• Please visit and share your knowledge at our sister communities:
  • If you have not, please join our official Homebrewing Facebook Group!

    Homebrewing Facebook Group

What's Happening in NJ? Releases, News, Gatherings

Homebrew Talk

Help Support Homebrew Talk:

This site may earn a commission from merchant affiliate links, including eBay, Amazon, and others.
anyone in need of shippers? got a few 12's and a 6 I think... free if you pick up
 
Montclair Brewery had their grand opening today. It was super busy, it is a very nice space, the owners and staff seem super nice, and the beer was ok. They had 8 beers on when I arrived. I tried them all. There was a rosemary session ale that I would drink a lot more of, and a citra mango sour ale that was legit good. There was one "IPA" that was (by their description) a hoppy version of one of their brown ales that was not good, and a different brown ale w/ honey and maple syrup that was too boozy, but otherwise pretty good. Everything else was just aight.

But I liked the variety, and I think they will end up making good beer.
 
Montclair Brewery had their grand opening today. It was super busy, it is a very nice space, the owners and staff seem super nice, and the beer was ok. They had 8 beers on when I arrived. I tried them all. There was a rosemary session ale that I would drink a lot more of, and a citra mango sour ale that was legit good. There was one "IPA" that was (by their description) a hoppy version of one of their brown ales that was not good, and a different brown ale w/ honey and maple syrup that was too boozy, but otherwise pretty good. Everything else was just aight.

But I liked the variety, and I think they will end up making good beer.
Is this the one by walnut st?
 
Any food there there? Seems like no but figured I'd ask.

I think they had some food vendors for the opening, but I don't know if they're going to have any sort of regular offerings. There are a number restaurants very close by though. Egan's, Montclair Bread, and Red Eye Cafe are super close. Obviously if you went up to Bloomfield Ave there are many many more options.
 
anyone check Two Ton? It's so close to home, I have to visit but was away yesterday. Not sure I'll make it today.
 
anyone check Two Ton? It's so close to home, I have to visit but was away yesterday. Not sure I'll make it today.
I didn't, but I can confirm the location is terrible for parking, as it's along this industrial side street. Uber or carpooling would be ideal, otherwise I literally have no idea where you would park in the area, if it were busy.

See the street view here, Two Ton is up on the left: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.678...4!1sDR1TqshJm-IlZ-8dDIpiSg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I'm excited for Ava's Kitchen and Bar to open in Kenilworth, though. 32 taps plus the food looks to be on point.

https://www.instagram.com/avaskitchenandbar/
 
anyone check Two Ton? It's so close to home, I have to visit but was away yesterday. Not sure I'll make it today.

Fun fact: one of the two brothers/owners was my history teacher in high school. Will def stop by soon-let me know if you’re going!
 
I didn't, but I can confirm the location is terrible for parking, as it's along this industrial side street. Uber or carpooling would be ideal, otherwise I literally have no idea where you would park in the area, if it were busy.

See the street view here, Two Ton is up on the left: https://www.google.com/maps/@40.678...4!1sDR1TqshJm-IlZ-8dDIpiSg!2e0!7i13312!8i6656

I'm excited for Ava's Kitchen and Bar to open in Kenilworth, though. 32 taps plus the food looks to be on point.

https://www.instagram.com/avaskitchenandbar/

if Two Ton ends up being good, I could do them, then LRVB and Ava's (which are next to each other)... some nice possibilities and small gems there on the BLVD
 
Fun fact: one of the two brothers/owners was my history teacher in high school. Will def stop by soon-let me know if you’re going!

LMK if you're coming by... it's very close to me.

I'm assuming they won't open Mon - Weds... so my visit will likely have to wait until after Denver
 
Montclair Brewery had their grand opening today. It was super busy, it is a very nice space, the owners and staff seem super nice, and the beer was ok. They had 8 beers on when I arrived. I tried them all. There was a rosemary session ale that I would drink a lot more of, and a citra mango sour ale that was legit good. There was one "IPA" that was (by their description) a hoppy version of one of their brown ales that was not good, and a different brown ale w/ honey and maple syrup that was too boozy, but otherwise pretty good. Everything else was just aight.

But I liked the variety, and I think they will end up making good beer.

I tried the Passion Fruit Pale and the saison. The pale was a lesson in acetaldehyde off flavor. It was a glass of green apple juice with some passion fruit flavoring. Also got it in a warm glass that wasn't rinsed so there was some fun cleaner flavor too. Can't even comment on the saison because I'm pretty sure I was given two of the same beer. I really hope that's the case and the saison didn't taste like acetaldehyde passion fruit juice. Waited 20 minutes to get that so I wasn't even going to try to send em back. Took 2 sips and walked out. Owners were hiding in the back. 2 staff pouring and 1 was getting/cleaning empties. They were definitely extremely overwhelmed. Every beer looked undercarbed or maybe everything being poured into a hot unrinsed glass was killing carb. Seemed like very nice people so I'll chalk this all up to inexperience and go back in a few months.

Two Ton was 1000x more organized. Much more staff pouring. They had 3 different bars setup. Main bar with all beers. Basement with 4 beers. And outside with 2 beers. Parking was easier than Montclair. They have a small shared lot that looks to be all theirs on the weekend. Plus street parking which again is fine on the weekend when the other businesses are all closed. Beer at Two Ton much better as they're not really new, just new to having their own space. Crowd at Montclair looked like it was just another stop on the basic fall weekend tour, with babies and small children included. Never seen that many babies at a brewery at one time before, but its Montclair so I'm not surprised. It'll definitely be more of a place to go rather than a place to go get quality beer. But again I'll give them time and try again in a few months and will be more than willing to update my critique of the beer. I'd love to speak with the owners to help fix the operational issues(there were many more than I listed). Not a brewer so I can't help them on that front.
 
I tried the Passion Fruit Pale and the saison. The pale was a lesson in acetaldehyde off flavor. It was a glass of green apple juice with some passion fruit flavoring. Also got it in a warm glass that wasn't rinsed so there was some fun cleaner flavor too. Can't even comment on the saison because I'm pretty sure I was given two of the same beer. I really hope that's the case and the saison didn't taste like acetaldehyde passion fruit juice. Waited 20 minutes to get that so I wasn't even going to try to send em back. Took 2 sips and walked out. Owners were hiding in the back. 2 staff pouring and 1 was getting/cleaning empties. They were definitely extremely overwhelmed. Every beer looked undercarbed or maybe everything being poured into a hot unrinsed glass was killing carb. Seemed like very nice people so I'll chalk this all up to inexperience and go back in a few months.

Two Ton was 1000x more organized. Much more staff pouring. They had 3 different bars setup. Main bar with all beers. Basement with 4 beers. And outside with 2 beers. Parking was easier than Montclair. They have a small shared lot that looks to be all theirs on the weekend. Plus street parking which again is fine on the weekend when the other businesses are all closed. Beer at Two Ton much better as they're not really new, just new to having their own space. Crowd at Montclair looked like it was just another stop on the basic fall weekend tour, with babies and small children included. Never seen that many babies at a brewery at one time before, but its Montclair so I'm not surprised. It'll definitely be more of a place to go rather than a place to go get quality beer. But again I'll give them time and try again in a few months and will be more than willing to update my critique of the beer. I'd love to speak with the owners to help fix the operational issues(there were many more than I listed). Not a brewer so I can't help them on that front.

what's the deal w/ Two Ton's beers? Are they good? any standouts?
 
All pretty decent. They do really good sours so be on the lookout. Had one on a secret line.

new breweries are becoming like new music. So many options, I can't sit and listen to one brand enough to get a feel for them. and then there are ones you dismiss simply by several bad reviews.

I do realize there is plenty of room to grow and a place like Montclair might do just fine with daytrippers and the stroller crowd, because it has great proximity.

There's enough share of throat for everyone ;)
 
new breweries are becoming like new music. So many options, I can't sit and listen to one brand enough to get a feel for them. and then there are ones you dismiss simply by several bad reviews.

I do realize there is plenty of room to grow and a place like Montclair might do just fine with daytrippers and the stroller crowd, because it has great proximity.

There's enough share of throat for everyone ;)
Exactly about Montclair. Thats a location driven brewery. I hope they don't turn into YT. Just stay away for a few months. They seem to have acknowledged their carb problem as per their latest facebook post. Also make a beer $6, not $6 plus tax
 
Kane releasing 3 BA Driftwood variants plus more tomorrow

This really checks all the awesome Facebook comment boxes:
  • Release during a dangerous storm
  • No online tickets/lottery
  • Limits too high
Well, I know what I'm doing the rest of the night.
 
Back
Top