Episode Transcript
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Speaker 1 (00:04):
Welcome to this week's episode of Beverage Chronicles. I am
Gary montrerou So, your host. I'm going to start with
an interview with Scott Kronberger, who is heading up the
Glassboro Craft Beer Festival, taking place this fall in Glassborough,
New Jersey. We'll get the latest from him and check
(00:24):
on what he has planned for this year's event, and
then later on Robin Shreeves, our very talented whine expert,
has an interview for us. Now, I do want to
mention during my talk with Scott Kronberger, this was a
remote interview and there are some audio issues, but not
enough to really impact on the conversation that we had,
(00:48):
so I think you'll still enjoy it. Okay, let's get started.
We are in the midst of summer getting into fall,
and that means it's Kraft Beer season here in New Jersey,
and I will admit that one of my favorite ones.
This event gets it's evolving and gets better and better
every year. This is the Glassboro Craft Beer Fest, which
(01:09):
is going to be taking place Saturday, September twenty seventh
at the Glassboro Town Square in Glassborough, New Jersey. That's
one West High Street. Beautiful location. And I am privileged
to have with me the person who is putting together
this event. Again, that's a lot of work. Scott Kronberger. Scott,
thanks for joining us, you're on Beverage Chronicles.
Speaker 2 (01:31):
Thanks for having me there.
Speaker 1 (01:32):
And I got to ask you this question this event.
First of all, I'm going to make a comment, and
I feel this event is getting better and better every year.
I don't know how it's possible, but I enjoy it
more and more. It's a beautiful environment. You're getting in
some remarkable breweries and the people are turning out. You're
getting a really nice attendance. So tell us about what's
(01:53):
going to be taking place this year. You're lining up
more and more breweries.
Speaker 2 (01:58):
We are want to mix this year of breweries. We're
also going to focus on a few local wineries. We're
gonna do some things with mocktails. We're really gonna try to,
you know, broad in the offerings a little bit to
appeal to more people. But we are off to a
(02:20):
very good start with ticket sales this year. I think
it's setting a record of of of higher ticket sales
this early than we've ever had before. Something we're doing is, uh,
we have a new band this year, good Man Fist,
because they're going to be playing on the main stage,
which is a big draw for the South Jersey area.
(02:41):
And we already have a bunch of local breweries that
have committed three threes Kate may Bone, saw Tonewood, Ship Bottom,
Max and Arrow Hitting Sands, Blair Snor wander Back Farm Truck,
and I'm still waiting back to hear from more. But
we moved the event back a week usually it's third
(03:01):
week in September. We moved it back so we're not
sort of fighting Irish Weekend in Wildwood and a few
other events that are are local to the area. But
we're really excited this year. We think it's gonna be
We think it's actually gonna be a record year for attendance.
Speaker 1 (03:17):
It's shaping up that way absolutely, And you're bringing in
some remarkable regional breweries and that's that's a that's a
great thing for people. And I also like the fact
that you're expanding your portfolio in terms of offering other
beverages as well. Is that an issue dealing with the
state of New Jersey mixing the two? Is that is
that a problem for you or known.
Speaker 2 (03:38):
As long as it's now just as long as it's
sample sizes, there's not an issue. As long as the
same sample out of you know, it's it's not an issue.
Speaker 1 (03:46):
Excellent. Now you talked about ticket sales, so how can
people let's get right to it. How can people purchase
tickets right now?
Speaker 2 (03:54):
That's a great question. Well, go to or in sight.
They two making to g O V E E r
F E S T. Or they can go to the
website and buy tickets. The website is I think I
wrote down everything, but this that's.
Speaker 1 (04:15):
Your website for the event is Glassborobeerfest dot com.
Speaker 2 (04:19):
Yeah, at Glassborogbeerfest dot com. You can go right to
the site, gives you more information, gives your ticket buying opportunities.
And right now we are still in our early bird
uh ticket rates up until this coming Wednesday, So VIP
tickets are only fifty dollars. In general mission are forty
dollars and ticket. That's nice to draw more people as well. Yeah,
(04:42):
that is a care price.
Speaker 1 (04:44):
That's a very attractive price because as you know, some
festivals are pushing close to one hundred dollars now at
this point. So it's aa went to one.
Speaker 2 (04:52):
This past spring and yep, it was like one hundred dollars.
Speaker 1 (04:55):
That's exactly right. So you've got the v I and
you got the VIP which is also nice.
Speaker 2 (04:59):
Yeah, vi IP a little swag bag. Why they while
supplies last.
Speaker 1 (05:05):
Absolutely, so that's gonna be great. So you've got the
VIP which gets you in ANDNAR or early twelve to five.
General admission, as we mentioned is one to five and
if you're if you're gonna be let's say, a designated driver,
do you have a special arrangements for them?
Speaker 2 (05:19):
I couldn't hear that last question.
Speaker 1 (05:20):
I'm sorry, broke designated drivers any any issue with them?
They can come in as well at a reduced rate.
Speaker 2 (05:26):
Yeah, we do. We offer a service from lyft. We
have a special for that day, so discounterlift rates. And
I have to look in exactly what that is, but.
Speaker 1 (05:35):
We can find out on the website.
Speaker 2 (05:37):
We do it every year.
Speaker 1 (05:39):
Yeah, absolutely, Your as you mentioned, has evolved. Tell me
how it's changed in the years that you've been involved
with the beer fest. Yeah, you kind of mentioned one.
With the addition of new of new beverages.
Speaker 2 (05:52):
Yeah, new beverages, I think, you know, as far as
the entertainment, you know, we love that great and Gravel
and then you know, they kind of changed their name
like a few years after we first hired them, and
we love them as well, but we were looking for
someone that might have a bigger following and add that
(06:12):
component to beer Fest as well, you know, something that'll
mix you know, people's love a beer.
Speaker 3 (06:18):
You know.
Speaker 2 (06:18):
Other than that, we're always trying to up the vendor
at the craft vendor game and you know food offerings,
try and increase that every year. But you know we're
limited in space, but you know, we try to get
the best people that are available.
Speaker 1 (06:32):
What tips would you have for a person who wants
to attend this event and this is going to be
the first time going to a beer fest, do you
have any recommendation?
Speaker 2 (06:41):
The first time come into a beer fest is come
in and take your time, relax, enjoy the outside, the weather.
You always cross your fingers and you hope for a
beautiful day. But you know, we always have plenty of beer,
so there's no big rush to run around and and
and try to get samples, but just pace yourself, enjoy everything.
(07:03):
There's a lot of fun, you know, listen to music,
taste beer, support the craft vendors and uh, and that's
about it.
Speaker 1 (07:13):
As you look at your audience, Scott, do you find
that the people who are attending are these Are they
craft beer enthusiasts or casual drinkers or a combination of both.
What would you say?
Speaker 2 (07:25):
I think it's I think it's a combination of both.
I think definitely a track. I mean, I think the name,
you know, lends itself to attracting craft beer people, and
you know, we kind of sell our tickets through Brooker
as well, so I think people are drawn to that
just you know, to look for what the craft beer
events in the area are. But but I do think
(07:48):
it's a mix. I mean, we're we're located, you know,
near a college, and you know that time of year
the college kids are back, so you know, we get
a bunch of those guys as well, but you get
you know, people just coming out and just you know,
the one thing I noticed about our event is, you know,
I haven't been to a ton of beer events, a
ton of you know, beer fest events, but the one
(08:10):
that we throw I just noticed there's just a lot
of people socializing. You know, they come with friends at
big friend groups, and you know, a lot of time.
You just they're all just congregating and talking and having fun,
and it just seems like, you know, event where people
just can relax, catch up, you know, have great conversations,
(08:31):
enjoy some really great local craft beer, enjoy the music,
enjoy the weather, and have a great time.
Speaker 1 (08:38):
And that is the vibe that I get. Also, I
do want to throw this in there is substantial nearby parking,
so you don't have to worry about your vehicle. You're
able to park there.
Speaker 4 (08:49):
Yeah.
Speaker 2 (08:50):
Yeah, this park is a big garage over there. There's
also ample street parking.
Speaker 1 (08:55):
So funny of place is the park absolutely and the
food vendors. As you mentioned, this is a rain or
shine event. Of course, we've we've put our order in
for a beautiful sunny day, so we know that's gonna
happen again here in twenty twenty five. And so let's
let's go over that website again Glassborobeerfest dot com. You'll
be able to purchase tickets there and also get a
(09:17):
heads up on some of the vendors who are going
to be participating in the twenty twenty five events. Scott Gronberger,
we really appreciate your taking time from your day, because
I know you've got an operation you've got to take
care of there. Tell us what you do full time
when you're not running the event.
Speaker 2 (09:33):
I work for the Sikhani Group and the glassbo Craft
Beerfest is a partnership between the Sakhani Group and the
Town of Glassborough. But when I'm not doing that, the
director of front of the house operations and the beverage
director for this, for that, for that group excellent.
Speaker 1 (09:50):
So again, that's Saturday, September twenty seventh, Glassboro Craft Beer Fest.
Go to Glassborobeerfest dot com and I will see you. Akay,
get those tickets early while we'll get that discount and
I'll see you there as well. Scott, thanks for joining us.
Speaker 2 (10:05):
Thanks.
Speaker 4 (10:17):
I recently visited Sharrett Winery in Hamlinton, New Jersey while
researching a magazine piece. While I was there, I took
a few minutes to talk about one of the winery's
lesser no bottles, when I think is ideal for warmer
weather and those looking for something lower ABV in their
wine glass. I am at Sharrett Winery in Hamilton, sitting
(10:38):
here with Larry Sharett the third and we are drinking
cider today sparkling cider that they make here on site
at the winery. Why can you make cider at a winery.
Speaker 3 (10:51):
Larry, Oh, Well, basically the TTPED defines wine as any
fruits and fermented.
Speaker 5 (11:01):
Okay, and why do you make it sparkling in a
bottle that looks like it could be champagne?
Speaker 3 (11:07):
Yeah, well, we actually we didn't really want to make
a traditional kind of like just hardsider. That wasn't really
what we're looking for. We being a winery, we wanted
to make something that was more like a wine, so
we looked around for a style that we can emulate,
and we kind of landed on some of these, like
French farmhouse siders that they make. So this wine is
(11:28):
actually made in more of a traditional method. We take
unclarified cider basically apple juice, and we fermented to dryness,
and then just like a traditional champagne, we then start
a fermentation back up again, add a little bit of
sugar back to the cider, and then bottle it and
(11:50):
allow the natural fermentation secondary fermentation to produce all of
the bubbles. And then of course we let an age
on the yeast that did all that secondary fermentation and
produced all that great sparkle for us, which gives us
more of that kind of almost like a traditional like
champagne style flavor.
Speaker 5 (12:09):
Well, it's delicious and it can be used like a
champagne or other sparkling wine to pair with food. Right,
So what does this go well with?
Speaker 3 (12:17):
Absolutely? This would go really well with almost anything that
you would drink champagne with, so you could you could
do it with anything that has like kind of a
light sauce. You could do it with chicken, most fish
go well with it, any of those kinds of things.
And because it is it's completely dry and has that
(12:38):
nice separate vessence, it's also really really refreshing, just a
turneral Dade.
Speaker 5 (12:44):
And speaking of that refreshing, a lot of people are
looking for something that doesn't have as much alcohol in
it as traditional wines have had. How is the alcohol enough?
Speaker 3 (12:57):
This is a lower AVV. It's actually seven point nine percent,
so it's a little lighter. One of the reasons it's
actually lower in alcohol is because apples, you know, by nature,
actually have less sugar than grapes do. So grapes typically
have at least twenty percent sugar. Apples don't have anything.
Speaker 1 (13:19):
Close to that.
Speaker 3 (13:20):
So this mine, we actually did add a little bit
of sugar to it to increase the alcohol content, because
if it was too much lower then you'd be more
like one of these, you know, bottle style siders and
wouldn't give us what we were looking for as far
as kind of a French farm out style. So, but
it is much much lower in alcohol than are traditional wine,
(13:41):
being only just less than eight percent.
Speaker 5 (13:43):
Okay, well that sounds perfect with the heat coming and
sitting out on the porch or sneaking it onto the
beach or anywhere else where. You don't want to have
too much alcohol when you are drinking out in the
warm weather. Larry, thank you so much. I appreciate you
taking time.
Speaker 3 (14:00):
Talk to me. Yeah, you're welcome, come a visit, shart Winner.
Speaker 4 (14:03):
I want to thank Larry for taking the time to
chat about cider. I'm Robin Shreeves and you can find
more of my wine commentary and thoughts in my Drink
Local Substack newsletter.
Speaker 1 (14:14):
Thanks a lot, Robin and Larry Sheriff. That wraps up
this week's episode of Beverage Chronicles.
Speaker 2 (14:21):
Again.
Speaker 1 (14:21):
I'm Gary montro So you can't listen to us every
Saturday morning at eight forty five am on Radio Garden State,
as well as a host of other websites and podcast
sites opped up Network. I'm so happy to be with
them in terms of the podcast platforms, you know, you
(14:44):
have iHeartRadio and Spotify and player fm, and there's there's
more than I can count, to be honest with you, Okay,
that's it. Everyone, have a good week, and we will
be back next week.