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The Seed: A Living Beer Project

Bhavna and I bid farewell to the fun weekend at Cape May and set Apple Maps to route us home with one additional stop at The Seed in Atlantic City. The drive from Cape May was uninteresting and uneventful. We arrived in Atlantic City, and the Apple Maps app navigated us through mostly empty city streets.

The brewery is next to Westecunk Axe Throwing in a windowless brick building on Baltic Ave in a residential neighbourhood. The homes appeared to be a mixture of new modern townhouses and old row homes. The brewery’s location initially seemed peculiar, given its reputation. However, I've learned that great things often come from unexpected places. Curious and excited, I parked the car.

Arriving a tad too early, I patiently waited in my car, eagerly glancing at the entrance of The Seed. The anticipation grew with each minute, like the bubbling excitement before taking the first sip of a perfectly chilled brew. Finally, the time came, and we hopped out of the car and stepped through the entrance, a small door on the side of the building.

The Seed Taproom
The Seed Taproom · Sunday 16 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

Upon entering, I was struck by the taproom's industrial aesthetic. It exuded a unique charm that perfectly complemented the atmosphere of the brewery. Bhavna and I were the first and only people there at that moment. It felt like a private tasting experience, a rare opportunity to chat up the cicerone.

Engaging in conversation with the friendly cicerone, I discovered their passion for beer was as vibrant as their crafted flavours. We delved into the intricacies of the brewer’s creations, discussing the unique qualities that set them apart. What caught my attention was their collaboration with our local brewery, Troon Brewing. This collaboration showcased their dedication to pushing boundaries and creating unique beers.

We learned that the brewer at The Seed had a penchant for experimentation. Each sip carried the essence of their creativity and dedication, leaving me craving more.

The Seed Taproom
The Seed Taproom · Sunday 16 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

After presenting the beer flight, the cicerone opened the garage door on the side of the building exposing the far side of the tap room and letting in more light.

Since we still had to drive home, Bhavna and I shared a flight. We had the Tangerines And String Quartets a pale ale dry hopped with Citra and Sabro. It was super juicy and delicious. We also had the Home Going, a double IPA brewed in collaboration with Fidens Brewing in Colonie, New York and dry hopped with Nelson CGX, Strata, and Amarillo. Next was Cozy Up, an English-inspired dark mild brewed in collaboration with Forest and Main in Ambler, PA. Bhavna and I toured Forest and Main several years ago. We followed that with The Ever Thinking Mind, an IPA brewed with oats from Rabbit Hill Farms in Shiloh, New Jersey, and dry hopped with bright, punchy New Zealand hops.

The Seed Taproom
The Seed Taproom · Sunday 16 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
The Seed Taproom
The Seed Taproom · Sunday 16 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

A few more people entered, and we lost the attention of the cicerone, who was now busy serving patrons. I met a friendly couple and got into a lively conversation about beer styles, our favourite breweries in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania. We discussed our early beer experiences and how we started drinking craft beer. The commodore and willingness to share are one of the things I love about beer enthusiasts.

What is The Seed: A Living Beer Project? It’s a brewery project exploring the fantastic combination of indigenous ingredients, local agriculture, and fermentation. They’re always playing around with new ideas and trying to find the perfect balance between art and science, but what drives them is nature’s infinite variability. From the tiniest differences in wheat harvests to the incredible range of flavours and aromas that different microbes can create, there’s always something new and exciting to discover. They’re so passionate about this project, and it shows in the fantastic stories they tell through their beers.

The Seed Taproom
The Seed Taproom · Sunday 16 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

I can't help but reiterate the significance of this living beer project. The title speaks volumes about their commitment to cultivating unique and dynamic brews. The Seed is more than just a brewery; it embodies artistry, passion, and innovation.

Before we left, I purchased a four-pack of After Winter, a Kellerpils brewed Rabbit Hill Farm malt with fresh Cascade hops and marigold blossoms.

I'm incredibly grateful for the opportunity to have visited The Seed and witnessed their craft firsthand. I eagerly look forward to returning to this brewery in the future. If you're a fellow beer lover, I highly recommend venturing into The Seed and discovering its magic. If you’re into craft beer, you need to check them out!

Escape to Cape May - Gusto Brewing

As a homeowner, few things are more exciting than making updates. However, the process can be stressful, especially when faced with delays and difficulty finding a reliable contractor. In early 2020, Bhavna and I were eager to begin updating our home after completing a kitchen upgrade project. Little did we know the COVID-19 pandemic would soon disrupt our plans.

Our home was originally painted in colours chosen with input from our elementary-aged kids. The main floor was painted a deep shade of blue, except for the family room, which was painted mustard yellow. The second floor continued the colour scheme, with the main bedroom in a lighter shade of blue. As we spent more time at home during the pandemic, we felt restless and wanted to make more changes to our space. As soon as the pandemic was over, we intended to hire a contractor to help us make updates, but we soon found it difficult to find someone reliable.

Damaged Ceiling
Damaged Ceiling · Friday 12 May 2023 · Apple iPhone 11 Pro · iPhone 11 Pro back triple camera 1.54mm f/2.4
Damaged Ceiling
Damaged Ceiling · Friday 12 May 2023 · Apple iPhone 11 Pro · iPhone 11 Pro back triple camera 1.54mm f/2.4

Luckily, my cousin Rohan had recently started a second career as a home handyman. We were thrilled to have him complete the updates we had been dreaming of for our home. The planned updates included a fresh coat of interior paint and new bathroom sinks, vanities, and mirrors. We decided to repaint the rest of the house the same colour as the kitchen, a soft and modern shade of grey, except for our bedroom and bathroom, where we opted for a calming blueish-green colour. The soothing colour was the perfect choice for our bedroom, which we hoped would help us unwind and get a good night's sleep.

Rohan completed the updates on schedule, with only the guest powder room left to finish. Then disaster struck.

Overnight, the toilet in the primary bathroom overflowed, causing water to leak through to the second-floor ceiling of the family room. This caused the second-floor ceiling over the family room to fill with water. The ceiling eventually burst, soaking the wooden floor, ottoman, and area rug.

Gusto Brewing Company · Friday 14 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

We immediately contacted our insurance company, which recommended a reputable restoration company to assess and repair the damage. They arrived promptly and worked diligently to extract the water from the floor, dry the ceiling, and mitigate the damage. Our home was filled with noisy fans for several days as the restoration team worked to restore our space to its original condition. It was a frustrating experience, but we were relieved that the restoration company was taking care of everything.

The restoration process was long and noisy, and Bhavna and I needed a break from the mess and noise. I remembered the birding event I had planned to attend with the Cape May Audubon Society the coming weekend. Since Cape May is a two-hour drive to the southern tip of New Jersey, I talked to Bhavna, and we decided to turn my trip to Cape May into a weekend getaway. We wanted to relax and unwind for a much-needed break from the chaos at home.

I booked an Airbnb for us on a property near Willow Creek Winery & Farm. We planned to check in on the night before the birding event. While Bhavna would enjoy a good night's sleep, I would wake up early Saturday morning to join the birders. My objective was to wrap up the birding event before she woke up and began her day. Later we discovered the town and finally headed home on Sunday afternoon.

We arrived at our Airbnb Friday night, freshened up, and visited the nearby winery. We were both impressed with the variety of wines and the stunning scenery around the vineyards. I like wine. But beer is my drink of choice. What better way to kick off our mini vacation than visiting a local brewery? We searched Google Maps for breweries near our Airbnb, and lo and behold. Gusto Brewing popped up. We didn't know what to expect but were excited to check it out.

Gusto Brewing Company
Gusto Brewing Company · Friday 14 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

We were sceptical when we arrived at the strip mall where Gusto Brewing was located. "This must be the quietest brewery ever," Bhavna said, eyeing the empty parking lot. We walked in and saw the cosy interior decorated with funky artwork and industrial accents, and the smell of brewing beer filled the air. The brewery was quiet, and I chatted with the owner and the head brewer. Their passion and enthusiasm were contagious, and we couldn't help but get caught up in the fun.

Bhavna and I decided to split a flight of beers to sample a few different ones. The flight had pretty creative names like As the Crow Flies, Waiting In the Sky, My Very Own Theme Song, Pop Shove-It, The Machines Are Learning, and Vacation From Ourselves. As we sipped on each beer, we chatted about the flavours and tried to guess what kinds of hops and malts were used. It was fun trying to figure out all the different flavours and aromas. By the end of the flight, we had a pretty good idea of what we liked the most. Our top picks were The Machines Are Learning, a Hazy American IPA with lots of fruit flavours and aroma, and Waiting In The Sky, a German-style dark lager that tasted and smelled like a delicious espresso. They were just so dang tasty!

One thing that I love about the community and culture around small craft breweries. We can chat with the brewer like old friends and spend hours sampling beer. Our trip to Gusto Brewing was fun. We got to try some awesome beer, chat with cool folks, and hang out for a bit. It was a solid afternoon, and we both agreed that we'd come back again sometime. It was the perfect start to our getaway, and even though we were pretty wiped out by the end of the night, we were feeling relaxed and content.

Cocky Little Asian Guy and Small City Taphouse

We visited CLAG, a brewery that I think is one of the best in Ohio.

On our first night in Sandusky, when the owners of Sandusky Wine Merchant found out that Bhavna and I were craft ale fans, they recommended we visit [CLAG Brewing]. There is another brewer within easy walking distance of the hotel, but Alana and Kevin were adamant that CLAG was the one to visit.

CLAG, Sandusky, Ohio
Friday 2 September 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

I met a short Asian man outside the brewery just as we entered the building. I told him that he looked like the owner's photograph on the website. I asked if that was him. He gave a vague answer, and our conversation continued until we got to the taproom, where Emilia, our taproom attendant, confirmed that the man I met at the entrance was indeed the owner.

CLAG, Sandusky, Ohio
CLAG’s owner, Kha Bui · Friday 2 September 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

CLAG, an acronym for Cocky Little Asian Guy, is owned by the same family that owns Small City Taphouse, one of Ohio's premier craft beer bars. The owner, Kha Bui, and his business partners, including his brother An Bui, invested about $1.2 million to start Clag Brewing Co. on Columbus Avenue. Kha’s brother, An, owns The Answer Brewpub in Richmond, Virginia. The Answer Brewpub is a 2018 James Beard Foundation Awards Semifinalist. The Bui family has a history of creating popular eateries and pubs. The Buis are natives of Vietnam who have lived in the USA since the 1980s.

CLAG, Sandusky, Ohio
Friday 2 September 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

We are used to the small spaces of many micro-craft breweries in New Jersey, New York and Pennsylvania, usually located in former industrial sections of old towns or restored barns on historic farm properties. The size of the space is enormous. The brewery and taproom are in one building, and the restaurant, the Small City Taphouse, is in the adjacent building.

The beer is excellent and is the best beer I’ve had in Ohio, although, to be truthful, I have not had a lot of beer from Ohio’s breweries. I was told that Dong is pronounced just as we would that vulgar word in English. Few brewery owners put their faces or likeness on their beer labels, but Kha is a brewery owner like no other. Kha continues with his tongue-in-cheek nature in the names of his IPAs, among them One Million Dong, Two Million Dong, Three Million Dong, and One Floppy Dong, with a caricature of his face on each label. We also tried his Hoppy No Ending, Juicy Bui and Yellow Moon ales.

CLAG, Sandusky, Ohio
Friday 2 September 2022 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8 R WR

Kha isn’t the only Bui to grace a CLAG beer label. Kha’s parents have their beers named after them: Mama Bui triple IPA and Papa Bui double IPA. We didn’t try these beers. While both have been available on tap dating back to CLAG’s grand opening, Mama Bui and Papa Bui are now released in cans once a year on Mother’s Day and Father’s Day, respectively.

We spent the rest of the night at the bar, hanging out with Kha and some of his friends, staying hours after the taproom had officially closed. Kha told about how he opened the Small City Taphouse and then, inspired by his brother’s success in Richmond, bought the adjacent building, and knocked out a space in the wall between them to connect his brewery and tap room to the restaurant. Kha has plans to renovate the top floors of the building to create a boutique hotel.

CLAG
Thursday 1 September 2022 · Apple iPhone 11 Pro · iPhone 11 Pro back triple camera 4.25mm f/1.8

It was a very late night, and perhaps because the conversations were so enjoyable, I didn’t take any photographs of the restaurant space in the Small City Taphouse. But we returned the next day for an early dinner. The photos I took of the tap room don’t quite show the enormity of the space, nor does it include the hundreds of bottles of spirits that line the wall from top to bottom.

I found the menu at Small City Taphouse overwhelming, full of succulent and authentic Asian cuisine, which features something for just about anyone. I wanted something with intense flavour. Our server suggests the Spicy Lemongrass Sauce with Onion and Pork. It was delicious.