Touring Breweries from home...(Part 5)

The Labeler

Once the bottles have been filled they are conveyed to the labeler. This fascinating machine applies a neck, front and back label.

Touring Breweries from home...(Part 4)

Every day from now on the Cricket Hill blog team will post a new Picture of the Cricket Hill Facility with a description of the brewing process each machine facilitates. Our hope is to expand your knowledge of the brewing process, and show you the specific steps taken by our Head Brewer Dave, and the rest of the Cricket Hill Team

Bottling Line Continued...

A TRUE BREW CHAMPION

We at the Cricket Hill Blog team would just like to offer our condolences to Rick Reed. President and Brewmaster of the finest craft beer company on the planet. This guy is a true beer champion. You know a craft beer is good when the maker cares more about his beer than the money it puts in his pocket. This time we're not just talking about his famous slogan of "Drink what you can, sell the rest"; This time we're talking about a guy who cares more about the head of his beer, than his own head at all!
You read us correctly, Rick recently cut his head open and had to get 17 stitches while delivering beer to one of our loyal customers; who's business we still appreciate very much and look forward to bulding an even stronger relationship in the future. If thats not a true brew champion, I don't know what is. Now our customers and customers to be understand who really cares about their beer. Hope to see you soon at the tour, and as always, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BREWERY!

Touring Breweries from home...(Part 3)

Every day from now on the Cricket Hill blog team will post a new Picture of the Cricket Hill Facility with a description of the brewing process each machine facilitates. Our hope is to expand your knowledge of the brewing process, and show you the specific steps taken by our Head Brewer Dave, and the rest of the Cricket Hill Team

The bottling line

Empty bottles are fed onto a conveyor where they are inverted and rinsed with sanitary water. They are moved to the filler where they are filled with Cricket Hill Beer and capped. This particular line is capable of speeds up to 5600 bottles per hour.

Touring Breweries From Home...(Part 2)

Every day from now on the Cricket Hill blog team will post a new Picture of the Cricket Hill Facility with a description of the brewing process each machine facilitates. Our hope is to expand your knowledge of the brewing process, and show you the specific steps taken by our Head Brewer Dave, and the rest of the Cricket Hill Team.

The Fermenters

These are the stainless steel vessels where the wort is mixed with the amazing yeast. As soon as the yeast touches the wort, you officially have beer. Over the next 5 days or so, the yeast will eat the wort and create ethanol alcohol and carbon dioxide.

Variety's of Women, Variety's of Beer!

A new look is coming to the variety cases of Cricket Hill. In our history of brewing beers we've had great success selling our variety packs in PA. The reason being that PA is what's known as a "case state" meaning that beer can only be sold by cases (24) through a distributor.
In New Jersey when buying beer during the brewery tour, the limit is 12 beers or the equivelent, preventing our tour guests from buying our variety cases. Now, in order to satisfy their demand and NJ laws as well, we've begun a project starting Thursday, 4-24-08. Cricket Hill will be putting their variety packs into 12 bottle cases! We hope to see you out for our next tour where we can now officially sell "cases" of our variety pack in the form of 12 of the finest beers made. Hope to see you soon, and as always, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BREWERY!

Touring Breweries From Home

Every day from now on the Cricket Hill blog team will post a new Picture of the Cricket Hill Facility with a description of the brewing process each machine facilitates. Our hope is to expand your knowledge of the brewing process, and show you the specific steps taken by our Head Brewer Dave, and the rest of the Cricket Hill Team.

The Brewing Platform or "The Brewhouse"
This is the heart of beer making, a two vessel system brewing 465 gallons of Cricket Hill Beer at a time. The kettle (right) and the mash tun (left) convert the initial barley & water mix into the "sweetwater" precursor to beer known as "wort".

Red White and Brew, taking the industry to Europe

In a recent article published by ale street online, the impressive story of a new beer exporting program, became nationwide beer knowledge. The EDP or Export Development Program, was created in order to promote international trade, as well as build relationships with importers and distributors abroad; as to create a matchmaker between domestic breweries and thirsty europeans.
The program has been so successful, the numbers have easily surpassed the 15% growth goal set by the appropriate committees. What this tells us, is that Europeans certainly know their beers. The EDP program is speciffically designed for Craft Beers of the US. Some of the names included in the project thus far are Brooklyn Brewery, Rougue Ales, Left Hand Brewing in Colorado, among many others. Cricket Hill will potentially join the program within a year or two as well. However that is all dependent on our loyal drinkers to help us grow.
For more information on the EDP and its help provided to the Craft Beers of America to take over the beer industry, please visit: http://www.alestreetonline.com/content/view/24/45/

Clams and Crickets, partners at the Jersey Shore.

Just this past friday at Cricket Hill Brewery, the manager of a world famous bar in Highlands NJ called the Clam Hut, visited Rick Reed to sample the finest local beers made. By the end of the session, Steve, the Clam Hut manager, demanded that our beers be taken on as a private label for yet another Jersey Shore bar. So until the Jersey Summer makes its 08' debut the East Coast Lager will be sold as The Clam Hut Seasonal. Then shortly after, the Jersey Summer will take its place, if not just added on as another fine local craft beer. So be sure to check out the Clam Hut this summer with all your family and friends, and remember, as does the Clam Hut, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BREWERY!!!!!

BEER, BEER, and more BEER!

Heres a list of some upcoming events for you and your family to enjoy. For those of you 21 and overs, you will be able to enjoy tastings of the finer beers made in the world including your favorite, Cricket Hill Beers! When we say finer we simply mean Hand crafted beers that are actually payed attention to when being brewed; not some rice filled mass brewed beer who's quality is tested only by the inner walls of the tanks it sits in.

Saturday 3/1/2008 12-4 PM and 6-10 PM in Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia Craft Beer Festival http://www.phillycraftbeerfest.com

Sunday 6/8/2008 1-5 PM in Macungie, PA Bear Creek Brew Fest http://www.skibearcreek.com

Saturday 6/14/2008 12-4 PM and 7-11 PM in Adamstown, PA Stoudt's Brewery Festival http://www.stoudtsbeer.com/events_micro-fest.html

Saturday 6/21/2008 12-4 PM in Camden NJ: on the Battleship New Jersey Garden State Brew Fest http://www.njbeer.org

Crickets taking over baseball fields everywhere

With baseball season starting up again we are proud to announce the start of the Newark Bears and New Jersey Jackals seasons along with their renewed partnerships with Cricket Hill Brewing Company. The action kicks off for the Newark Bears and Cricket Hill at their home opener on April 29th at 7:05 pm. The Bears proudly carry our East Coast Lager so for all you baseball junkies who love lager Riverfront stadium will be your spot for all home games this season! A copy of the schedule and directions to the stadium can be found at the Bears official website: http://www.newarkbears.com/

Along with Bears season right around the corner we also have the Montclair based New Jersey Jackals home opener on May 29th against the Ottowa Rapids at 7:05 pm. The Jackals carry two Cricket Hill Brews, the East Coast Lager, and Jack Ale brewed special just for Jackal fans. Come to Yogi Berra stadium for a great time for you and your family. Directions to the stadium along with other information can be found at their official website: http://www.njjackals.com/ . So come join the fun and as always, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BREWERY!

An early taste of summer, Straight from your favorite bottle!!!!

Well ladies and gentlemen, although you thought it would never come, summer is right around the corner. And just like the seasons, the brews of the Cricket Hill Brewing company are changing as well. So out with the Paymasters Porter, and in with the Jersey Summer Belgian Ale!!! A breakfast ale as fresh and full with flavor as a day down by the shore, fermented with belgian ale yeast, this beer has slightly tangy, and fruity taste. Pairs as well with bacon and eggs as it does with a back yard barbecue, and a delicious accompanyment to your morning coffee and a wonderfully refreshing alternative to your watery yellow lawnmower beer.

For the first time ever The Jersey Summer we'll be sold in bottles through our distibutors Regal and Shore Point, providing we can get through some labeling issues we've been having as of late. But either way we hope to see our loyal drinkers and everyone else at our brewery and at the shore all summer. HAVE A GREAT SUMMER, and as always SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BREWERY!!!!!!!!!!!

!!!!!!!! Tour my Fund Raiser with Craft Brewed Beer !!!!!!!!!

Cricket Hill is a unique venue for your next Fundraiser. Have a blast with your guests celebrating your favorite cause in a Microbrewery! We have already hosted events for several different organizations such as:

Boonton Baseball
Sierra Club
Leukemia Foundation

Among Many Others!

Brewery Tours....

Take a ride down to Cricket Hill every Friday afternoon to sample some of the greatest beer on the planet Earth. Meet some of the finest beer connoisseurs in the area. And hear your favorite Brewmaster Rick Reed give his weekly speech on the microbrewery take over of the beer industry. (Also can be seen at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=91DH4lNpniE )

-Preceding video VERY WORTH YOUR TIME-

Tours Start at 5:00 pm on Friday evenings. Bring your 21 year old buddies for a great time!

The Freshest IPA in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

IPA HOPNOTIC

No mere beverage could satisfy the thirst of the courageous and gallant soldiers who stood guard over the colonies of the British Empire. Their thirst could only be quenched by a full-bodied hearty Ale; an Ale balanced with rich flavorful hops. We are proud to offer our interpretation of this English style India Pale Ale for those who long for the time when once your duty was complete, the taste of a fine Ale was reward enough for a job well done.

The Freshest Ale in the WORLD!!!!!!!!!!!

AMERICAN ALE

Our American Ale is a favorite everywhere - an amber ale with a wonderful balance of caramel sweetness and hop flavor. The aroma has a slight note of citrus and rock candy. There is not an imported Ale on the market that tastes this fresh!

The Freshest Lager in the WORLD!!!!!

EAST COAST LAGER

The East Coast Lager is an easy drinking “golden” lager with a wonderful balance of crisp malt flavors and flowery hop finish. Built specifically with very low bitter aftertaste, the aroma is as clean as the taste. A difficult beer to brew because of the gentleness… this beer is magnificent!

Official Beer of the Philly Roller Girls!!!

Come join us for bout number two of the Philly Roller girls! Doors open at 5 o'clock for a 6 o'clock start. The double header includes our own Philthy Britches vs. the Stepford Sabotage of the Connecticut Roller Girls, followed up by the Broad Street Butchers vs. the Heavy Metal Hookers. Musical Entertainment is provided by Jukeboz Zeros. All alcoholic beverages served will be provided by...you guessed it...The Cricket Hill Brewing Company. Hope to see everyone out there, and remember, as always, SUPPORT YOUR LOCAL BREWERY!!!!!!!!!!

Welcome!

Welcome to the official Blog of the Cricket Hill Brewing Company. Makers of the finest beer on the planet. Were very excited in your interest in our brewery and hope for you to join us for our weekly tours on Friday nights from 5:00 to 7:00.