BREWED IN THE GARDEN STATE
The New Jersey Beer Co. is almost ready to open
By JOHN HOLL
For BeerNexus.com
Like so many others before him, Matt Steinberg came to New
Jersey via New York City seeking a lower rent. He settled in North
Bergen a Hudson County town with sweeping views of the
Manhattan skyline.
The 32-year-old Steinberg, who has a degree in computer science
and works as an IT consultant, has long held a fondness for craft
beer, something forged in college. Back then, he and his buddies
would gather up a few extra dollars and pick of a case of Saranac
Lager, as opposed to the usual cheap college beer.
“I’ve been interested in alcohol long before I was old enough to be
legally interested,” he said during a recent interview at a Jersey City
beer garden.
He also has an entrepreneurial spirit and a fondness for
homebrewing. So when that little voice in the back of his head
grew louder, urging him on to open a business, he thought about a
few options, including opening up a bar or restaurant. Steinberg
decided, instead, to open a brewery. New Jersey is already home to
some 20 breweries and brewpubs. But, with a few exceptions, few
admit that they come from the Garden State. There will be no
mistake with Steinberg’s aptly named New Jersey Beer Company.
Right now, the brewing equipment is on a carrier ship making its
way to New Jersey. From there the 20 barrel system and bottling
line will be installed in a 5,000 square foot space inside a
warehouse that is also home to a construction company and other
businesses, said Steinberg.
He’s met with lawyers, gotten initial state approval and is in
discussions with distributors and said that he is “chomping at the
bit” to get brewing. Their progress can be tracked on their website
njbeerco.com
New Jersey Beer Co. plans three initial offerings: Hudson Pale Ale,
Garden State Stout and 1787 Abbey Single, a Belgium-style session
beer.
The brewery also plans to release a number of big beers, high in
alcohol content and stretching the creative boundaries of beer.
Knowing his limited brewing experience could hinder a successful
launch Steinberg hired Matt Westfall, who worked most recently at
the New England Brewing Company in Woodbridge, Conn.
In addition to the brewer, Steinberg has three other employees;
friends who have a design firm in Brooklyn designed the beer
labels.
Listening to Steinberg, as he stands on the launch of New Jersey’s
latest brewery, it is easy to hear the hope, excitement, stress and
promise shared by so many American craft brewers who have
come before him. “I want to have session beers, I want to have
14% imperials,” said Steinberg. “You can’t appease everyone, but
the three we will launch with should meet a lot of tastes.”
Right now, the brewery is a mess of pipes and wires. If all goes
according to plan Steinberg hopes to start brewing in a few weeks
and have his beers on the shelves and on tap several weeks after
that. His ambitious goal has the brewery producing about 1,500
barrels in 2010.
“I’m proud to be in New Jersey,” he said. “A lot of great beers come
from here and we’re hoping to join that.”
John Holl writes about craft beer.
He may be reached at jholl@newjerseynewsroom.com
The New Jersey Beer Co. is almost ready to open
By JOHN HOLL
For BeerNexus.com
Like so many others before him, Matt Steinberg came to New
Jersey via New York City seeking a lower rent. He settled in North
Bergen a Hudson County town with sweeping views of the
Manhattan skyline.
The 32-year-old Steinberg, who has a degree in computer science
and works as an IT consultant, has long held a fondness for craft
beer, something forged in college. Back then, he and his buddies
would gather up a few extra dollars and pick of a case of Saranac
Lager, as opposed to the usual cheap college beer.
“I’ve been interested in alcohol long before I was old enough to be
legally interested,” he said during a recent interview at a Jersey City
beer garden.
He also has an entrepreneurial spirit and a fondness for
homebrewing. So when that little voice in the back of his head
grew louder, urging him on to open a business, he thought about a
few options, including opening up a bar or restaurant. Steinberg
decided, instead, to open a brewery. New Jersey is already home to
some 20 breweries and brewpubs. But, with a few exceptions, few
admit that they come from the Garden State. There will be no
mistake with Steinberg’s aptly named New Jersey Beer Company.
Right now, the brewing equipment is on a carrier ship making its
way to New Jersey. From there the 20 barrel system and bottling
line will be installed in a 5,000 square foot space inside a
warehouse that is also home to a construction company and other
businesses, said Steinberg.
He’s met with lawyers, gotten initial state approval and is in
discussions with distributors and said that he is “chomping at the
bit” to get brewing. Their progress can be tracked on their website
njbeerco.com
New Jersey Beer Co. plans three initial offerings: Hudson Pale Ale,
Garden State Stout and 1787 Abbey Single, a Belgium-style session
beer.
The brewery also plans to release a number of big beers, high in
alcohol content and stretching the creative boundaries of beer.
Knowing his limited brewing experience could hinder a successful
launch Steinberg hired Matt Westfall, who worked most recently at
the New England Brewing Company in Woodbridge, Conn.
In addition to the brewer, Steinberg has three other employees;
friends who have a design firm in Brooklyn designed the beer
labels.
Listening to Steinberg, as he stands on the launch of New Jersey’s
latest brewery, it is easy to hear the hope, excitement, stress and
promise shared by so many American craft brewers who have
come before him. “I want to have session beers, I want to have
14% imperials,” said Steinberg. “You can’t appease everyone, but
the three we will launch with should meet a lot of tastes.”
Right now, the brewery is a mess of pipes and wires. If all goes
according to plan Steinberg hopes to start brewing in a few weeks
and have his beers on the shelves and on tap several weeks after
that. His ambitious goal has the brewery producing about 1,500
barrels in 2010.
“I’m proud to be in New Jersey,” he said. “A lot of great beers come
from here and we’re hoping to join that.”
John Holl writes about craft beer.
He may be reached at jholl@newjerseynewsroom.com
John Holl
A Journalist Looks at Beer
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