Harvest Fest & NJ Microbrew Tasting Night – Interview with the Home Brewers Pt. 3.
For the upcoming Harvest Fest on Saturday night, November 2, the St. James Men of Charity are running a series of interviews with some of the great participating home brewers in our local area. For tickets to the event, contact Paul Mattiola (908-419-0850).
Participating home brewers this year include Michael Singer, James Foti, Gregg Marks, Greg Rose and Rich Comeau. Today’s interview is with James Foti, speaking for himself and Ed Anderson, local Basking Ridge home brewers and residents.
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James and Ed, what made you start home brewing? How did you get started in home brewing?
James: I started brewing about a year ago at Ed’s house along with some close friends including Stevie Grossweiler, Josh Felter and Michelle Somody.
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We started beer making as a hobby, experimenting with different ingredients and making various styles of beer to enjoy and share with others. We’ve made many different types, such as IPA, an Apricot Ale, Hoppy Lager, Stout, Meade, and Shandy,
What can you tell us about what you are brewing for the Harvest Fest?
For this year’s Harvest fest, we brewed “Ed’s IPA” as well as an Apple Cider Ale made from apples grown at the Anderson Apple Farm located in Basking Ridge.
What do you like best about brewing beer?
I consider home brewing to be a great reason to meet with friends regularly. It’s a very hands on, collaborative process that although time consuming is a very rewarding activity. I enjoy the anticipation of trying different beers and enjoying the outcome after waiting several weeks. I enjoy making one beer, while bottling the beer you made last time, while drinking the beer that you had previously bottled the last time.
What do you like best about the Harvest Fest? What can first time attendees expect?
What I like best about the Harvest fest are all the local NJ micro-breweries that come and participate and the various styles of beer to sample. I also enjoy the Oktoberfest food, and knowing that it helps a very worthwhile cause.
Favorite local brewers? Local restaurants or taverns?
The Trap Rock Restaurant & Brewery in Berkeley Heights is a local favorite of mine and I have gotten to know Charlie the Brew master at Trap Rock who has participated in all five of previous Harvest Fests sponsored by St. James Men of Charity.
The Men of Charity want to thank James and Ed for the great interview and we definitely want to try their Ed’s IPA” and Apple Cider Ales on Nov 2. Best of luck with the Home Brew contest! The Men of Charity welcome home brewers to participate in the Home Brew Tasting contest. To participate, please contact Mark Balzarotti (973- 216-8025).
The Harvest Fest will be held at St. James and proceeds will benefit works of charity. There will be German Fest foods, music, wine provided by Stirling Fine Wines in Stirling, 35 different microbrews from NJ craft brewers and home brewers, a Tricky Tray raffle and a silent auction. Tickets are only $40.
