Rumson, NJ -- (SBWire) -- 02/21/2011 -- The New Jersey brewpub Basil T’s would like to give thanks to all who supported them and the Garden State Brewers Guild in their brewing collaboration with Tun Tavern. Their version of the beer, Cocoa Fuoco, was introduced on February 7. Basil T’s had a great turnout, with a good mix of Mug Clubbers, beer aficionados from around the state, guest brewers, and beer writers. Response was very positive; in fact, many people were surprised how drinkable a chocolate-chili pepper- cinnamon beer could be! By the way, it's still on tap if you want to try some.
Also currently on tap is their traditional February seasonal, Iceboat Ale, a malty, well-hopped Scottish Ale. Don't worry -- this is the first of several batches master brewer Gretchen Schmidhausler will be brewing this winter. Alas, the Porter is gone . . . but, how would you feel about a reprise of Snow Wiesel IPA?
Tun Tavern calls it Cocoa Fuego, while the Italian Basil T’s calls it Cocoa Fuoco. In English, the new beer is Chocolate Fire. Cocoa Fuoco perfectly blends the taste of chili peppers, cinnamon and chocolate. The two versions were extremely similar but still contained slight variations of the recipe. The pubs use different numbers of barrels and different types of hops during the brewing process. Nevertheless, both Cocoa Fuego and Cocoa Fuoco can be considered the same beer by casual New Jersey beer fans. The packed crowd at Basil T’s gave their hearty approval to both unusual blends.
How NJ Brew Pubs Made Cocoa Fuoco and Cocoa Fuego
Tim Kelly of Tun Tavern says a candy bar that was made from chocolate, chili peppers and cinnamon inspired him to create Cocoa Fuego. He later pitched the idea to Gretchen Schmidhausler, head brewer of Basil T’s, at a brewer’s conference in Camden. After 6 months of toying with ingredients, they had successfully developed a perfect mix of Dutch chocolate, ancho, cinnamon, chipotle and guajillo peppers.
Visit http://www.basilt.com/ for more information on hours and specialty craft beers.
About:
Basil T's Brewery and Italian Grill has been adding flavor to the Monmouth County culinary scene for over 20 years. Since its founding in 1988, the restaurant has been exclusively owned and operated by the Rallo family. They've handed down the reins and the recipes from generation to generation, but their commitment to authentic Italian cuisine has never wavered. Current proprietor Victor Rallo, Jr. insists that "homemade" should be more than just a buzzword - so at Basil T's everything from the pastas to the sauces to the desserts is made on-site. The restaurant also features an in-house brewery, where award-winning ales, stouts, and seasonal brews are handcrafted by a dedicated brewer. These beers are complemented by a wine list that includes more than 220 selections and has received the Wine Spectator Award of Excellence for 3 consecutive years.
Contact:
Basil T’s
183 Riverside Avenue
Red Bank, NJ 07701
(732) 842-5990
http://www.basilt.com/
NJ Brew Pubs Collaborate For Festive Night of Exotic Craft Beers
New Jersey beer fans had a blast at the unveiling of Basil T’s latest concoction: Cocoa Fuoco. The chocolate-chili pepper blend is quickly becoming the talk of the New Jersey beer world.