The Referend Bier Blendery

Have you come across a beer brewing company that does not brew beer at all? As strange as it sounds, the Referend Bier Blendery is a kind of brewery that specializes in the production of spontaneously fermented beers. 

James Priest, owner of The Referend Bier Blendery, used to believe that beer is just like a thoughtfully prepared dish and every beer is a success only if it follows a distinct recipe. Well, that’s what he thought until he came across a spontaneously fermented beer. He tried his first spontaneously fermented beer while he was working at Baxter Brewing Co. in Maine. After his experience drinking this beer, he fell in love with the idea of letting nature do its work, without the need for human influence. 

It took him five years to open the doors of his tasting room to people. Soon enough, in 2016, the Referend Bier Blendery became the first brewery in New Jersey and only the second in the United States which was entirely dedicated to spontaneously fermented beers. There are a few breweries in the country that offer spontaneously fermented beer, but they limit themselves to offering just one such beer of this type.

Which is the Best Beer They Brew?

The Referend Bier Blendery is known for its dedication towards spontaneously fermented beer, and that’s exactly what they have to offer to their customers. Typically, breweries make use of yeast culture to ferment the beer and then age them in oak barrels. On the other hand, this brewery practices an art called ‘chemical interference’ and ‘technological shortcuts.’ The beers brewed by the Referend Bier Blendery are 100% spontaneously fermented. Some of the best brews offered here include:

• Berliner Messe – Kyrie
• Krak – Cognac Casks
• Metamorphoses
• No Place for Literature
• A Ghost Is Born
• The Blue Book

With several great choices of beer on offer, you will definitely get your money’s worth.

In the News

Offering the first and only spontaneously fermented beer in the state, the Referend Bier Blendery established itself as a one-of-a-kind brewery in New Jersey. The Le Mur, a Blackberry spontaneously fermented golden ale, bagged the fifteenth place among the top fifty best beers in the United States.

Some beer lovers, as well as beer experts, claim that a quality beer becomes great when it is aged in a barrel with the best bacteria. Beer needs time for the taste to enhance, and the brewer needs the patience for amazing results. James Priest made the bold choice of thinking otherwise, and it sure has paid well.

It was a surprise to everyone when the Referend Bier Blendery bagged the first place at The Inquirer’s 10th annual Brewvitational for local beer. The result amazed the 16 judges as well, who were served the beer in a plastic cup with nothing but a number code. The brewery won the award for Berliner-Messe: Credo 2018, a well-balanced spontaneously fermented wheat ale.

What to Expect

When you visit a brewery, you can expect to find distinct sets of brewing equipment, several barrels filled with beer left to age, raw materials, and a lot more things that are used to brew beer. When you visit the Referend Bier Blendery, you will only find a lot of wine barrels, without any of the fancy brewing equipment. These barrels are used to age the beer and also compliments the indoor picnic table theme. The owner of the Referend Bier Blendery does not possess a stainless-steel brewhouse as every other brewery does. He drives to a nearby brewery with all the ingredients in his car trunk and spends the day brewing a double batch. The brewery does have plenty of space to expand and may do so in the future.

When you visit the Referend Bier Blendery, you can expect to be greeted by the friendly and courteous staff, who are highly informed about the beer served there. You will see well-dressed people enjoying a can and some others who are willing to pay a little extra for the good stuff. You will also find customers who pick up bottles and cans to-go, as well as those who just wish to spend some time there sipping on their favorite beer.

What Do the Customers Have to Say?

Every beer lover expects the beer they drink to satisfy their taste buds, and first-time visitors at the Referend Bier Blendery have been pleasantly surprised at the taste that is offered by spontaneously fermented beer there. These customers then recommend them to anyone who is into sour beer and even to those who want to try it for the first time. 

Several customers are regulars at the brewery and admire the bartender who is always willing to impart beer knowledge with a smile. With several customers appreciating their brews, some customers simply love the chilled-out ambiance at this brewery. Being dedicated exclusively for spontaneously fermented beer, it is hard to believe that the Referend Bier Blendery offers several beers with complex taste and flavors, but it does. Almost every person who has ever visited the place has expressed a desire to visit again.  It has been described as a place that is ideal for a sour beer enthusiast. 

Contact or Visit Them!

The Referend Bier Blendery is located in Unit 2 on 1595 Reed Road Pennington, New Jersey. For bookings and queries, you can contact them via phone at 609-474-0443 or visit their website.