Flying Fish Brewing Company - Exit 10 Trail Mix

Flying Fish's "Exit" series is a long-running series of limited-production and limited-distribution brews. Exit 10 Trail Mix was one such beer, made for a limited time and sold only in their Exit Variety Packs and a small number of 750-ml bottles. We're very excited to have been able to work with the brewery to produce a special batch of this now-retired beer just for our members. Pouring very dark in color, even for a brown ale, and topped with plenty of khaki-brown foam, Trail Mix offers up malty aromas of toasted bread, honey-roasted nuts, mild brown sugar, mocha coffee, and touches of raisin. While some of those notes come from the complex grain profile that goes into this brown ale, others emerge from the use of real raisins, chocolate, and honey. On the palate, Trail Mix struck us as quite roasty, especially when on the colder side. The sweetness implied by the aroma is reduced by the bold roasty notes which add a countering bitterness in concert with the hop contribution. Look for flavors of dark chocolate, scorched caramel, a bit of toffee, and a touch of charred bread crust, evolving into a bit of a sweeter, fruitier character as the beer warms a bit in your glass. For food pairings, we'd definitely go with hearty dishes. Applesauce pork chops, toasted roast beef sandwiches, grilled fowl or salmon, or a snack of gouda or other nutty cheeses would all be a good call. Cheers!

When Gene Muller founded Flying Fish in 1995, his approach was a bit unusual. While working to build his brewery, he launched the company online – becoming a “virtual brewery” to allow microbrew fans to contribute their assistance and opinions by weighing in on upcoming beer styles, naming the beers, designing labels and merchandise, and even signing up to be volunteer taste testers and applying for employment. By late 1996 the brewery was finished and the first beer was released to a waiting fan base. A pretty clever approach if you ask us.

Muller, a graduate of America’s oldest brewing school at Chicago’s famed Siebel Institute, remains at the helm to this day, presiding over two decades of impressive growth. In 2012, having outgrown their original location in Cherry Hill, Flying Fish moved to a new facility in Somerdale. Here, they pursue sustainability as a top priority. Solar tubes provide natural light, solar panels provide power, a steam capture system reduces water and power consumption, high-efficiency boilers reduce gas usage, and all spent grain (over 2 million pounds per year) goes to a local dairy farmer for feed.

Winners of eight Great American Beer Festival (GABF) medals, among many other awards, Flying Fish currently offers seven year-round beers along with various seasonal and special offerings, including super small batch one-offs and barrel aged beers that are only available at their Tasting Room. For more info about the brewery, their Tasting Room, tours and more, contact them at 856-504-3442 or visit www.flyingfish.com.