Attention all hop heads and beer lovers. Ahead of its projected summer 2016 opening, Flemington's first microbrewery is in need of a name and its owners are asking the public for help.
FLEMINGTON-- Attention all hop heads and beer lovers. Ahead of its projected summer 2016 opening, Flemington's first microbrewery is in need of a name and its owners are asking the public for help.
The brewery is scheduled to open as early as August 2016 in a custom-built facility at 44 Stangl Road, across from the Polo outlet store.
Owners Todd Becker and Bob King, longtime residents of Raritan Township, have established a website, namethebrewery.com, where locals can submit name suggestions.
Online visitors can also sign up for email updates on the brewery progress.
"We're very excited to bring craft brewing to Flemington, where we think it will be a perfect complement to the many local businesses that are fueling the revitalization of the downtown area," Becker said.
Once open, King and Becker plan to produce about 35,000 gallons, or 280,000 pints, of beer per year and the brewery will have a seating capacity of up to 150 people.
The brewery will also feature almost 2,000-square-feet of loft space that will overlook the brewing operations and the serving area. The loft will accommodate private events for up to 50 people and will feature a draft system dedicated to the room.
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Offering up to 10 beers on tap, including a rotation of IPAs, amber ales, porters, stouts and some seasonal brews, customers will be able to enjoy glasses of beer on site or by filling 32-ounce or 64-ounce growlers.
The brewery also plans to offer cans of select beers in 4-packs.
Starting off as home brewers in the 1990s, King said one of his personal favorites is a honey lager and Becker said an exciting variety he's tried is a chocolate raspberry stout.
"We really want to keep our customers engaged and involved in our process," King said, and part of that will be doing smaller brews that people can weigh in on.
Although the brewery cannot prepare or serve food under state law, the owners plan to partner with local food trucks to serve brewery customers and can host catered events from an outside service.
The timing is right for a microbrewery in Flemington, King said.
"The craft beer industry is exploding in the United States, where the number of breweries nationwide recently surpassed 4,000. Hunterdon County has mostly missed out on this growth," he said. "We're looking forward to offering brewery tours to the public and demonstrating how we make our beer. We also plan to get local homebrewers involved who can, perhaps, help us create new beers."
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Becker said that support from the Borough of Flemington and the Flemington BID has been instrumental in moving the project forward. "They have been so supportive in this process," he said.
"It will add even more energy to the Stangl area, and extend that energy to the Liberty Village shopping area," Flemington Mayor Phil Greiner said in a press release. "We are delighted to welcome Todd and Bob to the Flemington business community and look forward to working with them to make this a success story for the whole town."
Megan Jones-Holt, BID executive director, said her office worked closely with the borough and the planning board to "fast-track the approvals for the brewery."
"This is just one aspect of what the Business Improvement District is doing for its members," she stated in the release. "We're partnering with the municipality and helping to identify and remove hurdles that property owners and prospective businesses face."
The yet-to-be-named brewery has created social media accounts to provide updates. Follow on Twitter at @namethebrewery or on Facebook at facebook.com/namethbrewery.
Emily Cummins may be reached at ecummins@njadvancemedia.com Follow her on Twitter @EmilyACummins and Facebook.