My wife and I were a little hesitant to make the trip up Route 130 after several days of heavy rain and threats of flooding in numerous areas nearby. But we were so glad we drove there and we did not have any issues with the water. My wife and I have lived in South Jersey our whole lives, but never explored the town of Merchantville. I only recently discovered that they have had a wonderful brewery for over seven years. There are a couple of lovely streets with several inviting restaurants and shops. My wife and I decided we will come back and see what else Merchantville has to offer. More on a revisit later.
Eclipse Brewing
The brewery and tasting room are housed in a former house, that still appears to remain just an attractive house where someone would be living. However, once inside, instead of a hallway leading to a living room and other living areas, you are immediately greeted by the co-owner, Beth, and invited to take a seat at the bar or a nearby table. Beth’s husband, Chris, is owner and brewer. Together they have been running Eclipse Brewing for seven and one-half years. There is a cool map of the world, indicating patrons from near and far who have visited their brewery. My wife and I are happy that we finally discovered this little gem.
As for the beers…we chose two samplers, with minimal overlap, in order to try the maximum number of their beers.
Sampler #1
- Irish Stout CO2-A good Irish Stout, with a bit less carbonation than the Nitro version. 6% ABV.
- Scottish Wee Heavy-A strong and malty brew with a bit of sweetness and a hint of caramel.
- DIPA (Double IPA)-A nice malty, amber colored brew that is a smooth, easy drinking beer (especially given the 8% ABV).
- Raspberry Drizzle-A tasty, sweet, but balanced Barleywiine. While my wife did not care for this one, I really enjoyed it. 18% ABV.
Sampler #2
- Irish Stout Nitro-While I enjoyed both versions, I definitely preferred the Nitro version. It maintained a better head and a bit bolder taste. 6% ABV.
- Russian Imperial Stout-My favorite in our tasting (my wife concurred and we both enjoyed a pour of this winner after we finished our samples. 11% ABV.
- Coffee Cream Ale-A surprisingly good brew, with a potent aroma of coffee, despite its light color. 5% ABV
- DIPA (Double IPA)-A very good version (same as described above). 6% ABV.
- Cocoanut Cream Ale-A bonus pour that was a nice surprise.
We were very impressed with the beers we tasted-not one that we did not like. We asked our host if they were planning anything for the Solar Eclipse, given their obvious connection with this event. She replied that they will be opening at Noon, instead of 4:00, brewing a special Pale Ale to celebrate the event and they will have live music-A Pink Floyd Cover Band playing music from the Dark Side of the Moon. In addition, they will also have a food truck and giving away special NASA approved glasses to view the eclipse! NO reservations are required-first come, first served. Weather permitting we will be there for this event tomorrow.
My Takeaway
We brought home a crowler of the Russian Imperial Stout, pictured below.
New Jersey Wine of the Week
I selected Plagido’s Winery 2019 Coeur d’Est as my NJ wine of the week. I enjoyed it at a recent visit in one of the flights we tried. However, it was even more impressive when enjoying the bottle, both with food and all by itself. It is a rich, bold, full-bodied red blend of Chambourcin, Cab Franc, and Cabernet Sauvignon, with cherry and blackberry on the palate and very smooth tannins.
Coming Attractions
- Total Eclipse at Eclipse Brewing
- Tour and Tasting at the Brand New Saddle Hill Cellars
- Va La Vineyards
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