Staff Blog
BREW REVUE: South Jersey gets crafty … even at Pizzeria Uno
posted by Felicia D'Ambrosio
 |
| Jersey Pride |
| Craft beer + hometown pride = NJ tattoos |
Iron Hill Brewery & Restaurant (124 East Kings Highway, Maple Shade, N.J., 856-273-0300) opened its first-ever Jersey brewpub last week, the local chain’s eighth location. Lance “Chris” LaPierre, former brewer at Iron Hill in West Chester, crossed the river to get the new place up and running. The multi-medal-winning LaPierre is also working the computer, writing a blog that provides an insider’s view of the opening of the brewpub.
Uno Chicago Grill (2803 Route 73 S., Maple Shade, N.J., 856-722-5577) has been flaunting its 10 craft taps on a giant LED billboard for a while now, so we got in touch with general manager Sean Dunleavy to find out what’s what.
Meal Ticket: What are you pouring right now?
Sean Dunleavy: We rotate our drafts all the time, except for Rogue Dead Guy, which stays on. I also have tons of beer backed up in the cooler, so we change most drafts every week.
- Left Hand Sawtooth
- Southern Tier Cherry Imperial Saison
- Rogue Dead Guy
- Green Flash West Coast IPA
- Lagunitas Hop Stoopid
- Allagash White
- Allagash Black
- Weyerbacher Zotten
- Stone Russian Imperial Stout
- Dogfish Head Burton Baton
MT: Not bad. Everyone is looking for that Green Flash IPA in Philly and almost no one has it.
SD: Yes, that one is tasty. It was just approved in New Jersey like two weeks ago.
MT: Does the selection extend into bottles?
SD: Yes, we have 50 craft bottles at all times, plus the big brewery beers, for a total of 90.
MT: Is this interest in craft beer a chain-wide thing? Or is Uno a franchise?
SD: We’re a franchise, a part of The Bock Group, a Philadelphia-based group that has eight restaurants in the greater Philadelphia area … but none in Philadelphia. We all have at least two craft beers on draft, and most stores participate in the American craft beer market.
Check out the Pour House in Westmont, which is run by PJ Whelihan’s. They have 18 craft beer taps and a shit ton of bottles. Amazing place for SoJo beer heads to congregate.