Discovering the Plot-twists of Flavor at Wild Air Beer Works in Asbury Park
Wild Air Beer Works is a small-batch brewery situated in the vibrant seaside community of Asbury Park, New Jersey. They opened their doors in September 2022.
Nick Jiorle co-owns the brewery alongside Bert and Dani Roling. Jiorle and the Rolings, who previously opened Last Wave Brewing in Point Pleasant, embarked on their second brewery venture with Wild Air Beerworks. Last Wave Brewing draws inspiration from surfing culture and boasts a wide selection of beer styles, while Wild Air takes a unique approach.
The bartop, crafted by a local surfboard maker, and an old van converted into a seating area nod to the surfing vibe, but the focus here is on brewing almost exclusively lagers and sours, setting Wild Air Beerworks apart from both Last Wave and other craft breweries.
Lagers and sours require different brewing processes. Lagers require precision and can take anywhere from 2-3 weeks to several months to brew. Many craft brewers lack the equipment needed to produce high-quality lagers, but Wild Air’s new space has overcome this obstacle. Sours also take time, sometimes years, and are made by allowing wild yeast and bacteria to settle on the beer or by adding specific bacteria or fungi like Lactobacillus or Brettanomyces for their distinct flavor.
The brewery derives its name from a line in an Emerson poem and its beers are named after lines from literature.
Wild Air Beerworks offers a diverse range of beer styles, each with a unique flavor profile and literary reference. From the soft bready, honey character of Inherent Vice Premium Lager to the rich, amber-hued Oktoberfest named after Catch-22, Wild Air’s beers are perfect for both refreshment and contemplation. Other styles include Kellerbier, Rye Lager, Rauchbier, Cold IPA, Munich-style Dunkel, and Helles Lager, each with a literary nod and distinct taste.
The tasting room features a dramatic, dark bookcase on its far wall and deliberately omits any TVs. This is a brewery where they would rather host book clubs than trivia nights.
The brewery is kid-friendly and dog-friendly (as of this post), and because it’s in Asbury Park there are plenty of great restaurants in the area for takeout.
Overall, Wild Air Beer Works is a must-visit destination for anyone who loves craft beer. With their unique brewing process, delicious and inventive beers, it’s no wonder that they have become a beloved fixture in the Asbury Park community.
For more information visit their Website, Facebook, and Instagram.
