So for about the last year or so, I’ve been going to beer events at a little local spot 381 Main in Little Falls, NJ. They usually feature local NJ breweries with several draft and bottle options alike. On top of their NJ takeover nights, they also host seasonal events featuring other highly demanded breweries.
Luckily enough this week’s event was featuring Dogfish Head out of Delaware. Dogfish is a well known craft beer staple throughout the country, but the tap lineup 381 produced went above and beyond the usual. On draft for this event were: Red and White, Chateau Jiahu, Sah’Tea, Theobroma, Positive Contact, and Burton Baton.
While I had seen bottles of most of these before, the only two I had previously tried were Positive Contact and Burton. I was looking forward to the chance to try all of these on draft, and I was successful in doing so.
I started the night with a Red and White. My expectation for this was to find a wheat beer with aspects of red wine, and that was pretty accurate. The wheat shined through strong, but it was evened out with a slight hint of wine coming through at the finish.
To follow that up I switched it up a little and went with the Chateau Jiahu. This is the beer I was most skeptical about ordering because the description I found made it seen too bland. But once again the geniuses at DFH made an incredible creation. There was a sweetness, and fruit texture to the beer that is hard to explain, which went well with the honey aspect it packed. This was my favorite of the night.
At this point I was starting to get hungry and decided to get an order of wings. Being adventurous I went for their hottest, “Toxic Waste” sauce. The wings were decent in size, and the heat from the sauce was the perfect amount. I like my wings hot enough to make me sweat a little but still be enjoyable which this sauce accomplished. In the sauce were pieces of pepper it seemed which added more heat and texture to the dish. As I was finishing the wings off I washed it down with some Sah’Tea. I wasn’t overly impressed with it. It was better than I anticipated but not being a tea fan, I wouldn’t try this one again.
Next up I had to go with a Theobroma. With the lingering heat from the wings still enveloping my mouth I thought a Cocoa Chili beer would help things out, and it did. On first smell and taste the cocoa was prevalent, but I wasn’t getting a lot of Chili. Personally I like the occasional dessert beer like a Souther Tier Creme Brulee or Sam Adams Chocolate Squirrel, but I wouldn’t put Theobroma in that category and it really isn’t. Listed as a Chili beer, it’s cocoa overpowers it making the mind think it’s an attempt at a dessert beer.
Working my way down the line, my next stop was at Positive Contact. This was my second time having this one and both times left me confused. It’s supposedly made with Cayenne and apples but I just don’t quite understand the marriage between the two. I drank this one over time hoping it would get better as it warmed but I just couldn’t get into it.
Somewhere in the middle of this we ordered two pizzas they make in an oven next to the bar. As always these were fantastic. We went for one of our staples, Buffalo Chicken with Jalapeños as well as trying the Hawaiian. Both were delicious and the best part is on Tuesday nights during trivia the pizzas were priced 2 for 1.
To finish the night I went with one of my DFH favorites, Burton Baton. This was my first chance to try it on draft and I enjoyed it. It was quite the change from my other selections this night and it was a welcomed one. The mix of hops and oaky flavor made for a perfect night cap.
The highlight of the night though was the fact that John, 381’s Event’s Director, was able to get a case of 120 Minute bottles. I was lucky enough to get a ticket for a bottle which I took home to add to my cellar, alongside last year’s counterpart.
I highly recommend going to one of their beer events in the near future. They generally have a new event every other Tuesday night. In the next few months they have plans for nights featuring Riverhorse, Flying Dog, Weyerbacher, and Terrapin.
Until we rage again.
Cheers
Great write up!