craftbeergirlfriend

Many craft beer organizations and breweries are encouraging craft beer lovers to virtually share a beer of their choice via social media to hopefully spark some friendly online discussion and inspire folks to try new/different beers.

How to participate: Crack a cold one, snap a pic, share to your favorite social media platform with a hashtag from the events below. Feel free to include what efforts you’ve been making to help flatten the curve, or a fun hobby or project you’ve taken up (or now have the time to complete for once), or your pets… actually, share all the animals! You can also search for the hashtag on the social platform of your choice to see what others are doing and be social!

#BeerCheers

Bolero Snort
“Raise a pint of your favorite local beer, show off your local dinner, share stories of what you’re doing to stay safe but continuing to support your local businesses. We are all in this together, but more importantly, we will all get through this together.” – BS
When: 3/20 Friday evening – 3/22 Sunday evening
TAGS: #CyberCheers and, if you’re enjoying a BS, use #BoleroAtHome and tag @bolerosnort – Three (3) winners will be chosen at random to win a Bolero Swag Pack

New Jersey Brewers Association
“Post your best video, photo or boomerang of your salute to your fellow craft beverage community. This means your local wineries, local distilleries, local breweries, whoever you’re proud to be mixing with and supporting during this time.” – NJBA
When: Friday 3/20 @ 9pm
TAGS: #njbeercheers in the content you post to stand with your local business neighbors and possibly be reposted!

New Jersey Craft Beer
“Let’s get together on Saturday, March 21 for a virtual beer.”
When: Saturday 3/21 9pm-10pm
How To Participate: Follow this event – NJBC will post the link to a live video chat around 9pm

 

Beer for Pickup (P) and/or Delivery (D)
– in no particular order –

Let’s face it, I’d be here for hours researching and listing every brewery who is doing delivery and/or pickup. When I started, I was all “yeah, I got this!” Now, not so much. Feel free to send me an email meg@craftbeergirlfriend.com if you would like to see your brewery on this list.

Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing (P)
Kane Brewing Company (P)
Bolero Snort (P) (D)
Czig Meister Brewing Company (P) (D)
Icarus Brewing (P) (D)
Source Brewing (P)
Twin Elephant Brewing Company scheduled (P) (D) to curb coming soon
Magnify Brewing Company (P) delivery appears to be during the weekdays only
Fort Nonsense Brewing Company (P) (D)
Jersey Girl Brewing Company scheduled (P) (D)
Two Rivers Brewing Company scheduled (P) (D) food too!
Sunken Silo Brew Works (P)
Invertase Brewing scheduled (P)

Amid these trying times, I urge everyone to reflect upon the aspects of your life you miss since the implementation of curfews, restrictions on gatherings, etc. Maybe we all take some aspects of our lives for granted? If, the next time you go to a brewery; are face-to-face with family and friends; go on a date, you find yourself glued to your phone, remember this experience.

I had the pleasure of going to Industry Night for a soft opening at Ghost Hawk Brewing Company in Clifton, NJ. They are open to the public after their Grand Opening Saturday, April 20th (beer starts flowing at 1pm). For starters, it’s right across the street from Rutt’s Hut where they serve the greatest hots dogs in New Jersey! Rutt’s Hut has been featured on the PBS special A Hot Dog Program, USA Today, numerous Food Network shows and the Travel Channel’s Deep-Fried Paradise. Now, here’s the good brews! Ghost Hawk had a great atmosphere and a super friendly staff! THEY ACTUALLY KNEW ABOUT THE BEER THEY SERVE! I know, seems like that would be a given, but you would be surprised, even in this craft beer driven world we live in.

photo by @Chef Chris Masey

I met one of the owners, Steve Bauer, who is a humble, down-to-Earth dude. Everyone in the town seems to know him and says he is an A+ guy with a huge love for his family, friends and his town. He told me this brewery has been an idea of his for years, and even his “hiccups” along the way led to successful business endeavors (GRZLY – Custom Apparel and Art). Being in marketing myself, I was instantly impressed with Steve’s background. He has the brain and eye for branding and the go get ’em attitude needed to make an NJ brewery take off from the ground up.

Now for the beer. Ghost Hawk is off to a great start. Their Ghost Hawk Lager and the Cherry Daedalion Wheat were so on point. I love when Cherry Wheats don’t taste like fake cherry candy flavor and this one hit that mark. Full of natural flavors and the perfect head! The Trouble IPA was EXACTLY that… trouble! A 9.7% abv double IPA that is so drinkable, you’ll be on the floor before you are able to count how many beers you’ve had. I definitely love that about an IPA (🤷).

And to end the evening… a rainbow!

For more information about Ghost Hawk visit their website.