Crystal Springs Beer Fest brings together the best of two worlds

HARDYSTON — When Robby Younes, Crystal Springs Resort’s director of food and beverage, originally pitched the idea for the New Jersey Beer and Food Festival to his beer distributor in 2009, he had in mind a summer festival offering a wide selection of beer and humble barbecue while showcasing a golf event.

Five short years later, he finds himself at the helm of a two-day event featuring 135 different varieties of beer from more than 40 brewers, a gourmet dinner and beer pairing from the area’s top chefs, and a golf tournament awarding more than $500 in prizes to the winning twosome.

“The festival has doubled in size since 2009 and continues to grow each year,” said Chelsea Vander Groef, public relations manager for the resort. With more than 1,000 people under the tent, there was little room to argue the fact.

Among the masses were nearly just as many repeat visitors as new guests. Todd Bilney, owner of West Milford’s Steam Team Carpet Cleaning, has participated in the event each of its first five years.

“It’s all about the beer,” he gave as the reason he returns to the festival each year. Not only does he get to enjoy new brews each year, he said, but he learns a little bit more about the craft with each visit. The combination of location, good vendors and great food, he added, will bring him back next year, as well.

Chefs and Brews Reception
The biggest addition to the festival is the Chefs and Brews Reception, which was inaugurated into the annual event last year. This gourmet food and beer pairing has quickly become a popular event and features dishes from some of the areas “rock star” chefs, Vander Groef said.

This year, chefs pushed a local agenda with their meals and beer pairings, using locally sourced ingredients and opting for local breweries.

Hardyston resident Dale Kelley has been to the Chefs and Brews reception each year. As someone who regularly attends Crystal Springs’ events, the beer dinner “is one of the better ones I like,” he said.

“I get to drink different beers,” Kelley added, saying that he, like many others, gets in the habit of ordering the same beer when he goes out. “This event helps me learn what else is out there,” he said.

Local Flavor
Many of the participating breweries came from within a 50-mile locality to be a part of the annual event. Perennial favorites include the Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, serving Doc’s Hard Cider, Boak’s Beer Company out of Pompton Lakes, Fairfield’s Cricket Hill Brewery, and Defiant Brewing Company from Pearl River, N.Y.

Local newcomer this year is the Andean Brewing Company, which has been on the market for just over two months. The Blauvelt, N.Y. based brewery makes several varieties of Kuka (Peruvian for ‘Gift from Gods') beer, which unite traditional Andean ingredients — such as maca root and blue agave — with hand-crafted beer.

“We’ve literally hit the ground running,” said Alireza Saifi, founder and CEO of the operation. While many more well-known breweries don’t have actual brewery reps on site for these types of festivals, Saifi added, Kuka will always make the extra effort to get out and support their beer.

“We have a really complex set of beers,” Saifi said, so it’s good to have a brewery rep on site to “explain what we do and how we do it.”

Brian Boak, founder of Pompton Lakes’ Boak’s Brewery, has been at the festival since its inception, but still agrees with coming every year to support his craft.

“It’s all about getting people that may not know your brand to try it,” Boak said in between describing his beers to customers. “If they like it,” he added, “they will buy it at the store. If they really like it, they will ask their store to carry it.”

Also attending for the fifth straight year was the Warwick Valley Winery and Distillery, brewers of Doc’s Draft Hard Ciders.

“This crowd is our crowd,” winery rep Mark Morton said. “Cider is making a resurgence due to the craft beer movement.” Returning to the festival year after year has done wonders to increase their brand, he added.