Bittersweet Night at "The Shep"
Considering The Shepherd and the Knucklehead's well-deserved reputation as one of NJ's premier beer bars, it was only fitting that Brian Boak, one of NJ's outstanding brewers, should choose it for his Swan Song.
Actually, that's not an apt metaphor, because swans only sing when they die, and not only is Brian NOT dying, he's been "singing" with his beers since he came on the NJ beer scene in 2007. You can read his story here.
But he is getting out of the beer business. And he brought his special 2007 keg of Monster Mash with him to celebrate with patrons of The Shep as he leaves his brewing passion behind for newer ventures. But he was singularly focused about his beer passion when he started and while he did it. Boak brews beers that he likes (can't argue with that approach), and those are mostly Belgian and British styles that are not brewed to strict specifications. "Strict specifications win gold medals," his site claims. "Brewing great tasting beers wins fans."
As a fan who fits that mold, The PubScout--and apparently many others-- headed up to "The Shep" in Haledon to say hello--and goodbye. The pub had changed drastically since I first reviewed it in 1999, when it only carried twenty beers on tap. Now there are ninety or more, most of them much sought after and very unique, and all of them rotated regularly. And Caroline, the fetching lass who served me, allowed that soon, The Shep will open a second bar in hopping Hoboken. It's a wonderful beer town, provided you don't have a car, as non-resident parking borders on the masochistic. But I digress.
On this special night, Brian had a magnificent array of his beers on tap, including 2012 Abbey Brown, Double BW, 2007 Monster Mash, Two Blind Monks Belgian Dubbel, Wooden Beanie Barrel-Aged Belgian, Blunderbore Imperial Stout, Double BW with Raspberry, Two Blind Monks with Chocolate, Raspberry and Coffee and Flamethrower Belgian Wheat.
I told you, the guy brews what he likes to drink. And there to help him celebrate was his former co-worker Myra, who recalled those Friday afternoons at the office when Brian would bring in samples for a grateful staff just a bit before closing. She laughed when she said "I remember when Brian brought in his first batch of Flamethrower for me to sample. Oh my God! I was clutching my throat trying to put the fire out."
Boak said that after Myra's office experience he tweaked the recipe , diluting the heat by a a factor of six to make Flamethrower more palate-friendly. Apparently, he found the right mix, as Flamethrower is one of his very popular beers. So is Monster Mash, and to be able to sample an 8 1/2 year old version poured directly from Boak's hand, was why I got there before 5:30 PM when Boak was scheduled to arrive.
I sampled the Blunderbore Caroline gave me, and it was delicious, but if I planned to have the high-alcohol Monster, I decided to go with a Double BW with Raspberry to wet my whistle. It was, as expected, as delightful and refreshing as Caroline herself.
When Boak arrived, he went to the 2007 Monster Mash tap as promised, and drew the first glass for yours truly. It was extraordinary, and its 10% ABV was artfully disguised. Then it was on to Blunderbore, a 12% giant made from Snow Monster (which is an eisbock-type Ice Monster). Named for the giant in Jack and the Beanstalk, the clever Boak chose it because the beer is fermented in Jack Daniels Barrels with Madagascar Vanilla beans.
Thank goodness I had the sense to order one of those massive Shep hot pretzels before consuming it, or my hour-ride home might have been an adventure. So big was it, however, that Myra and Mike at the next barstool had to help me eat it.
Come to think of it, that I would drive an hour--and through Paterson--to say goodbye to Boak is a testimony to how much I have enjoyed his beers over the years. He did hint that he may be brewing just a bit longer than he anticipated before hanging up his boots, as he has some obligations to meet.
"If anybody complains that this was supposed to be my last event and it isn't--I lied."
That sounds "reasonably rebellious" to me.
Cheers!
The PubScout
