Source Brewing - Colts Neck NJ

I visited for the first time a couple weeks ago and really liked the space. Thought it had the rustic and farm house vibe to it and can tell that a lot of thought and effort went into the tasting room. Definitely one of the nicer tasting rooms in NJ.

I've heard horror stories about unsupervised children running around, bad parking situation and the other complaints. To avoid this, I just went during the week on a rainy day and it was completely empty. Didn't get the full selection (only had IPAs and saisions), but it was a great experience to try them without the screaming and chaos. I'm not against well behaved and supervised children at breweries, but don't want to have to worry about feral children running around or running into me every step I take.

Beer was definitely above average and I liked the clean hoppier beers more than the adjunct/fruited IPAs and saisons.

Would definitely swing by again during the week when it's calm.

 

Well, I stopped in after work today because I was delinquent in picking up the four pack I ordered. No line mid afternoon on a Friday, which was very nice. Walked right up and ordered. Small pour of one of the stouts and saison. Sat upstairs with my book and enjoyed myself, then left with the cans. Much nicer experience without the pour line and a bunch of families clogging up the first floor. I guess the key for now is not to go on Sat or Sun when it’s busy.

 

Hold the phones...the distillery serves COCKTAILS? Is this a thing? Like does AP distillery do the same? I've never been to either (or any NJ distillery). I always assumed it was just tastes of straight liquor--which I like as I drink my brown liquor neat, but I dont need to be at a distillery to do that.

 

yes, they both make their own cocktails, but think the laws only allow them to use alcoholic ingredients that are distilled or made on site, so their menu's cater to that. They do also offer tastings of their spirits straight up as well

 

I've only been to 4-5 distilleries but literally all of them have made cocktails.

 

It’s been a while since I went to a distillery back home in Scotland - and since the whole world has become Americanized (wtf Thanksgiving / Black Friday / pumpkins / “fall” are all a thing there now) maybe this has changed - but none of them offered a cocktail

 

I was at Colts Neck Stillhouse yest, I will say not the biggest fan of the "Fall Root" menu but they have some traditional stuff available still. Some times cocktails go a bit too far. Source was pretty crowded mid-day as well, I still don't get people who think its okay to get their beer and just stand there at the bar top while there is little room and a line of other people trying to get served. I am sorry but as politely as possible, get fucked and move somewhere else

 

I have to sat after having been here several times the biggest problem is not the kids or the parking but rather the parents of the kids.

When I was there a couple Saturdays ago i ran into an old work acquaintance who had cone with their spouse and two children who were CLEARLY in it for the long haul. The gang of children from this family and others ran around the property while the adults socialized with each other. My acquaintance was the rule while I as a beer drinker was the exception. The couple had 2 beers each over 4 hours.

At one point all the various kids got together and started a kickball game in the back yard. While i definitely think there is a market for a brewery with a day care after seeing Source on a weekend, it is not something i really want to spend my time at. I will leave this place to the parents on the weekends and take my business elsewhere. Very curious to see what happens as it gets colder.

 

Last sunday 10/27 it was rainy and cold. The parent/kid crew took over the first floor. My friend commented that it looked like a kid's birthday party (he was not kidding).

 

Agree with both of these, I stopped in Sunday afternoon and it wasn't insane, but resorted to going upstairs and outside. That being said, if the beer was amazing, I'd be more inclined to still go with regularity. I have been less than impressed by the beer I have had thus far, the selection is not able to keep up with the flow of customers. I think I have seen only 6 beers on tap each time I went in but they have more taps than that. Maybe the focus should be having enough beer in house before they keep canning that beer.

 

I stopped by there few times. Like everybody else mentioned, their beer is good but nothing out of the ordinary. Definitely a good start. The brewery itself is gorgeous. Having said that, I'm not feeling the crowd that is mostly parents with their annoying kids running around everywhere. You constantly have to watch where You step so You don't accidentally kick a kid in a face. Also, every time I have been there, they ran out of at least 2 beers. This was probably the worst offender as allowing kids/parents to do whatever the fuck they want as far as breweries (and i've been to plenty in my lifetime)

I probably won't be going back there anytime soon.

 

I had no problem with crowds or snot nosed brats or dogs Thursday at 1 PM. It really is a beautiful venue. The beers that I had were good. The beers that I didn't have were hazy or had flavorings or both. A nice thing about retirement is that I can go to places when they are not crowded. I wish that more breweries had weekday hours.

 

$18 for a Pilsner. Can't say I see that going over well after the last can release.

 

apparently pils is in 19.2 oz cans, FWIW - so not quite as epensive as it seems but still not cheap...

 

Yeah i saw the can size difference, but I'll file 19.2oz cans of a Pilsner under "things no one asked for"

Also $20 is entirely too much for a milkshake IPA 6 months after opening. I have had some of the milkshake IPAs and I really think they just have a really muddled flavoring and were not really anything above average, certainly not worth $20 a 4-pack

 

I agree with you about the price and also I personally don’t like milkshake IPAs. However apparently it did sell out in one hour

 

yeah I saw that, good on them, but i don't get it

 

I prefer their base ipa and dipas to the adjuncted. You don't need to mess with a good thing.

 

Anyone know how crowded has the Source been over the past few weekends, what has selection been like, growler fills available, etc?

 

I was there at closing last night so i can't really help with the question, but I just wanna say that the Ambrosia Milkshake was borderline excellent. I haven't really been disappointed in their beers yet. The Russian stout was basic, but also pretty damn good.