Gonzo's Gonzo for Rahway's Wet Ticket
"Gonzo," aka John Gonzalez, is a very good friend of The PubScout's and a hopelessly committed beer nut. He, like me, is also fanatical about wrestling--the real kind, not the TV version, and he follows this page assiduously.
He's also written for me in this space before (here, here and here) as my SubScout--and to rave reviews. So providing him with another opportunity benefits my faithful readers, introducing them to places I have not yet visited. It was, in fact, Gonzo himself who led me to Mike Proske's fabulous tapas bar in Somerville known as Tapastre, recently written about here.
For those of you who may be interested in being a SubScout as Gonzo is, you need only a few things. One is a love of craft beer, and another is the ability to write about it. You must be able to take a halfway decent picture as well. You must also take a vow of poverty, because unless you have pictures of a magazine editor in compromising positions with various farm animals, you will not make a lot of money being a beerwriter. In fact, if you work for me, you will make no money at all. Instead, you will gain widespread fame (or notoriety, depending upon who's describing it), If you'd like to apply, shoot me an email at pubscout@comcast.net and let me know. Because I can't be everywhere. And the more this page can share about Good Pubs, Good Beer and Good People, the happier I will be.
Speaking of Good People, check out and enjoy Gonzo's take on Wet Ticket Brewing in Rahway. And, as always, share the heck out of it.
Walk into the five-week old Wet Ticket Brewery and you will soon learn the mantra of owners Tim Pewitt and Al Povalski: “Come on in, enjoy yourself, and let's talk about craft beer.”
Wet Ticket harkens back to the age of prohibition where American citizens began to rise up and demand the repeal of the 18th Amendment that prohibited the sale, consumption, and manufacture of alcohol. Politicians that were for the repeal ran under the “wet ticket” and the teetotalers that believed in keeping alcohol away from the masses ran under the “dry ticket.” Thankfully the Wet Ticket supporters won, and we are enjoying the fruits of the brewers’ labors.
Tim and Al come from the white collar world of finance and banking with a strong emphasis on customer service, and it's the latter that makes this brewery a real gem. Al tells me that customer service is a vital part of the business plan to the Wet Ticket family. They firmly believe in listening to their clients, talking with them, and getting to know them through their beer.
Tim, the brewer and Al, the banker will answer all of your questions and will question you about your beer passion. Whether you are a neophyte to the world of craft beer or a bonafide expert like the PubScout, they want to know what floats your craft beer boat. The Brewer and the Banker have clearly been listening to their clients. They have found that people are stoked for craft beer, and they feel they have a responsibility to stoke those craft beer flames even higher.
The brewers have a great team behind them that help bring their quality beers to you. When the idea came up to open a brewery, Tim’s wife Selina gets the credit for his early success because of her unfailing support. Associate Head Brewer, Brent Rusche adds his vast beer knowledge and creativity to the mix.
The seven beers currently on tap were borne from Tim’s extensive years of homebrewing and Brent’s passion for pushing the envelope. “The beers are not like the ones you would find at other micro-breweries,” one patron said, and I agree. On tap you will find a hearty Kolsch at 6.4% that Tim believes is his entry level beer (a beer that gives someone new to the craft beer world a gentle introduction). You will also find a Hoppy Kolsch, a Pale Ale, Spanktown IPA, a very tasty Grapefruit IPA, along with a Double IPA, and a Nitro Oatmeal Stout.
Tim prides himself on his two authentic German Kolsch beers. Both are brewed in the strict German tradition, using all malts and grains coming directly from Die Faderland. The Kolsch is very well balanced with a sweet, malty taste that finishes with notes of apple and pear. His Hoppy Kolsch, one of my favorites, is brewed with Simcoe, Mosaic, and Cascade hops...hubba hubba! It is an extremely drinkable beer and at 6.4% abv it packs a nice punch.
For you hop fans out there, Tim is test-brewing his second batch of his Hoppy Kolsch, this time with Galaxy and Mosaic hops. You better get in here soon to try both because he is true to his word when he says customers come first. He will brew what the masses like best.
Tim and Company do an amazing job with their IPA's as well. Starting with the Spanktown IPA, it's a winner if you are a fan of gorgeous hoppy goodness. With a great floral aroma and perfect hoppy flavors throughout and with a 7.6% abv, it is a serious brew.
Wet Ticket’s Grapefruit IPA is a wonderful West Coast style IPA that will satisfy any IPA fan. Also with a 7.6% abv, this craft beer will definitely sneak up on you. If you are looking for a sweet-starting boozy Double IPA, you most certainly have come to the right place. It starts with a candy-like sweetness and goes down warm. The alcohol is dancing in your mouth and straight down your gullet. After comparing the Spanktown and the Double, you will immediately realize the Double’s 8.7% ABV is no joke.
Brewer Brent’s Nitro Oatmeal Stout is simply amazing. Carbonated like a true stout, it is well balanced from start to finish with flavors of dark chocolate and coffee. This, too, is a wonderful little warmer that I found to be perfect on these cold and snowy days. Brent did an outstanding job crafting this beauty and capped it off with an amazing 8.1% abv.
The Wet Ticket crew set up in downtown Rahway at 1435 Main Street in a crisp and clean 3600 square foot facility that runs a ten-gallon system with a twenty-gallon fermenter, giving the crew enough production space to brew two to three times a week.
Be on the look out for Wet Ticket brews in some of the top brew pubs in the area:
● Meatballs & Brews, Irving Street Inn Social, and Lucciano’s all in Rahway
● Paragon Tap and Table in Clark
● The Station in Garwood
● B2 Bistro in Red Bank
Please check their website for all upcoming events. They are looking to pair
with other local establishments to bring some of the finest food and beer to a bar near you,
Tasting Room Hours:Thursdays and Fridays 4pm - 9pm
Saturday 12pm - 9pm
Sunday 12pm - 4pm
