Buena Connection Brewery & More

Ok. I think we’re back in business on this end. Again, I apologize for the disruption and any inconvenience on your end.

Today I want to tell you about a fairly new brewery in Buena, called Buena Connection Brewery. They opened about a year ago and are already getting some great reviews. It was recently named one of the top 10 new breweries in the country by USA Today (#8)! I often mention how lucky I am to live so close to so many good wineries. Without a doubt. But I am also lucky to live so close to so many terrific breweries and distilleries. South Jersey seems to be a magnet for them.

Buena Connection Brewing Company

The large, but simplistic exterior of this brewery gave no indication of the attractive, well designed interior with a traditional bar, but so much more. There is a huge room with multiple large screen TVs and even a beautiful fire engine red MG parked at the entrance to the room (with a license plate reading BUENABREW). See photo below. There is a quiet and more reserved area with a few tables and chairs on the other side (where we decided to make ourselves comfortable once we got some beers and some snacks).

The Brews

We decided to do two samplers of four each. The Stout was in both of our samplers, by choice.

Sampler 1

• Ye Olde Midway – Lager (5.5% ABV) – Their House lager-clean and refreshing. I imagine it would be even better on a hot summer day.
• The Backroads – IPA (6.5% ABV) -Typical hazy version with citrusy quality (especially orange).
• Western Sky – West Coast IPA (7.3% ABV) – Classic IPA style, bright gold in color, with floral and citrus notes.
• Hopeful Undertone – Nitro Stout (5.3% ABV) – A decent, easy drinking nitro version with chocolate and coffee notes.

Sampler 2

• Hempstead Bridge Collision – Triple IPA (9% ABV) – This is a wonderful, tasty version of a brew you don’t see that often. Malt and hops are very well-balanced.
• Monkey with a Razor – Belgian Quad (11% ABV) – Another brew that you seldom see. Belgian Triples? Yes. But Quads? not so much. It is amazingly smooth despite the 11% alcohol. Light brown in color with notes of plum and caramel.
• Fester – Black IPA (7% ABV)-A little disappointing, but not bad. After the other two, just fell a little flat, by comparison.
• Hopeful Undertone – Nitro Stout (5.3% ABV)-See description above.

My wife and I thoroughly enjoyed our visit and will return in the spring, when we can enjoy a beer in the nice outdoor space at the rear of the building. Thanks to our server, who was friendly, helpful, and very knowledgable about their beers. I would love to see an Imperial Stout on the menu (and perhaps a Porter). 

Our Takeaways

I couldn’t leave without taking home some of their Hempstead Bridge Collision and Monkey with a Razor (pictured below).

My New Jersey Wines of the Week

Today I chose two very good New Jersey wines to highlight. From left to right below: Saddlehill Winery Ashenfelter 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon and Bellview Winery 2020 Regent:

Saddlehill Ashenfelter 2022 Cabernet Sauvignon-This is a wonderful Cab that I’m sure would cellar very well, but it is drinking so well now, why wait? It is a bold, medium-bodied dry red, with tasty cherry and plum notes and very smooth tannins. Great with a good steak or nearly any hearty meal.

Bellview Winery 2020 Regent-I have enjoyed this wine many times in the past decade. It is easy drinking, inexpensive and very enjoyable. In my opinion, this is Bellview’s best version to date. It is a deep dark ruby color with medium plus body and notes of plum and cherry.

Coming Attractions

• Willow Creek Winery March 2026
• Saddlehill Winery March 2026
• Sharrott Winery March 2026

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