Review - Ballast Point Brewing Co Habanero Sculpin

This was a great tasting beer with a lot of heat. While the smell is citrusy with the faint smell of peppers, the taste is all habanero. It will even burn your mouth and throat like a real pepper would. I definitely recommend trying it, but I wouldn't recommend drinking it alone. It would go great with flavorful foods like Mexican, Jamaican or Thai.

Store - Liquor Locker

This is my new favorite place. Liquor Locker is a chain in New Jersey, specializing in wine and scotch but also carries beer and what you would normally find in a liquor store. They have a great selection and some unique  bottles that I have not seen in other stores. They also sell online through the website https://www.winemo.com/

The prices are decent and the location is great. It's located  right next to the Saddle River Tours Atlantic City bus in Edison, NJ. You could make a  purchase to take down to AC with you or after you get back with your winnings.

1665 Oak Tree Road
Edison, NJ-08820
Phone: (732) 548-1272
Fax: (732) 548-2151
edison@saversclubliquorlocker.com

Review - River Horse Cherry Berliner Weisse

 

I tried River Horse Brewing Company's Cherry Beliner Weisse. It's a 4.2% ABV seasonal German Style Wheat Ale. It had a great balance of flavors, it was slightly sweet and slightly tart with no one over powering the other. The tart cherry flavoring was very natural and smooth. It also had a great wheat/cherry smell. This was a great beer to drink alone and would pair well with poultry, sea food, salads, and dessert.

River Horse Brewing Company is located in Ewing, NJ and offers tours on Saturday and Sunday by reservation only. For more about their beers and tours visit their website http://www.riverhorse.com/

Ballantine and Sons Brewing Co.

I knew this logo looked really familiar but I was having a hard time placing it. Ballantine India Pale Ale is a revival of an old recipe from Ballantine and Sons Brewing Co. The brewery located in Newark, NJ, closed in 1972 when it was acquired by Falstaff Brewing Co. It was later bought over by Pabst in 1985. Ballantine is considered one of the nations oldest breweries, founded in 1840.

I originally learned about the company after purchasing this serving tray at a garage sale for a nickle. This tray with an older logo  (circa 1950) can be found on ebay selling for ~$30. It's nice to own a piece of history, and glad that they are back to brewing.

In 2014 they re-launched the Ballantine India Pale Ale. It's a 7.2% ABV, American style IPA. It's a bitter, complex beer with hints of citrus and caramel. It has been described as an intense beer, but is well balanced.



This is what the brewery looked like in 1906.

Review- Curious Traveler Lemon Shandy

 

I tried The Traveler Beer Co.'s Curious Traveler Lemon Shandy and really enjoyed this beer. It's a shandy beer that tastes more  like lemonade than beer. It has a sweet kick to it and was very tasty. It's a 4.4% ABV beer made from Hallertau hops, lemon, and lime.
They also make a grapefruit, pumpkin, and winter(orange/pomegranate) shandy.

Review - DuClaw Brewing Co. Funk

I tried DuClaw Brewing Co's Funk beer, which is a 5% Blueberry Citrus Wheat Ale. I was disappointed with the flavoring, it was more orange/lemony with a slight blueberry taste. It smelled sweet and citrusy. It was very carbonated/bubbly when poured into a glass. Over all the flavorings were very light, and this will go well with any type of food. I would be happy if they changed the name to Citrus Wheat Ale.

Review - Jolly Rancher Soda

 

I tried Jolly Rancher Soda in the Cherry flavor and love it. It's not too sweet and actually tastes like a Jolly Rancher candy. This flavor was great for mixing with vodka. My drink was refreshing and light. It currently comes in Watermelon, Green Apple, Blue Raspberry, Grape and Cherry flavors. It can be found at Kmart and Big Lots for only $1.