After the ups and downs we've had with the weather this winter, we have yet to switch to those spring styles of beer just yet. So this week we checked out 1871 from Asbury Park's first brewery, Dark City Brewing Company.

Dark City opened their doors a little over a year ago in January of 2016, becoming the first microbrewery to do so in Asbury Park and taking their name from an old Asbury nickname. The beer we tried, 1871, is a bold barleywine style of beer that gets it's name from the year Asbury was founded. So it goes without saying, these guys love the local community that they brew for.

In the video we talk about how barleywines really aren't our favorite style. For Dan and Chris S. this was actually their first time trying one. But 1871 won us over, and I really do think it is a great example of what a barleywine should be. The alcohol was not overpowering and we really enjoyed all the different flavors and aromas that came out as we sipped away.

There's a lot going on in this beer, and it begs for you to slow down; to take the time to really enjoy everything it has to offer. With the higher ABV coming in around 9.5% it means this is a great sipper. Perfect for when the weather is terrible outside, and you just want to hibernate indoors. Crack open an 1871, share it with a friend and some good conversation.

If you are looking for other winter beer recommendations you can check out our list of the 12 best winter beers from New Jersey. Cheers New Jersey!

Show Notes:

1871
Style: Barleywine
ABV: 9.5%
IBU: 36
SRM: 24
CANS: Winter

Popular Locations:

Wine & Whiskey Country Hackettstown - Hackettstown, NJ
Gary's Wine & Marketplace - Hillsborough, NJ
B2 Bar + Bistro - Red Bank, NJ
Dark City Brewing Company -  Asbury Park, NJ

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