High Point Brewery: Great Micro-Brewed Ramstein Beer in Kinnelon's Back Yard

Do you like beer?

Is the Pope on Facebook!!??

Answer: Yes! He is!

He's German you know -- I betcha he likes beer.

I like beer, too, and even better, or worse, I like DRAFT beer. I like freshly brewed, unbottled, craft beer loaded into my 2 liter gasketed, stoppered growler. And I like it better than almost all bottled beer.

Because it is a lot better. Did I say I like it a lot?

We have just such beer in our back yard, made down in Butler on Kiel Avenue by the High Point Brewing Company and owner Greg Zaccardi, in the form of Ramstein Beers.

These are German style wheat beers and lagers from light to dark made from German and Belgian ingredients.

Some of the varieties include Classic Hefe Weissen, Dunkel (Dark) Hefe Weissen, Blonde, Double Platinum Blonde, Gold (a light summer beer), Maibock, Amber Lager, and, seasonally, others.

You can go check them out most anytime, but they have a tour and beer tasting on the 2nd Saturday of each month from 2 PM to 4 PM -- in June that's Saturday, the 13th.

The physical plant occupies a multi-story space in the old red-brick rubber factory complex and the vestibule has a small bar with several of their draft beers on tap -- visitors and customers are welcome to try the current offerings.

The brewery is generally open 6 days a week, Monday through Saturday, from 9 or 10 in the AM to 6 or 7 in the PM. You can go there and buy your beer directly from them, on draft, or in bottles (if you must), and I suggest you call first to make sure they are there when you want to go, especially if it's at the beginning or end of the day. 973 838-7400.

I have seen their bottled beers in some local stores such as Lucerne's on Route 23, and Bottle King on Route 23 in Wayne, but the thing to do is get your growler, or any well-stoppered jug, and go down to Butler and fill 'er up.

I understand also that Outback in Butler on Route 23 serves Ramstein beers as well, if you want to try it at a local restaurant -- don't know if they have it on draft or not.

The beer will last for a week or even longer in an unopened jug, but once opened, will need to be consumed with a 24 hour period or it will go flat.

I know -- such a hardship to have to finish off that growler!

Why do I like the Ramstein beer so much? Well, draft beer in general has a fresher flavor than bottled, and the Ramstein Beers in particular are balanced, well defined, complex, and have a long finish -- none of the weak soda water finish of some Other Beers which shall remain nameless, and should remain un-drunk.

Support your local brewery!

Go get some.

~ Ted

Check out this article from Fine Cooking, titled "Rich & Creamy German-Style Wheat Beers from an American Microbrewery." It includes photos.

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