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!

Barnyard Biergarten

It’s that time of the year for outdoor spaces shared with old and possibly new friends while conversing over a pint of ale.

It’s that time of the year for outdoor spaces shared with old and possibly new friends while conversing over a pint of ale.

Saturday 22 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR
Saturday 22 April 2023 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF16-55mmF2.8 R LM WR

Frenchtown and Readington Brewery & Hop Farm

Sunday

Frenchtown

The last time I was in Frenchtown was almost ten years ago on a snow day in January of 2011. Earlier in the week, I mentioned to Bhavna that the local businesses and residents decorate the downtown area for the holidays and the feeling is quite festive. Bhavna woke up early and drove with me to Frenchtown.

The Spinnery
The Spinnery · 19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8

We parked in the lot on Race Street. As we walked toward Bridge Street a biting cold wind blew on my face. Some of the colourful storefronts looked familiar, and some appeared brand new. We meandered down Race Street and stopped at the Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge for a few quick snaps before heading inside the Bridge Street Cafe. The cold was too much. We were ahead of the schedule I set, but I was hungry. Bhavna agreed that we should order lunch and then drive to Readington Brewery and Hop Farm to eat and try the beer.

Hawk + Floret
Hawk + Floret · 19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8

I ordered a grilled cheese with onions and bacon and Bermuda seafood chowder, and Bhavna ordered a hummus wrap. While we waited for food, I chatted with a resident who mentioned that some of the businesses, like the barbershop, had closed and some new ones, like the record store, were more recent additions.

I stopped at the record store on the walk back to the car. Compared to the quantity of the selection at the Princeton Record Exchange, it’s disappointing, but I enjoy the layout and the ambience here.

Sunbeam Generals and Tidden Trasure · 19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8
Race Street
Perfect Day Cafe · 19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8
Race Street
Race Street · 19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8
16 A, 16 B and 16 C Race Street
16 A, 16 B and 16 C Race Street · 19 December 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8
16 A Race Street
16 A Race Street · 19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8
Mullers 5 and Dime
Mullers 5 and Dime · 19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8
Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge
Uhlerstown-Frenchtown Bridge · 19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8
The Bridge Cafe
19 December, 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8

Readington Brewery & Hop Farm

The Readington Brewery & Hop Farm recently opened in the borough of Readington in Hunterdon County. The brewery specializes in producing a variety of handcrafted beers using ingredients grown on the farm, including hops, barley, and other locally sourced ingredients. It’s rare to have a new brewery open in this area so we were excited. We looked at the tap list before making the trip but did not hope we would enjoy the ales. Our misgivings were confirmed.

The brewery has a spacious taproom with a relaxing atmosphere. The tap list included IPAs, stouts, lagers, and seasonal brews. Some of their beers include "Old Highway," an American Pale Ale, "Sourland," a sour IPA, and "Farmers Tan," an American wheat beer. The brewery is committed to sustainability and uses environmentally friendly practices in its brewing and farming processes.

Readington,Hunterdon County,Readington Brewery and Hop Farm
Readington Brewery and Hop Farm · 19 December 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8

We tried several times from the tap list but found them average. But one beer stood out. We rated the Kombucha-inspired ale a paltry 0.1/5, the lowest rating I can give a beer on Untappd. Up until now, my lowest-rated beer was a Corona.

As for the food we bought in Frenchtown, I enjoyed my Bermuda seafood chowder and grilled cheese, but Bhanva disliked her hummus wrap.

Readington,Hunterdon County,Readington Brewery and Hop Farm
Readington Brewery and Hop Farm · 19 December 2021 · FujiFilm X-T3 · XF27mmF2.8