Referend Bier Blendery

I guess I can speak to my own personal experience. I enjoyed the place when I went, but I didn't really enjoy the prices. I felt like I got my moneys worth, sure, but when you're charging 5-8 bucks for a 6oz pour, and the whole menu is priced like that, the place becomes a once in awhile, rare stop for me.

Also, and this might just be me (and a few friends that felt the same), the place really isn't that inviting of a spot. Drab, muted colored walls makes the place just feel boring.

 

Could be poor marketing on their part too. I like to think I'm pretty in-tuned to the local scene, and I had no clue they were even open on Thursdays. I feel like last time I heard, they had just committed to opening every Saturday!

 

craft beer is still niche market stuff... what Referend is doing is a niche within a niche, i hope this doesn't stop them or hurt them financially because i love their beers so far and enjoy visiting, if they were within 20 mins of me i'd go more often.. they are on that distance bubble where i'll visit once a month if i can swing it

i had the new bottle a few months back when it was on draft and didn't care for it so i skipped this release

sanctus is the best beer that came out of NJ this year and probably best beer since the 2015 ANTEAD's, and it's still there

go get one if you haven't yet

 

But it's not hazy and I still have 7-8 in the cellar.

 

Not sure why people are so keen to compare everything to hazy IPAs. It makes even less sense that stuff like Veil goses, Answer growlers, Burley Pak JREAMs, and other canned sours gain so much hype traction while sour blended stuff from Referend doesn't.

 

it's kind of a new wave of craft drinker imo... #canculture

also, 64oz 4pk's of can kettle sour'd whatever run $14-20 where as 1 bottle of referend or any other producer of wild ales can be $15-25. not getting into the price thing here but there are many who don't want to risk dropping $20 for one bottle but will easily drop $20 for 4 cans.. maybe they don't like the beer and then have 3 cans to trade off... 1 bottle you crack it and you don't like it, then that's it

i think it's partially a learning curve.. like this past referend release i had it on tap before bottles, so i knew i didn't like it so i didn't go buy it... if somebody showed up for their first experience and get a bottle and pop it and don't like it, maybe they don't revisit bottles from referend... sure it's closed minded that one experience dictates others but that is how things work often enough

not saying any way is right or wrong, just hopefully more people have open minds/palates and visit this great spot in NJ

 

Now that the bar is in the front space instead of tucked in that weird back room the vibe is a little better but I agree, it is still a little drab. A mural in the main room would be nice and maybe some more inviting seating/lighting. I could see something like work lights being on during the day but then lamps and string lights et al during business hours to make it feel a little more cozy.

 

Also, did anyone go to the improv show on Saturday night? Curious how it sounded in there!

 

+HVB


Name recognition, marketing, and heavily adjunct sours play a role here as well

 

was curious to this as well, seemed like a cool evening

 

4-7 on Thursday and Friday. 2-8 on Saturday.

 

http://www.stealthisbeer.com/episodes/

 

Awesome episode.
I wish this place was closer to me.

 

def worth a visit

If you every are planning to hit troon, conclave etc., you can make a nice day out of all 3. Also a real nice NJ winery near by called Unionville if you or any traveling companions are more into wine. Love taking trips to all 4

 

Also, for those who might not have been to the blendery in a bit, there are now two sizes for the pours...8 oz and 11 oz. Not all of the beers are available in both, but for those that are, it’s $1 more for the larger size. The 11 oz pours are served in the new tumblers that they posted on their Instagram a few weeks ago.

 

opened a sanctus i got a couple weeks ago today. made the jets game bearable, fwiw. if any last past the weekend - i recommend grabbin some, really wasnt expecting to enjoy it this much based on description (“fresh grapes + port barrels”).