Bittings Garden State IPA

Brewed by J.J. Bitting Brewing Co.
Style: India Pale Ale (IPA)
Woodbridge, New Jersey USA

Serve in Shaker, Tulip

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sampled and had a pint at the brewery. This was the best of the lot during my visit. Almost clear light amber/orange in color. Aroma was on the weak side for an IPA- some subtle citrus and floral but not a good start. The taste was better however, with some leafy citrus and a moderate warrior hop bitterness. pretty clean...I like more assertive IPA’s, but this one was enjoyable enough.

UPDATED: AUG 19, 2009 pint on tap, pours a medium golden copper small head and not so much for lacing.. aroma of herbal pine, grapefruit citrus not to strong..taste was nice, not an overwhelming hop kick up front but a good balance for a pub ipa.. overall it’s very drinkable and a nice ipa, but it doesn’t match up to my favs like hopdevil or stone, just not hoppy enough although it was sure nice to have an ipa on tap in a local place which you just don’t get in to many places..

A great IPA. Really can’t go wrong here. I wouldn’t put it into the ’amazing’ category, but it’s everything you would want when you are looking for a solid IPA. Love JJ’s.

UPDATED: JUN 17, 2008 This is much like the Garden State IPA but it is aged in a cask. It is amber coloured with a off white large head. It is served about room temperature and light on the carbonation. The flavor is of hops and a little woodsy. Overall this is a good beer better then the normal GS IPA but still not as good as the Imperial.
Earlier Rating: 5/27/2008 Total Score: 3.4
This isn’t as good as the other IPA that JJ’s offers nor is it as good as the IPA on cask, but that being said this is a good beer. Tastes of hops and malt. Very small white head.

Clear orange beer whose large off-white foam is fed by a healthy carbonation. Leafy and floral cascades show rather subtly in the nose, so do the caramel malts. Initially rather sweet, fruity and gently citrusy, but it grows a firm bitterness after a few sips. The whole thing bathes in a partly sloppy and earthy maltiness that could use an extra bit of freshness though. It does not come across as a very bright IPA, but I must still declare it one of my favourite tries at J.J. Bitting.

On tap at the pub, it was served with a nice head and kept good lacing as it went down in my glass. Nice dark copper coloring and citrus-like aroma. More malty than bitter, this was enjoyable enough to order a second pint. Well made and drinkable, this is middle of the road IPA that is obviously geared towards a wide variety of patrons, not just hopheads.

Tap. This is a pretty decent well made regular IPA. Deep copper pour with a nice tight sticky white head and good lace. Citrus hop aroma blended with a slight herbal and spiciness especially in the flavor and bitterness. Lightly malty all the way through which lets the hops come through. Easy drinking and refreshing IPA. Well made.

Draft at brewpub. Pours amber with off-white head. Mild citrus hop aroma. Malt flavor of caramel with some toastiness. Finish has a clean fruity hop bitterness. No lingering bitterness or resiny texture. Just a clean easy to drink IPA that pairs well with food.

on tap-pours a creamy, retaining offwhite head that laces with copper color. Aroma is hops. Taste is crisp medium hops, balanced with secondary malt, then sweet and citrus. Middle of style & very well done.

Crystal clear amber body with off-white head that leaves nice lacing. Aroma is medium sweet, herbal/grapefruit, caramel. Taste is medium sweet, caramel, herbal/grapefruit. Light-medium body with carbonation befitting a cask beer (though it was not a cask version). One of the mildest hop character for an IPA that I have ever had. That being said, it was ok in its own right.