle this holiday season. Brewed with roasted caramel malts and a Belgian yeast strain, this dark amber brew will surely liven your spirit and make you want to put on a big Yeti costume too.  Notes of dried fruit, nuts, caramel, and citrus abound in this yummy 8% abv winter warmer. Great with glazed pork tenderloin, a hearty salad with caramelized pecans and blue cheese or English toffee for dessert! Available now in bottles and on draft.

In addition to the Belgian Freeze, we also have plenty of your other favorite River Horse beers in-stock now in both bottles and on draft…. so take a look and then stock on up! And if you can’t decide, we always have variety 12-packs – perfect for the holidays which are quickly approaching! Also, stay tuned for the latest Brewer’s Reserve release– a Chocolate Porter – coming soon on draft and in variety packs!

Beers now in stock from River Horse:
Bottles

			Variety 12-Packs

 

Draft

 

Look for River Horse ON TAP at these New Jersey restaurants:

Lazy Dog Saloon Asbury Park	UNO Chicago Grill Metuchen
Grand Summit Hotel Summit	Rocky Hill Inn Rocky Hill
Ale 'N Wich Pub New Brunswick	Sergeantsville Inn Sergeantsville
Andy’s Corner Bar Bogota	Bistro 55 Rochelle Park  (201) 845-3737
Brickwall Tavern Asbury Park	Pint Bar Jersey City
Crest Tavern Wildwood	The Stirling Hotel Stirling
The Wexford Inn Lincoln Park	The Ark Point Pleasant
Brightside Tavern Jersey City	The Brass Rail Hoboken
Daddy O’s Restaurant   Brant Beach	Tiger's Tale Montgomery
Delicious Heights Berkeley Heights	Trenton Country Club  West Trenton
The Pour House Westmont	Free Bridge Wine & Spirits Phillipsburg
The Frenchtown Inn Frenchtown	Wildflowers Pennington
Good Night Irene's Wildwood	Twin Light Taphouse Highlands
Inn Of The Hawke Lambertville (609) 397-9555	Welsh's Snug Harbor Kearny
Lambertville Station Lambertville	Tap House Wayne
LITM Jersey City	Clydz New Brunswick
Main Street Bistro Kingston	George Street Ale House New Brunswick
Main Street Cafe Madison	Barcade Jersey City
Old Bay Restaurant New Brunswick	Fire and Oak Montvale
Pattenburg House Asbury	381 Main Little Falls
Piccola Italia Ocean	Gusto Grill East Brunswick
Hopewell Valley Bistro Hopewell	The Exchange Rockaway
Coda Kitchen & Bar Maplewood	Nassau Inn Princeton
27 Mix Newark	Buffalo Wild Wings Bridgewater

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Left Hand Brewing Co. Fade to Black Vol. 3

Well, old man winter certainly reared his ugly head this weekend! Freezing rain, snow and cold blasts of wind definitely gave us a taste of what’s in store for us this season…just in case you forgot. But, while the treacherous weather and short days can be a real downer, there are plenty of reasons to savor the season. Beer being one of them! Hearty winter warmers, roasty stouts and rich malty brews are just the ticket to hunkering down and forgetting about frigid temps and endless shoveling! This week, we are releasing a most delicious tribute to the winter season from our friends at Left Hand Brewing Company, Fade to Black Volume 3. This experimental winter brew series debuted in 2009 with Volume 1, a Foreign Export Stout and gold medal winner at that year’s Great American Beer Festival.  With Volume 2, Left Hand switched gears and whipped up a rockin’ Smoked Baltic Porter. This year, the Left Hand team joined forces with Savory Spice Shop in Boulder to bring you a hearty, rich porter brewed with smoked malts and a special blend of Ancho, Serrano and Chipotle peppers. Expect all the wonderful flavor profiles of the chilies – tobacco, chocolate, dried fruits, leather and smoke – to shine through with just a touch of heat to jumpstart your taste buds! Hopped with Mt. Hood and Warrior hops. Dark mahogany in color. 7.2% abv. Enjoy now or save in your cellar next to Volume 1 and 2 to enjoy in a vertical tasting later!
Check out this video clip to learn more about the making of Fade to Black Volume 3. Volume 3 is now available in 6-packs and on draft!

About the Brewery
Left Hand Brewing Company was founded in 1994 by homebrewing pals Dick Doore and Eric Wallace. The brewery originally started out as Indian Peaks but was forced to change that after discovering another brewery was producing a beer of the same name. Dick and Eric used Chief Niwot, the leader of the local Arapahoe Indian tribe for inspiration and named the brewery “Left Hand” as it is the American translation of the word “Niwot.” It is assumed that the Chief received his name from the area his tribe was occupying when settlements began in the late 1800’s – the Left Hand Valley. Also interesting to note the brewery’s continued nod to the area’s rich Indian American history with beers like Haystack Wheat, named for Haystack Mountain where remains of the Indian tribe’s dwellings
can still be found.

The Hunterdon crew visited with the nice folks at Left Hand while in Colorado for this year’s Great American Beer Festival. We enjoyed some special one-off releases and collaborative brews in their fantastic tasting room and also discovered some most delicious milk stout cupcakes in the back room. YUM! Hope those weren’t for someone else?! Outside on the patio we basked in the Colorado sunshine and got a close up view of some hops growing right outside the brewery. Check out our pics and notice the solar panels on the roof installed back in 2009. While the brewery has always been super environmentally friendly, they now have a special “Left Hand Green” team dedicated to reducing waste and maximizing efficiency at the brewery. Good work, Left Hand!

Left Hand beers in-stock now:
Some year-round offerings we have available now from Left Hand include their flagship Sawtooth Ale, an American-style ESB that won a gold medal from the Great American Beer Festival in its inaugural year, The Stranger (an American Pale Ale), 400 Pound Monkey (an English-style IPA) and the ever-so creamy and delicious, Milk Stout. Most recently, the brewery unveiled a nitro version of the Milk Stout in bottles; a project that the brewery spent nearly three years to perfect. It may take awhile for it to make it here to Jersey, but when it does it will surely be worth the wait!

6-packs

 

Look for Left Hand ON TAP at these New Jersey restaurants:

Andy’s Corner Bar Bogota	Steakhouse 85 New Brunswick
Mohawk House Sparta	George Street Ale House New Brunswick
Gaslight Brewery & Restaurant South Orange	Brickwall Tavern Asbury Park
Main Street Cafe Madison	Jack's Goal Line Stand Long Branch
The Tap House Grille Wayne	Maloney's Pub Matawan
27 Mix Newark	Blue Monkey Tavern Merchantville
The Iron Monkey Jersey City	Farnsworth House Bordentown
Marco & Pepe Jersey City	The Irish Mile Haddon Township
Northern Soul Hoboken	P.J. Whelihan’s Haddonfield
Hailey's Harp & Pub Metuchen	Jack's Twin Bar Gloucester City
Old Bay Restaurant New Brunswick	PB's Tavern Grille Glassboro

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Troegs Mad Elf

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! One of the most highly anticipated beers of the year, Troegs Mad Elf, is back and ready to spread some holiday cheer! This seasonal strong ale is expertly crafted with German hops, Belgian yeast, chocolate malts, local Pennsylvania honey and sweet and sour cherries. Deep ruby red in color, Mad Elf showcases strong aromas and flavors of cherries, honey and sweet malts. At 11% abv, Mad Elf is a sinful holiday sipper that’s sweet, tart and spicy at the same time and will certainly keep you warm on a cold winter’s night… and keep you joyous all throughout the holiday season!  
Mad Elf is now available in 6-packs and 22oz bottles. Coming soon in 3L jerobams, gift packs and on draft!

Check out this quick video showing the addition of the local honey to the Mad Elf .

 

Brewery News
The Troegs brothers and crew will have even more reason to celebrate this holiday season as brewing is now underway at their brand spanking new facility! After nearly fifteen years at their original facility in Harrisburg, the brothers purchased a much bigger lot fifteen miles away in Hershey, PA that would allow them the much needed space to grow and expand. Just this past spring, they broke ground on their new 90,000 square foot facility (three times the size of their Harrisburg facility) and a mere six months later the brewing has already begun! The new place boasts a main brewhouse with five 100-barrel German BrauKon kettles and a special 15-barrel brewhouse dedicated solely to their Scratch series giving the Troegs crew more room for experimentation in years to come. In addition, a new filtration system, bottling and kegging line will dramatically help speed up the production process. Right in the middle of the brewhouse  sits a 5,000 square foot tasting room, strategically placed so beer lover’s can feel like they are part of the fun. In addition, self-guided tours are available along a window-lined hallway where you can get a sneak peak of several stages including the fermentation, filtration and kegging process. The brewery will be open soon to the public, so stay tuned. In the meantime, check out some pictures!

Watch as brothers Chris and John brew the first batch of beer, Hopback Amber, at the new facility

Congrats and Good Luck with the new place guys!

More Awards
This year’s Great American Beer Festival was especially good to Troegs Brewing Company. A gold medal was awarded to the Troegenator Double Bock and the Sunshine Pils received a silver! Way to go team Troegs!

Here’s what we have in-stock now from Troegs Brewing Company:

6-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs	6-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs	6-packs 22oz bottles
6-packs	22oz bottles	6-packs
	Variety 12-packs

 

Look for Troegs ON TAP at these New Jersey restaurants:

NORTH JERSEY	JERSEY SHORE AREA
Andy’s Corner Bar Bogota	Lazy Dog Saloon Asbury Park
The Office Ridgewood	Brickwall Tavern Asbury Park
The Shepherd & The Knucklehead Haledon	McDonaugh’s Pub  Keyport
The Poitin Still Hackensack	Walt Street Pub Red Bank
Pint Bar Jersey City	Twin Light Taphouse Highlands
Barcade Jersey City	Surf Taco Jackson
1 Republik Hoboken	Crest Tavern Wildwood
Welsh’s Snug Harbor Kearny	Mad Batter Cape May
Redd's Restaurant Carlstadt	Acme Draft House Bayville
Gaslight Brewery & Restaurant South Orange	SOUTH JERSEY
Mohawk House Sparta	Blue Monkey Tavern Merchantville
Salt Gastropub Stanhope	The Pour House Westmont
Mahwah Bar & Grill Mahwah	Tap Room & Grill Westmont
Sona 13 Morristown	Geraghty’s Pub & Grill Burlington
The Office Morristown	High Street Grill Mount Holly
The Melting Pot Whippany	Mexican Food Factory Marlton
The Stirling Hotel Stirling	Champps Marlton
CENTRAL JERSEY	Uno Chicago Grill Maple Shade
3 West Basking Ridge	Vincentown Diner Vincetown
Hailey's Harp & Pub Metuchen
Fire Creek Restaurant Voorhees
Mrs. Riley's Publick House High Bridge 908-638-8382
Copper Hill Country Club Ringoes
The Inn of the Hawke Lambertville (609) 397-9555
Old Bay Restaurant New Brunswick
Tre Piani Plainsboro
Gusto Grill East Brunswick

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Smuttynose Winter Ale

It’s that time of year again. Time to move the party indoors, hunker down and kick back with something bigger, bolder and more intoxicating. This week we’re kicking off the release of our winter warmers with Smuttynose Winter Ale, a rich malty ale reminiscent of a Belgian Abbey dubbel. Winter Ale has been in the brewery’s seasonal lineup since 2006 and is deep amber color with a thick, frothy white head. Strong notes of caramel, raisins and dried fruit are a result of the use of specialty malts and Belgian candied sugar syrup. Winter Ale is full-bodied, malty and complex with a very gentle bitterness from the use of Magnum and Sterling hops. Enjoy this warming brew with rich, hearty comfort foods and strong cheeses. Now available in 6-packs and on draft!

In other Smutty news, we would like to congratulate the brewery on their big win at this year’s Great American Beer Festival! A gold medal was awarded to the Wheat Wine Ale, a limited edition brew that is part of Smutty’s Big Beer Series. Wheat Wine beat out 52 other entries in the ‘Other Strong Beer’ Category. Congrats to everyone at Smutty for grabbing the gold!

Fans of the Short Batch series should be on the lookout for the latest release heading our way soon called Satchmo. The Smuttynose brewers worked with Chef Evan Mallet of Portsmouth’s Black Trumpet Bistro to create this brown porter brewed with thirty-five pounds of dried black trumpet mushrooms. Yum! Satchmo will be available in limited amounts on draft in the upcoming months.

Here’s what we have in-Stock now from Smuttynose:

Winter Ale 6-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs	India Pale Ale 6-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs	Old Brown Dog 6-packs Half Kegs Sixtel Kegs
Shoals Pale Ale 6-packs	Robust Porter 6-packs	Star Island Single 6-packs
Big A IPA 4-packs	Variety Packs 12-packs	Gravitation Ale 22oz bottles
Farmhouse Ale 22oz bottles

 

Use the Great Brewers Beer Finder to find Smuttynose ON TAP in your area

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Founders Brewing Company

It’s been a busy year for our friends out in Grand Rapids! A $7 million brewery expansion has been underway since the end of 2010 and is nearing the final stages as we speak. As one of the most highly regarded craft breweries in the country, Founders has been struggling to keep up with the demand their extraordinary lineup of beers for quite some time now. This massive project will give them the capability of producing up to 110,000 barrels of beer annually, more than doubling their current production level and no doubt catapulting them into a new tier in the craft beer industry. In 2009, they were ranked the second fastest growing brewery in the US and by the end of this year they will have doubled their production level from 2010 (25,000 barrels in 2010 vs. almost 50,000 for 2011)! We’re super excited for the Founders team and wish them the best of luck with their fantastic new brew house!

Founders produces some of the most sought after beers in the market, all with excellent scores on the beer fan sites and several of them on Beer Advocate’s list of “Top Beers on Planet Earth.”  We just received a generous supply of their stellar year-round beers as well as some of our favorite seasonal releases, so take a look here to see what we’ve got!

	Breakfast Stout Brewed with imported chocolate, oats and coffee, this yummy concoction is intensely rich and smooth.  Warning, drinking too close to bedtime may keep you buzzing for awhile!  8.3%abv Available in 4-packs
	Backwoods Bastard Dirty Bastard aged in bourbon barrels! Big, sweet and malty with intense aromas of vanilla, dried fruit and caramel. 10.2%abv Available in 4-packs
	Porter Darker than dark, silky and sinful.  Robust with flavors of chocolate, coffee and caramel. One to savor and savor wisely! 6.5% abv Available in 6-packs
	Dirty Bastard A Scotch-style Ale, Founders-style. Packed with loads of malty richness, smokey overtones and a hoppy bite!  A Silver Medal Winner at the 2010 World Beer Cup!  8.5%abv Available in 6-packs
	Centennial IPA This dry-hopped IPA is one of our favorites, with strong notes of citrus and just the right amount of sweetness to complement the bitterness. A Silver Medal Winner at the 2010 World Beer Cup! 7.2%abv Available in 6-packs and on draft
	Red’s Rye Pale Ale This is not your ordinary dry-hopped pale ale. The addition of rye gives it a spicy kick while four types of Belgian caramel malts create a sublime malty richness. Rated #86 on Beer Advocate’s “Top 100 Beers on Planet Earth.” 6.6%abv Available in 6-packs

 

Other new projects on the horizon for 2012 include the first Founders session ale appropriately named All Day IPA. Although it’s a 4.7% session ale, this guy is packed full of flavor and aroma in the signature Founders style. Stay tuned for release dates after the New Year.

Look for the Founders ON TAP at these NJ restaurants:

 

Cheers!

 

Congrats to all our 2011 Great American Beer Festival Medal Winners!

Epic Brewing Co. Brainless on Peaches Silver Medal – Fruit Beer Category Imperial IPA Bronze Medal – Imperial IPA Category	Rogue Brewing Co. Hazelnut Brown Gold Medal – Specialty Beer Category Smoke Ale Gold Medal – Smoke Beer Category	Dogfish Head Brewery Chateau Jiahu Silver Medal – Specialty Beer Category Midas Touch Bronze Medal – Specialty Honey Beer Category
Weyerbacher Brewing Co. 16th Anniversary Gold Medal – Specialty Honey Beer	Flying Dog Brewery Horn Dog Barleywine Gold Medal – Barley Wine-Style Ale Category	Fegley’s Brew Works Arctic Alchemy Bronze Medal – Old Ale or Strong Ale Category
The Bruery The Wanderer Silver Medal – Wood and Barrel-Aged Sour Beer Category Hottenroth Berliner Weisse Silver Medal – German-Style Sour Ale Category Papier Gold Medal – Old Ale or Strong Ale Category	Hoppin’ Frog Brewery Barrel-Aged Naked Evil BBW Bronze Medal – Wood and Barrel-Aged Strong Beer Category BORIS The Crusher Oatmeal Imperial Stout Gold Medal – Imperial Stout Category	Oskar Blues Brewery Mama’s Little Yella Pils Silver Medal – Bohemian-Style Pilsener Category Old Chub Scotch Ale Bronze Medal – Scotch Ale Category Deviant Dales Silver Medal – American-Style IPA Category
21st Amendment Brewing Co. HQT Gold Medal – Indigenous Beer Category Amber Waves Gold Medal – American-Style Amber/Red Ale Category	Troegs Brewing Co. Sunshine Pils Silver Medal – German-Style Pilsener Category Troegenator Gold Medal – Bock Category	New Holland Brewing Co. Blue Sunday Silver Medal – Belgian-Style Lambic or Sour Ale Category
Bear Republic Brewing Co. Black Racer Bronze Medal – American-Style Black Ale Category	Allagash Brewing Co. Confluence Gold Medal – American-Style Brett Ale Category	Full Sail Brewing Co. Session Black Silver Medal – American-Style Dark Lager Category
	Smuttynose Brewing Co. Wheat Wine Ale Gold Medal – Other Strong Beer Category

 

The Hunterdon crew was on the scene for the GABF! Check out our pics!

Spotlight On: Full Sail Brewing Company

This past month has brought a flurry of exciting news from Full Sail Brewing Company including a 24th anniversary, a brand new addition to their Session lineup and just this past weekend a GABF Silver Medal for Session Black!  

Happy Anniversary!
The past 24 years has been good to this independent and 100% employee-owned company located in beautiful Hood River, Oregon. In addition to the dozens of awards they’ve received for their tasty craft-brewed beers, they’ve also been highly praised for being one of the most eco-friendly breweries in the country. Their neat assortment of both ales and lagers can now be found in 28 states across the US!

 

A Third Session
With all the buzz surrounding Session Lager and Session Black, it only makes sense to keep the excitement going. Brand new this month is Session Fest, a Czech-style lager made from a combination of Pale, Munich and Caramel malts, a touch of wheat and hopped with Glaciers and Cascades. This seasonal Session boast a beautiful red hue and a frothy white head – an intentional color scheme for the holidays ahead, of course! “Session Fest has a medium to full body balancing candy caramel and full malt flavors that are underscored by a spicy hoppiness that provides a nice perfume with citrus and pine overtones and a long clean finish. 6.2% AB”

Find Your Sanctuary
Also back on the block is Sanctuary, the latest release from their 22oz “Brewer’s Reserve” series. This Belgian-style abbey dubbel is medium to full-bodied with a profound malty richness and gentle bitterness.  Sweet, smooth and spicy in the finish. If you missed out last year, be sure to grab some this time around!

A Silver Medal
This past weekend nearly 50,000 people celebrated the world of craft beer in Denver at the 30th Annual Great American Beer Festival. Almost 4000 beers were judged in a total of 83 categories and the winners were announced Saturday. Full Sail was ecstatic to hear that their Session Black won a silver medal in the American-style Dark Lager Category! This is the second GABF medal for the Black. Congrats to the Full Sail team for this big win!  

In addition to Session Fest and Sanctuary, check out these other Full Sail items currently in-stock:

Amber 6 packs	IPA 6 packs	Pale 6 packs
Session Lager 12 packs	Session Black 12 packs	And Coming Soon… Wassail, Wreck the Halls

Look for the Full Sail at these NJ restaurants:

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Green Flash Brewing Company

This past June, Green Flash Brewing Company celebrated the grand opening of their brand new 45,000 square foot facility in Vista, California. This massive expansion will give Green Flash the capability of producing up to 100,000 barrels annually; no doubt maintaining their position as one of the leading West Coast craft brewers in years to come. In addition to their custom-built fifty-barrel brew house, the new location includes an expansive tasting room and beer garden where Flash fans can sip on their favorite suds, check out the latest limited releases and grab growlers to go. Next time you are in the San Diego area, be sure to stop on by!


Other recent changes for the brewery include some tweaking of their famous Hop Head Red. This 2009 GABF Bronze Medal winner is now referred to as ‘Hop Head Red IPA.’ Fans will be happy to hear that while it boasts a tinge more alcohol and hops than its predecessor, the ‘Red’ still maintains its signature caramel malt backbone. Four packs, complete with new red packaging, are available now. 

Also back on the block is their full-bodied, rich and roasty Double Stout. With aromas of dark chocolate, raisins and bitter coffee, this is the perfect companion for the cool nights ahead! If it’s been awhile since you had the Double Stout, we should remind you that it’s a 2010 World Beer Cup Silver Medal Winner!

Keep reading for the full descriptions and to find out what’s currently available!

	Double Stout Black Ale   Ratebeer.com:   99 points              Beer Advocate: A- Golden naked oats mashed with dark crystal and robust roasted malts create a luscious black brew with satin smooth finish.  Layering UK Target hops throughout the boil adds pleasant, earthy complexity while higher fermentation temperatures enhance overall flavor with fruity esters. An old-world style, done the Green Flash way.   Big, bold, flavorful and complex.  A 2010 World Beer Cup Silver Medal Winner! ABV: 8.8%  IBUs: 45 Available formats: 4-packs
	West Coast IPA   Ratebeer.com:   99 points              Beer Advocate:  A- This West Coast-Style India Pale Ale is extravagantly hopped, full flavored, medium bodied and copper colored.  A menagerie of hops is combined throughout the brewing process to impart specific characteristics.  Hops used include Simcoe for a unique fruitiness and grapefruit zest, Columbus for strong hop pungency, Centennial for pine and citrus notes, and Cascade for floral aroma. ABV: 7%  IBUs: 95            Available formats: 4-packs, half and sixtel kegs
	Hop Head Red IPA    Ratebeer.com:   98 points             Beer Advocate:  A- Resinous hop characteristics emerge from an enormous hopping with Columbus, Nugget and Amarillo overtaking the rich caramel malt base. To add luscious hop flavors and enticingly floral hop aromas, we dry-hop the brew with bucket loads of Amarillo hops. Welcome to the world of Red IPA. ABV: 7%  IBUs: 70 Available formats: 4-packs, half and sixtel kegs
	Imperial IPA      Ratebeer.com:   99 points              Beer Advocate: A- San Diego-style IPA, as it has come to be known by many, is super-hoppy, high gravity, yet highly quaffable ale.  Our Imperial IPA is created in this new tradition with intense hop flavors and aromas from a unique blend of Summit and Nugget hops. It's all about the hops!  ABV: 9.4%   IBUs: 101 Available formats: 22oz bottles

Look for the Green Flash ON TAP at these NJ restaurants:

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: CIDER!

With apple season well underway and the official start of fall this Friday, we figured it would be a perfect time to shift gears and talk cider! We have a wonderful assortment of traditional French and English ciders as well as some modern-day artisanal versions made here in the US. If you are a foodie, or a beer geek (which you probably are if you’re reading this) you may already be aware of all the recent press that ciders have received in the last year or so. The New York Times, Bon Appétit, Draft Magazine and many other industry publications have all cast the spotlight on this beloved bounty of the season. It is important to make note that while you see ciders typically being featured in the fall or around Thanksgiving, this extremely versatile and session-able style is perfect for any time of year. Depending on the style you choose, they make wonderful aperitifs and summertime refreshers and can also be the perfect complement to farmhouse cheddars, charcuterie and spicy cuisines like Indian and Thai. And of course you can’t go wrong with a fork full of apple pie a-la-mode in one hand and a glass of cider in the other.

Ciders have long since been an American tradition, but it’s only in the last few decades and even more so in the past 5 years that small farms are starting to breathe life back into what was becoming a dying industry. The overall shift in focus has been on producing a small-batch, high-quality product from unusual varieties of apples. Apples grown for cider production are definitely not of the same flavor profile than those you’ll find in big heaps at the local market. "Some of the best cider apples are so bitter that you'll wish you'd never bitten into them," says Stephen Wood of Farnum Hill Ciders in Lebanon, New Hampshire. "But they contribute amazing character to fermented cider." A weekend trip through upstate New York and New England will lead you to a number of artisan cider producers worth a stop.

Skipping across the pond to England, it’s typical to find very dry, light-bodied ciders consumed by the locals on a daily basis, sometimes poured over ice. And of course, there’s Normandy, the apple capital of France revered for its superior apple brandy known as Calvados and their magnificently complex and full-bodied versions of cider.  

So no matter what your preference, day of the week or time of the year, there are plenty of remarkable brands on the market to choose from. Listed below you’ll find a fabulous assortment to get you started.

	Domaine Etienne Dupont Dupont is located in the Normandy region of France and has been a family-run operation since 1837. They are well-known around the world for their prestigious collection of vintage-dated ciders as well as calvados and pommeau – a blend of calvados and apple must. Only small, very concentrated and aromatic styles of apples are used in combination with local indigenous yeasts to produce an intensely rich and complex cider with flavors of apple tart and caramel.  Their Bouche Brut is now available in 750ml bottles.
	Aspall English Draft Cyders Packaged in beautiful wine-style bottles first used in the late 1800’s, Aspall cyders are made from 100% juice from whole fresh-pressed English apples. This eighth generation family-run business focuses on quality and commitment to tradition with several awards to speak of including ‘Supreme Winner’ at the International Beer & Cider Competition. Their orchards are located on the about a hundred miles north east of London in Suffolk County, England.  Available styles include Dry, Demi-Sec, Organic and Perronelle’s Blush – a cider blended with blackberry liqueur.
	Blackthorn Hailing from the complete opposite side of England is Blackthorn Cider. Its signature dry, crisp taste is achieved from using primarily bittersweet cider apples which are low in acid and high in tannins. Founded in 1972, Blackthorn is not only very popular among the locals in the ‘West Country’ but also across the rest of the United Kingdom for that matter. This product is also gluten free! Blackthorn is available in tall 16oz cans and on draft by special order.
	Farnum Hill If you haven’t experienced the unique assortment of ciders from this small New Hampshire farm, a feast for your senses awaits you. Remarkably dry, aromatic and complex, Farnum Hill is surely taking the cider-making business up a notch.  Try their Semi-Dry, a lightly sparkling and slightly sweet cider with firm tannins, or their Kingston Black ’09 Reserve, a single varietal cider made from the native English apple of the same name with unusual flavors like muskmelon. Their new ‘Dooryard’ Series is a collection of one-off batches created to give FH fans a true sense of what’s happening around the farm. When one batch is gone, there’s another great one on its way!  In addition to their Semi-Dry and Kingston Black, we have two batches of their Dooryard: Still #1120 and Sparkling #1125.  All are in 750ml format.
	Original Sin This all-American cider came onto the market in 1997 and was initially produced at a winery in upstate New York. Sin Cider is made with only the freshest local apples around and two types of champagne yeast. Crisp, clean and refreshing, The New York Times once named it the “Top American Cider” out of 21 contestants. Their relatively new Pear Cider, made with 100% fresh pear juice, won a gold medal at the Great International Beer & Cider Competition in 2009.  Both are gluten free! Pear is available in 6-packs.  Apple is available in 6-packs, half and sixtel kegs.
	Julian Founded in the old mining town of Julian, California (about an hour east of San Diego), Julian Cider is based on a recipe introduced to the American colonies by English settlers in 1670.  Five styles of apples are hand-picked and then mixed with just a bit of yeast to ferment the natural sugars - no concentrated apple juice or additives whatsoever! Julian Hard Cider is a lightly carbonated and wonderfully crisp, clean cider that pairs beautifully with many different cuisines. Organic and gluten free too! Available in 22oz bottles, Half and Sixtel kegs

Look for the appley-goodness on tap at these NJ restaurants:

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Stone 15th Anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA

This summer Stone Brewing Company celebrates fifteen years in the craft beer biz. From the company that brings you beers named Arrogant Bastard, Oaked Arrogant Bastard, Ruination and Sublimely Self-Righteous you can rest assured that what they’ll whip up for a milestone like this will be nothing short of big, bad and downright insane. Stone takes the hip ‘black IPA’ to a new level by making it blacker than black and hoppier than hoppy with a whopping 100 IBUs and 10.8% abv. They experimented with some new hops (Citra, Nelson Sauvin and Pacific Jade) and even added ‘Escondidian’ in the title to make sure you knew that this wicked brew is worthy of its own appellation. It’s Stone. Could you expect anything less?


Let’s allow Mitch Steele, a long-time head brewer at Stone and now Big Daddy Brewmaster, tell us about it:
The 15th anniversary Escondidian Imperial Black IPA pours thick, opaque and black with a deep brown head of foam. Resinous, piney hops hit first on the aromatics, followed by healthy doses of roasted malt flavors, including coffee, anise and cocoa. The multi-layered aroma profile presents a challenge: is this an Imperial IPA, or is this an Imperial Stout?

Tasting answers the question, it’s an Imperial Black IPA, with intense herbal and piney hops and a great balance of roasted malt flavors. The beer is full bodied, with a touch of alcohol heat, and the hops are upfront all the way through the palate, finishing with an intense bitter linger. The roasted malt comes through more like cocoa in the taste, and balances fantastically with the hops and the alcohol on the aftertaste.
Thanks Mitch!

This special celebratory brew is now available in NJ in 22oz bottles and half kegs. Get yours quick and either drink now to savor its hoppiness or save for later to enjoy on future anniversaries!

Other special tidbits and on-goings about the brewery:

• Stone is currently the fourteenth largest craft brewery in America
• They are ranked #11 on RateBeer.com’s list of ‘Best Brewers in the World’ and on Beer Advocate’s list of ‘All-time Top Breweries on Planet Earth’
• CEO and Co-Founder Greg Koch was recently named the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in San Diego
• In June they surpassed 100,000 likes on Facebook and two months later they’re up well over 113,000!
• Stone’s anniversary parties over the last decade have raised over one million dollars for charities in the San Diego area

Go Stone! Happy Anniversary from all your friends in New Jersey!

If you’re looking for other Stone brews, here’s what we currently have in-stock:
6 PACKS

22oz BOTTLES

ON DRAFT

In addition, look for Stone ON TAP at these New Jersey restaurants:

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Dogfish Head

We've been busy rolling out the pumpkin brews here at Hunterdon and our friends at Dogfish Head are next! After making sure everything was okay post-Irene, Dogfish is ready to release their ever-popular Punkin Ale. Via Dogfish: "Punkin Ale is named after a locally-famous and seriously off-centered event here in southern Delaware - Punkin Chunkin (check out some of these Discovery Channel videosof Punkin Chunkin, you gotta see it to believe it!). In fact, Punkin Ale made it's debut as it claimed First Prize in the 1994 Punkin Chunkin Recipe Conest - yes, that was a full 6 months before we even opened our doors for business. Punkin Chunkin has grown in size and scale with pumpkins now being hurled more than 4,000 feet through the air! If you come down to see if for yourself - come by and visit us."

Punkin Ale
A full-bodied brown ale with smooth hints of pumpkin and brown sugar. We brew our Punkin Ale with pumpkin meat, organic brown sugar and spices. This is the perfect beer to warm-up with, as the season cools.

 

Be sure to check out the rest of our Dogfish Head offerings!
Who better to teach you about these flagship Dogfish brews than Sam Calagione himself? Watch each of these videos to learn more about Dogfish and their unique beers.

60 Minute IPA Our 60 Minute IPA is continuously hopped - more than 60 hop additions over a 60 minute boil (getting a vibe yet of where the name came from?). 60 Minute is a session India Pale Ale brewed with a slew of great NorthWest hops. A powerful, but balanced East Coast I.P.A. with a lot of citrusy hop character. The session beer for hardcore beer enthusiasts!
Indian Brown Forget about the car companies, this is the original hybrid, a cross between a Scotch Ale, an India Pale Ale, and an American Brown. Our Indian Brown Ale is well-hopped and malty at the same time (magical). The beer has characteristics of each style that inspired it; the color of an American Brown, the caramel notes of a Scotch Ale, and the hopping regiment of an India Pale Ale. We dry-hop the Indian Brown Ale in a similar fashion as our60 Minute IPA and 90 Minute IPAs. This beer is brewed with Aromatic barley and organic brown sugar.
Raison d'Etre A deep, mahogany Belgian-style brown ale brewed with beet sugar, raisins, and Belgian-style yeast. We began brewing this one at our brewpub in 1996 (we began packaging and selling it sometime in 1998) as the answer to the question, "What beer should I enjoy with a wood-grilled steak?" Raison D'Etre fits the bill, tasty and as complex as a fine, red wine.
90 Minute IPA Esquire Magazine calls our 90 Minute IPA., "perhaps the best I.P.A. in America." An Imperial I.P.A. brewed to be savored from a snifter. A big beer with a great malt backbone that stands up to the extreme hopping rate. 90 Minute IPA was our first continually-hopped beer, which is a method of hopping that allows for a pungent, but not crushing hop flavor. Since introducing the world to the continual-hopping method with our 90 Minute IPA, we've since released a continually-hopped 60 Minute IPA, 120 Minute IPA and even a 75 Minute IPA (a cask-conditioned blend of 60 & 90 Minute IPAs).
Palo Santo Marron An unfiltered, unfettered, unprecedented brown ale aged in handmade wooden brewing vessels. The caramel and vanilla complexity unique to this beer comes from the exotic Paraguayan Palo Santo wood from which these tanks were crafted. Palo Santo means "holy tree" and it's wood has been used in South American wine-making communities. This beer is a 12% abv, highly roasty, and malty brown ale aged on the Palo Santo wood.  It was a huge hit at our Rehoboth Beach brewpub when first released in November of 2006, Palo went into full production at the end of 2007. At 10,000 gallons, our Palo Tank is the largest wooden brewing vessel built in America since before Prohibition (and we have two same-sized Oak tanks right next to it).

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Caldera Brewing Company

The craft beer scene in New Jersey just keeps getting better and better!  This week we are proud to be releasing a brand new brewery to the market: Caldera Brewing Company from Ashland, Oregon! Caldera was founded in 1996 and has been revered among craft beer enthusiasts for the last 15 years for their dedication to using strictly whole-flower hops for their hefty portfolio of ales and lagers. For the first nine years, Caldera was a draft-only operation but in 2005 they became the first craft brewery in the state of Oregon to brew and can their own beer. Caldera is currently in the process of building a brand new brewery that will take them from a 6,000 to a 28,000 square foot facility – a project that will certainly allow them produce even more of the good stuff for years to come.

Caldera products are currently available in eleven US states, making us lucky number twelve!  You may have had a can or two of Caldera in some of our neighboring states like Pennsylvania, Maryland, Virginia and the District of Columbia, but travel no more! Only to your local craft beer store, that is! Three of their tasty year-round brews, India Pale Ale, Pale Ale and Ashland Amber, will be available from here on out in 6-pack cans. So read up and then get out there and do some tasting!

 

India Pale Ale An American-style India Pale Ale brewed with plenty of body and an assertive hop profile.
Pale Ale A west coast style pale ale dry hopped with two different local hop varieties.
Ashland Amber Ale A crisp, refreshing amber. Simplicity is the key to this recipe.

 

Welcome to the Garden State, Caldera!

 

Spotlight On: Rogue Brewing Company

T-minus 2 months ‘til Halloween and our Dead Guy Glow-in-the-Dark bottles and growlers have just arrived! That gives you time enough to stock-up AND decide on your Halloween costume. Dead Guy Ale is a German-style Maibock and is Rogue’s flagship and signature brew made originally to celebrate the Mayan Day of the Dead. It proved to be so popular that Rogue made it a year-round product nearly two decades ago.  We sell a ton of it twelve months out of the year but it’s especially popular the closer we get to Halloween! So dust off that black light from your college days and get your party plans in motion!
Dead Guy is a now available in 4 formats: 6-packs, 22oz bottles, 64oz growlers and 50 liter kegs. (Glow-in-the-dark versions are in 22oz and 64oz only.)

In addition to Dead Guy Glow, check out these other specialty brews back on the scene:

 

 

John John Hazelnut What do you get when you combine the talents and creativity of Rogue Brewery with Rogue Distillery? Three very special beers aged to perfection in the same barrels used for their award-winning spirits! John John Hazelnut is made by aging the ever-so-delicious Hazelnut Nectar for six months in their Hazelnut Spice Rum barrels creating more intense aromas and flavors for a lip-smacking experience. This is the third release in this collaborative project between master brewer John Maier and master distiller John Couchot after the John John Dead Guy (Dead Guy aged in Dead Guy Whiskey barrels) and John John Juniper (Juniper Ale aged in Spruce Gin barrels).   Available now in 22oz bottles and 50 liter kegs
Double Chocolate Stout If Rogue’s original Chocolate Stout isn’t enough chocolatey goodness for you, be sure to grab a bottle of the decadent and sinfully rich Double Chocolate Stout. Brewed with chocolate malt, bittersweet Dutch chocolate, honey and rolled oats for that extra rich mouth feel. This suped-up version was a gold medal winner at last year’s World Beer Championships and ranks high among beer geeks nationwide with a whopping 100 points on Ratebeer.com. Available now in 750ml bottles and 50 liter kegs
Maierfest Lager Celebrate the arrival of fall with this Oktoberfest-style lager brewed with a special lager yeast strain, traditional German malts and locally-raised Perle hops for that special Oregon touch. Rich, malty and complex with a distinctly dry finish. Available now in 22oz bottles
Chatoe Single Malt Ale The Chatoe Rogue series is a unique line of ales and lagers brewed with malt and hops grown on Rogue’s very own farm. Their “Grow Your Own Revolution” began on their 42-acre micro hopyard where they now grow seven different styles of hops for these and several of their other flagship brews. In addition to hops, Rogue grows two-styles of barley and an assortment of herbs, pumpkins and berries for use in their beers and artisan spirits. For their sustainable efforts, Rogue Farms was just named “Agricultural Business of the Year.”  Single Malt Ale is a rich malty blonde ale made with Dare malt from their micro barley farm and was also a gold medal winner at last year’s World Beer Championships! Available now in 22oz bottles and 50 liter kegs

 

Other Rogue favorites in-stock now:

Mocha Porter 6-packs	Juniper Ale 6-packs	Dry Hop Red 6-packs	Imperial IPA 750ml bottles	Imperial YSB 750ml bottles

 

Chocolate Stout 22-oz bottles	Morimoto Soba Ale 22-oz bottles	Black Soba 22-oz bottles	Shakespeare Stout 22-oz bottles
John John Juniper 22-oz bottles	Captain Sigs 22-oz bottles	Hazelnut Nectar 22-oz bottles	Brutal Bitter 22-oz bottles

 

Love Rogue Beers? Then give their micro-distilled spirits a try! Here’s what we currently have in-stock:

	Dead Guy Whiskey - made with the same 4 grains that are used to make Dead Guy Ale: Northwest Harrington, Maier Munich, Klages, and Carastan malts; Free Range Coastal Water & Distiller's yeast. Delicately sweet with a rich malt complexity that opens up to a warm peppery finish.
	Single Malt Whiskey - made using Risk™ malt grown on Rogue's Micro Barley Farm in the Tygh Valley Appellation. Harvested barley is transported to Great Western Malting where it is malted and roasted. At the Brewery in Newport, Oregon, Brewmaster John Maier brews wort and ferments adding distillers yeast. At nearby House of Spirits, Master Distiller John Couchot uses mash to make whiskey.
	Hazelnut Rum  - Toasted hazelnut flavor with orange overtones and rich vanilla scents mingled with cinnamon and clove.
	White Rum -  An unusual assortment of flavors that might add a radical twist to conventional cocktails: cotton candy, pepper, vanilla fudge and buttercream!
	Spruce Gin - made with 14 ingredients: spruce, cucumber, angelica root, orange peel, coriander, lemon peel, ginger, orris root, grains of paradise, tangerine, juniper berries, Champagne Yeast, Grain Neutral Spirit & Free Range Coastal Water!
	Pink Gin - Ocean aged in Oregon Pinot Noir barrels resulting in a slightly fruity, mellow and definitely Pink Gin that could only come from Oregon!

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Abita Brewing Company

The fall madness continues this week with three new releases fresh from the Big Easy!  This year we have not one, but two fall seasonals to offer you from Abita – the Pecan Harvest Ale and their German-inspired Fall Fest - both equally session-able, food-friendly and perfect for the season of cooler temps and Oktoberfest parties that lie ahead!  In addition, from Abita’s ‘Select’ series we have their Imperial Stout here for the first time in New Jersey – available now on draft!  So keep reading for more information and then get shopping.

 

 

Fall Fest
Brand new to the Garden State this year, Fall Fest is Abita’s interpretation of a German Marzen-style Lager. Brewed with traditional German hops and malts, this seasonal brew is rich, full-bodied and smooth with an assertive malt character and a nice toasty finish. A perfect option to wash down your bratwurst with! 5.8%abv
Available now in 6-packs and Half kegs!

 

 

Pecan Harvest Ale
A taste of the sweet south brought to you in fermented liquid form!  Brewed with locally harvested and perfectly toasted Louisiana pecans, this medium-bodied amber brown ale is great with light appetizers, grilled meats and nut-encrusted fish! 5.0% abv
Available now in 6-packs and Half kegs!

 

 

Imperial Stout
Brewed with a combination of caramel, chocolate and roasted malts with the addition of wheat for a sweeter finish and smoother mouth feel. Bittersweet with hints of toffee and chocolate, this hefty 8.5% abv stout would be a perfect choice with a big ol’ slice of German chocolate cake!
Available now in quarter kegs!

 

 

Look for these other Abita beers in-stock now:
Bottles:

Purple Haze	Turbo Dog	Jockamo	Amber	Light	Rootbeer

Draft:

In Other Abita News
Abita celebrates their 25th anniversary with a big announcement for the future. The city that loves getting people to “show their cans” might end up having a few disappointed patrons in the future! Abita will be flashing their fancy new cans of Purple Haze, Amber Ale and Jockamo IPA all over New Orleans and everywhere in their distribution circuit…including here in the Garden State by early 2012. Now that’s reason to celebrate!

In addition to their swanky new look, cans are extremely environmentally friendly and tote-able – making them great for the planet and your back! "Abita has always been committed to a greener environment," says Abita Brewing Company President David Blossman. "We conserve energy and water, create our own bio-gas and drive greener vehicles. We use recycled content in our bottles and packaging materials. Aluminum cans are one more way Abita is working to keep our part of the world green and clean."

Cheers to you, Abita!

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Sly Fox Oktoberfest Lager

The countdown to Oktoberfest celebrations and fall festivals starts NOW! From here on out we’ll be packing the market full of all your favorite Oktoberfest lagers and märzens, so get yer big mug ready! This week we’re releasing one of our favorite craft versions of this traditional German style from Sly Fox Brewery in Chester County, Pennsylvania. And yes, it’s back in its super cool can format!  But first, let’s review a bit.

Lagers are undoubtedly one of Germany’s most beloved creations.  Brewing them year-round in the days before refrigeration however, created quite a conundrum for a style that required a long cold-maturation process. The excessive heat of the summer would not allow for the lager to develop correctly and would inevitably give way to spoilage and bacterial infections. The season for brewing lagers therefore came to a halt in the spring, typically March, and resumed again in the fall when the outside temperatures had cooled off. The last batch of these spring beers, or Märzens (German for March) were stored in cool dark caves where they could “lager” hidden away from the summer sun until the fall when it was retrieved and consumed at their annual celebratory celebrations known as “fests.” 

The history of Munich’s famous Oktoberfest celebration dates back to the wedding of Prince Ludwig and Princess Theresia a few hundred years later in the year 1810. The Prince requested a hearty ‘festbier’ similar to the amber lager famous in Vienna to be served at his wedding. This special version – a rich, malty brew with notes of caramel and toast - became known as  ‘Oktoberfest’  and soon became the object of a sixteen-day annual celebration in Germany and later, around the rest of the world.


Oktoberfest : Philly-style
Sly Fox’s version of the traditional Oktoberfest lager is malty, smooth and extremely sessionable - perfect for a long-day of tail-gaiting or enjoying at fall festivals with traditional German fare such as bratwurst or weiss wurst. It pours a golden copper/amber hue, boasts a nutty, caramel, bisquity nose and finishes clean and crisp with a nice balance of hops and malty sweetness. In 2010 it was picked as the ‘Grand Champion’ in the Oktoberfest category at the US Beer Tasting Championships! For years this brew was packaged in 750ml bottles but its new 6-pack can format (released for the first time in 2010) makes it much more totable and recyclable!  
Sly Fox Oktoberfest Lager is NOW AVAILABLE in 6-pack CANS and ON DRAFT in Half Kegs and Sixtels!

A Bit About the Brewery
Founded in 1995 by Pete Giannopoulos, Sly Fox is a family business that caters to the local craft beer scene via their brewpub in Phoenixville, which interestingly enough is the oldest surviving brewpub in the Philadelphia market.  Distribution for their Belgian and German-inspired ales and lagers began in 2004 and soon after they became the first craft brewery in the Mid-Atlantic region to start canning their beers.  And here’s a slice of history for you: their flagship brew Pikeland Pils, was the first craft beer in a can to win a gold medal at the Great American Beer Festival!  The past few years have brought tremendous growth for the brewery and as a result a new production facility in Pottstown has opened which will allow them to triple their current production capabilities!  Be on the lookout for their “cantacular” brews and the fox-tail tap handle at a bar near you!

 

Check out these additional Sly Fox products currently in-stock:
CANS:       750ml BOTTLES:
DRAFT:

 

Grab a GROWLER of Sly Fox at these retail locations:

Joe Canals Liquors West Deptford	Buy Rite Liquors Cranbury
Joe Canals Liquors Woodbridge

Cheers!

Specialty Import Spotlight on: Wells Bombardier

The history of Wells Bombardier dates back to 1875 when Charles Wells returned from war and decided to open a brewery in his home of Bedford, England.  By the early 1900’s he owned over eighty pubs throughout the countryside and had several styles for Brits to choose from.  The trademark for their fine British ales was undoubtedly the high quality mineral water sourced directly from their very own well installed shortly after the turn of the century.  The Wells tradition continues to this day and we are pleased to offer you an assortment of their products including their Bombardier Ale! Available now in pint-size bottles and cans!

“Bombardier is an iconic real beer loaded with distinct English brilliance.  It's the epitome of impeccable taste and great character.  The rich, full-bodied nectar is a lingering reward - English, ever reliable and damned tasty!”
"A burnished copper color, it has a rich, tempting aroma of peppery hops and raisins, while the palate is dominated by more dark fruit, juicy malt and tangy hops." Roger Protz  - Editor, The Good Beer Guide

Beer Advocate: B+

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Great Divide Brewing Company

Colorado: home of the white-capped mountains, blue skies, vast open plains, crisp mountain air…and AWESOME craft beer! This state is all the rage when it comes to high-quality suds with breweries dotting the landscape from Denver to Fort Collins and westward to the mountain ski towns. This week we’re shining the spotlight on one of the leading forces in the Rocky Mountain beer scene, Great Divide Brewing Company, as it just so happens we have some terrific new releases to tell you about! But first, a little bit about the brewery.

It all began back in 1993 when the future fearless leader of Great Divide, Brian Dunn, ditched his career path in environmental policy to turn his passion for home brewing into a full-time gig.  He wrote a business plan, scored a spotin Denver’s Lo-Do district and started brewing.  Fast forward to present day and you’ll see them sitting on top of the charts, ranked #8 on Ratebeer.com’s list of “Best Brewers in the World” and #7 on Beer Advocate’s list of “TopBreweries on Planet Earth. ”  Pretty impressive for this small brewery that was actually a late arrival in the Colorado microbrewery scene. Nevertheless, over the next decade and a half, Great Divide would show the world what it was made of with their aggressively hopped IPAs, remarkable lineup of stouts and unique interpretations on traditional old-world styles. Their knack for quality and innovation has not gone unnoticed with a whopping seventeen medals to speak of from the Great American Beer Festival and a cult-like fan base on the East Coast, West Coast and everywhere in-between. Their Yeti Imperial Stout series has even become the subject of a
Twitter hash tag (#Yeti)! 

The past few years have been especially busy for Great Divide as demand has far exceeded supply. Their production level soared from 12,000 barrels in 2009 to nearly 20,000 barrels in 2010. Here in New Jersey, we aren’t surprised. The non-stop chatter about Great Divide at restaurants and retail establishments has resulted in an unprecedented growth for this brand in the Garden State alone. Fans just can’t seem to get enough and we don’t blame them for wanting more!

So without further ado, here’s what’s new:

Rumble IPA
This oak-aged IPA is back by popular demand after its successful debut in 2010.  You may have missed this entirely last year as we had only a limited amount to go around.   This year we made sure to order a ton more, but it will still go fast, so be sure to grab a 6-pack or try a pint if you happen to see it on tap!
“Rumble IPA is an American IPA with subtle nuance. Brewed with heavy-handed additions of Pacific Northwest hops, this beer is gently aged on French and American oak resulting in a wonderful balance of bitterness, caramel sweetness, vanilla, and undertones of pine and citrus. Very inspiring. 7.1% ABV”

 

 

Belgian-Style Yeti 
The latest addition to the Yeti family hits the Jersey shores!  Four of the Yeti versions have received perfect scores of 100 points on Ratebeer.com  (original Yeti, Oak-Aged, Chocolate and Espresso) and three are on the list of “Top 100 Beers in the World” so, don’t overlook this one on store shelves as we’re sure it’s going to be another winner. There will also be some kegs floating around the state so try and score yourself a pint!
“Belgian Style Yeti is a delicious new blend of brewing traditions--all the malt-driven roastiness of our Yeti Imperial Stout with characteristic spice and fruit notes imparted by our special Belgian yeast strain. Belgian Style Yeti is a one-of-a-kind beer as mysterious as the mythical creature himself. Impossible? See for yourself; you'll be a believer, too. 9.5% ABV”

 

 

Smoked Baltic Porter
Try this smoked porter with bratwurst or grilled shrimp, or just sip and savor on an evening around the campfire! Available now in 22oz bottles, Half and Sixtel kegs.
“Smoked Baltic Porter is the sultry sister of a storied style.  Brewed with traditional German malts and hops, this dark lager gets its special twist from a hefty addition of Bamberg smoked malt.  This smoldering, medium-bodied lager is sure to please.  Smoked Baltic Porter is smooth, smoky and dark…mysterious enough yet? 6.2% ABV”

 

 

 

 

Also in-stock from Great Divide:

Bottles:

Draft:

 

Mark your calendars:
Great Divide will be rockin’ the taps at Mohawk House in Sparta, NJ on Thursday, September 22nd!  A stellar line-up is in the works, so check back soon for all the details!

Also, this Thursday, August 4th is IPA Day an international social media event celebrating this beloved bitter brew! Great Divide is taking part in this sudsy celebration, so be sure to pick-up some Rumble or Titan this week! Read up on the celebration here!

Search the Beer Finder to find Great Divide products near you!

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Fegley’s Brew Works Devious Imperial Pumpkin Ale & Hop’solutely Triple IPA

Just arrived from over the river and through the woods: Fegley’s Brew Works Devious Imperial Pumpkin Ale and a fresh batch of their famous Hop’solutely Triple IPA!  Devious is back by popular demand after its inaugural release in the Pennsylvania market in 2010.  Although we’re seeing it here in NJ for the first time, we’re sure it will be a strong contender in this year’s fermented pumpkin patch!  In addition, their Hopsolutely Triple IPA is literally the talk of the town.  It was a ‘2011 Philly Beer Week Top Beer’ and local beer expert “Joe Sixpack” named it ‘Beer of the Year’ for 2010!  Keep reading for more details and stay tuned for other interesting releases from Brew Works coming soon!

Devious Imperial Pumpkin Ale
This amber-hued imperial pumpkin ale is brewed with real pumpkin, Pale, Munich and Caramel malts and the perfect blend of ginger, cinnamon, nutmeg, clove and allspice. Its spices are flawlessly combined with the subtle taste of pumpkin for the most deviously enticing autumn brew. 9% abv.
Now in-stock in 6-packs!

 

 

 

Hop’solutely Triple IPA
A heavenly, heavily hopped Triple IPA packed with Pacific Northwest hops. This brew has a Hop'solutely intoxicating citrus aroma followed by a smooth malt backbone. Brewed with two-row Pale and Caramel malts and ludicrously hopped with Cascade, CTZ, Summit, Amarillo and Chinook hops. 11.5% abv, 100+ IBUs!
Now in-stock in 4-packs and 750ml bottles (corked & caged & bottle-conditioned)!

 

 

 

About the Brewery

Fegley’s Brew Works is a family-run operation located in Pennsylvania’s Lehigh Valley. Their first brewpub in Bethlehem opened in 1998 when the town was experiencing an unfortunate downturn in the economy. Stores, restaurants and hotels were closing and morale was at an all time low. While running their new brewpub, the Fegley family worked selflessly to help rebuild the town, improve the local economy and restore faith in the community. After nearly a decade, not only is the brewpub a thriving business with an expanded kitchen, banquet facilities and increased brewhouse space, but the downtown is bustling with new stores and restaurants and a strong sense of pride.

Their second brewpub in downtown Allentown follows a similar story. The Fegley’s opened this location in 2007 with the same goal of serving delicious beer and food, while helping to bring life back into the community and the suffering downtown business scene. This new facility also allowed Fegley’s to expand their business from a brewpub to a full-fledged bottling and kegging operation. By 2009, it became possible for restaurants and stores in Pennsylvania and New Jersey to carry their beers on tap or in bottle!  Fegley’s opened a third-location this same year at the Allentown Municipal Golf Course.  A delicious craft beer after a round of golf? I think so!

Today Fegley’s continues to grow at a rapid pace. They recently purchased two new fermentation tanks that will allow them to increase their production by approximately 50%.  The brewery also takes great pride in the environment and living sustainably. A hefty portion of their produce, beef, pork and poultry comes from local farms where they also bring their spent grains to feed the cattle. They have also worked closely with local Rodale Farms to create a composting program that keeps a half-a-million pounds of garbage out of landfills annually!  The brewpubs operate on a combination of solar energy and LED lighting and when you’re sipping your coffee at the end of the night you can rest assured that it’s 100% fair-trade… that’s if you can pull yourself away from the tasty beers, of course!

Next time you are planning a trip to the Lehigh Valley or are looking for an idea for a nice day trip, consider stopping by one of Fegley’s brewpubs. One look at their events calendar will tell you that these guys really enjoy what they’re doing. From BBQs, golf outings and trivia nights to ‘Doggie Yappie Hours’ and evenings supporting the local artists, musicians, poets and comedians, Fegley’s has it covered! Please pour yourself a glass of Fegley’s today and be sure to check out their website for all the latest happenings!

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin Ale

Pumpkin season is here and we’re kicking things off with one of the most bad-ass pumpkin beers around: drum roll please... the 2010 Great American Beer Festival Bronze Medal Winner... Weyerbacher Imperial Pumpkin! This full-bodied and hearty brew will get you in the mood for fall (and maybe even Thanksgiving) with its intense flavors of caramel, clove, cinnamon and nutmeg. Oh, and we almost forgot about the pumpkin!  A whopping 380 pounds of fresh pumpkin are added to each batch…equaling about 3.4 pounds per gallon of beer!  In addition, Weyerbacher spices things up a bit by throwing in a dash of cardamom for some real heat. Just like the majority of Weyerbacher’s other bodacious brews, the Imperial Pumpkin is not for the faint of heart! 8% abv, big, bold and sinfully good! Get some and enjoy it now or save it for later with your pumpkin pie and fresh whipped cream! Imperial Pumpkin is NOW AVAILABLE in 4-packs, Half & Sixtel Kegs.

Try this yummy beer concoction created by Weyerbacher rep, Natalie DeChico:
Weyerbacher Black & Orange- Mix half Imperial Pumpkin and half Old Heathen Imperial Stout for a real hearty, spicy, pumpkiny treat!  


Looking for other Weyerbacher brews? Here’s what we currently have in-stock:

BOTTLES:

DRAFT:

 

Upcoming Weyerbacher Events:
Tuesday, July 19th – Yankee Doodle Tap Room – Princeton, NJ
Monday, July 25th – Shannon Rose – Clifton, NJ
Wednesday, July 27th – Beer Dinner at Jake’s Restaurant  - Flemington, NJ
Wednesday, August 3rd – Geraghty’s Pub – Burlington, NJ

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Lagunitas Brewing Company

New Jersey craft beer fans can’t seem to get enough Lagunitas. In the past year, we’ve been cranking up our orders to meet the demand for their mouthwatering and downright bad-ass brews. Seems everyone is falling in love with whatever they’re brewing from their wickedly hoppy Sonoma Farmhouse Hop Stoopid to their sinfully delicious Sumpin’ Sumpin’ (which was just moved from a seasonal to their year-round lineup because of overwhelming demand…or addiction, whichever). The rest of the country seems to be sippin’ more and more of their tasty suds too…so much so that Lagunitas just finished a massive brewery expansion at their Petaluma, California facility to accommodate for this tremendous growth.  In 2004, Lagunitas brewed 27,000 barrels and in 2010 they topped out at over 100,000. With their new facility they’ll have the means to brew up to 600,000 barrels! Go Lagunitas, Go!

We are also proud to announce that Lagunitas will be the sole beer sponsor for two Jazz & Blues Festivals this summer at the Jersey Shore; the first in Middletown on July 23rd and the second in Asbury Park on September 17th. Come join us for a day of fun in the Lagunitas beer garden where we’ll rockin’ out to the sweet music of local area jazz and blues musicians with four tasty brews on tap all day long!  Oh, and there will also be a wide variety of food, games, crafts and activities for all ages! Both events are free admission. Don’t miss out!

ASBURY PARK BLUES FESTIVAL
September 17, 2011 ~ 11am to 8pm
Mattison Avenue (between Bond & Emory)

Check out these other Summer Events with Lagunitas Brewing Company:

Saturday, July 16th
Pour-A-Palooza at The Pour House in Westmont, NJ - 12-4pm

Saturday July 30th
Soulsational Music Festival in Bayville, NJ – 10-9pm

 

Thursday August 11th
Lagunitas Brewery Night at The Iron Monkey in Jersey City, NJ – 6-10pm

 

The following Lagunitas brews are currently in-stock at our warehouse:

BOTTLES

DRAFT

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Epic Brewing Co.

We’re starting July off with a BANG, and no we don’t mean fireworks! Epic Brewing Company makes their debut in New Jersey this week and we have a string of events lined-up to get the party started!

Founded by David Cole and Peter Erickson in Salt Lake City, Epic is the first brewery in the state of Utah since prohibition to only brew high-alcohol beers.  Their team of seventeen dedicated and passionate employees is led by head brewer Kevin Crompton, formerly of Bohemian Brewery.  “Epic is 110% committed to producing a first-class product and we use the most premium raw materials and equipment to achieve this,” states sales manager Michael Malachowski.  Up to eleven strains of yeast and four different base malts from all over the world are used to brew the twenty-six (yes twenty-six) styles of ales and lagers.

With just one year under their belt, Epic is already stirring up some serious buzz in the craft beer community.  In this short time they have managed to win a handful of medals from competitions including the Great American Beer Festival and get ranked as one of the “Best New Brewers in the World” by Ratebeer.com.  We have no doubt that big plans are in store for this small but very eager craft brewery.

In their first year, Epic produced approximately 1,200 barrels and is estimating that number to exceed 6,000 by the end of 2011.  They are currently distributing in eight US states and are looking to expand dramatically in the years ahead.  NJ is the third market on the east coast for Epic after Virginia and the District of Columbia.

Their extensive portfolio is divided into three categories of increasing intensity and complexity: Classic, Elevated and Exponential.  We have selected one from each category to give you a taste of what Epic is all about.

Spiral Jetty IPA
A best seller in the “Classic” Series

Spiral Jetty India Pale Ale is the launching point in our series of hoppy IPA brews. Spiral Jetty IPA has an aggressive hop profile (five different hops used here with two in the dry hop) presenting citrus, floral, resinous or pine aromas and flavors typical of American hops and a nice pleasant, cleansing bitterness on the finish.  The dominance of the hops helps to balance the complex malt flavors and the higher alcohol content. Spiral Jetty is our strongest Classic Series ale at 6.6% alcohol by volume, but certainly not our strongest beer.

Brainless Belgian-Style Golden Ale
A popular choice from the “Elevated” Series
Brainless Belgian-Style Golden Ale is has a rich and complex malt flavor balanced with a little bit of spicy noble hops and strong influences of fermentation esters from the Belgian yeast used.  Various Belgian like Rock Candies, hops and grains are employed to express variations within the style.  Deceivingly drinkable, some liken these ales to the Devil sneaking up on you, so consume responsibly.

Imperial Red
From the “Exponential” Series; a staff favorite at Epic
A boldly flavored double red ale.  Combining caramel malt for sweetness mixed with nice alcohol and plenty of dry and late kettle hop aromas from three killer America strains create a beer that is tough to compare. Often referred to as “The Junior Barley Wine” amongst the staff as it showcases very similar qualities of a barley wine.

 

 

 

Want to try more?
We will continue to have a nice assortment of Epic brews ON DRAFT from here on out.  In addition, we have some great events lined up that will give you the opportunity to try these special brews and meet the Epic brewery reps in person! Check out the links for details about each event.

Events
Wednesday July 6th - UNO Chicago Grill - Maple Shade
Thursday July 7th - Good Night Irene's - Wildwood
Saturday July 9th - Boathouse Bar & Grill - Belmar
Tuesday July 12th - George Street Ale House - New Brunswick
Thursday July 14th - Barcade - Jersey City

Cheers & Welcome to the Garden State Epic!

Spotlight On: CANNED BEER!

The craft beer-in-a-can movement is on fire!  Dozens of breweries are making the switch from glass bottles to aluminum cans and it’s easy to see why. Not only are cans super cool, but they also keep the beer remarkably fresh and are much more environmentally friendly! 

Two of the big culprits for off-flavors in beer are light and oxygen. Since cans are opaque the beer inside is not affected by sunlight or artificial light as it can be with clear glass bottles when improperly stored. This is why many breweries still using glass have made the switch to green or brown glass. The darker the glass the less chance for the beer to become spoiled. In addition, cans are filled directly to the top of the lid allowing less oxygen to come in contact with the beer than standard bottles.  “Well what about that metallic taste?”  Thankfully, that’s a thing of the past!  Cans on the market today are lined with a special coating that eliminates beer from ever touching metal.  Bottom line: throw all those stigmas about canned beer out the window! Aluminum cans are an excellent packaging source and might arguably be the best!

If you’re all about going green, cans are your ticket to responsible indulgence. They are lighter in weight, reducing fuel costs during distribution and they are also the most recyclable packaging available. And it goes without saying that cans are extremely tote-able - making them a friendly option for a trip to the beach, a bike ride up the mountain or a boat ride on the lake. The more places you can bring your favorite beer without breaking your back the better!

Oskar Blues began the “Canned Beer Apocalypse” back in 2002 and with the onslaught of press they have received from marketing and advertising companies, trade publications and beer writers all over the country, it is no wonder why so many breweries have followed suit. It is estimated that nearly a hundred craft breweries are now canning at least one style of beer. Just last month the first ever “AmeriCAN Canned Craft Beer Festival” took place in Arizona.  Like we said before, the canned beer movement is on fire!   

Sly Fox has been canning their Philly brews since 2006 and their Pikeland Pils was the first canned craft beer ever to win a medal at the Great American Beer Festival.  21st Amendment made the switch in 2008 and just this past year Avery, Boulder, Lancaster and most recently, Sixpoint have all climbed aboard. In addition to our extensive lineup of domestic cans we have a nice collection of imports including Young’s, Wells, Blackthorn, Wexford and Abbot all available in tall-boys. So, enough said, it’s time to pop a few tops! Check out all the options below and then stock on up for the big holiday weekend! 

DOMESTIC

Oskar Blues Brewery	Sly Fox Beer
Dale’s Pale Ale Mama’s Little Yella Pils Old Chub Scottish Ale G’Knight Imperial Red	Pikeland Pilsner Phoenix Pale Ale Rt 113 IPA Royal Weisse
21st Amendment	Avery Brewing Company
Hell or High Watermelon Wheat Brew Free or Die IPA Back in Black – Black IPA Hop Crisis – Oak Aged Imperial IPA	White Rascal Belgian White Ale – more coming soon! India Pale Ale – coming soon!
Boulder Beer Company	Lancaster Brewing Company
Hazed & Infused Pale Ale	Kolsch
Sixpoint Craft Ales
Crisp Pils Righteous Rye Bengali Tiger IPA Sweet Action

 

IMPORTS

	Young’s Double Chocolate Stout
	Wells Bombardier
	Belhaven Scottish Ale
	Wexford Irish Cream Ale
	Abbot Ale
	Blackthorn Cider

Find your favorite canned craft beer at these NJ restaurants:

HOBOKEN & JERSEY CITY	JERSEY SHORE AREA
Marco and Pepe Jersey City	Harry’s Oyster Bar Atlantic City
LITM Jersey City	Nip ‘n Tuck Long Branch
Embankment Jersey City	Jack’s Goal Line Stand Long Branch
The Merchant Jersey City	Piccola Italia Ocean
The Iron Monkey Jersey City	Jamian’s Food & Drink Red Bank
City Bistro Hoboken	Taste Red Bank
Elysian Café Hoboken	Gateway Bar & Liquors Highlands
Turtle Club Hoboken	McDonaugh’s Pub   Keyport
CENTRAL NEW JERSEY	Langosta Lounge Asbury Park
The Stirling Hotel Stirling	Twin Light Tap House Highlands
Cloverleaf Tavern Caldwell	Brickwall Tavern Asbury Park
Northside Lounge  Manville	Watermark Asbury Park
Trenton Country Club  West Trenton	SOUTH JERSEY
Old Bay Restaurant New Brunswick	Ott’s Bottle Stop Medford
Stuff Yer Face New Brunswick	Treno Pizza Bar Westmont
Alchemist and Barrister Princeton	Unos Chicago Grill Maple Shade
One 53 Rocky Hill	The Pour House Westmont
Cherry Valley Country Club Skillman

Cheers & have a wonderful 4th of July!

Spotlight On: Variety 12-Packs!

Whether you’re heading to a friend’s house this 4th of July or hosting the festivities at your place, variety packs are a terrific way to please all your guests in one fell swoop. Why fester over how many people like IPAs or who would rather have wheat beers? It’s summer! Time to be laid-back and decision free! Grab a few variety packs and call it a day. Less time in the store = more time to (a.) eat cheeseburgers, (b.) sling horseshoes, (c.) shoot off fireworks or (d.) all of the above!

Ok, here’s what we have to choose from:

	RIVER HORSE Support your local economy with this tasty assortment of beers made right here in New Jersey! Lager – the perfect session brew for a day in the sun Hop Hazard Pale Ale – well balanced and hoppo-licious Double Wit – refreshing with bold aromas of coriander and spice Saison – the brewery’s latest creation that’s only available on draft and in these variety packs
	FLYING DOG This sampler pack is chock-full of SIX styles that are ideal for the dog days of summer! Doggie-Style Classic Pale Ale – voted “#1 American Pale Ale” by The New York Times Snake Dog IPA – perfect with spicy tacos and grilled steaks In Heat Wheat – if you love bananas, you’ll go bananas for this Bavarian Hefe. Old Scratch Amber Lager – a perfect “anytime” brew and a two-time GABF medal winner Tire Bite Golden Ale – crisp, clean and mighty easy to throw back Road Dog Porter – hearty and smooth with flavors of coffee and chocolate
	TROEGS This Anthology Sampler is a compilation of four fine brews masterfully chosen to complement the season. Hopback Amber Ale – this flagship brew is big, bold and spicy and great with a burger Dreamweaver Wheat – brewed with four types of wheat and perfect with salads and grilled vegetables Pale Ale – a classic American-style Pale Ale brewed with Cascade hops Sunshine Pils – a golden beauty kissed with just the right amount of hops
	SMUTTYNOSE From the coast of New Hampshire hails this tasty sampling of tried and true brews. Old Brown Dog – classic American brown ale with notes of caramel, toffee and chocolate India Pale Ale – dry-hopped, unfiltered and addicting Shoals Pale Ale - a traditional malty English brew with an assertive hop finish Star Island Single – a golden ale brewed with honey malt and Belgian yeast
	SUMMIT If you haven’t had the chance to try these Minnesota brews yet, here’s your opportunity! Extra Pale Ale – a 2010 Great American Beer Festival Silver Medal Winner Horizon Red Ale – hoppy, malty and great with BBQ Pilsner – a traditional Bohemian Pilsner brewed with barley from the Summit family farm Hefeweizen – light and refreshing and terrific with clams and lobster
	NEW HOLLAND This sampler pack is brand new to the Garden State this year! Many of these brews are unavailable right now in their own 6-pack, so grab ‘em here while you can! Mad Hatter IPA – distinct floral aroma - dry-hopped with Centennial The Poet Oatmeal Stout – roasty, toasty and great with steak and mushrooms Full Circle Kolsch – a modern take on a German classic - a perfect aperitif beer Sundog Amber Ale – slightly nutty and sweet with a beautiful copper color Golden Cap Saison – champagne-like effervescence with hints of pepper and hay

HAVE A WONDERFUL SUMMER!

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Sixpoint Craft Ales

Sixpoint fans all over the Garden State, rejoice. The moment you’ve all been waiting for is over.  No more sitting on the beach wishing you had a cold can of Sixpoint by your side to quench your thirst.  No more backyard barbeques or tailgates devoid of your favorite craft brews.  Life has just become that much better as four fabulous Sixpoint brews are now available in 16oz CANS!  Yes, that’s right, 16oz! These tall-boys are sporting some super-cool retro packaging and will be filled to the brim with Bengali Tiger IPA, Sweet Action, Righteous Rye and The Crisp Pilsner; so get those beer cozies ready!

Sixpoint was founded by Shane Welch in 2004 and is comprised of a fearless group of avid home-brewers and beer“scientists.” In a mere six years, they have brewed over 200 styles of beer including everything from Stein Beers and Coffee Bocks to oyster stouts and a plethora of IPAs… and that’s just skimming the surface. In addition to receiving rave reviews from beer geeks across the region, they have been praised for their hand-crafted brews in Food & Wine Magazine, Bon Appétit, Travel & Leisure, The New York Times and on Martha Stewart Radio. 

The name “Sixpoint” was inspired by the ancient six-pointed brewer’s star used on beer barrels in the Middle Ages to identify beer of quality and purity. Their logo is a combination of this ancient brewer’s hexagram and the nautical star – a symbol of direction and guidance that Sixpoint believes will lead anyone on their mission to find great beer.

 

Sixpoint’s decision to use cans over bottles was based on quality-control and the environment. Cans are more resistant to light and oxidation than traditional bottles and their lighter weight greatly reduces Sixpoint’s carbon footprint. Carrying out earth-friendly practices and living sustainably is of utmost importance to the entire crew at Sixpoint. Perched atop their teeny-tiny brewery in Red Hook, Brooklyn is an extraordinary roof-top garden complete with a composter, a rain barrel system and a chicken coop! Beaten up old kegs bound for the scrap yard have been sawed in half and used as planters to grow lettuces, tomatoes, potatoes and of course, hops! Staff meals are made with their home-grown vegetables and scraps from the kitchen are recycled back into the soil.  Spent grain from the brewery downstairs doesn’t travel far as it is used to feed the four Sixpoint-family chickens! Photo Courtesy of Cathy Erway

Cheers to Sixpoint for all you do! We look forward to a can-tastic summer and many more adventures with you!

Sixpoint CANS now in-stock:

Crisp Pilsner The original Crisp Lager from Sixpoint. Praised for its clean flavor and noble grassy hop bitterness and aroma. Can you say "Sehr Crisp?" 5.4% ALC.	Righteous Rye Made with Rye malt to provide a signature and distinct earthy character. Seasoned and dry-hopped with herbal and citrus hops. Truly Righteous. 6.3% ALC.	Bengali Tiger IPA The Sixpoint homebrewed IPA interpretation. Blaze orange in color, with an abundance of citrus hop bitterness, and a full pine and grapefruit bouquet in the aroma. 6.4% ALC.	Sweet Action The original Sixpoint style — hard to define, but perhaps that's why people love it. Part pale ale, part wheat, part cream ale — all Sweet Action. 5.2% ALC. Coming Soon!

 

 

Be sure to look for Sixpoint ON DRAFT at these NJ locations:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: New Holland Brewery

New Holland Brewery is celebrating their 14th anniversary this Friday, June 10th. Founded just west of Grand Rapids in Holland, Michigan, the brewery is well-known in the beer loving community for their Alice-in-Wonderland-inspired Mad Hatter IPA and a comprehensive portfolio of crowd-pleasing year-round brews, bourbon barrel-aged stouts and mouthwatering sours. Over the years, New Holland has been awarded a handful of medals from the World Beer Cup and the Great American Beer Festival and in 2009 they were listed as the 58th fastest-growing independent food & beverage business by Inc Magazine. Each year to celebrate their anniversary, New Holland brews a special lineup of beers known as the "Hatter Day Hatters."  All of the “Hatters” are unique variations of their flagship Mad Hatter IPA and include versions like Black Hatter, Oak-Aged Hatter, Rye Hatter and Imperial Hatter. This celebration takes place each year on June 10th for a very significant reason. If you look closely at the picture of the Mad Hatter you’ll see a card tucked into his hat that reads “10/6.” This card is also visible in the original illustrations from the book, Alice in Wonderland, as you’ll see below. 

While historians interpret the numbers as the price of the hat (‘ten and six’ - 10 shillings and 6 pennies), New Holland uses this as an excuse to have a party! The numbers are inverted to 6/10 or June 10th and VOILA: an annual celebration is born! We are very excited to be releasing four of the “Hatters” to the market this week, two of which are available in NJ for the very first time (Black and Rye Hatter)!  
“Hats off” to the New Holland crew on another successful year!  “A very Happy Un-Birthday to you” from all of us here at Hunterdon!

So, without further ado, here’s what we have in-stock now:

	Mad Hatter IPA Dry-hopped for a distinctive, floral hop aroma; subtly balanced with delicious malt notes. Pairings: spicy dishes, greens and aged cheese. 5.25% abv Available in 6-packs, 1/2 and 1/6 kegs
	Full Circle Kölsch A kölsch-style beer, Full Circle is a refreshing celebration of our brewery’s belief in balance. The soft, well-rounded malt character, light hop profile and crisp finish bring us back around to the familiar tastes of classic, thirst quenching beer. A perfect session beer, we recommend Full Circle with fish, grilled vegetables, grilled sausages, and just about anything else served on a patio. 4.9% abv Available in 6-packs and 1/6 kegs
	Golden Cap Saison Golden Cap Saison is a modern interpretation of a traditional farmhouse ale.  A soft, pale beer, Golden Cap embodies the flavors and aromas of summer fields. Brewed with an ancestor of wheat called spelt, its straw-colored body, lively carbonation and a unique fermentation profile evoke fresh cut hay and cracked peppercorn. 6.25% abv Available in 6-packs
	Dragon’s Milk Stout Dragon’s Milk Ale is a crown jewel of New Holland Brewing Company. It is the unrivaled result of painstaking processes – both creative and scientific. Expect a complex ale with a soft, rich caramel-malt character intermingled with deep vanilla tones; all dancing in an oak bath. 10% abv Available in 22oz bottles & 1/6 kegs
	Imperial Hatter IPA A robust renovation of the India Pale Ale. Assertive dry-hopping provides an aromatic tell-tale nose, indicative of the bitter symphony to follow. Bold hop character with lively grapefruit and citrus notes. 9.4%abv Available in 22oz bottles & 1/6 kegs
	Oak Aged Hatter IPA New Holland’s flagship brew reincarnated and aged to perfection in bourbon barrels. Available in 1/2 and 1/6 kegs
	Black Hatter IPA A blackened version of Mad Hatter brewed with black malt for a dark, roasty sweetness. Finishes with a strong Centennial hop character from dry hopping. Available in 1/2 and 1/6 kegs
	Rye Hatter IPA This beer showcases its grain-bill, made up of rye and barley malt. The rye adds a slight spiciness to the caramel-malt base, while also creating a creamy texture. Dry-hopping contributes a fresh citrus finish. Available in 1/2 and 1/6 kegs
	Summer Variety Packs A sampling of New Holland’s classic brews including Mad Hatter IPA, The Poet Oatmeal Stout, Full Circle Kolsch, Sundog Amber Ale and Golden Cap Saison. Get ‘em while they’re hot!

 

 

And be on the lookout for New Holland brews ON TAP soon at these fine places:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Dogfish Head Festina Peche & Theobroma

This week we are releasing two special brews from Dogfish Head: a modern-take on a centuries-old German recipe, the Festina Peche, and a unique chocolate ale re-created from ancient history, the Theobroma.

 

 

 

Festina Peche
Since 2007, Dogfish Head has been taking the “summer wheat beer” concept to a new level by making one a little more “funky” than all the rest. The Festina Peche is based on a classic North German-style wheat beer known as Berliner Weisse. The unmistakable tartness that is this beer’s trademark is produced from the lactic cultures added during fermentation.  Because the Reinheitsgebot (German Purity Law) has for centuries forbidden any fruit to be added during fermentation, sweetening syrups are commonplace at German bars to balance out the extreme mouth-puckering acidity.  “Sprechen Sie Deutsch?” “Nein!” Luckily for us here in the states the Reinheitsgebot does not exist and brewers have the freedom to add almost anything under the sun to their crazy concoctions. Dogfish Head’s “neo-Berliner Weisse” eliminates the need for any syrup afterwards, as their version is brewed with a big ol’ heap of sweet, succulent peaches! Hello Summer! This sour wheat beer is light-bodied, refreshing and cleansing on the palate, making it a perfect aperitif to enjoy on the patio this season. Pucker up!
Festina Peche is now available in 4-packs, Half Kegs & Sixtels.

Theobroma
Dogfish Head never fails to amaze us with their talent for discovering and recreating beer recipes from ancient civilizations. If you’ve tried the other brews in their Ancient Ales collection (Midas Touch and Chateau Jihau), you will surely appreciate the Theobroma: a unique chocolate ale brewed with Aztec cocoa powder, annatto seeds, honey and chilies! Watch this video to learn about how the Theobroma came to be.
Theobroma is now available in 750ml bottles and Sixtels.

 

Also in-stock from Dogfish Head:

60 Minute IPA 6-packs	90 Minute IPA 4-packs	Indian Brown Ale 6-packs	Raison D’Etre 6-packs
Midas Touch 4-packs	Palo Santo Marron 4-packs	Sah’tea 750ml bottles	World Wide Stout 12oz bottles

 

(Click to learn more)

In Dogfish Head News…..EATALY’s La BIRRERIA to open on June 3rd!!
After a long winter of waiting and wondering, the Italian-inspired rooftop brewery, Birreria, is just a few weeks away from opening its doors. Some of the biggest names in beer and food are joining forces to take the standard “beer bar” to a new level.  Three special cask beers created by Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, Teo Musso of Birra Baladin, Leonardo Di Vincenzo of Birra Del Borgo and Eataly’s house brewmaster Brook Carretta will be served alongside the tasty creations of Chef Mario Batali. In addition, there will be a few dozen bottles from artisan breweries around the world and a selection of beers on tap from the aforementioned breweries. Equip with a copper clad brewing system, this rooftop brewery will not only be the highest brewery in America, but might end up being one of the coolest! Congrats and Good Luck to our friends Sam, Teo and Leonardo! We look forward to checking out the new place very soon!

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Founders Cerise

Your favorite cherry ale from Michigan has arrived! Come and get it! Brewed with fresh tart cherries from local Michigan farms, Founders Cerise Ale will enliven and rejuvenate your taste buds all summer long! The perfect harmony of tartness and sweetness is achieved by adding cherries at five separate stages throughout the fermentation.  Don’t let the word “fruity” fool you either, this 6.5% abv brew is highly concentrated, full-bodied and boasts a firm malt backbone.  If you enjoy a big bowl of cherries on a hot summer day, you’ll love the Cerise…and there’s no pit-spitting required here!

The Cerise pairs beautifully with a simple flourless chocolate cake and a scoop of vanilla ice cream a la mode. If you’re in the mood for something a little more sinful, a rich and creamy NY-style cheesecake is just the ticket. Take it to the next level by adding a pile of macerated cherries on top! The Founders team gave us some other crazy suggestions that will get you thinking: Try using it to poach fish or in brine for baby back ribs. It also lends itself beautifully to a homemade BBQ sauce. Well, there you go…a complete Cerise menu from start to finish!
Cerise is now in-stock in 4-packs and 1/6 kegs.

Other products available from Founders:

Centennial IPA
2010 World Beer Cup Silver Medal Winner
Get ready to bask in the glory of the frothy head's floral bouquet. Relish the citrus accents from the abundance of dry-hopping. This one's sweet, yet balanced. Malty undertones shake hands with the hop character for a finish that never turns too bitter. 7.2% abv.
Available in 6-packs and 1/6 Kegs.

Red’s Rye Pale Ale
99 points Ratebeer.com      A- Beer Advocate
Serious hop bitterness, along with an unyielding grapefruit bouquet from the Amarillo dry-hop, balances the malty richness of four varieties of imported Belgian caramel malts. Pours a spectacular crimson with a creamy tan head.  A generous addition of rye malt accentuates a spicy, crisp finish. 6.6% abv.
Available in 6-packs.

Dirty Bastard
2010 World Beer Cup Silver Medal Winner
So good it's almost wrong. Dark ruby in color and brewed with seven varieties of imported malts. Complex in finish, with hints of smoke and peat, paired with a malty richness and a right hook of hop power to give it the bad attitude that a beer named Dirty Bastard has to live up to. Ain't for the wee lads. 8.5% abv.
Available in 6-packs.

 

 

Founders Brewing Company was established in 1997 by college buddies and fellow home brewing enthusiasts Dave Engbers and Mike Stevens.  Their determination to simply brew the best beer possible is the reason their products are some of the most sought-after in the country.  They are ranked as the second best brewer in the world by Ratebeer.com and several of their beers are voted on the Top 100 list.  Way to go guys! We look forward to many more years and a bunch more beers with team Founders!

Check out Founder’s President Dave Engbers talk with a local Michigan news station about the brewery and their recent expansion project:

 

Look for Founders products at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Chimay

Next year will mark the 150th anniversary of "Bières de Chimay"- the Trappist brewery known around the world for its extraordinary Belgian ales. The Chimay brewery is located within the Notre-Dame de Scourmont Abbey in the village of Chimay, Belgium and is solely maintained and operated by Cistercian Trappist monks. While the monastery dates back to 1850, the brewery came into in existence in 1862 as a means to providing financial support to the monastery and their surrounding community. This practice of charitable giving is still upheld to this day, as is the superior level of excellence with which the Chimay ales are produced.


What is Trappist Beer?
The definition of a Trappist beer is one that is “brewed within the walls of a Trappist monastery under the control and responsibility of the community of monks, and whose revenue is devoted to social service.” There are approximately 174 Trappist monasteries around the world today, but only seven of them produce Trappist beer. In addition to Chimay, they are Achel, Westvleteren,  Orval,  Rochefort,  Westmalle and La Trappe (Koningshoeven). All are located in Belgium with the exception of La Trappe which is in the Netherlands.  Chimay was the first to use the Authentic Trappist Product logo on their bottles – a designation achieved by adhering to the strict guidelines set forth by The International Trappist Association and the monasteries of the Order of Cistercians of the Strict Observance.

The Beers of Chimay Timeline
The first ale to be brewed at the abbey in 1862 was the Chimay Red.  After World War II, the recipe was altered a bit, but still reflects the ale’s original quality and namesake.  The Chimay Blue made its debut in 1948 as the monastery’s first Christmas beer and later became a regular item.  The youngest of the abbey ales is the Chimay Tripel which came about in 1966 in bottles.  In 2001, the Tripel was made available on draft and remains the only ale exported in keg format.  Approximately half of all Chimay produced is exported to countries around the world.  A fourth Chimay, the black label, is not distributed and is only made for the consumption of the monks and their guests.

Hunterdon Goes to Chimay!
Check out some pictures from Hunterdon’s trip to Chimay a few years back!

 

Chimay Premiere – Red Label
The Chimay Red possesses a beautiful coppery color that makes it particularly attractive. Topped with a creamy head, it gives off a slight fruity apricot smell from the fermentation. The aroma felt in the mouth is a balance confirming the fruit nuances revealed to the sense of smell. This traditional Belgian beer is best savored at cellar temperature (10 - 12°C).
Ratebeer.com: 99 points
Beer Advocate: A-

Chimay Grand Reserve - Blue Label
Chimay Blue is principally distinguished by its character of a strong beer. This is a beer whose fragrance of fresh yeast with a light, flowery rosy touch is especially pleasant.  Its flavor only accentuates the pleasant sensations perceived in the aroma, while revealing a light but pleasant touch of roasted malt.
Ratebeer.com: 100 points
Beer Advocate: A

Chimay Tripel - White Label
Chimay White, with its typical golden color, its slightly hazy appearance and its fine head is especially characterized by its aroma which results from an agreeable combination of fresh hops and yeast. The beer’s flavor, as sensed in the mouth, comes from the smell of hops: above all it is the fruity notes of Muscat and raisins that give this beer a particularly attractive aroma. The aroma complements the touch of bitterness. There is no acidity, but an after-bitterness which melts in the mouth.
Ratebeer.com: 99 points
Beer Advocate: A-

All three Chimay ales undergo a re-fermentation in the bottle and none are filtered or pasteurized.
Drink now or enjoy in years to come! Chimay ales are all extremely age able, in particular the Blue which can age up to fifteen years or more!

Current formats available from Chimay:
All three Chimay ales are available in 4-packs and 750 ml bottles.
Chimay Triple is available on draft in 20L kegs.
In addition, Chimay Grand Reserve in 1.5 Liter Magnums are back in-stock!

Check out the brand new packaging for 4packs!

 

Chimay Cheese!
In addition to brewing beer, the monastery has been making several types of cheese since 1876. Dedicated to living sustainably as possible, the monks feed the cows spent grain from the beer mash and then use their milk to produce the cheese! If you haven’t seen Chimay cheese in the store, keep an eye out for it as there is at least one style that is exported to the US. 

Look for Chimay Triple ON TAP at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Avery Karma, White Rascal & Samael’s Ale

With eighteen years in the craft brewing business under their belt, Avery Brewing Company continues to follow their mantra of “only brewing what they like to drink.” By looking at their extensive portfolio of over 20 year-round beers plus a myriad of limited release projects, it would be an understatement to say that the Avery team has a well-rounded palate! Founded in the beer nirvana town of Boulder, Colorado, Avery has achieved a stellar reputation over the years for taking classic beer styles and adding a dose of genius. Their exceptional creativity and talent for pushing the boundaries of traditional recipes is why they are ranked #14 on Ratebeer.com’s list of the Top 100 Breweries in the World. From an extensive collection of IPAs, Belgian Ales and Oak-Aged Stouts to a rock-star brown ale, nothing is brewed without thought and vision. With a loyal and truly enthusiastic fan-base stretching from coast-to-coast who will drink well, basically whatever it is they’re brewing, we think it’s safe to say that their plan paid off! 

Avery's production growth (over 75% in the first few months of this year alone) has been so substantial that they recently made the difficult decision to cease distribution to eight US states and several partial-state markets. This has been quite the trend with craft breweries across the country that are finding it near impossible to keep up with an overwhelming demand and are being forced to cut back on distribution. While this seems like a bad thing, it is actually quite the contrary. The craft beer industry is exploding at a much faster rate than breweries imagined or forecasted. It goes without saying that maintaining fresh high-quality craft beer is of utmost importance and these forced “time-outs” will prove to be vital for these breweries to regroup and lay the groundwork for expanding into the future.

According to Avery Brewing President/Founder Adam Avery, "We all feel terrible about having to pull out of these markets.  No matter how you cut it, it is disappointing that we'll no longer be able to serve our loyal fans in these areas.” Ted Whitney, National Sales Director at Avery Brewing Company, added "This is certainly unfortunate, but it was done with the best intentions.  It's about getting fresher beer and better experiences for our customers."
Cheers to that and thanks to the Avery fans of NJ for supporting such a great product!

So without further ado, here’s what’s new:

KARMA BELGIAN PALE ALE
We believe in Karma. We suspect most of you do, too. It truly is a global concept. Very simply put, "you get what you give." Inspired by this principle and the wonderful farmhouse and pale ales of Belgium, we've created Karma Ale, a decidedly fruity and estery ale, intricate in body and nose, all driven by a unique Belgian yeast strain. Remember, good things DO happen to good people. Here's to being good! 5.2% ABV
Karma is now available in 6-pack bottles, Half Kegs and Sixtels.

WHITE RASCAL BELGIAN WHITE
Fans of craft beer in a can: Rejoice! Avery’s  year-round offerings are making the transition from 6-pack bottles to 6-pack cans. The White Rascal is the first to arrive and just in time for the kickoff of summer! So be sure to throw some of these in your beach cooler bag this season!

A truly authentic Belgian style wheat or "white" ale, this Rascal is unfiltered (yup, that's yeast on the bottom) and cleverly spiced with coriander and Curacao orange peel producing a refreshingly fruity thirst quencher.
White Rascal is now available in 6-pack cans.


SAMAEL’S ALE
Samael’s Ale is a super-caramelly, oak aged English-style strong ale. Perhaps the least hoppy (sacrilege here at Avery!!) beer we’ve brewed, to accentuate the malt. The oak is very apparent in this rich and high gravity ale, adding additional depth and complexity with a woody and cask-like nose and a pronounced vanilla flavor on the palate. 15.5%ABV
Samael’s is now available in 12oz bottles.

 

Check out these other Avery brews now in-stock:

	India Pale Ale 96 points Ratebeer.com Available in 6-pack bottles		Ellie’s Brown Ale 90 points Ratebeer.com Available in 6-pack bottles
	Hog Heaven Dry-Hopped Barleywine-Style Ale Two-time GABF Medal Winner Available in 22oz bottles		The Reverend Belgian-Style Quadrupel Medal Winner at the US Beer Tasting Championships Available in 22oz bottles

 

Look for Avery beers at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Smuttynose Summer Weizen & Imperial Stout

Founded in 1994, Smuttynose Brewing Company is named after a small island in the Isle of Shoals – a collection of islands off the coast of New Hampshire. The Smuttynose logo, the common harbor seal, is dedicated to the beautiful sea creatures that call these rocky islands home.  Smuttynose is located in the picturesque coastal sea town of Portsmouth, New Hampshire where you’ll also stumble across their sister company, Portsmouth Brewery. Yankee Magazine recently named Smuttynose as one of the top five local breweries to visit in New England. The first Smuttynose brew to hit the market nearly twenty years ago was the Shoals Pale Ale (now you know where the name comes from) closely followed by the Old Brown Dog - one of the company’s flagship beers to this day. Other year-round offerings include the Robust Porter (a winner at the 2010 Good Food Awards in San Francisco), the fan-favorite Finestkind IPA and most recently the Star Island Single and the Big A IPA (previously a limited release). Four years after opening, Smuttynose launched their Big Beer Series – a collection of limited release specialty brews in 22oz format that allow the brewers to dabble in styles such as farmhouse saisons, wheat wines, Belgian quadruples and Baltic porters, to name a few. And of course we could not forget their wildly popular seasonal beers:  Summer Weizen, Winter Ale & Pumpkin Ale… which brings us to our featured releases for today!

 

SUMMER WEIZEN
This light and tasty seasonal is a German hefeweizen with a twist.  Instead of using a classic German yeast strain, Smuttynose switches things up a bit by fermenting with Belgian Trappist yeast instead. The addition of chamomile adds delicate herbal notes to this tangy and refreshing summer seasonal that comes complete with packaging that captures the simple pleasures of summer – lazing around in the pool catching some rays! In case you ever wondered who the woman in the photo is, it’s Dorothy Zalisky Francis, mother of Joanne Francis, who does the Marketing and Art Direction for the brewery.  Cheers to Dorothy…you look marvelous!

Food Pairing Suggestion: The Smutty crew enjoys sipping on some Summer Weizen while enjoying the bounties of the sea! Try it with broiled fish with lemon, ceviche, crab cakes and even throw some in the steamer pot with mussels. If that doesn’t make you excited for summer, then we don’t know what will!
Summer Weizen is now available in 6-packs. Draft coming soon… stay tuned!

IMPERIAL STOUT
“Originally brewed in the early 19th century for export from Britain to the imperial court of Russia’s Catherine the Great, imperial stouts are characterized by their dark color & full body.  This style features a rich, malty sweetness coupled with aggressive hopping (especially in American interpretations). Notes of dried fruit as well as roasted malt flavors are typically present.”

Food Pairing Suggestion: The Imperial Stout is a terrific match with rich desserts like chocolate molten cake or dark chocolate truffles. And if you love cheese as much as we do, a sharp aged one like Gouda or Parmesan would be perfect. 
Imperial Stout is now available in 22oz bottles and sixtels!

Check out these other Smuttynose brews currently in-stock at Hunterdon:

CASES (24/12oz bottles)		ON DRAFT In both Halves & Sixtels
	Variety Packs		Old Brown Dog
	Old Brown Dog
	India Pale Ale		India Pale Ale
	Shoals Pale Ale
	Star Island Single		Robust Porter
	Robust Porter
	Big A IPA		Big A IPA

Upcoming Smuttynose Events:

Wednesday May 4th
Barcade “Groove on Grove” Event featuring Smuttynose – Jersey City, NJ

Thursday May 12th
Smuttynose Party on the rooftop at The Iron Monkey – Jersey City, NJ

Saturday May 14th
Blue Monkey Spring Festival – Merchantville, NJ

Tuesday June 7th
Smuttynose Night at Cloverleaf Tavern - Caldwell, NJ

Look for Flying Dog ON TAP at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Flying Dog In Heat Wheat

Here to spice things up a bit this season is the two-time Great American Beer Festival medal winner, the Flying Dog In Heat Wheat! This South German-style Hefeweizen is brewed with approximately 50% malted white wheat, 50% malted barley and a unique yeast strain that provides the trademark aromas of banana, clove and bubblegum. “Hefe” meaning “with yeast” indicates a sub-category of wheat beer that contains a heavy amount of yeast sediment.  As a result, these wheat beers are usually very hazy or cloudy in appearance. Hefeweizens (also called Hefeweisse) display very low hop aromas and flavors and are typically medium to full-bodied with a rich, creamy texture and a frothy white head. Flying Dog’s version is chock-full of bananas and finishes with a touch of cloves and spice. Delightfully smooth and nicely carbonated, this is one wheat beer that will surely quench your thirst this season! In Heat wheat is also very food friendly and makes a great pairing with crab cakes and grilled chicken or shrimp.

Try this recipe from Craftbeer.com for In Heat Wheat Corn & Crab Chowder:

Flying Dog’s In-Heat Wheat adds notes of sweet-banana and spicy-clove that perfectly complement the Old Bay seasoning in this easy and delicious corn & crab chowder. This is just one of the dishes from Flying Dog Brewery's new cookbook, Dog Chow.
Serves: 4

 

 

Ingredients

4 - 5 green onions, chopped	1/2 c. In-Heat Wheat	1 tbsp. Old Bay seasoning	1 pt. milk
2 - 3 celery stalks, chopped	1/2 c. chicken stock	1/2 tbsp. red pepper	4 tbsp. butter, melted
2 tsp. minced garlic	1 small bag frozen corn	1 tbsp. parsley	4 tbsp. flour, sifted
2 tbsp. bacon drippings	1/2 lb crabmeat	4 tbsp. flour, sifted

Directions
Chop green onions and celery stalks. Do not open a beer until you put down the knife.
Open beer and consume at your leisure.
Cook sufficient amount of bacon to have 2 tbsp. of drippings. Mmm. Drippings.
Set bacon aside. Trust us.
Sauté onion, celery, and garlic in bacon drippings in a large saucepan.
Add beer, chicken stock, corn, and all spices.
Bring to a boil. Then simmer until the corn is cooked. Instead of watching for bubbles in the pot, munch on that bacon you set aside.
Add crabmeat, and try not to eat too much of it in the process. (It's hard to resist).
At this point, you'll probably need another beer. Here's why: You're going to make a roux.
Combine flour and butter with a wire whip to make a roux.
Slowly add a bit of roux at a time to hot chowder until desired consistency is achieved.
Serve piping hot to plenty of family and friends (so you can brag about how you not only made a kick-ass soup, but you also made a roux for it).
BON APPETIT!

In Heat Wheat is now available in 6-packs, Half and Sixtel Kegs!
Check out these other brews in-stock from Flying Dog:

Doggie-Style Classic Pale Ale Rated the #1 Pale Ale by The New York Times Available in 6-packs, Half and Sixtel Kegs	Old Scratch Amber Lager Four time GABF medal winner Available in 6-packs and Sixtel Kegs
Snake Dog IPA Great with a big ol’ burger! Available in 6-packs	Double Dog Pale Ale An 11.5% double pale ale to savor in a snifter Available in 4-packs
Raging Bitch Belgian IPA One of our top selling beers this year! Available in 6-packs, Half and Sixtel Kegs	Gonzo Imperial Porter 99 points Ratebeer.com Available in 4-packs and Sixtel Kegs
Tire Bite Golden Ale A summer time thirst-quencher Available in 6-packs	Variety Packs A sampling of Doggie-Style, Old Scratch, Snake Dog, Tire Bite, Road Dog & In Heat!

Look for Flying Dog ON TAP at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Tröegs Sunshine Pils & Flying Mouflan Barleywine

Since 1996 Tröegs Brewing Company has been cranking out some serious brews from their Harrisburg, PA facility. While their seasonal offerings such as Mad Elf and Nugget Nectar have gained widespread attention to the point of consumer anarchy, their year-round classics have established quite the name for themselves as well. The Tröegenator Double Bock is a four-time Great American Beer Festival winner and their flagship brew, HopBack Amber, took home the silver medal at the same prestigious competition.  Furthermore, Tröegs is consistently rated as one of the Best Brewers in the country by Ratebeer.com; pretty impressive for a brewery that is only distributed in a total of eight US states.

Tröegs is experiencing such a tremendous growth spurt in sales and popularity that construction of a bigger and better facility is underway as we speak. Their new home out in Hershey, PA will be a destination spot for die-hard Tröegs fans and beer geeks across the region. While increasing their brewing capacity is of utmost importance, the new facility is also being designed with the consumer in mind.  A 5,000 square-foot tasting room will be smack in the center of the brewhouse so customers can feel like they are part of the complete brewing process. And from what we hear, there will also be a fabulous outdoor seating area! Completion of the new brewery is expected for the end of this year. We look forward to checking out the new place very soon!

Okay, so here is what’s new for this week:

SUNSHINE PILS
“Hop fans rejoice! Sunshine Pils combines the crisp taste of European style pilsners with a kicked-up hop character to create a balanced, refreshing seasonal beer.  Golden in color with a fluffy white head, Sunshine Pils is the perfect beer for summer.”
Available NOW in 6-packs, Half and Sixtel Kegs!

 

FLYING MOUFLAN BARLEYWINE
**2010 GABF Gold Medal Winner
“We classify this beer as pushing Nugget Nectar off the side of a cliff.  It is bold and intense–think hops dipped in candied sugar and rolled in dark chocolate nibs. Over time, the Flying Mouflan transforms into lush raisin and chocolate overtones as the hops subside and the rich barley flavors come out in the beer.” 
Available NOW in 22oz bottles!

Also available from Tröegs Brewing Company:

HOPBACK AMBER ALE Available in 6-packs, Half and Sixtel Kegs	PALE ALE Available in 6-packs	DREAMWEAVER WHEAT Available in 6-packs
TROEGENATOR DOUBLE BOCK Available in 6-packs and Sixtel Kegs	JAVA HEAD STOUT Available in 6-packs and 22-oz bottles	TROEGS DOZEN 12-packs

 

Check out these upcoming Troegs events in NJ:
Wednesday April 27th
Troegs In-Store Tasting at Wegman's - Mt. Laurel, NJ @ 4-7pm 

Saturday April 30th
High Street Grill "Beer at the Big House" Spring Festival – Mt. Holly, NJ @ 1pm

Tuesday May 3rd
Troegs Night at Cloverleaf Tavern – Caldwell, NJ @ 5pm 

Hey Phillies fans: Look for Sunshine Pils on tap at Citizen’s Bank Park!
.

Get Troegs ON TAP at these NJ accounts:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Yards Saison

‘Tis the season for Saison! If you missed our feature on Saison Dupont a few weeks ago, here’s a quick rundown of the style: Saisons were traditionally brewed on Belgium farmhouses in the winter season to be consumed in the summer by the farm workers. They were made strong enough to age throughout the long season, yet with a low enough alcohol content so as not to disrupt the workload in the field!  Saisons are extremely complex with a champagne-like effervescence, a slight sweetness and a dry, bitter finish. Typical aromas and flavors include fresh yeast, bright citrus, herbs and spices. This Belgian classic has become so popular that several US breweries are adopting their own recipe.

Yards has been brewing up their version of the saison in the ‘City of Brotherly Love’ for more than a decade. We’re sure you’ll enjoy it as much as we do! Saisons are also one of the most food-friendly beers out there, so be sure to try the Yards version with all your favorite foods from summertime BBQ to a yummy artisan cheese board!



Yards Saison is NOW AVAILABLE in 6-packs, Half and Sixtel Kegs!

 

Check out these other Yards beers currently in-stock:

 

Hey Phillies Fans: Look for Brawler on tap at Citizens Bank Park at the Left Field Gate Section 137 and Philly Pale Ale in Section 113!
...And coming soon to Camden Riversharks Stadium!

Try out Yards at one of these upcoming events:

SATURDAY APRIL 16th 
In-Store Tasting at Canal's Hainesport @ 4-6pm 
Canal's Discount Liquors 

In-Store Tasting at Ott’s Bottlestop @6:30-8:30pm
Ott’s Bottlestop

SATURDAY APRIL 23rd 
 In-Store Tasting at Canal's Rio Grande @ 4-6pm 
Joe Canal's Discount Liquors 

TUESDAY APRIL 26th 
Yards Brewery Night at The Yankee Doodle Tap Room @ time TBD 
Yankee Doodle Tap Room at the Nassau Inn 

SATURDAY APRIL 30th
High Street Grill "Beer at the Big House" Spring Festival 
For tickets and more info.
High Street Grill 

WEDNESDAY MAY 4th 
 In-Store Tasting at Wegmans Princeton @ 4-7pm 
Wegmans Wines & Spirits 

 

Look for Yards ON TAP at these NJ accounts:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: River Horse Summer Blonde

Your favorite fat hippo in a yellow-polka-dot bikini is BACK! ...and ready to make a huge splash in a pool near you!  No it’s not 80 degrees yet, but we’re convinced that if we drink a lot now, the warm weather will follow! This blonde beauty is an easy-drinking summer-time brew that’s light and refreshing with hints of citrus, honey and sweet malt. Since it’s brewed right here in NJ, it’s a great sixer choice for trips to the Jersey shore, tailgates at the Arts Center or just hanging in the backyard flipping burgers.

Summer Blonde is NOW AVAILABLE  in 6-packs, Half Kegs and Sixtels! Start looking for it at stores and restaurants around the Garden State and if you’re in the Lambertville area, stop on by for a sample! The River Horse Brewery is open for samples Friday through Sunday from 12-5. Tours are available on Saturday and Sunday. And be sure to mark your calendar for the Annual Shad Fest in Lambertville, when the usual fun festivities of beer, food and live music will ensue at the brewery – Saturday April 30th and Sunday May 1st from 12-5pm each day!

Check out these other upcoming River Horse events:

Wednesday April 6th
River Horse Beer Dinner at George Street Ale House @  6pm
4-course dinner with beer pairings -$45 per person. Please call the restaurant for reservations: (732) 548-2408
George Street Ale House - 378 George Street - New Brunswick, NJ 08901

Friday April 8th
In-Store Tasting at Perryville Wines & Spirits @ 4-6pm
Perryville Wine & Spirits – 72 Route 173 West – Hampton, NJ 08827 - (908) 735-9237

In-Store Tasting at Buy Rite Bound Brook @ 5-7pm
Buy Rite Liquors - 260 West Union Ave - Bound Brook, NJ 08805 - (732) 469-5020 ‎

Thursday May 12th
River Horse Brewery Night at Mohawk House @ 5-8pm
A selection of River Horse brews on tap, food and live music!
Mohawk House - 3 Sparta Junction - Sparta, NJ 07871 – (973) 729-6464

 

Also in-stock from River Horse Brewing Company:

 

Look for River Horse ON TAP at these NJ accounts:

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Boulder Kinda Blue & Hazed & Infused CANS!

If you’re kinda in the mood for something new, then grab a few bottles of Boulder’s blueberry brew!  Back on the scene for the second year, Kinda Blue made its debut last year as the tenth beer in Boulder’s anniversary Looking Glass Series.  Boulder uses Mt. Hood hops, three types of malt and fresh blueberries to create the perfect essence of summer. Inspired by one of the most influential jazz albums of all time, Kind of Blue by Miles Davis, this is a low-key, laid-back brew to mellow out with on a warm summer evening.
Now available in 6-packs, Half kegs and sixtels!

 

 

 

Also new to NJ: Hazed and Infused CANS!

Your favorite dry-hopped amber ale just got easier to tote around!  Cans are earth-friendly, lightweight and great for picnics and tailgates….and you already know that what’s in the can is mighty tasty and hop-a-licious!  Hazed & Infused has taken home awards from the US Beer Tasting Championships TWICE and has also received a B+ from Beer Advocate and 90 points from Ratebeer.com.  Initially brewed as an experiment to kick-off the Looking Glass Series back in 2001, Hazed and Infused is now Boulder’s flagship and most popular brew! Bottom’s up!

 

Also in-stock from Boulder Brewing Company:

6-packs, 12-pack cans, Half Kegs and Sixtels	4-packs, Half Kegs and Sixtels	Sixtels

 

Look for Boulder ON TAP at these NJ accounts:

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Flying Dog Woody Creek White

The warmer weather is on its way so we’re lettin’ the dogs out!  Flying Dog’s Woody Creek White is packed full of orange peel and coriander goodness and at 4.8% abv it’s one you can drink all night and all summer long!  The name for this thirst-quenching fan-favorite came by way of the brewery’s “Name our Summer Seasonal Contest” back in 2007.  Tom Havey from Wilsonville, Oregon submitted the idea for the ‘Woody Creek White’ and as a prize won a trip to Denver for a VIP tour of the brewery and a pass to that year’s GABF. Lucky dog! The brewery thought the name was a perfect fit as it pays homage to the town of Woody Creek, Colorado where founder George Stranahan, Richard McIntyre and Hunter S. Thompson spent many of wild nights together! The famous Woody Creek Tavern  was established by George in 1980 and remains a Flying Dog landmark to this day!

Woody Creek White is perfect with light salads, grilled chicken, boursin cheese and also makes a terrific Beer-Mosa when mixed with Champagne. Go ahead and kick back in your hammock with one…or two… or more! After all that shoveling this winter, you deserve it!
Now in-stock in 6-packs and 20L kegs

Also in-stock from Flying Dog:

6-packs, Half kegs and sixtels	6-packs, Half kegs and sixtels	6packs	6-packs	Variety 12 packs
	4-packs and sixtels	Sixtels	6-packs, Half kegs and sixtels

 

Look for Flying Dog ON TAP at these NJ accounts:

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Saison Dupont

If you’re wondering why so many craft brewers are adding a saison to their seasonal lineup, pour yourself a glass of Saison Dupont and you’ll see why. For decades, Saison Dupont has been highly revered around the globe as the standard of excellence when it comes to this Belgian farmhouse style. In his Pocket Guide to Beer, Michael Jackson wrote, “World classic with its big bouquet, dry, peppery fruitiness and great complexity, Saison Dupont is the classic of this style.” Keep reading to learn why.

The French word for “season,” saison was a style of beer originally made by Belgian farmer-brewers in the winter season for consumption during the summer harvest by the farm or “season” workers. These farmhouse ales were made strong enough to survive the ageing process but light enough to drink in the summertime. Now a year-round product, saisons are still made today by a handful of these original Belgian farmhouse brewers although few come close to the quality of Brasserie Dupont.

Bright and zesty with a champagne-like effervescence, this exquisite Belgian brew boasts aromas of fruity esters,fresh citrus, yeast and hops. It is full-bodied, refreshing and extremely well-balanced and will dazzle your taste buds with its complexity of flavors! A unique house yeast strain and a secondary fermentation in the bottle in heated refermentation rooms provide this saison with its signature characteristics and set it apart from all the rest. Saison Dupont will continue to age in your cellar for several years, developing even more complex flavors and aromas, so be sure to grab a few bottles to savor in years to come.  

With its layers upon layers of complexity, Saison Dupont is without a doubt one of the most food friendly beers you’ll ever experience. It is a terrific match for shellfish, in particular oysters, savory dishes like onion and cheese tarts, spicy foods like curry, thai, mexican and BBQ and if you are a cheese fanatic, try it with aged gouda and you’ll be in love!

Take a look at some of the recent press about Saison Dupont:

“Best Beers of the Year” - Beer Connoisseur Magazine – December 2010

“The best beer in the world. Period.”  - Men’s Journal – July 2005

“Best Belgian Styles” – NY Daily News – March 2011

Ratebeer.com: 99 points
Beer Advocate: A-

Brasserie Dupont is a family-run business located on an old farm in Tourpes, Belgium that dates back to 1759. While the farm has been brewing since the mid-1800s, the current brewery was built in 1950. In addition to brewing hand-crafted ales, the owners also run a bakery and cheese-making facility on the premises. Their interest in sustainable agriculture led them to the production of the Foret Organic Ale – the first certified organic beer in Belgium.

Take a look at the other products now in-stock from Brasserie Dupont:

Foret Organic – Belgium's only 100% certified organic ale.  Brewed from 100% organically cultivated hops, barley and pure well water.  Bold, dry, herbal.  Bottle conditioned and suitable for cellaring.
Named one of the ten best beers of the year by Wine Enthusiast
Available in 750ml, 375ml and 330ml bottles

Moinette Brune – A rare and fine example of a Belgian dry brown ale. Hearty with an herbal bouquet that indicates its well-hopped character.
Available in 750ml and 330ml bottles

Moinette Blond – Herbal bouquet, well hopped, with spice and ginger notes.  Deep spicy aroma, gold color and bitter and fruit sweetness tantalize the palate.  Full and round with a fruity finish.  Bottle-conditioned and suitable for cellaring.
Available in 750ml and 330ml bottles

 

Avril Biere de Table – Avril is French for April and Avril is truly a beer that embodies the qualities of Spring--aromatic, flavorful, and light (3.5% ABV).  It has the wonderful smell of fresh, yeasty bread spiced with hops.  Full of flavor, with notes of citrus, mint and malt sweetness it is whisper light on the finish
Available in 750ml bottles



Biere de Miel – 100% organic honey ale brewed with Belgian Acacia honey.  Pale yellow in color with a marvelous floral scent.  A honeyed richness coaxes the palate into thinking the beer is sweet but the finish is dry with a noticeable hop tang.
Available in 750ml bottles

Look for Saison Dupont ON TAP at these NJ locations:

 

Cheers!

Spotlight On: Dogfish Head Aprihop & Namaste

The late great beer writer Michael Jackson once called Dogfish Head "America's most interesting and adventurous small brewery."  While they might be just a tiny bit bigger than they were at the time that quote was made (just a tiny bit), Dogfish Head still remains at the top of their game, producing one great beer after the next. Still interesting and adventurous? Check and check.  

Although extremely well-known for their flagship, year-round brews like 60 and 90 Minute, it is their extraordinary line-up of seasonal and “Occasional Rarities” that keeps the buzz-o-meter going wild! Here to put a little “spring” in your step this Monday morning are their latest seasonal releases, the Aprihop & the Namaste!

APRIHOP
Don’t let the name fool you - this is not your average fruit beer, folks! In fact, you could classify this brew as more of an IPA with a side dish of apricots! Heavily hopped in your typical “off-centered” fashion, this American-style IPA gets an extra boost from the Amarillo they dry-hop it with. The addition of fresh luscious apricots lends just the right amount of sweetness to harmonize with the hops, hops and more hops! This is the ideal spring beverage for the bitter-brew lover in you!
Aprihop is now available in 4-packs, half kegs and sixtels!
Beer Advocate: B+
Ratebeer.com: 93 points
Check out Sam’s Aprihop “Quick Sip Clip” here.

NAMASTE
Back on the block is Dogfish Head’s Namaste - a thirst-quenching brew that
will bring peace and tranquility to your spring and summertime evenings! As most Belgian wit beers are simply brewed with coriander and orange peel, Dogfish Head jazzes things up a bit by using dried organic orange slices (instead of just the peel) and by adding fresh cut lemongrass for an extra special kick. Namaste was originally brewed as a tribute to Sam’s friends at Drie Fonteinen Brewery in Belgium after a broken thermostat ruined a vast majority of their inventory. Naming the new brew Namaste was only suiting
as this word is a symbol of gratitude and respect and is most commonly used
as a peaceful greeting among family and close friends. A perfect name for a perfect brew to share with some good friends this season!
Namaste is now available in 750ml bottles and sixtel kegs!
Beer Advocate: A-
Ratebeer.com: 95 points

 

Cheers!

Spotlight on: Terrapin Tomfoolery & Rye Squared Imperial Pale Ale

If you enjoyed the last batch of limited releases from Terrapin, the Wake-n-Bake Coffee Oatmeal Imperial Stout and Big Daddy Vlady’s Russian Imperial Stout, listen up as we’ve got not one, but TWO more of their special brews hitting the market this week!

Spring is the ultimate season for saison, but Terrapin’s Tomfoolery is not your standard illustration of this classic Belgian style... it’s BLACK! This is just the kind of “Tomfoolery” that we’d expect from our wacky and imaginative friends at Terrapin Beer Co.  No matter what the color, we’re sure you’ll still detect the classic saison aromas and flavors, but go ahead and see if you can fool your friends in a blind tasting!

Next up: Rye Squared Imperial Pale Ale. Terrapin’s flagship brew the Rye Pale Ale has won so many awards for the brewery that they decided to make a bigger, badder version by doubling the entire recipe. Rye Squared is part of Terrapin’s Monster Beer Tour series which includes the Gamma Ray, Wake-n-Bake, Big Hoppy Monster and Monk’s Revenge. All of the brews in this series have scored 90+ points on Ratebeer.com and based on how fast they fly out of our warehouse, we’re not surprised!

 

Tomfoolery “Black Saison” is the latest addition to our Side Project series of beers. Number 14 on the list, this ale boasts an uncharacteristic black color for a traditional Saison, but is just untraditional enough for our experimental mentality. Made with a silly amount of rye, wheat and black malts, this dark spicy beverage will quench the thirst of any court jester in the land. We hope you enjoy our light hearted attempt at making this traditional style with foolish brewing behavior.
Tomfoolery is NOW Available in 22oz bottles and sixtel kegs!

 

Double the malt, double the hops, and double the flavor of the original Rye Pale Ale recipe. (Hence the name Rye Squared.) With its mammoth hop aroma, bitterness and flavor, this beer is not for the faint at heart. The Rye Squared clocks in at a hefty 9.5% ABV so double your pleasure and double your fun because Terrapin went a little crazy with this one!
Rye Squared is NOW Available in 4-packs, half kegs and sixtel kegs!

Terrapin was recently named one of the “hottest small brewers” by Advertising Age.  If you haven’t tried their beers yet, what are you waiting for?

 

Also in stock from Terrapin Beer Company:

Rye Pale Ale
Terrapin’s first release and GABF gold medal winner!  Brewed with malted rye and five types of hops, this Terrapin classic takes pale ale to a whole new level.
Beer Advocate: B+
Ratebeer.com: 92 points

 

Hop Karma India Brown Ale
A hybrid of west-coast IPA meets super malty brown ale and a gold medal winner at this year’s Atlantic City Beer Festival.  It was also named “Grand Champion” in the brown category at the US Beer Tasting Championships last winter.
Beer Advocate: B+
Ratebeer.com: 92 points

 

Hopsecutioner IPA
A massive IPA brewed with six types of hops. Another gold medal winner in the IPA category at the 2010 Atlantic City Beer Festival!
Beer Advocate: B+
Ratebeer.com: 96 points

 

Look for Terrapin beers ON TAP at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight on: Breckenridge Agave Wheat

Despite how it may look outside your window today, spring is definitely on its way! That tease of warm weather we had last week surely made us all anxious for some springtime seasonal brews! So let’s get this party started and hopefully the warm weather will join us! 

Making its debut in NJ this week is the light and refreshing Agave Wheat from Breckenridge Brewery. While some breweries use honey or fruit to add a hint of sweetness or complexity, Breckenridge puts a unique spin on the "unfiltered American wheat beer" by blending it with real Agave nectar. This sweet nectar adds just the right amount of zing without overpowering the delicate wheat malts. Golden-orange in color with a cloudy haze, this is the ultimate springtime session brew! Agave Wheat is now available in 6-packs!

The scoop on Agave:
For hundreds of years, the Mexican agave plant has been cultivated for its sweet nectar. Most commonly known for its use in the production of tequila, these large spikey plants are relatives of the aloe vera plant and come in all sizes and colors. Very similar to honey but less viscous, this nectar is approximately 1 ½ times sweeter than sugar making it a terrific sweeter substitute for cooking…and brewing!

Try a “Beer-Mosa” by mixing OJ and Agave Wheat!
Perfect for those Sunday brunches al fresco!

And try out this recipe for Agave & Ginger Chicken:

1 1/2 cups flat Agave Wheat 1/2 cup olive oil 2 tablespoons ginger, peeled and finely minced 2 cloves fresh garlic, chopped 3 tablespoons orange zest 6 each chicken breasts, skinless and boneless

In a glass bowl, combine all ingredients except chicken. Add chicken breasts and make sure marinade is covering the chicken. Cover tightly and refrigerate for at least 4 hours or overnight. Turn the chicken about 4 times so that the marinade is evenly distributed.

Remove the chicken and strain the marinade, use for basting. Grill over medium heat and baste with marinade as you grill. Grill each side for about 2 minutes. Turn chicken 4 times.

Also in-stock from Breckenridge:

Look for Breckenridge beers at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight on: Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine and Old Guardian Belgo

Barley Wine

Just when you thought this year couldn’t get any better, we are presenting you with not one, but TWO barley wines from Stone Brewing Company. Now let us inform you that this wasn’t part of Stone’s original grand master plan. Up until the middle of December, Stone was very excited to be introducing a new series called the “Odd Beers for Odd Years.” Their inspiration for this program came about when the brewing team diverted 30 barrels of the 2010 Old Guardian into separate fermentation tanks containing a Belgian yeast strain (the same one used in the Cali-Belgique). What they created was so magnificent that they couldn’t help but share it with the rest of the world.  And since they’d been producing the original Old Guardian version for almost thirteen years they figured it was time to mix things up a bit.  They were about to discover, however, that not everyone loved this idea as much as they did.

Cue the press release that ignited a revolution:
“...Starting in 2011, we’re kicking-off a program we’ve dubbed “Odd Beers for Odd Years.” Translation: in odd numbered years (2011, 2013, 2015, etc…) we’ll be releasing new variations on Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine and Stone Imperial Russian Stout in place of the classic version. A radical redirection for two reliably wonderful beers, we know, but we think you’ll be pleased with the results...”

Insert record scratching noise here. What? No original versions of OG or IRS this year? How could they do this to us?! Beer geeks everywhere began rioting in the streets, punching walls, burning flags and forming mutinies. Ok, well not really, but there were so many angry comments about this change that Stone decided to wave the white flag and release both the original version AND the new version to the beer loving community.  But not without having some fun with it...

Odd Beers for Odd Years: Take 2 from stonebrew on Vimeo.

Pretty funny. So go on and get yourself a bottle of each and be sure to show Stone some love for sending you an extra gift this Valentine’s day!  

Tasting Notes


Stone Old Guardian Barley Wine
Appearance: Deep gold/light amber with a light tan head. Beer has a light haze.
Aroma: A blend of bready yeast esters, toffee and caramel malt flavors and herbal hops. Allowing the beer to warm to ~50°-55°F really allows the malt character to come through.
Taste: Flavor is malty and yeasty fruitiness, with some nice lingering bitterness.
Palate: Full body up front, finishes dry with a nice hop bitterness and just a touch of alcohol heat that should blend back into the other flavors over the next several weeks.
Overall Impression: This is the same brewhouse recipe as last year's version, and also the same recipe as this year's Stone Old Guardian Belgo Barley Wine. We brewed with a blend of American and English Pale Malt, and English Maris Otter Crystal malt. We used Warrior and Columbus hops for bittering, Ahtanum and Columbus hops in the whirlpool for flavor. No dry-hop this year (we dry-hopped with East Kent Goldings last year). The differences seen in the 2 versions we brewed this year is all about the yeast. I enjoy how the maltiness and fullness come through in this version, and encourage everyone to age this beer and drink it at cellar temperatures.
Check OG out in this recent issue of Esquire Magazine.

Stone Old Guardian BELGO Barley Wine
Appearance: Deep gold/light amber with a light tan head. Beer has a light haze.
Aroma: Floral and very fruity, with banana and other tropical fruit notes, wine, and hints of spice.
Taste: Banana fruit esters, light caramel/toffee notes and hints of alcohol that should mellow over time.
Palate: Medium body up front, finishes dry with a nice hop bitterness and some alcohol heat.
Overall Impression: Absolutely my favorite of our Belgian versions, the Belgian yeast takes this beer into a totally new direction. The yeast esters dominate the flavor, while the malt character remains solidly in the background to provide ample fullness and balance. Hop flavors, while muted slightly up front, end strong on the beer's finish.

 

 

 

 

 

Also in-stock from Stone Brewing Company:

IN BOTTLES


IN KEGS

** For all you Stone beer enthusiasts with small kegerators: Arrogant Bastard and IPA are now available in SIXTELS in addition to Half kegs! Now you have no more reason to whine!!

Look for Stone ON TAP at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight on: Full Sail 'LTD 04' and 'Bump in the Night'

A New Year calls for some new beers! We know how much you all love Full Sail, so we’ve got some of their brand new releases to get 2011 off to a great start.  

First up is the LTD 04, the latest addition in their series of small batch limited-edition and limited-release lagers. LTD not only stands for ‘limited edition’ but more poetically “Live The Dream” – a motto close to the heart of all Full Sail employees. Each of these special lagers is based on a classic recipe such as the Helles-style lager (LTD 02) and the crisp Pilsner-style (LTD 03). Since launching the series in 2007, the LTD lagers have won a handful of medals from the World Beer Cup and the US Beer Tasting Championships and have also been recognized in local and national publications.  Be sure to check out the packaging for this series as each six-pack carrier is an educational tutorial with a “Malt ‘O Meter” and other special information about the ingredients used in each recipe.  And underneath the bottle cap of each LTD lager is a special phrase starting with the letter L, T or D!

LTD 04 - What do you get when you brew an elegant limited edition lager with one select barley? LTD 04, the single malt of beers! This brand new edition to our LTD Series is a finely balanced single malt, single hop, beer that is pale-golden in color and brewed with just pale malt and pleasantly hopped with just Willamette hops. ABV 7% IBUs:45

 

Next up: Bump in the Night Cascadian Dark Ale, a brand new addition to their Brewmaster’s Reserve Series.  Full Sail began this rotating line of unique beers back in 1998 to celebrate the creative talent of their master brewers.  From fresh-hop ales and IPAs to imperial porters and barleywines, Full Sail has something extraordinary brewing for us every 2-3 months.  Nearly all the brews in this series have won a medal at the World Beer Cup, including the Wreck the Halls (hopefully you got to try it over the holidays) which took home a Silver Medal this past year. We’re sure the Bump in the Night will be another winner!  Check out the full line-up here.

Bump in the Night Cascadian Dark Ale - New for 2011, this beer is brewed in the Cascadian Dark Ale style. The array of dark malts present a full bodied beer with notes of cocoa and slight roast. This CDA has a big floral citrus hop flavor and bitterness, reminiscent of an IPA. ABV 6.5% IBUs: 65

 

 

 

Also In-stock from Full Sail Brewing Company:

 

Check under the caps!
Did you know that you can play Rock, Paper, Scissors with the Session Lager bottle caps? Underneath each bottle cap is one of the logos for rock, paper or scissors. Check it out next time you and your friends are sipping on some Session Lagers while at home or at one of the bars listed below. It’s hours of entertainment!

 

 

 

Look for Full Sail at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight on: River Horse Double Wit

Ok, so it definitely doesn’t look or feel like spring time yet, but we know you’re desperately in need of a change of scenery! So here to liven things up a bit and take your mind off that mountain of snow outside your door is the magnificent Double Wit from River Horse Brewing Company! Cue the songbirds, tulips and Easter bunnies! The fresh citrus aromas and spicy coriander of this refreshing wheat beer will help take you to your happy place….perhaps a warm spring day out on the hammock or afternoon throwing frisbee in the park. Can’t you feel the warm sun on your face already?  And who knows, maybe the groundhog will give us some good news on Wednesday and tell us that spring will be here sooner than we think! If not, well just sit back and pass the time with a few bottles of Double Wit. Consider it a reward for all that shoveling you’ve been doing!

This is the fourth year that River Horse has been brewing the Double Wit. It originally started out as part of their Brewer’s Reserve series before becoming their celebratory spring seasonal. As one of NJ’s oldest craft breweries, River Horse is still cranking out the fan-favorite classics like the Hop Hazard and the Special Ale as well as experimenting with new brews like the Oatmeal Milk Stout and the Hipp-O-Lantern Imperial Pumpkin Ale. 

We are proud to be partnered with our friends at River Horse to bring you fresh craft beer made right here in the Garden State. Supporting the local economy has never tasted so good!

Double Wit is now in-stock in 4-packs! Get your spring-on today!

Also in stock now from River Horse:

Special Ale: 6-packs

Hop Hazard: 6-packs and Sixtels

Lager: 6-packs, Half Kegs and Sixtels

Tripel Horse: 6-packs

Hop-a-lot-amus: 4-packs

**Plus Variety 12-packs!

Look for River Horse on tap at these NJ restaurants:

Cheers!

Spotlight on: Lagunitas Hairy Eyeball & A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale

Hilarious names, Bizarre Stories, Outstanding Beers.
That’s Lagunitas Brewing Company in a nutshell.

Since 1993, Tony Magee and the Lagunitas crew have been breaking the mold with their unconventional versions of classic beer recipes and their wildly entertaining names and labels that just make you sit back, scratch your head and have a good chuckle. Buyer beware though: these beers are serious! Nearly all of their brews score 90 points and above on Ratebeer.com and their Sonoma Farmhouse Hop Stoopid was just picked by Beer Connoisseur as one of the “Top Beers of 2010.”  Lagunitas is by far one of the fastest growing craft breweries in the country and 2010 proved to be a record year for them with volume exceeding 106,000 barrels! In order to accommodate for more growth, they are adding four more fermentation tanks this year. Perhaps this will pave the way for some other new and exciting styles?!

What’s with the name Lagunitas? The brewery was originally founded twenty miles south in the town of Lagunitas Forest Knolls, before moving the brewery to its current wine-country location in Petaluma, California. If you have plans to be out that way soon, be sure to check out the new “Tap Room and Beer Sanctuary” which serves up delicious beer, food and live music in the beautiful Sonoma County countryside. Cheers!

Take a Virtual Tour of Lagunitas Brewery!

RELEASED TODAY:
A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale
This wheat beer meets IPA, made its debut on store shelves last year and due to an overwhelming success, is now part of the year-round lineup. Which means you can now get a little sumpin’ sumpin’ all year long! Brewed with three types of wheat and loads of hops, this refreshing ale pours a hazy orange color and boasts kick-ass aromas of apricots, peaches and citrus. 
In-stock NOW in 6-packs and Half Kegs! Go on and get yourself some!
Beer Advocate: A-           Ratebeer.com: 98 points

Hairy Eyeball
This 8.7% winter-strong ale is meant to be highly contagious as it is brewed with tons of dark crystal malts and rocks out strong aromas of dried fruit, caramel and toffee. The maltiest of their seasonal beers by far!
In-stock NOW in 6-packs!
Beer Advocate: B             Ratebeer.com:  95 points

Also in stock from Lagunitas:

India Pale Ale
Available in 6-packs and Half Kegs
Often referred to as “California’s BEST IPA!”

New Dogtown Pale Ale 
Available in 6-packs
Simcoe-heaven!

Maximus Double IPA
Available in 6-packs
98 points ratebeer.com

Sonoma Farmhouse Hop Stoopid
Available in 22oz bottles and Half Kegs
100 points ratebeer.com

 

Upcoming Lagunitas Events:

FEBRUARY 17th
Lagunitas Night at Hemingway’s in Seaside Heights – 7pm
Featuring IPA, New Dogtown Pale Ale, Maximus & A Little Sumpin’ Sumpin’ Ale

Hemingway’s Café
612 Boulevard
Seaside Heights, NJ 08751
(732) 830.1256

 

FEBRUARY 26th
Lagunitas “Beer & Burger Night” at Nip ‘n Tuck in Long Branch – 6pm
Featuring IPA, New Dogtown Pale Ale, Hop Stoopid, A Little Sumpin' Sumpin', Hairy Eyeball & Cappuccino Stout – $30 per person – Call for reservations!

Nip ‘n Tuck
23 Norwood Avenue
Long Branch, NJ 07740
(732) 222-0023

 

Look for Lagunitas on tap at these NJ restaurants: