Long Valley Pub and Brewery Beer Tasting

September 21, 2009 By

Long Valley Pub Beer Tasting

Long Valley Pub Beer Tasting

Long Valley Pub & Brewery, in Long Valley NJ, is housed in a beautifully-restored 200-year old barn originally built by German immigrants.  The seven-barrel brewing system is by Pub Brewing Company of California.  Don’t expect to see brewing taking place if you visit the Long Valley Pub & Brewery in the evenings as most of the brewing is done in the early weekday mornings by head brewer Joe Saia.  For patrons who’d like to take a tour of the brewery, special arrangements can be made with Joe during the week.

Both the downstairs and upstairs bars offer a seasonal beer tasting to allow patrons to sample each well-crafted brew prior to committing to an entire pint.  On a recent visit, the following selections were available (as described by the pub):

Extra Special Bitter (ESB)
Our ESB is dry hopped with East Kent Goldings which dominate its aroma and contribute much if the beer’s flavor.  There is an assertive bitterness but it is masked somewhat by a caramel sweetness.  Although assertive, the malt, bitterness and hop characteristics of this ale are well balanced for a smooth easy drink

Stone Barn Stout
LVPBs Stone Barn Stout is a nitrogen dispensed dry Irish stout in the Guinness tradition.  Roasted barley is what gives this beer its definitive taste and color with no hop flavor or aroma.  Our Stone Barn Stout is relatively light in alcohol (ABV ~3.8%) but has a robust roasted flavor

Hookermans Light
The lightest of our beers, having a delicate flavor & body, with a refreshing fruit aroma

German Valley Amber
Fire brick red in color with a citrus hop finish

Lazy Jake Porter
A robust black beer with a hearty roasted flavor, full of body & bold character

American Pale Ale
We are proud to present this new addition to our family of finely crafted ales! American hops give this Pale Ale a bold crisp finish

While our party enjoyed all the samples, the favorites were the Hookermans Light and the Stone Barn Stout.  Although the Hookermans Light is a milder, light beer, it’s full of flavor and pleasantly refreshing.  The Stone Barn Stout is rich and chocolaty and features a gorgeous dark brown color and creamy thick head.

If planning a beer tasting, know that the kitchen staff prepares great starters to go along with the brews that can be enjoyed from the bar.  We paired the beer sampler with the Ploughman’s Platter which features olives, hummus and toasted bread, country pâté, aged cheddar and roasted peppers – perfect match to the various beers.

Although a brewery, the space is very family-oriented and offers a sizeable children’s menu.  Patrons should not hesitate to bring the whole gang for some family fun.  Small groups are also welcomed on the second level, which used to be a hay loft.

Long Valley Pub and Brewery
One Fairmount Road
Long Valley, NJ 07853

908-876-1122

http://longvalleypubandbrewery.com

Filed Under: Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , , , , ,

Wine-Around-the-World Party

September 7, 2009 By

Enjoy sampling a variety of wines? Like trying an array of different foods? Hosting a wine-around-the-world party could be the answer.

I try to host two such parties every year: one in the Summer and one in the Winter.  The concept is simple: 1) Put together a small group of friends who enjoy wine and food  2) Send an invitation (email is appropriate) where you ask each person, or couple, to select a favorite country  3) Request that each person, or couple, bring a dish and a bottle of wine from that country!

This concept is great fun for all and allows each guest to feel like he/she has contributed to the party and in the sharing of the costs.  It’s essential that you let the guests know that you’ll be preparing the entree so that everyone can bring appetizers, sides or desserts.  It is after all your party, so the main dish should come from you.  Another idea is to host an hors-d’oeuvres party where all the dishes are served tapas-style.

Before the guests arrive, arrange small tent-cards at various areas around the dining space with country-appropriate placemats or tablecloths, creating ‘dining stations’ .  As guests arrive, have them write the name of the dish and selected country on their designated place card along with main ingredients (important for folks with allergies).  I like to display each country in a separate area, sometimes featuring a small flag from that country so it’s easy for guests to recognize what ‘country’ they’re sampling from when they visit a specific station.

I’ve invested in decent party glasses so that each country offers a clean glass, but an inexpensive way to do this is to visit a dollar store where you can purchase glasses economically.  I enjoy featuring different kinds of glasses based on the country: elegant stemmed glass for France, short water glass for Italy, etc…I place these party glasses in a plastic bin that I can store in the attic or garage until the next party.

Hosting a Summer and a Winter wine-around-the-world party commits me to have friends over at least twice a year in this fun atmosphere and to showcase both lighter fares in the Summer and heartier ones in the Winter.

I urge you to try a wine-around-the-world party, it’s great fun and offers an interactive way for guests to relate to each other.  Just do it!

Filed Under: Other Neat Things Tagged With: , , , , ,

Israeli wine anyone? Count me in

August 22, 2009 By

Last night, I had the pleasure of sharing a bottle of Israeli Cabernet Sauvignon with some guests at my home.  What was neat about the wine, is that:

  1. It was my first taste of Israeli wine – definitely not my last
  2. The bottle was recommended by Avi, a wine communications consultant from Ranaana who I ‘met’ on Twitter (@hakerem) – how great is social media?!
  3. I was able to find, order online and receive the wine within 2 business days from the savvy folks at Wine Library in Springfield, NJ, who I also exchange Tweets with (@winelibrary).

I opened the bottle of 2004 Segal’s Cabernet Sauvignon Special Reserve a couple of hours prior to dinner, and when I first tasted it, I felt like it could improve from decanting for all the elements to come together.

After about 45 minutes in the decanter, I found the beautifully dark wine to be rich, spicy and full of bold red current flavors.

We enjoyed the well-priced wine with grilled filet mignon kabobs, basmati rice and a four pepper sauce, enhanced by a splash of the Segal’s.  I feel the meal was a worthy pairing to the well-balanced oak and tannins of this pleasant wine.

For more information and for a buying guide on Israeli wines and kosher wines, visit:  www.israeli-wine.org

Filed Under: Other Neat Things, Wine Reviews Tagged With: , , ,
« Previous Page