Magnify vs Twin Elephant

I like both breweries as far as locals go. I used to be a huge Magnify fan, but these days less so since they started focusing almost entirely on DIPAs and TIPAs and 10% plus dessert stouts. I tend to like Twin Elephant’s IPAs more than Magnify’s (except Low Vis) and I like that Twin Elephant does more porters, saisons, milds, etc. I also enjoy visiting TE’s tasting room and outside area more and like that they do flights.
Edit: I do have a Magnify four pack in my fridge right now - a coffee IPA which I find different and tasty.

 

I feel pretty much the same way Dr, Stiffington does. Magnify brews good beers but mostly in styles that aren't my favorites. Twin Elephant brews more lower ABV beers more to my liking. They are also only 5 minutes from my home not 25/30.

 

Pretty much my thoughts although I was never super high on Magnify, but that might be because it was annoying to get cans back in the day since I was only ever in the area on weekends if I was visiting my parents.

 

As said above, Twin Elephant usually has more options in the 6-7% ABV, while Magnify has mostly 8% and above. This week Magnify has dropped their Thanksgiving beer, Danksgiving and Hop Gravy, which are highly regarded.
If you like hops you really can't go wrong with either. TE usually has more non-IPA / non-pastry stout options that aren't always on Magnify's menu.

 

I agree they are the best in the area. ( Seven Tribesmen is worth a stop as well ) IMHO Magnify's Hop game is just a smidge above but its close and both are consistent. Twin does different styles more often and the do lower ABV brews that are excellent. Lately Magnify has been doing some tasty lower ABV brews as well and I hope that continues. A few weeks back they had a 5% IPA that was crushable and last week n again this week a 6.5% single IPA that are both tasty. I will say that though they don't do them as often when Mags does do a Crispy or other different style they usually nail them. The last Pils, Lager and Hefe were very tasty and Revenant was a non adjunct Russian Imperial Stout that was excellent and such a nice change up from all the Pastry Stouts. I like Pastry, but nice to see a classic Stout. TE does have a nicer tasting room and most of the time more options for pours. Bottom line ya can't go wrong with either Brewery.

 

I have to say I don’t think I’ve heard of Seven Tribesmen until your post.

 

They are a great brewery. They focus more on traditional styles and like to make beers that are drinkable. They also like to target the sweet spot of around 6% abv for their beers. I used to work for them and def recommend them.

 

OG Magnify fan over here. Magnify is a great brewery but I will admit I was a much larger fan of them back in the day then I am today. Back in the day they were more diverse and unique/exciting. Magnify used to pride themselves on being different but soon enough fell into the trend of hazy DIPAs and Triples complemented by pastry stouts. I hate this new direction they are in which is why I feel twin elephants approach is more to my liking as of now. Unfortunately I dont get the chance to get to them that often but when I do I find it's a real treat.

 

Where are they? They sound like Bull n Bear from what you say.

 

Wayne, right off of 23 going south

 

Nice Tap room. Quality Brews. They do Hops of course but also lottsa Pils n Lagers which are very good and other styles as well. Def worth a stop if you've never been. Right accross from the Mothers park n ride on Rte 23.

 

I've been a patron of both Magnify and Twin Elephant since they opened. And I agree with what's been said on this thread. Here are my thoughts on our local breweries.

Magnify has emphasized big kettle sours and adjunct-laden pastry stouts, along with its DIPAs and TIPAs. Some of the tried and true IPAs are very good, including Maine Event, Peak Oil, and Up Up & Away. They recently canned a RIS called Revenant that was excellent. Some of the TIPAs are really good (e.g., Reserved) but others are hit and miss. They release so much beer that it cannot all be good.

Pre-Covid, Twin Elephant was consistently brewing quality beer. Then, while the tasting room was closed I found their cans to also be hit-or-miss. Even standbys like Li'l Shimmy Ye and Gathering Clouds were inconsistent. I think they've righted the ship and I've enjoyed what they've brewed recently.

Seven Tribesmen brews some fine beer that I've enjoyed and hope to continue. I particularly like the Paprika Ale and Rye Lager.

I'm a big fan of Bull n Bear in Summit. It's only 5 minutes from Twin Elephant and its euro style beers are uniformly excellent. If you're a hophead, then you'll probably be disappointed but their English IPA is an absolute favorite of mine. BnB's beers also tend to last a long time and evolve. I just had the Baltic Porter for the first time since the Spring and, if anything, it's even better now.

Untied Brewing is a strange case. When it opened I wasn't a fan. Then, around mid-2020, Untied began brewing really fine IPAs like Knucklehead Hall of Fame and Murphy's Law. For a few months I thought they were making some of the best NEIPAs in New Jersey. Then, they changed the house yeast and head brewer and I was rather disappointed. Their IPAs now remind me a lot of Twin Elephant and Magnify. But their stouts, Quads, and pumpkin ales remain first rate.

Glenbrook Brewery in Morristown is also a curious case. Some of my favorites there are frankly rather eccentric. Incoming is an ESB that is brewed with Galaxy hops and drinks more like a Red Ale - piney and fruity - but I like it a lot. The Oktoberfest drinks more like a Porter. Morristown Style-IPA has morphed from a West Coast IPA to a New England-West Coast hybrid but I enjoy it. I recommend keeping an open mind and enjoying the beers for what they are - not the style they're supposed to be.

 

Bolero was super inconsistent when they were contract brewing, no idea what they are like now.

Just went to Czig while home for Thanksgiving and it was just awful, the “Kölsch” was genuinely one of the worst beers I’ve had in a while and the NEIPAs were like oxidized or something. Surprisingly Man Skirt down the street was much better, I had their Czech pils and it was pretty solid. As a Scotsman I was poised to hate them but they were alright.

The stuff I’ve had from Brix City has been solid but I haven’t had a ton. The rest I’ve probably only l had at a beer fest ages ago so can’t really comment.

 

Angry Erik is pretty good for the non-hazy styles, Brix is good for the hazies but not top of NJ. You'd have to pay me to drink Jersey Girl or Bolero.

 

None of these places are as good, beer-wise, as Magnify or Twin Elephant. I’ll go against the grain here and say Bolero is actually pretty good. I’ll pick up a lager or IPA from Wegmans every so often. Haven’t been to their place. I really tried with Czig Meister but found most of their beers underwhelming. Their place is really nice and fun to hang out at, although haven’t been there in ages. Jersey Girl, eh. Haven’t had their stuff in a while so maybe it’s gotten better. Brix City was another one I got on board with for a while. I do like some of their Jam IPAs and some of their lower ABV beers. East to pick up at the store. Haven’t ever visited or drank Angry Erik beer.

 

I'd like to add if you're stopping by Magnify its worth a stop to hit up Crickethill. They are a mile away. If you're a Hop Head you'll most likely be disappointed but they do solid Lagers and if they have a fruited sour on the board def give it a try. IMO Their Mango Sour is the best offering. They do a smoked Rye and a RIS that are very good as well.