[tonyp]

Just saw this video posted on twitter and thought I'd share it:

Climax Brewing

I met Dave at a local brewpub called Artisan's here in Toms River, NJ about a month or so ago where he is the brewmaster. He happened to be eating lunch at the bar when my Wife and I stopped in for a few pints. Super nice guy, he even let us try a smoked cherry porter he was working on before it was on tap, really tasty!

Cheers!
Tony

[The Professor]

Interesting video. 
Climax certainly wasn't the first micro here in NJ  (that honor goes to Vernon Valley Brewery, which opened almost 30 years ago and was legendary among beer Garden Stae beer lovers for their amazing traditional German style beers brewed on what was basically an antique system) 
...but Climax definitely gets the trophy for being the longest continuously operating micro in the state.   

They crank out quite a bit of beer for an operation of its size,  and have managed to get product into quite a few bars and liquor stores.   And it  certainly helps that the beers are by and large not too bad. 

Cheers to the fact that they've been able to 'hang in there' and make such a good go of it in a business where competition is growing every day.

[MDixon]

I remember purchasing a growler of their beer a long time ago and what was in the growler wasn't what was on the label. A year or so later American Beer came out and if you have seen it, they drink the overflow from the filler. I immediately understood how a switcheroo could happen
http://www.socalbrewinery.com/american-beer-documentary

[tomsawyer]

I too enjoyed the video.  What I appreciated most was the brewmaster's statement that they focus completely on brewing to style.  I do think that is becoming less important as breweries try to carve a niche and stand out.  Many breweries are into these artistic takes on a style or they flat out ignore style guidelines.  Its all good, but I figure the styles are there as a result of hundreds of years of trial and error.  Truthfully, I'm less interested in the fact that your pale ale is better than their pale ale, and more interested in trying the beers brewed locally wherever I roam.

[jeffy]

I too enjoyed the video.  What I appreciated most was the brewmaster's statement that they focus completely on brewing to style.  I do think that is becoming less important as breweries try to carve a niche and stand out.  Many breweries are into these artistic takes on a style or they flat out ignore style guidelines.  Its all good, but I figure the styles are there as a result of hundreds of years of trial and error.  Truthfully, I'm less interested in the fact that your pale ale is better than their pale ale, and more interested in trying the beers brewed locally wherever I roam.

I'm with you on drinking and eating locally.  It's my mantra. 
It's nice to be able to know what to expect when ordering a beer, but if the description is good enough, I don't care so much how close to a given style guide it is.  Everybody can and perhaps should have his own interpretation and design as long as I can somehow figure out what it might taste like before I order it.

[majorvices]

Never heard of them before but ... what an AWFUL name for a brewery.

[pinnah]

Never heard of them before but ... what an AWFUL name for a brewery.

Not sure you would approve of the logo either.

I'm with you on drinking and eating locally. 

Cheers to that, and all the good choices out there! 
Doubt I will get to NJ, but I guess I will hoist to that as well.

[The Professor]

...I don't care so much how close to a given style guide it is.  Everybody can and perhaps should have his own interpretation and design as long as I can somehow figure out what it might taste like before I order it.

That's how it should be.  Commercial brewing is not and never has been bound to strict style guidelines, only broad common sense ones (ie., no "Golden Stout").   The only regretful thing about  Dave's interview was his invocation of the dreaded "true to style" phrase.   It probably would have made more sense for him to say that Climax does tradition.   And they actually do that fairly well for the most part.  The fact that they aren't particularly 'adventurous' may be the key to their significant local success...they found a 'sweet spot' in their range in that they brew beers to satisfy a more mainstream thirst as well as  beers that cater to a more developed palate.   In my view, the small breweries that do that have the best shot at expanding their operations to new levels.

As mentioned, the only cringe in the interview was the mention of  'brewing to style';  I can only guess that he may have been referring to the amateur judging guidelines (which have no real place outside of that arena).

[punatic]

My wife grew up in Roselle Park.  Despite living in Hawaii and fitting in very well here, she is definitely a Jersey Tomato.  When I told her about this thread, and the comments, I asked her if she had anything to say to the Climax Brewery naysayers...

In her best Jersey accent, "Shut up!"

[tschmidlin]

I've added this to my request list for my brother to bring to NC in September

[majorvices]

Never heard of them before but ... what an AWFUL name for a brewery.

Not sure you would approve of the logo either.

Logo's "meh" - ok. I have some authority in that realm being a graphic designer who specialized in logos for 20+ years.  People don't practice dentistry on themselves and they should design their own logos, either.  

Climax sounds like a teen boy band. In fact, I think I had a girlfriend who listened to them in the 80's. Too much of a sexual reference to me to fit well as a brewery name. Can't believe I haven't gotten a plus one on that.  

That said, if their beer is rockin' I could ignore the name and the logo completely. 

[oscarvan]

People don't practice dentistry on themselves and they should design their own logos, either.  

What, you don't like my logo? 

[majorvices]

People don't practice dentistry on themselves and they should design their own logos, either.  

What, you don't like my logo? 

Send me some beer and I will give you my opinion. 

[tonyp]

Logo's "meh" - ok. I have some authority in that realm being a graphic designer who specialized in logos for 20+ years.  People don't practice dentistry on themselves and they should design their own logos, either.  

I've also been a graphic designer for over 20yrs and its really hard to look at someone's logo and not want to critique it but I held back the urge for climax, pun intended.

I've only had the beers Dave has made for Artisan's and they were all delicious.

Tony

[Hokerer]

That's how it should be.  Commercial brewing is not and never has been bound to strict style guidelines, only broad common sense ones (ie., no "Golden Stout").

And certainly not a "Black India Pale Ale".  Oh wait...