A Little Help From Your Friends

Back in June, a few buddies and I hopped on our Iron Horses and headed up to Blairstown, NJ to check out the new Buck Hill Brewery. That story is here. And that story hinted that come last September or early October, Buck Hill would be pouring its own beer. That hasn't happened yet, according to General Manager Greg Schatz, because of ongoing issues with the state.

But that doesn't mean Buck Hill won't be offering its own beers within a month. That's because of a business-friendly gesture and collaboration with their friends at Hackettsown's Czig Meister Brewing. The affable Schatz sent The PubScout an email announcing the plan:

"Although we are still experiencing governmental delays with our licensing, I am happy to report to you that an olive branch has been extended to us. Czig Meister Brewing Company, dear friends of ours and with whom we share a great business relationship, have allowed us not only to come into their facility and brew our Buck Hill recipes, but they are offering us a collaboration brew with our Brew Masters and theirs. We will be creating a large batch of collaboration beer (60 barrels), to be distributed through Czig Meister showcasing both brands, all over New Jersey. In addition, we will be hosting a tap takeover on February 23rd featuring this collaboration brew, 3 of our own recipes and 3 Czig Meister Beers."

Having visited and enjoyed the beers at Czig Meister (review here) it should be a "Czignature" event. Especially if Matt Czigler's mom Laura--who is a sweetie, but who brooks no nonsense-- is there.

And guess who he invited to be the first to sample the fruits of Buck Hill Brewer Bud Usinowisc's labors? So I will wend my way toward Blairstown on February 23, and so should you.

See how important it is to make and have good friends?

Czig Meister and Buck Hill.

Matt Czigler and Matt Schatz.

Matt and me.

And, because I know where the true power resides, me and Laura.

But the details about Buck Hill's first beer are literally secret. Which in German, is sticke, or more appropriately, a stickebier.

Schmatz offers the following: "The style of beer will be a Sticke Beer or "Secret Brew," originally a special reserve beer intended for the brewers' own consumption. It is generally a seasonal or special occasion brew, and is stronger in taste and alcohol as well as darker than the brewery's standard output."

If you've been around Jersey's beer scene long enough, you may recall the first stickebier ever produced in the Garden State in the late nineties. It was a collaboration between the then brand new (though now defunct) New Jersey Association of Beer Writers--or NJAB, and Tom Baker at Heavyweight Brewing in Ocean. And the beer's name became Stickenjab, featuring a label (designed by Bill Coleman) of one of the ugliest boxers ever to don trunks and gloves.

In fact, brewers who brewed stickebiers actually shared them--but only with other brewers who could appreciate the art and talent that went into their creation.

Which is kind of what's happening here with Czigmeister and Buck Hill. And Schmatz is happy to see it finally come to fruition. " I'm really excited to see our brewers take action, and it is an honor to work with Czig Meister, because they are committed to quality in all that they do," the GM said.

Of course, yours truly will provide a full accounting of the results. But only after the secret's out.

Cheers!

The PubScout