| Baker Street Brewery's founder and head brewer Art Hannemann takes you on a journey to find the ales. Catch the train for Arty's ride to the New Jersey suburbs and beyond in search of, what else, great beer! It's going to be a fun trip as Arty reviews and rates a new stop each month as he takes the rails to the ales.....and more! |
| Take The Rails to The Ales to... Montville, Rockaway, and Jersey City ------- Hop's 14 1/2 Washington St Morristown, NJ (973) 540-9601 Let's cut to the chase - this is without doubt the best beer bar in Morristown! Hop's high quality 14 craft beer taps simply blows away the tired usual suspects at their pretentious competitor, The Office, down the street. Fourteen taps seem like so many more when every one is good and they constantly rotate. To make things even better, this place has the most beer savvy and friendly bartenders in town. Although I didn't eat there the menu looked innovative and tasty. I took a quick poll of those around me with food and got a unanimous thumbs up. By the way, they also had an extensive wine and cocktail list. I was tempted to try one but come on, I'm a beer guy. Besides that night they were serving the elusive but oh so great Kentucky Bourbon Stout. After a couple of KBS glasses, 8 oz. size, I also enjoyed several pints of the outstanding Founder's Pale Ale which in this instance had been dry hopped with cascades and served on nitro. What more could any beer fan want? This place is a hidden gem. That's true in several ways, including literally. Walk down Washington Street all you'll see a small sign hanging from a building. Go through two large doors then head down a long hallway. Go through another set of doors, follow a sign, and you're there. Oh, you can also access Hops through it's sports bar parent with whom it shares the building, The Famished Frog. Hops has an attractive, modern, comfortable look with an elongated rectangular bar, comfy couches, big screen TVs, and a more adult feel (at least when I was there) than most places in a town where bars seem geared for the barely legal crowd. I might even head back there again tonight. And I'll go by rail since Hops is within walking distance of the Morristown train station. This place is a winner all around! I rate Hop's 5 out of 5 engines!! ……………… Three Wise Monks 142 Outwater Ln Garfield, NJ (201) 757-8012 I visited there about 10 days ago (late July, 2014) so decided to check their website for the current beer lineup. Ouch, the last update was 10/29/13. Their last update on a beer menu site was two weeks ago. I'm not going to look up their Facebook page - I think you get the message. Anyway, on to my visit. This is a neighborhood bar gone craft and it has potential. A large chalkboard, taking up most of a wall, listed 14 beers, three of which were crossed out on my visit. The bartender did not know when they'd be replaced. I went with an Ommegang Belgium Independence Day which was good. Other beers were all solid with no junk at all. The bartender was friendly but not beer savvy. Decor was worn out dive bar. The single large room was bar dominated by the straight bar with a few tables scattered around. There was a most interesting shot menu ($6 each) that seemed more appropriate for a non craft centric establishment as did the loud jukebox. I didn't eat there but noticed that the menu was basic bar fare, not a bad thing at all. Overall decent place that seems to have visions of being a player in the craft game despite having a neighborhood location (think Copper Mine in North Arlington, NJ - the best of that type in the state) but hasn't quite done it. Still, it has potential. I give Three Wise Monks 2 out of 5 engines. ------------------------------------- ============== Hope you get a chance to stop in at my new location The Northside Lounge 100 Brooks Blvd, Manville, NJ 08835 (908) 722-7712 A great menu and some of the finest craft beer anywhere! Stop in if you are in the area and look for me in the kitchen or behind the taps and please mention you read my column! =================================== *********************************** Here's some good info on planning your own Rails To Ales trip. First step go to www.njtransit.com web site. Then click on train schedules. Next click on "use our map to plan your trip." Now select your train station on the map. And next select your destination on the map. A new page appears and you want to select weekday, holiday or weekend accordingly. A new page appears with your schedule of departing times and length of travel time. Print this up and then go to the bottom of the schedule and it will say click here for return schedule--click away. Now print this page up as well and you have all the info you need to plan your trip. Remember to allow walking and drinking time. And of course if you go off the rails like I often do but sure to have a designated driver! Gotta catch my train back-- see you at my next stop! Remember to leave the car at home and......Take The Rails To The Ales !!!! Arty Hannemann |
Rails to Ales........and beyond ////////////////////////////////
by Arty Hannemann
by Arty Hannemann
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| Arty's Ratings Five engines= the very best Four engines= excellent Three engines=good Two engines= fair One engine= bad news Zero engines=stay away |
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For the complete listing of all Rails to Ales click HERE |
