Mechanical Brewery opened in 2020 and is located in Cherry Hill. I was unfamiliar with it until very recently. In fact, it was not even on my radar. Imagine that, for someone who writes about New Jersey wineries, breweries, and distilleries! My wife happened to come across it on the internet and suggested that it might be a good last minute substitute for other venues we were considering this week. After I looked at their offerings, I agreed they were definitely worth checking out. They have an attractive tasting room with ample indoor room, as well as a tented area in front of the building and a large and varied list of brews from which to choose. My wife and I chose to do two samplers of four beers in each.
Sampler #1
- Scythe-A wheat beer, with the typical hazy profile and lower ABV (4.6%).
- Neutralyzer– A Coconut IPA that falls into the New England IPA style, though coconut was a first for me. I like it. The coconut added just a bit of sweetness to the citrusy beer.
- Strain-Another NEIPA. I didn’t enjoy this one, as much.
- Pinion-An Imperial Pilsener-The first Pilsener I have enjoyed in some time. More malt, more flavor and more alcohol (ABV=7.9%).
Sampler #2
- Resistance-A Stout with chocolate and cherry notes; ABV=6%.
- Cycloid-A Coffee Mocha Porter-Loved the coffee aroma and subtle flavor. ABV=7.2%.
- Scullbier-A Baltic Porter. Another new one for me. Originated near the Baltic Sea (thus the name); this cold fermented beer became popular in London, England. It has more malt flavors than other Porters and a bit higher ABV (7.7% in this one).
- Reactor-An Imperial Stout with 10% ABV, a robust aroma and very tasty and definitely my favorite in the sampling.
I would definitely like to make a return visit in the near future. Mechanical Brewery is open Wednesdays and Thursdays from 3:00 PM to 9:00 PM; Fridays from 3:00 PM to 10:00 PM; Saturdays from 12:00 PM to 10:00 PM; and Sundays from 12:00 PM to 7:00 PM. If you are interested in learning more about Mechanical Brewery you can check out their website here: mechanicalbrewery.com
My New Jersey Wine of the Week
I selected Working Dog Winery 2020 Cabernet Franc to highlight this week. In a state with a boatload of excellent Cab Francs, Working Dog’s Cab Franc is consistently one of the best in the Garden State. It is their Signature wine and they have won numerous awards for this wine. It is medium-bodied with black cherry and herbal notes and very smooth tannins.
If you haven’t visited Working Dog Winery, I strongly encourage you to do so, especially now that the weather has warmed and you can take in the beautiful surroundings. Check out their website here: workingdogwinerynj.com
Coming Attractions
- Old York Cellars
- Va La Vineyards
- Bellview Winery
- Balic Winery
- Another NJ Wine of the Week
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