Wet Ticket Brewing Co in Rahway: Review

November 28, 2016 newjerseyisntboring

It seems like only yesterday that I visited Wet Ticket Brewing Co in Rahway when they were first doing construction. Now their grand opening is scheduled for December 3rd, 2016, and I’m so impressed to see how far they’ve come.

Wet Ticket Brewing Co is located in downtown Rahway, a new up and coming neighborhood which features lots of great restaurants, the Union County Performing Arts Center, and lots of shopping. Having a brewery in town is definitely going to improve visitors coming to the area, and the local restaurants will definitely be excited to pair their food with the local craft beer. Plus it doesn’t hurt that it’s 2 blocks from a train station.

So, why is the brewery called “Wet Ticket”? The term refers to the individuals who ran for office with the intent to repeal prohibition back in the 1930s. You were either on the “wet ticket” or the “dry ticket”. In 1933 the people spoke, and the “Wet” candidates went on to repeal Prohibition. In keeping with the the name of the brewery, the “for the people attitude” will be carried through in everything Wet Ticket Brewing does. According to co-owner Tim Pewitt, “Our mission will not only be to create great beers, but to make the brewery itself a destination for all those seeking to celebrate, learn about, and become a part of the craft beer movement.”

When I was there they were still in their soft opening, and they had four beers on tap. As the brewery continues to grow, expect to find more options! Since not everyone appreciates every style for beer (for example, I tend not to like IPAs or very dark stouts) they will have as many beers on tap as the system and demand can support.

Beers you can expect at Wet Ticket Brewing Co are hop forward American ales and Belgians. Their beers will change on the feedback they receive in the tasting room, the season (I was there in Fall), and what hops are available. As a customer and consumer I personally feel it is very important that the brewers are responding to what their clientele is liking.

Here is what I had when I was there:

All four beers were fantastic, although I was partial to the Kolsch and the Imperial Oatmeal Stout, which were the two not as hoppy beers they had on tap. Hop lovers will enjoy the Hoppy Kolsch and their Double IPA.