WINTER BEER FEST 3 – HIGH STREET GRILL, MT. HOLLY, NJ
JANUARY 29, 2011
John and the crew at the High Street Grill in Mt. Holly put on a superb beer event this past Saturday (intended to be posted earlier). It was cold outside, but it was nice and warm inside the heated tent that was erected for this event. There was two different two hour sessions to sample some of the best winter beers around. Two hours just the right amount of time to enjoy the higher alcohol beer without going over board – still, don’t get me wrong, me and the others were disappointed when the event was over!
If you have yet to make it to this event get there next year. And if you have yet to try the High Street Grill in Mt. Holly, what are you waiting for! Enjoy some great beer (one of the only beer bars with a hand pump in the area) and great food at this place.
The Event Featured Beers From:
Smutty Nose Oskar Blues Gubna
Dales Pale Ale Allagash
Lagunitas Troegs
Avery Firestone
Founders Yards
Stoudts Victory
Unibroue Yards
Stone Heavy Seas
BrewJersians Home Brewing
Judging by the long line of folks ahead of me in line, my approach was to visit the beer samples that had not line at all inside the tent. Walking in, I approached the Smuttynose (New Hampshire) table and ordered a Baltic Porter form this fantastic brewer. The porter was one of my favs of the day. A very robust and warming taste was detected. The rest of the choices that day were tough. My attitude was the try beers that I have never tried before. Well, that is difficult; I have had many different beers in my time! Imagine, I walked past the great Stone and Founders Brewers and went to the brewer that everyone on the east coast is talking about – Firestone Walker out of California. I sampled their 14 and was overcome by the high presence of alcohol taste. But, I am a fan of Firestone Walker after having their porter. This was one of the best porters there – nice head.
Allagash 4, was outstanding! This Belgian style beer was, warm and creamy, A++ rating for me.
I stuck with the dark beers, why not! I had other fine beers such as: Stoudts’ Winter Ale – very good – smooth. Avery Czar Stout Great, Yards’ Cask conditioned porter. All are great choices.
The beer brewers that stole the show this day were the home brewers group BrewJersians. These guys had some kick ass beer that was just as good, if not better than the well know craft brewers present! Some of their beers I was lucky to sample were:
- A great oaked rye, Scotch ale, vanilla porter, and an unforgettable double IPA. The double IPA was off the charts hopness! I was in love at first sniff. ( you don’t hear that too often) The guys had the already well hoped brew run from the keg in to a metal canister, then to your cup. In the canister were more hops! So the end result was an outstanding super hoped beer. I remember exhaling through my nose and felling the hops running through my nostrils. Great stuff. Look out for these guys. Best part, they are all nice guys and love to talk beer to anyone, novice to pro.
But wait. I did not enjoy all the beer that I had that day. I must say that from Yards I had their Spruce Ale. I did not enjoy it. It tasted like a Christmas tree in a cup. Not for me.
I hope to see you out next year for this event. Tickets sell out quickly. The tent was a bit crowed, but what the hell, it forces you to mingle with some of the best people in the world – craft beer drinkers! We else could you overhear the comment, “The head just keeps on going up and up!”
