Jean Grant is a rare beer hunter, Certified Beerlogist, and writer. |
Tonight , December 29th marks the end of an era in the craft beer bar industry in New Jersey. The Tap Room at the Somerset Hills Hotel will be closing its doors. While we are being told it is for a renovation and will reopen within a year it will never be the same for many reasons . When I first moved to the Basking Ridge area 20 years ago it was a place I went to one in awhile to meet a local friend on Saturday night and watch bands. As time went by it became more. Shortly after meeting my significant other it was my go to place if I wasn’t skiing at Hunter Mountain in the winter or down the shore in the summer. I became friendly with the regular bartenders Carly and Rachel . Carly made a killer espresso martini and Rachel started getting me more into the craft beers. One night I was hanging out and ordered the latest Game of Thrones beer ( not that I ever watched the show I just like the beers). I started talking to the two men next to me , one of whom was a fan of the show . They told me there was something called Beer Club , it met every Tuesday and Friday and I should come . And so it began. We as the beer club have watched as the bar has been torn down and rebuilt, loyally frequented it’s temporary replacement and rejoiced in the re opening . We have also watched one of the best bar managers in the business and his loyal staff struggle with the ups and downs of construction and a rotation of owners. Sadly this did cost him some of his best staff. In the end though the beers were always good, the company wonderful and could not ask for a better bar staff. Yes the bar will re open but it will not be the same. The people who made it what it is and it’s spirit will not be there. So in closing thank you Kevin Torpey and your staff for a great run . You will be missed . “Don’t Cry Because It is Over , Smile Because it Happened “ |