Backyard Barn Winery and Microbrewery

Barkyard Barn Winery and Microbrewery is a large place not far north and west of Wildwood.

There's a small vineyard out front, a fairly large parking lot behind that, and then a large open space that includes their pizza truck and the main building. Stepping inside you'll find an L shaped bar along the left wall and back that seats a dozen or so. It's got a corrugated steel siding and wood look that fits with the farm theme.

I forget how many beers and wines they offer but it's roughly 12 or more of each, with a guest or two, and they offer food beyond pizza and calzones.

I tried 4 of their beers and was happy with all of them, and particularly liked two of their dessert beers, the vanilla creme brûlée and thin mint milk stout.

My wife and I sat outside at one of the tables in their large area and enjoyed the nice weather.

If there's any drawback based on my one experience it's the service at the bar. For whatever reason our bartender seemed incredibly bitchy and irritated by us even though we were her only customers. I'm staying right nearby for over a week and although I liked the beer and want to try their calzones I won't be back for fear of running into her.

 

This place is about 3-4 miles off the beaten path, out "in the country" if you will.

Entrance is inviting with plenty of parking. It has a very nice and spacious outdoor area, great for congregating. Stage is larger than normal for venues in this area. Servers and bartender seemed friendly and accommodating. Indoor bar opens to the outside for the benefit of servers, and indoor patrons can get fresh air. Catch the weather just right as it was the day I went (temp approx 70 with low humidity) for the best experience.

I did not have have any food (menu has a dozen or so selections) but I hear the wings were good.

Now the beer.

Honesty must rule the day here; otherwise the place will likely not receive any feedback at all as I did not sense the locals paying any attention to the beers they were ordering.

The Backyard Barn has the absolute worst beer I have ever tasted in all my days of beer sampling.

I had 3 flights of 12 (out of 13) onsite brewed beers being served on this day over a two hour period. I can only assume that it was accident, but their "Big Ass French Toast" (the 6th selection I tried) was the only beer whose total experience didn't knock me to the ground virtually begging for someone to pour a pitcher of PBR on my face. That copper colered beer had a nose reminiscent of Southern Tier's Creme Brulet, the taste and mouthfeel was amazingly similar to its name, and the finish faded nicely with no disagreeable aftertaste.

That was the one and only high note. The rest should have been piped directly from the fermenter to the drain. I will go so far to say that were these the only beers available to drink I would advocate bringing back Prohibition---------it's that bad!

The situation could be turned around in short order, but somebody close to the owner needs to sit him down and read the riot act to him. The equipment is there, the lines and taps are working---all they need is one drinkable beer. Better to have one good beer (or bottles only) than 12 bad ones.

If I receive any future good reports I will report back promptly.