JJ Bitting Brewing Company 15 year Anniversary - March 10,2012

Then 1997

Now 2012

On March 10, 2012 J.J. Bitting Brewing Company will celebrate their 15 year Anniversary. All Profits from the day are going to the Kevin Reinhard Scholarship Fund. They will be introducing their commemorative Abbey Ale. It is 6.5% abv, blonde in color and light in body carrying notes of plum and spice. The day will include a ceremonial tapping of a firkin (gravity pour) of this special ale to kick off the celebration.

On tap will also be

The "O'Halloran's Irish Red Ale," for St. Parrick's day.

The "Barley Legal Barleywine" (9.1% abv) and featuring flavors of vanilla and pear.

The "Vintage XX Stout" (6.8% abv), which was aged for 4 months on oak and carries a distinctive tartness complimented by complex flavors of bitter chocolate and dried fruit.

J.J. Bitting Brewing Co
33 Main Street
Woodbridge, NJ 07095
(732) 634-2929

Small Brewer Bill 5-0 passes NJ Senate March 5, 2012

One of the major hurdles facing the NJ craft brewing community is the current laws regulating breweries. Currently state law limits owners to two brewpubs and prohibits them from selling or sampling beer outside. Currently production brewers can sell direct only to visitors who tour the facilities and only in amounts not to exceed two take-out six-packs. Visitors can sample four two-ounce beers after their tour but can't drink a full adult-sized serving.

The new bill if passes in the House, will raise the amount breweries can produce per year and allow brewpub owners to own an unlimited number of properties, participate in tasting events, and sell their beer to stores and restaurants. The bill seeks to permit small production breweries (those that brew for distribution solely) to sell their beer directly to the public by the case and by the glass, both at the brewery and at up to 10 exclusive salesrooms.

If passed the bill would promote tremendous growth to the New Jersey economy. The bill was largely passed due to support from the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild. Please contact them if you would like to get involved http://www.njbeer.org/about/contact.php

Event - Beers on the Boards March 24, 2012

Martell's Tiki Bar will host "Beers on the Boards" on Saturday March 24, 2012. This craft beer festival will feature over 25 breweries and an all day buffet. There will be many local breweries on hand including Yards, Cricket Hill, and Blue Point.

There will be two sessions: 12:30-4pm and 6-9:30pm.

Two radio stations will be there, 92.7 Soft Rock and 94.3 The Point. The Band for the afternoon session is "The Mike Dalton Band" and the evening session is "The Jared Dean Band."

Tickets are $44 per person
To purchase tickets follow this link http://beerheads.ticketleap.com/beersontheboards/


Martell's Tiki Bar
308 Boardwalk

# 310 Point Pleasant Beach, NJ 08742

(732) 892-0131

Event - Heartland Brewery - Launch Party

Heartland Brewery is launching a new beer this month. It is the Cherry Blossom IPA.
They are hosting a launch party in the Union Square location on Monday March 26, 2012. The party is from 7:00-9:00pm. They will be providing a free mug of the new beer along with bar snacks. Heartland Brewery Brewmaster Kelly Taylor will be their to give a brief lecture, answer questions and raise a toast to the new beer.

Heartland Brewery

Union Square
35 Union Sq. W. at 17th St.
212.645.3400

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival 2012

The Atlantic City Beer Festival will take place March 30th and 31st, 2012. There will be 3 sessions.
Friday March 30: 7-11pm
Saturday March 31: 12-4pm
Saturday March 31: 6-10pm

This year's convention features over 70 different breweries both locally and across the US. The focus is on craft beers and will feature also feature brewing demonstrations.
Tickets are :
$55 at the door (if available)
$50 per session in advance online Ticket Master
Designated driver Tickets $10 and available at the door only
Group Ticket Available on Ticketmaster 10 to 15 Tickets $47 per person

Follow this link for more information Celebration of the Suds
The Atlantic City Convention Center
1 Miss America Way
Atlantic City NJ 08401

Coffee and Tea Festival NYC- February 25 & 26, 2012

This year's 7th Annual Coffee & Tea Festival will be held on Saturday 2/25 & Sunday 2/26 at
7 W 34th Street
New York, NY 10001

You can sample gourmet teas and coffee and take classes at various workshops.
To purchase tickets follow this link http://www.coffeeandteafestival.com/nyc/coffee-tea-tickets.html

Happy National Tortilla Chip Day - February 24, 2012

National Tortilla Chip Day

Rebecca Webb Carranza invented tortilla chips in the 1950s. Carranza and her husband owned the El Zarape Tortilla Factory in Los Angeles and were among the first to automate the production of tortillas. The machine often produced misshapen tortillas, and Carranza decided to try and use them instead of throwing them away. She cut the rejected tortillas into triangles, fried them, and sold them for a dime a bag.Tortilla chips soon became a nationwide sensation.

To celebrate why not try a drink made from corn. Chicha is a term used in some regions of Latin American for several varieties of fermented and non-fermented beverages, often derived from maize. It sometimes referred to as Corn Beer. While brewing real corn beer may be to difficult and time consuming. Here is a non-alcoholic version.

Peruvian Chicha Morada Drink Recipe

• 1 gallon water
• 1 (15 ounce) package dried purple corn (maiz morado)
• 2 cinnamon sticks
• 1 tablespoon whole cloves
• 5 large lemons, juiced
• 1 1/2 cups brown sugar
• 1/2 cup fresh pineapple, chopped
• 1/2 apple, chopped

Directions

1. Bring the water to a boil with the corn, cinnamon sticks, and cloves in a large pot. Reduce heat to medium-low; simmer 40 minutes. Remove from the heat and strain through a mesh strainer to remove the corn and spices. Stir the lemon juice and sugar into the chicha until the sugar has dissolved. Refrigerate until cold.
2. Stir in the chopped pineapple and apple before serving over ice.