GOODBiPA at Salt Creek Grille
I feel bad that I never write about beer. But the fact is, I can’t drink more than a sip or two myself, which makes it hard to cover. It’s not that I don’t like it, although I didn’t learn to until I moved to Colorado, home of Coors (which today I would find insipid), and land of very little humidity. I need to be parched I guess, because once I was back in the humid East, beer just seemed to have an effect on me….well, you don’t need TMI about me and beer, do you?
That said (or not), I do occasionally love to taste an interesting beer, such as the flights offered at Triumph Brewing in town. And my friend’s beer at the Rocky Hill Inn last week…while I can’t remember what it was she ordered after some consultation with our waitress, my sip was quite good (as was my Buffalo Burger!). And I do always make sure to have a bottled stout and a lager on hand at home, for slow-cooker braises, I just pick what looks interesting from the “onesies” shelf at Trader Joe’s.
I have two recent press releases about beer from two more of our top local watering holes. First, a gluten-free beer is debuting at Salt Creek Grille, and then there’s a special event at the venerable Alchemist & Barrister, so I present them (in part) in that order below.
First up, Salt Creek Grille introduces a gluten-free beer:
Salt Creek Grille Princeton has added its first gluten-free beer to its menu, and it has special meaning. GOODBiPA was developed by NJ-based Departed Soles Brewing Co. in memory of a former Salt Creek Grille employee, Chris Ward, who died tragically in a car accident in October 2010 at just 24 years old. Brian Kulbacki, Chris’ best friend, is the founder of Departed Soles who created GOODBiPA to honor Chris, who had Celiac Disease.
GOODBiPA is 6% IPA with a light body and a floral/citrus hop characteristic, brewed with 100% gluten free ingredients. It has already won the popular “Specialty” category for New York City’s Homebrew Alley, ranking 3rd overall out of 777 entries.
“Departed Soles Brewing Co. was a dream that Chris and I had, merging our love for good beer and sneakers,” said Kulbacki, who is the first gluten-free specialist brewer to graduate from the American Brewers Guild School. He opened Departed Soles Brewing Company in 2015, becoming New Jersey’s first craft brewery offering 100% gluten-free craft beer. “Chris loved his time at Salt Creek Grille and I know that if he were still here today, he would be enthusiastically serving GOODBiPA to everyone with – and without – gluten-intolerances.”
And from The Alchemist & Barrister, a special event on August 4:
When the sun goes down on August 4, the Alchemist & Barrister will light up with The Alchemist After Dark, a special celebration of the beers of summer and the craftsmen who brew them. The event is set on August 4 from 9 PM until 1 AM closing.
Spellbound Brewing of Mount Holly will be on hand to showcase their flagship beer, IPA. Also on tap will be Shock Top Lemon Shandy at $5 each. The A&B’s own Sangria will be offered at $5 a glass as well, and shooters are priced at $2. Musician Mike Tusay will play throughout the evening.
With 50 fine beers now on tap and a striking second bar recently added, the A&B is taking the craft beer trend to new levels, offering artisanal brews, several from here in the Garden State.
NJ SPICE 