What’s nearly as enjoyable
as a day of fishing?

A cold beer afterward,
many would say.

So for anglers who
enjoy a brew after the
trip, this one’s for you.

Flying Fish Brewery,
founded in 1995,
and now the largest microbrewery in New Jersey, salutes fish.

“Balance” is the key word describing Flying Fish beer,
the company says. The flavors harmonize instead of fighting
for individual attention, it says.

Full-flavored yet highly drinkable, the beer also complements food,
one reason Flying Fish is served at most fine restaurants in the Philadelphia region, the company says.

The varieties, with descriptions from the company, include:

• Belgian Classic Abbey – An abbey-style beer with an immense head, a generous body, a fruity nose and a clean, almondy dry finish, more like a wine than a beer, with qualities of a Burgundy. Great with smoked foods, cheeses, rich foods and even sushi, the sweetness pairing well with the saltiness in seaweed. Also an excellent dessert beer.
• ESB Ale (Extra Special Bitter) – Like a British extra-special bitter with an American slant. A beautiful copper color with an amber head. A rich malty start featuring caramel notes developing into a smooth, pleasurable hop finish.
• Extra Pale Ale – An American pale ale. An extremely balanced beer with a beautiful straw color. The best-selling micro brew at the Phillies ball park. Perfect with all foods including spicy, fish, fowl, grilled and pub-grub. Just not a dessert beer.
• HopFish India Pale Ale – Plenty of hop bitterness balanced by malt sweetness. With a floral and a citrus finish. A pre-dinner drink (hops stimulate appetite). But pairs well with heartier fare, spicy foods, pizza and pub-grub.

Seasonals are also brewed, such as OctoberFish, Farmhouse Summer Ale, Grand Cru Winter Reserve and more.

The company also introduced
the Exit Series, a series of brews celebrating every exit of the New Jersey Turnpike, focusing on a unique aspect of each.

The Exit Series so far includes:

• Exit 1 Bayshore Oyster Stout, celebrating the resurgence of oyster harvesting on Delaware Bay with stout, the popular beer enjoyed with the bivalves.
• Exit 4 American Trippel, a nod to the location of the brewery near Exit 4. A Belgian trippel because the company was the first micro brewery to embrace Belgian-style beers.
• Exit 11 Hoppy American Wheat, a confluence of styles and ingredients celebrating the confluence of the Turnpike, the Garden State Parkway and other major highways at Exit 11.

Check out the Flying Fish Brewery Web site – a fun, entertaining one – for more
info, including more about
the different beers, Brewery Business Lessons 101, the company’s history, where
to buy Flying Fish, brewery
tour info, beer recipes and products such as T-shirts.

“And remember, have fun,”
the owner writes on one page
of the site. “Hey, this is beer we’re talking about here.”