With breweries opening left and right these days, I have been wondering when another would open around the corner from me. Although I find it fun to venture off to some of my favorite beer makers, sometimes I don’t feel like putting in the travel time to get a tasty glass of brew.
With my options limited in the north. In comes Magnify Brewing to save the day. One of the newest brewers coming into the fold this year, Magnify has opened it’s doors in Fairfield, New Jersey. Giving beer drinkers in the area something to look forward to in the craft beer boom.
Although it’s on the small side. This ten barrel brew house is doing double brews and making sure that all the fermenters are topped off with tasty ales.
All together there are four twenty barrel fermenters and one 20 barrel bright tank. Plenty of space to get started and a nice size to grow into.
Manning the brewery operations is Erich Carrle.
No stranger to brewing. He has spent time making beer for breweries like Speakeasy, Almanac and even Kelso Of Brooklyn.
Eric really seems to know his stuff and with his experience Magnify will thrive.
He was in the process of making a batch of Vine Shine, their single IPA.
Although there are plans for packaging at some point in the future. Magnify will remain on draft for the time being.
The tasting room is quite nice and currently featuring four of their beers.
Owner Eric Ruta commissioned his father to make these tap handles. They are all hand made and a work of art. Cheers Sal!
Speaking of Eric. He is probably the youngest brewery owner I have met to date. He is only 23 years old and has a major passion for putting out good, quality beer. Spending his college days in Maine and getting his feet wet at Baxter Brewing. Eric wanted to come back and magnify the craft beer seen in north Jersey. Hence the name.
How about the beer? Well, the beer is good and tasting pretty damn fresh. My favorite of the day was their pale ale. It was everything I am looking for these days. Juicy, crisp and crushable.
Its always nice to showcase photos from the early days. I was a big fan of these black and whites that they had up on clipboards.
Don’t forget your growler. All four beers are available to go in 32oz and 64oz growlers.
I think Eric is on to something to here and after spending the day with him it is clear that he wants Magnify to beer part of the growing beer conversation here in New Jersey. Thanks for having me out and best of luck. If you want to visit Magnify yourself, head on over to their Facebook page for tours and tastings. Cheers.
-Brian