The Six-Pack Project: New Jersey

Welcome to the Six-Pack Project!  The idea of the project is to create a six-pack of beer that would best represent the current beer scene in your respective state.  For me, that is obviously New Jersey.  The Six-Pack Project was created by Bryan over at the This Is Why I'm Drunk blog.  Check out his introduction to the project here!

10 years ago, beer probably wasn't the first thing that came to your mind when you were thinking about New Jersey.  However, times are changing, and it's an exciting time to be a beer drinker in the Garden State.  Every year, more and more bars are starting to serve a greater variety in beer.  Even more importantly, new breweries haven been opening in NJ each year, and lots more are in planning

Today, there is a wide variety of beer brewed here in New Jersey.  Choosing six beers to best represent the state was no easy feat, but I was up for it!  Hopefully, the following will clue you in a little bit more to some of the best bottled beers that NJ has to offer. 

New Jersey 6-Pack #1

Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA

Flying Fish Brewing Co.

8.2% ABV

Brewed in Somerdale, NJ

From the bottle:

"Rice helps this beer ferment dry to better showcase the five different hops we use.  We then dry-hop with generous amounts of Chinook and Citra to create a nose that hints at tangerine, mango, papaya and pine."

Flying Fish Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA

Exit 16 is a fantastic representation of the double IPA style for NJ.  The aroma and flavor of Exit 16 are fruity and floral, and has a bitterness that's not too overpowering.  This beer started as one of Flying Fish's Exit Series (special release beers), and was later promoted to a year round status.  Exit 16 does a great job representing the rest of New Jersey's superb double IPAs, including Carton Brewing 077xx, Kane Brewing Overhead and River Horse Hop-A-Lot-Amus.  Look for Exit 16 in 12 oz. bottles in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, DC; also at Total Wine stores in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

New Jersey 6-Pack #2

Nut Brown Ale

Climax Brewing Co.

5.2% ABV

Brewed in Roselle Park, NJ

From the bottle:

"This beer is handcrafted in small batches using only the finest domestic and Belgian malts, fresh hops, pure water and our special strain of yeast.  This time honored tradition insures that you receive only the freshest and finest beer available.  We hope you enjoy the fruits of our labor.  Cheers!"

Climax Brewing Nut Brown Ale

A lot of beers that aren't labeled as "imperial" or "extreme" don't get the credit they deserve.  In New Jersey, there are several breweries and brewpubs that dedicate themselves to producing beers made using tried and true, classic recipes.  To represent these, I've chosen Climax Brewing's Nut Brown Ale.  A taste full of caramel, roasted malts and a hint of nuttiness, simple doesn't often taste this good.  For similar beers, check out The Ship Inn in Milford and Krogh's brewpub in Sparta.  Find Climax's Nut Brown Ale in 12 oz. bottles and on draft in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

New Jersey 6-Pack #3

Garden State Stout

New Jersey Beer Co.

6.6% ABV

Brewed in North Bergen, NJ

From New Jersey Beer Co.'s website:

"We brewed our Stout in homage to the hardworking people of New Jersey, from Brick City to Silk City, from the farmlands to the shore.  Dive into this full-bodied chocolate stout, brewed with Belgian dark chocolate, malts and just enough hop character for balance."

New Jersey Beer Co. has been brewing beer in Hudson County for the last 3 years.  Their year round beers include a pale ale and an abbey single, but their Garden State Stout takes the cake.  Drinking this beer will fill your senses with chocolate, coffee and roasted malts.  Great for a cool night or an after dinner treat.  For some delicious non-bottled stouts brewed in NJ, check out offerings from Carton, Kane and Triumph Brewing Co.'s.  Find Garden State Stout in 12 oz. bottles and on draft in NJ.

New Jersey 6-Pack #4

Ramstein Blonde Wheat Beer

High Point Brewing Company

5.5% ABV

Brewed in Butler, NJ

From High Point's website:

"Unfiltered traditional German weiss beer. Malty wheat bouquet brimming with clove and apple aromas. Wheat and barley balanced by imported German Tettnanger hops. The finish is smooth and refreshing."

High Point's Ramstein Blonde is a classic take on a German wheat beer. Perfect for the summertime, this beer is actually made year round at High Point's German-influenced brewery in Butler, NJ.  Find it in 12. bottles and on draft in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania.

New Jersey 6-Pack #5

Blackhorn

Bolero Snort Brewery

6.5% ABV

Brewed in Butler NJ, Headquartered in Ridgefield Park, NJ

From the bottle:

"No BS, Just Ragin' Good Beer"

Bolero Snort Brewery Blackhorn

The guys from Bolero Snort Brewery just recently started brewing their beers in New Jersey.  For now, they are contract brewing in High Point Brewing's facility, but they plan on building out there own brewery as soon as they can.  Blackhorn is the first beer I've tried from them, and is a very nice, hoppy black lager.  It may be brewed with lager yeast, but it tastes more like a rich, roasted, hoppy porter to me.  Either way, it's worth your time to check out.  I'm also using this beer to represent all the other new brewers in NJ who aren't yet bottling, or aren't yet open.  Be on the lookout for Tuckahoe, Cape May Brewing, Turtle Stone, Rinn Duin Brewing and many more!  Blackhorn can be found in 12 oz. bottles and on draft only in NJ, for now. 

New Jersey 6-Pack #6

Exit 4 American Trippel

Flying Fish Brewing Co.

9.5% ABV

Brewed in Somerdale, NJ

From the bottle:

"This hoppy Belgian-style trippel has a hazy golden hue, aroma of citrus, hints of banana/clove with rich malt character followed by a subdued bitterness in the finish."

Flying Fish Exit 4 American Trippel

I was initially going to try and use 6 different breweries for my New Jersey 6-pack, but the Flying Fish Exit 4 American Trippel was too good to pass up.  Belgian sweetness up front, with some fruitiness added in, and a  slight hop kick at the end makes Exit 4 a beer you shouldn't pass up on either.  Look for it in 12 oz. bottles in New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland and Washington, DC; also at Total Wine stores in Arizona, California, Florida, Georgia, Nevada, North Carolina, South Carolina and Virginia.

That's all I've got!  Be sure to check out the other posts from the Six-Pack Project:

North Carolina (This Is Why I'm Drunk)
Pennsylvania (Justin's Brew Review)
South Carolina (Drink.Blog.Repeat.)
Virginia / D.C. (Beerbecue)
Colorado (Sheppy's Blog)

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