We don’t have many brew pubs here in New Jersey 10 to be the exact number and yet I feel they are over looked as a source for good food and great beer. Brew pubs live in the shadows of big breweries under the radar turning out some of the most interesting and freshest beer around. Over the next few months we are going to visit our local brew pubs here in NJ and we are going to kick things off with Trap Rock Brewery & restaurant in Berkley Heights. Trap Rock Brewery and Restaurant has been serving up craft beer and gastropub style fare since 1997 and is one the many dining establishments in the Harvest Restaurant Group and the most unique.
Since this is a brew pub I want to focus on the brewing facility. Trap Rock might only have a 7 barrel brew house which may seem small to some and I assure you it isn’t. They brew about two to three times a week and are able to keep their fermenters and draft lines filled at all times. Trap Rock Brewmaster, Charlie Schroeder has been here for 11 years and is all about experimenting. While they have some staple beers they love to serve, Charlie and his new brewing assitant Brett Crawford like to push the envelopment and bring new and interesting things to the draft lines for their consumers.
On this particular day Charlie and Brett were brewing an Abbey Double… Seen here is Brett getting ready to mash in.
While Brett was mashing in, Charlie was writing down some key information to their recipe to ease future duplication.
They produce a good amount of beer at Trap Rock, so much that they are going to expand around the restaurant giving Charlie more fermentation space and the ability to brew a little more. When asked what they do all this beer once fermented, Charlie looked at me and said, “follow me.” Below the bar area sits eight serving tanks plumbed directly from the brew house to make the transfer of liquid an ease.
Just when I thought I saw every aspect of the brewing end at Trap Rock, Charlie brought me upstairs where they will do bottling and begin their barrel program. The barrel on the right was fresh from Makers Mark and currently filled with an Imperial Stout.
Stepping away from beer for a minute I have to highlight the interior of this restaurant. You see, a lot of places try to pull off the rustic pub look and it can appear artificial if not done properly. That is not the case here, the Harvest Restaurant group prides it self on having a homey casual atmosphere. Everything from the bar to the dining room space had the warm feeling of an old lodge tucked deep away in the mountains.
The most interesting thing about the space at Trap Rock is where ever you maybe sitting, there is always a view of the brew house. These views will improve once they complete the expansion.
With the tour over it was time to sample some of Charlie’s hand crafted beers. Everything from ales to lagers finds it way to the menu here, there is something for everyone, no matter your preference.
I couldn’t make up my mind so Charlie poured me the Falconer IRA, a mix of their Warrior IPA and Hathor Red Lager. It is a very popular blend here and a brew you have to try if you never had a Trap Rock beer.
In the glass above was probably my favorite of the day, a wit beer fermented with a Saison yeast. One of the many experimental brews Charlie has tried recently.
All the beers at trap rock are available in an wide array of vessels whether you are sitting down for a pint or want to take a keg home.
Aside from the beer they have some amazing food at Trap Rock. My mother works around the corner and met me for a quick lunch, so we didn’t get to explore the whole menu but did grab a few items worth mentioning. The must have BBQ pulled pork mac’n’cheese was mind blowing.
My mother opted for the delectable crab cake sandwich with fresh cut potato chips, another stand out item.
Whether you are in the area visiting some family or want to have a few pints while the wife is shopping at Short Hills mall, Trap Rock Brewery is the perfect spot for a beer and bite to eat. This was my first trip to one of the many restaurants in the Harvest Group and I was thoroughly impressed. Charlie and Brett are doing great things with the beer program here and it really shows. We look forward to the expansion of Trap Rock and most certainly look forward to a return trip. Be sure to check back next week as we dive a little deeper, highlighting their Hathor Red Lager.
-Brian