Iron Hill Brewery has 20 locations spread out across the East Coast. We have visited a couple of them over the years. This week, we decided to visit the one closest to us, in Voorhees for lunch. The food and beer are always good there, and you can enjoy a meal and have a beer or two without breaking the bank. It’s even nicer when you have a gift certificate that essentially covers the visit! Thanks, Greg.
We decided to do two samples, while we weighed our options for lunch. While heavy on the IPAs (aren’t all breweries these days), the IPAs were very good and there was a sufficient variety of other options from which to choose.
Sample 1
- Hail Gritty! IPA-New England style IPA (NEIPA)-with tropical and citrus flavors; ABV=5.2%.
- Autoplay IPA-American IPA-More hoppy version. ABV=5.6%.
- Pig Iron Porter*-Still one of my favorites here, with chocolate and coffee notes. ABV=5.4%.
- Vienna Red Lager-I’m not usually a fan of this style, but this one was tasty. ABV=4.4%.
- Krypton Haze DIPA- Imperial style; juicy ripe tropical flavors. Note: this was in my original sample, but there were some issues with the tap. Our server later asked if I would like to try this one, now the tap had been fixed. Needless to say, I jumped at the chance. I liked it so much that I chose to order a supersized mug* of the Krypton Haze (photo at top of post). This was my favorite of the day! This delicious brew had a hefty 9% ABV!
Sample 2
- Pig Iron Porter-See above description
- Das Boot (German Pilsner)-Classic, with Noble Hops and a crisp refreshing taste that would complement almost any food, but also great this time of year, all by itself. ABV=4.9%.
- Mr. Nice Guy (NEIPA)-Funny name. Good beer. ABV=6.6%.
- Philly Phavorite IPA-Another New England IPA. Not Mr. Nice Guy, but not bad. ABV=6.7%.
The Food
I chose the fish tacos-Baja-Style Fish, made with their Vienna Red Lager-battered Atlantic cod, red cabbage slaw, pickled onion, pico de gallo, chipotle aioli, and cilantro. It came with a side of rice and beans. My wife chose the fish and chips. They were also made with the Vienna Red Lager-battered Atlantic cod, French fries, coleslaw, and remoulade sauce. Both dishes were delish!
This was a very relaxing and enjoyable visit, tasting, and lunch. The tented, shaded area in front of the brewery, coupled with the breeze made the temperature seem 10 degrees cooler than we expected. We plan on returning very soon.
My NJ Wine of the Week
This week I chose the Hawk Haven Vineyard 2022 Petit Sirah Rose. This beauty is a lovely pinkish/light copper color with cherry on the nose and cranberry on the palate. On a hot day like today, this Rose was extra good. A little later, we enjoyed another glass with a grilled Ham Steak. Finally, we finished the bottle on our patio, watching skywriters and listening to Bruce Cockburn, Whitney Houston, Stevie Wonder, and Rodrigo y Gabriella. If you have never tried this Hawk Haven Petit Sirah, please uncork a bottle soon. You won’t be disappointed. Life is good! Hawk Haven Vineyard and the wineries in the Cape May Peninsula just keep getting better and better!
Coming Attractions
- Anniversary Celebration in Cape May
- Vino & Vibes 2023
- Va La Vineyards
- An Interview with Orley Ashenfelter & Larry Coia
Tried a New Jersey wine lately? Visited a NJ winery recently? Please share your experience here. Just click on the Comment Section below and add your $.02. It’s always valuable to me and to other readers. Like what you read and see on these pages? It couldn’t be easier to scroll down, hit the “Subscribe” button and get your weekly pour of NJ wine right in your inbox. No spills. No mess.
David,
You seem to be leaning towards breweries lately. Flounder Brewery in Hillsborough has what they call a Brewer’s Hour at 11:00 am on the first Sunday of the month. The Brewer goes over two new brews as to ingredients, and processes. If you go to their website you can see information about this and you can purchase tickets for the event. Your reviews get into the workings of the wineries and breweries. This is a different way to get an insight into the process.
John, Thanks for your comment. As for the breweries, I am an equal opportunity drinker, but I also want to keep it local, while not repeating too much about the same wineries and areas. That said, I do have the luxury (and independence) to return to my favorite haunts and write about them whenever the spirit(s) move me (wineries, breweries, distilleries, and restaurants). If I get a chance, I will check out Flounder Brewery. I have heard and read about them. Cheers!
Don’t forget NJ Meaderies and Cideries. Cheers
John, Absolutely!
We visited Iron Hill Brewery in Newark, DE about 10 years ago and I didn’t realize there were other locations. I ate burger with Boursin cheese on it that was delicious (and very memorable)!
Julia, Thank you for your comment. I haven’t been to that one, but those that I have visited have had very good food and beer. Thank you, as well, for sharing so many of my posts on social media. I enjoy reading your posts as well. Cheers!