In a fair world, seasoned Swedish trio, Peter Bjorn and John, would’ve been big pop stars. An eclectic combo fashioning engagingly melodic hook lines with a keen eye looking towards rock and roll’s glorious past, these versatile Scandinavians bounce between various familiar contemporary styles while stuck just outside stardom’s…
Beer Trails: Hunterdon Distributors Liberate Jersey Beer Market
Right at the inception of New Jersey’s historic craft beer movement in 1996, just as brewpubs were popping up everywhere, two local beer enthusiasts boldly attempted to change the buying habits of mainstream Garden State consumers. Like most eager entrepreneurs, the daring duo struggled to make ends meet while…
Beer Trails: South Jersey, North Philly And Lancaster Welcome New Pubs
New brewpubs keep popping up all over Pennsylvania and Jersey. During a mid-July sojourn through sun-drenched Philly and beyond, I took in a few new drinking establishments.
While Manheim’s sylvan JoBoy’s embraced thrifty conventionality, the other three pubs let their freak flag fly. One freshly franchised Jersey public house,…
Interview with The Hollow: Jersey Breakouts
In a universe filled with underachieving slackers, one of New Jersey’s best straight-ahead rock bands continues to gain recognition and widen their audience while each individual maintains a separate professional career outside the music industry. Taking their moniker from an early ‘90s Morristown hangout where kids bought dime bags…
Beer Trails: Iron Monkey’s Yards Night Under A June Moon
JERSEY CITY, NJ—On a beautiful early June evening I finally got the chance to peruse the wholly revitalized Jersey City financial district at a highly praised drinking establishment founded when the craft beer revolution exploded upon the Jersey scene in 1996. Thanks to a much needed and overdue redevelopment…
Fania Records: The Original Sound Of Latin New York 1964-1980
Inspired by Latin boogaloo, Cuban mambo, jump blues and Southern soul, Fania Records’ fantastical salsa revolution involved stylish progenitors and vibrant newcomers whose combined efforts broadened the scope of ‘70s music. Founded by Latin music enthusiast Jerry Masucci and composing bandleader Johnny Pacheco, Fania’s universal success was commensurate to…
Interview with Aaron Bruno from AWOLNATION: Serenades
AC/DC said, “It’s a long way to the top if you wanna rock and roll.” That adage rings true for many aspiring musicians. And the glorified metal stallions from Australia that coined it ought to know since it took ‘em six years, several albums and the death of their…
New Jersey Brewpub Guide
ARTISAN’S – TOMS RIVER
Located in a freestanding gold Mediterranean stucco building at Toms River-based Seacourt Pavilion, Artisan’s Brewery & Italian Grill is owned by the Gregorakis family and began brewing operations 10 years ago. Its dimly lit piano bar, tranquil dining experience, and private cigar lounge provide…
New Jersey Breweries
EAST COAST BEER COMPANY – POINT PLEASANT
Established in 2007, pint-size nanobrewery East Coast Beer Company offered its first beer, the robustly rewarding Beach Haus Prohibition-Style Pilsner, during 2010. Co-owners Brian Ciriaco and John Merklin, world-traveling technologists both of them, grew up during the late ‘80s craft beer…
New Jersey Brewpubs – Beer Styles
There are generally two styles of beer: lagers and ales. Lagers have been crafted since the Medieval Era, when the process known as ‘cold storage lagering’ lowered temperatures for yeast fermentation and brought about light-to-medium-bodied beers using rice, maize, barley and wheat to craft pilsner, bock, dortmunder, marzen, dunkel…
