Beer Tasting @ the Big Brew Beer Festival
This past Saturday I went to the Big Brew Beer Festival to check out some local and not so local beers, grab some photos, and eat some grub. This event is held more than once a year at the Morristown Armory located in Morristown, New Jersey (Morris County). You should really check out their website for upcoming events.
I have been to the Big Brew Beer Festival many times before, but I always look forward to it so I can check out what breweries will be in attendance. The great thing about craft breweries is that they are always creating new beers to try.
The event features lots of New Jersey craft breweries, American craft breweries from around the country, and popular breweries like Leinenkugel, Magic Hat, Sam Adams, Angry Orchard, Woodchuck Cider and Yards Brewing Co. There is literally something for everybody.
I had VIP tickets for the event which featured an appetizer samplings buffet created by Tim “The Brew Chef” Schafer. There was lots of great food which they had paired with local New Jersey beer. My favorite was this Shepard’s Pie which was paired with Climax Brewing Co‘s Winter Ale.
Enjoying @ClimaxBrewingco with a shepherds pie at the @BigBrewBeerFest #njisntboring pic.twitter.com/AKzuCuM2BU
— NJ Isn’t Boring! (@njisntboring) March 5, 2016
They also had one of the best brownies I’ve ever had. It was a Baltic Porter Triple Chocolate Cherry Bomb brownie which had peanut butter porter ice cream and ale spiked vanilla whipped cream. This paired very well with Flying Fish‘s Baltic Porter.
Overall, a great time at the VIP hour. Exclusive beers and food are the way to my heart.
Vip hour at the @bigbrewbeerfestival! #njcraftbeer #bigbrewnj #njisntboring
A photo posted by New Jersey Isn’t Boring (@newjerseyisntboring) on
There was A LOT of beer at the Big Brew Beer Festival this year. You can easily get your money’s worth considering the sessions are 4 hours each, with an extra hour if you get VIP tickets. I obviously recommend using a shuttle service to the event, or have a DD so you don’t drink and drive. The Big Brew Beer Festival (very smartly) provides shuttle service to this event.
Since I am a big supported of the craft beer scene in New Jersey, I decided to make checking out the breweries who are based in NJ my priority at this festival.
New Jersey Breweries at the Big Brew Beer Festival:
– 902 Brewing Co
– Angry Erik
– Beach Haus
– Bolero Snort
– Climax Brewing Co
– Cricket Hill
– Demented Brewing Co
– Flounder
– Flying Fish
– Forgotten Boardwalk
– Magnify
– Pinelands
– Ramstein
– Riverhorse
– Tuckahoe
– Two Ton
That’s 16 New Jersey represented! New Jersey Craft Beer was in attendance at the Big Brew Beer Festival. Do you have your membership yet? Lots of great savings on brew in NJ.
My first stop was at Two Ton Brewing Co, a brewery based out of Linden. I was a big fan of their Extra Special Chocolate Vanilla Porter. We also took a selfie together (they insisted).
Other notable beers I tried at the event was Pineland Brewing Co‘s Evan John Porter, another Vanilla porter. Very smooth. Pineland’s Brewing Co is definitely on the top of my list of the next breweries I want to visit.
Another beer I tried and loved was Ramstein‘s Double Platinum Blonde, which went on to win the People’s Choice Award at the Big Brew Beer Festival this year. I was happy to see a NJ brewery take the prize this year. Congrats!
A photo posted by Big Brew Beer Festival (@bigbrewbeerfestival) on
I also want too highlight Bolero Snort‘s La Taureau Tripel which was made to celebrate their 3rd Anniversary, was also one of my favorite’s of the beers I’ve tried. It went fast!
My favorite non-NJ brews went to Clown Shoes Beer‘s Clementine White Ale and Downeast Cider House‘s Cider. I love alcoholic cider, and Downeast Cider House (located right outside of Boston) was one of the better ones I’ve had.
Food wise, the Big Brew Beer Festival had vendors represented from local restaurants like Morris Tap and Grill, Jack’s Cabin and Handsome Devil BBQ.
There was also plenty of pretzel necklaces being sold, and samples from local vendors including Momma’s Homemade, The Cake and the Jar, The Blue Collar Foodie, The Bacon Jams, and Wild Coyote Hot Sauces.
One of my favorite food trucks, the Cow and the Curd was also in attendance! Gotta love those cheese curds.
This event also features local businesses including Penelope Traveling Boutique, True Jersey, Thirst Quencher Neckware, Jersey Plate Art, Fit to Be Tie Dyed, Mr. and Mrs. Jerky, BD Pong, Bamboozled and more.
Lots to drink, eat and do this year!Overall, another great time at the Big Brew Beer Festival! Looking forward to the next one!
