On my recent travels I was lucky enough to attend a beer pairing dinner at Long Valley Brewing in Long Valley, New Jersey. Beer pairing dinners are becoming more popular and if you ever get the opportunity you should definitely give it a shot. If done properly it’s every bit as good if not better than a wine pairing dinner. My wife and I have been to several and have always thoroughly enjoyed them. Nestled in the hills of New Jersey, Long Valley was settled by Germans and originally called German Valley. The name was changed to Long Valley during World War I. The brewery’s home is located in a stone barn built that was built in 1771. It has a wonderful ambience with stone walls, rough hewn beams and a high vaulted ceiling. For overall character it is one of my favorite brewpubs.
The Beer Tasting Dinner prepared by head chef Juan Mujica consisted of an appetizer, and 5 courses with a different beer pairing each.
The appetizer was a Brick Oven Pizza topped with hops, served with a cask conditioned IPA. The pizza was quite tasty with just a hint of hops. Loved the IPA. It was poured by the head brewer Joe Saia. I asked him what the ABV and IBU’s were, but he did not have the information with him. Great match. The IPA had great hop aroma and was smooth and balanced. While waiting for dinner to start I met Joe Freiday who at one time was an assistant brewer at Long Valley. We ended up sharing a table as he regaled me with stories of brewing on the east coast.
First Course: Shrimp Creole
Sauteed Shrimp with bell peppers, onions and tomatoes cooked with their German Valley Amber in a lemon garlic aioli topped with fresh cilantro. Paired with the German Valley Amber. The moderate malt sweetness and hop bitterness in the German Valley Amber balanced well with and helped cut the spice of the shrimp Creole. Light roasted malts and low hop bitterness. Medium malt body and sweetness with low hop bitterness. ABV 5.75%, IBU’s 25
Second Course: Spinach Salad
Baby Spinach, red onion, portabella mushroom, and roasted tomatoes served with a warm bacon vinaigrette made with their Hookerman’s Light. Topped with a deviled egg and paired with Hookerman’s Light. Hookerman’s light is named after a local legend who lost his arm in a railroad accident and wanders the tracks at night carrying a lantern looking for it. This beer is Long Valley’s lightest offering. An American wheat ale with a refreshing fruity aroma with a delicate flavor and body. The clean fresh floral finish went very well with the spinach salad. ABV 4.25%, IBU’S 15
Third Course: Chicken Caprese
Pan seared chicken, fresh buffalo mozzarella, fresh basil, roasted red peppers, topped with an American Pale Ale balsamic reduction. Served with American Pale Ale. The reduced balsamic vinegar added a very pleasing sweetness to the chicken, whereas the Pale Ale balanced agreeably with the mozzarella, basil and roasted peppers. Their American Pale Ale has a moderate hop aroma with low malt notes. Medium bodied with a refreshing hop bitterness, which lingers a bit. A very nice Pale Ale. ABV 5.25%, IBU’s 25
Fourth Course: Osso Buco
Braised Osso Bucco served with a white bean casserole, sautéed broccoli rabe with roasted garlic and topped with a Barleyville Rye sauce. The veal was very tender and fell easily off the shank. The broccoli rabe was a little bitter for my taste. With a moderate spice in the aroma and a medium full-bodied mouthfeel, the Barleyville Rye really enhanced the flavor of the Osso Busco. ABV 4.5%, IBU’S 12
Fifth Course: Hazelnut Irish Coffee Cake
This decadent cake was served with vanilla ice cream and paired with Long Valley’s award winning Lazy Jake Porter. Lazy Jake has won three medals at the Great American Beer Festival and one at the World Beer Cup. Try replacing a cup of coffee with a Stout or Porter for a real treat with your dessert. Full bodied, with a robust roasted malt, coffee, toffee and hints of chocolate. Lazy Jake went great with this desert and accented the hazelnut in the cake. Lazy Jake is named after a dog owned by the carpenter who did much of the work when the brewery was being built. ABV 5%, IBU’S 30
If you call in advance you might be able to schedule a tour of the brewery with brew master Joe Saia. This is definitely a brew pub I will visit again.
Long Valley Pub and Brewery
1 Fairmount Road
Long Valley, NJ 07853
908-876 -1122
Don Williams has been a home brewer since 2002. He is a recognized BJCP (Beer Judge Certification Program) judge, and has taught brewing classes. Don’s job requires extensive travel, and he enjoys visiting brew pubs in various parts of the country. He and his wife live in Cottonwood, CA.
