River Horse Brewing Company - Hop Hazard Pale Ale

Stylistically, this beer rides the line between an aggressively hopped Pale Ale and an IPA. The ABV is a bit low for an IPA, but the hop presence is rather elevated to be considered a standard Pale Ale. Expect a highly aromatic hoppy nose with grassy, citric, fruity and floral varietals expressed (quite a robust combination of hoppy elements at work here!) Also note a caramel malty sweetness also present with a peppery undercurrent. Look for the flavor to begin with caramel notes and peppery hops, with hoppy bitterness and floral tones quickly taking center stage, only to subside back to a balanced finish. A great hoppy session beer, we enjoyed this with grilled chicken served in spicy diced tomato garlic & artichoke heart sauce.

Ahhh, New Jersey—home of innumerable diners, Tony Soprano, and a resident accent that sounds nearly as intellectual as Frenchie’s from Grease. These may be a few of the features that you associate with “Joy-zee,” but the Garden state is actually home to a number of great microbreweries. The River Horse Brewing Co., located in Lambertville, New Jersey, is housed in an old brick building that once was an oyster-cracker factory. Whether this means that the facility was used to crack oysters or make oyster-flavored crackers is a mystery that sweet lady NJ has been unwilling for decades to reveal (ok you caught us, we were too lazy to look it up). Located along the bank of the Delaware River, the brewery is one of New Jersey's oldest and fastest growing. Incidentally, “River horse” is a nickname for the hippopotamus. “So what”, you say? The ancient Egyptians believed in the beer god, Seth, who appeared in the image of a hippopotamus. Pretty neat, huh? Another quick tidbit for your next round of impromptu “I’m a beer connoisseur and I’ll prove it;” beer is believed to have been first brewed in ancient Egypt. While being a slave laborer indentured for life to build the great pyramids at Giza couldn’t have been easy, it seems somehow less grueling a task when you consider that those fellas may have had a chance to grab a cold one between beatings. OK, let’s leave ancient Egypt and let the sweet taste of microbrewed New Jersey beer bring us back to modern times… With the pair of finely crafted malty nectars we’ve sent you, we think you’ll agree that our expert panel has made you an offer you can’t refuse. For more information about the brewery and scheduled tours, call (609) 397-7776 or check out their web site at http://www.riverhorse.com/.