Man Skirt Brewing
Ms Fishy I've got an email out to someone who may know, as soon as I get any info, I'll happily pass it along :)
trekster3- 
Barnacle Bill
Barnacle Bill - the old Skylands Orthopedic building next to the gazebo is now Sunny Days Day Care which moved from Stiger Street.
FYI - the old Summit Bank building (corner of Main and Grand) has sold, I know what's going there, but not sure if I'm at liberty to say yet ;)
139 Main Street is where the Herbalife store was and then what I called the eBay store was. by Hackettstown Pet and Hackettstown Chinese.
I can't wait until you can announce what is going in that old bank. I'm dying to tell someone. It's so exciting.
Darwin trekster3 -
Thanks. Love to see the buildings occupied.
Whatever happened to the poster who wanted to open that coffee shop? I always pass places that I think would work, i.e. Chicks Barber Shop, the old pet store by Liberty St, the Masonic Lodge. All are in disrepair but the Locations could work.
As it turns out 139 Main Street request was declined by zoning so whatever it was is not to be!
Wendy @ Hkt BID What's going in at the corner of the street the library is on? Across from Trinity Church. I thought I saw a sign in the window. Thanks.
JBJSKJ JBJSKJ - The previous thread about the location of TOPO is here:
http://www.hackettstownlife.com/forum/559935#t589288
GC 
emaxxman I also know what's going in the old bank, and yes much better than a pawn shop or pharmacy. Even better than pizza or a nail salon! :-)
Aquarius Perhaps it's a one-hour-photo or a record store. After all, they're opening a CD store at the mall and a travel agency in long valley.
Lngvly22 LOL on the travel agency. I actually know people who still use one and they seem to get pretty good deals. Is there still an advantage over digging around the Internet?
Regarding the CD's (I barely listen to music these days), does anyone buy a whole CD? Or do most people just buy the single off of iTunes?
Some "different" stores I wouldn't mind seeing:
1) Comic book store - a dying breed for sure but with the popularity of comic book movies, I'm sure a store has potential
2) An outdoor equipment store (fishing, hiking, etc.) - County Line Sports was good and the people there were awesome. I miss it.
3) A camera/photo store - another dying breed but if they focused on providing exceptional service (while also being a retailer), they could then possibly compete with the Internet retailers.
I would love to see an arcade place open up in town. I could ride my bike over to my friends house and pick him up and let him ride the pegs on my bike. I have some change from cutting grass last summer that I need to get rid or. Maybe they could put a joker poker machine in the back to wink wink.
CJ. FYI - once the sale of the property is closed we can blab all we want - we should have word in a couple of weeks ;)
Idk 
springlover 
iJay springlover and iJay, their app with the town was rejected, never made it to the zoning board.
Darrin Darrin - It's called being an adult. So many things can happen before it becomes official that you don't want to cause them more problems than they already have. It's like telling you where your birthday party is going to be without having reservations. And then having letting you know later it's somewhere completely different because the original plans fell through.
the deal is not 100% done yet, therefore it is not ready to be made public. no point of discussing it in case it falls thru at the last minute.
I've got a secret and Im not telling ! very adult would be not saying anything at all. my 2 cents worth
I think you're all going to be surprised! Guess you're going to have to wait and see.
Bessie 
Allrightalready! Poor location...no convenient parking and low foot traffic on that part of Main Street.
New venture would need to be something special to survive.
The poor location was probably why the building sold so cheap.
If you really want to know, just volunteer to help the BID office and I'm sure you'll find out too.
There is plenty of parking behind Rich Fixit. If you can't walk that short distance, then man, it must be tough to even get out of bed in the morning.
I think it's going to be an M&M-themed amusement park much like Hershey. Concession stands will sell food exclusively supplied by Trader Joe's. There will be a direct train from NYC to the park but unfortunately you'll still have to switch trains when going back to NYC.
I just found it amusing how a bunch of posters are acting saying they know but wont tell, like it is a huge secret......all excited of what is planned yet state that there is nothing to discuss because the plans are not 100 percent.
Hey, that looks like my Dad wearing the apron. He said he needed to keep busy in retitement, but this seems a bit much.
kb2755 Anyone thinking that's a recent happening is living in 1963. May well explain a lot. Either that or they're residents of Colorado.
"I just found it amusing how a bunch of posters are acting saying they know but wont tell, like it is a huge secret......all excited of what is planned yet state that there is nothing to discuss because the plans are not 100 percent."
Ok Darrin, the building has been purchased, the buyer is still going thru the normal buying process and hasn't closed on the property yet. Some of us that volunteer in town, heard it was sold and what the new owner's plans are. But as you know with buying a home a lot can happen from the day you decide to buy a home to the day you actually close on it.
Even if you don't know what is going in there, i think just knowing that building has been sold is good news. It's a great building and has been vacant for a long time. The fact someone wants to BUY it and not rent it is a good sign for thing to come in the town.
Don't worry it is not another Pharmacy or any large chain. Now hopefully the sale doesn't fall thru and we can all talk about it in a few weeks.But again people (not corporations) wanting to buy property on Main st is a great sign and hopefully leads to more good thing on Main St.
Oh wait another pharmacy, lol, and as far as helping the BID I gave a suggestion and they don't even take it I to consideration. What this area needs is a YMCA type place. Has anyone even talked to them. The old Ford dealership place would be perfect.
idlechatter have you seen how big YMCA's are? Then tend to be big enough to have a gym, basketball courts, pool. locker rooms, ect. None of those could fit in the current ford building. Also YMCS's tend to like grass fields not giant parking lots for kids to play on.
anyone know what's up with the cotton candy place opening across from kohls in the riverside strip mall?
pmnsk 
Crystal idlechatter - we actually got a suggestion last week to look into YMCA - we took a look and the organization is not expanding ANY new locations in the United States - they will do 'satellite's' of existing Y's, but there has to be enough individuals approaching the existing Y' to expand. So far that hasn't happened.
The Y website search shows Randolph and Annandale as the 2 closest, so they would have to come out of one of those. http://www.ymca.net/
As far as Markets - again, Trader Joe's and Whole Foods require much more densely populated areas - we might get a Fresh Market, but with Weis and Shoprite starting to carry more products and with 2 health food stores in town, I don't think it'll happen.
Wendy, I keep hoping for a Trader Joe's to locate in our general area. It is true that they do look for more densely populated areas. I think if they located a store in this general area, they would draw from the West of Hackettstown and from the North. TJ's is a popular destination for those of us who have to travel to shop at TJ's. It seems to me that the Ford Dealership property might lend itself to a "scaled down" version of TJ's. I've never been to or seen a Fresh Market. I will look it up and educate myself about Fresh Market.
Mrs. Pipes To mrs pipes point on something more the size of the old ford dealer we use to go to a place on Delaware before we moved here about that size. It was a coop, all organic natural and local products. It was really great. It was a full grocery store just smaller like that but larger then just a health shop. They even let workers volunteer and compensate hours for products. Weekends they had a farm market in the parking lot. Something like that would really be awesome to have.
Jdem Jdem, What you've described sounds really nice! I "wish" that my "wishing" could make it so:-))
mistergoogle "Once there was a silly old man
Thought his town was mightily grand
No one could make that man, scram
He kept hoping for Main and Grand
'Cause he had high hopes
He had high hopes
He had high apple pie
In the sky hopes"
sunnydayz 
emily1 I was thinking main st could use a traditional Italian butcher shop with wide selections of meats and cheeses.
Weebiekins 
shotsie girl 
acl76 
John C i think they are getting closer to announcing what is going in the old summit bank at High/Main. Also i saw them putting out the flower pots this morning!
Booster90 I'll chime in that the old bank at Main and Grand is about to become something awesome. More news very very soon!
Kate the Great All this waiting and people poking that they know but wont tell anyone else better be worth it, if it is a let down, you are all in trouble.
okay the suspense is killing me...... cant imagine what is going in there...........
dismom The company posted a pic of the building on their website so they are so close to announcing it!
Martin L Tomorrow's comments will consist of:
1) Damn, I wish it were...
2) So are we still not getting a Trader Joe's, Whole Foods, or an amusement park?
3) Which way will the park bench in front of the store face?
I heard from somebody that knows the owner's wife's cousin's landlady that it's going to be a store that only sells adult diapers.
Waldo Martin - I'm not allowed to say anything just yet, and I don't think anyone else wants to jinx it!
Nosila the BID and the owner of the business have been working hard to find the right spot and get this deal done. I can't wait for them to finally announce it, but i for one am not going to be the one to spoil thier big announcement. It's their announcement to make,
Michelle O this is getting so old and so childish to be honest, we all know that half of you know what it is but wont tell, we get the point, really you don't have to keep mentioning it....no body cares that some of you know, they only want to know what it is.
It’s getting old yet you keep coming back to it :). Just come back tomorrow when it looks like THEY will make the announcement.
Don't get your Skirt in a bunch, just relax and don't worry about all this Brouhaha.
OH, I think I figured out the name of the place from the hint!
Not a restaurant!
I keep coming back to it because it is the only forum where I can consistently get under your skin since you have left the bergen tool forum!! HA!
Have a good night, I have a steak to grill!
Here you all go:
http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/warren-county/express-times/index.ssf/2014/05/hackettstown_to_host_craft_bre.html#incart_river_default
ssminnow 
Mike Corona 
Missrx Yea we can talk about it!!! This is very cool and will be a great partnership for all the other restaurants in town. Bea's and Marley's can order locally brewed beers from them. Hometown brewery can sell the ingredients and supplies to customers that want to make Man skirts's recipes at home and the other resturants can delivery their food to the customers at the brewery. That section of main st will be a pretty cool part of town.
Blackcat 
Heidi This is great! It was hard keeping a secret. This will bring jobs to the area in the future, bring more people to downtown and discover more shopping, make our restaurants more viable AND more businesses can be interested to bring their business to town.
STOP being Debbie downers and embrace this opportunity!
Christine And Joe from Manskirt will be on WRNJ Friday Morning!
http://wrnjradio.com/programming/2014/talk-of-the-town-530-10am/
People read the article!!!!
Joe Fisher's day job is that of a computer programmer.
But the Lebanon Township transplant will tell you he's much happier behind a brew kettle than a keyboard.
"I started as a home brewer in 2008 and it quickly grew from hobby to obsession," the 39-year-old said. "It's a passion, and it's what I want to do for a living."
A roughly two-year search for the right space has landed Fisher and Man Skirt Brewing LLC in the former United Jersey Bank building, and the Staten Island native anticipates it could be roughly six months before he's brewing beer.
Fisher needs to secure a federal brewer's license and his state manufacturer's license. The 5,000-square-foot building at 144 Main St. was well maintained and needs little in terms of upgrades, he said.
A roughly 1,800-square-foot first floor space with its 17-foot ceilings will easily accommodate plans for a proposed seven-barrel fermenting system, Fisher said.
Fisher anticipates brewing roughly 500 barrels annually and distributing to an estimated 25-mile radius to start. As for the beer, he envisions three staples -- a blonde ale, an oatmeal stout and an English bitters -- along with seasonal offerings.
Changes in state law will allow Man Skirt Brewing to sell to a wider audience. In 2012, the governor signed into law changes that now allow craft breweries to sell a half barrel, growlers and bottles directly to customers for consumption off premise and pints for consumption at the brewery, Fisher said.
And while his license will not allow him to serve food, Fisher said customers will be allowed to bring food into the brewery, noting he watched a couple have a pizza delivered to Angry Erik Brewing in Sussex County.
At the outset, Fisher will be brewer, deliveryman and chief bottle washer, but he might need someone to run the tap room and handle retail sales. Man Skirt will likely be open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, while Fisher feels out demand for the tap room that he says won't be designed to compete with local bars.
He plans to work with as many local and New Jersey farmers as possible to provide his ingredients. Even if Man Skirt uses pellet hops from the West Coast, Fisher said he could, for instance, use fresh local hops for dry hopping.
The building sits on the western corner of Grand Avenue and Main Street, making it a highly visible and busy location, according to Jim Sheldon, executive director of the Hackettstown Business Improvement District. The building, most recently occupied by the Comfortable Chef, has been vacant for about three months, he said.
The project shouldn't present any significant zoning issues, according to Sheldon. The building does not have its own parking lot -- a common issue in the business district -- but it is close to a municipal lot, he said.
A craft brewery represents a niche business that won't have to compete against big box retailers, making it an ideal addition to Hackettstown's business district, Sheldon said, adding it should generate business for the town's growing restaurant scene.
"It's very exciting to have this business," he said. "It really helps ... Hackettstown's dining (scene) we've been trying to solidify the last few years."
When he first started searching for a building, Fisher said he focused exclusively on Hackettstown. The town offers a "good vibe" and a mix of a younger crowd and an established, more affluent crowd from nearby communities, he said.
And today's craft beer crowd is more educated about the industry and styles and wants to know from where their beer hails, Fisher said.
"I think (Hackettstown) will be perfect for a brewery," he said.
Warren Wilson is owner of Homebrew University, a few doors down from the future brewery.
Consumers are itching for better beer, and a brewery is a viable option in Hackettstown, provided it offers quality beer, Wilson said. He said he regularly hears from customers looking for recipes from their favorite craft brewers.
"If you can make good beer and put it into local bars, I think it will be a boom for Hackettstown," Wilson said. "It can help make Hackettstown a destination."
Anyone walking past the building once brewing begins will see Fisher brewing in his Utilikilt, the genesis for the brewery's name. Fisher, who is not Scottish, is just a fan of the style.
"They're not technically kilts," he said. "They're not tartan and they have pockets, so it's a man skirt."
sounds cool, but i wonder about this statement in the article "And while his license will not allow him to serve food, Fisher said customers will be allowed to bring food into the brewery..."
why would the license not let him serve food?
I was thinking Hometown brewery, but now I see that hometown only sells ingredients and supplies, it will be nice to have a town brewed beer available to the restraunts, but still not as exciting as it was made out to be
Well, that sure was a clever hint, Darwin! (Didn't figure it out, though.)
Welcome, Manskirt Brewery, and wishing you all the best in your new venture!
Rebecka EXCELLENT !!!!
Here's the deal IMHO; often you want to keep competition as far away as possible.
But sometimes by banding together with the same or compatible businesses, you can create an "area" for customers to flock. So I say, the more restaurants, brewery's, pubs, knick-knack, antique, etc. type stores, the better. Even bikes go with beer. A rising tide can lift all boats! Let Walmart try to compete with that!
When I want to go antiquing; Chester is great. When I want to cruise some restaurants, H-town Main Street is looking better and better; add some brewski's and my night is complete!!!!! Now bring on the street bands at the gazebo and let's get some sidewalk cafe's going. Thank goodness the new lights ain't too bright!
Heidi there is no other brewery in town. Hometown brewery sells supplies to make you own beer at Home.
So having this craft brewery next door will actually help Hometown as per the owner:
They should make a Hackettstown beer...maybe name it "Hopsy Hackettstown" or "Hackettstown Hazy Hops Homebrew."
Well, I like it...
It is homebrew university not hometown. Also NJ law does not allow commercial breweries to serve food, these are the ones that produce to have their products distributed.
WineCountry I would love to see a Hackettstown beer, and see it served at all the local restaurants and pubs
WineCountry - thanks for the correct name of Homebrew, I was going to do that. In addition it's an important part of the new brewery license that the article mentions. Although a restaurant needs a separate license, they can not only distribute, but sell retail, and have a "tap room".
That's the whole part that can make it a place for people outside the town to come. It wouldn't be so good if all you could do is wait for their product to come out to one of the restaurants in town. But with the tap room you get people who will come and actually stay a while. Or they pop in to buy a case and go somewhere else. Or as others said they get interested in home brewing and stop in Homebrew U. Or they're at Marley's which serves them some and they want to take some home they stop in next door. Or you've got your Demi's and bring it over to the tap room. Or the tap room makes a deal with one of the pizza places and calls in orders for their clients and have it delivered to the tap room.
It's good both as a potential destination and as cross interest. You can potentially even see a place like Kennedy's or Muldoon's having it on tap and sending people over this way to pick some up for home. And it has appeal to both young and old which is something the town needs.
Canal Lager. Towpath Pilsner. Mars Stout. Centenary Hard Cider (seasonal). Schooley's Red Ale.
Stephan Well that burst my bubble. Even though it is " not my cup of tea" I guess I am happy that the building will be in use.
justwondering oops thanks for the correction, i blame Darrin, he wrote Hometown Brew first and i just copied him :)
HomeBrew U
But everything GC just wrote is why most of us are excited. It has the opportunity to bring local businesses together and to cross promote.
Good morning, Hackettstown!
Well I guess that cat's out of the bag, isn't it? We're set to close on the bank building today, which is why we were waiting to make the official announcement.
Most of the information is already in the posts above, but here's the word right from the horse's (or brewer's) mouth.
Yes, we will only be serving beer. The way NJ's laws are written, if we serve any food, we are now a restaurant and must have a full retail liquor license, in addition to a manufacturing (brewing) license. NJ does not have a separate brewpub license as many other states do.
You will be able to bring your own food, or even have it delivered. There are so many great places to choose from in Hackettstown, and we're planning to work with them to bring you discounts for supporting local businesses.
As for beer: once you come in and get a tour of the brewery, you may now purchase up to 15.5 gallons of beer to consume on or off premises. I do not recommend drinking it all at once.
But seriously, that means you can sit and drink a few pints over some pizza or pad Thai from down the block, you can get samples, you can get quart or half-gallon growlers to take home, you can get kegs for a party.
Our goal is to work with Hackettstown, making it even more of a destination, bringing people in. I've already spoken with Warren over at Homebrew University on some ideas for fun collaborations, and I'm looking forward to working with Marley's, Bea's, the Pandan Room, and all the other great businesses in town. I think we can do great things.
After we close on the building, we will be applying for all of the various licenses and zoning permits we need, then building out the actual brewery. We expect to be brewing beer within 6 months if all goes well.
If anyone has questions that they don't want to post here, please feel free to email me. info@manskirtbrewing.com.
And finally, to Missrx: I apologize that you're not excited. I'm excited enough for the both of us, though, and I hope you have a lovely day.
Joe Fisher Joe - Thanks for posting here. I look forward to more updates as time goes by. As you can see by my avatar, I am super excited about this new business. Best wishes to you for much success!
Calico696 "Yes, we will only be serving beer. The way NJ's laws are written, if we serve any food, "
I'm actually happy you aren't serving food. Too many times businesses want to do it all and never specialize in anything.
I think it's great. The only negative I have is just the parking. I think the town should look into securing more parking like the old Ford Dealership lot. If they want to continue improving Main Street they need to also improve the parking.
Nosila, I spend a lot of time downtown and I never have a problem with parking. Besides the street parking, there's the Bea's lot and the one behind the Trading Post. I can't think of a time when I was ever unable to park in that area.
Nosila,
What times of day do you have trouble parking? I've never had a problem finding a spot, but maybe I just happen to be there at the right times.
MB I would think the big lot behind the pet store-domino's would be the most convenient for customers looking to visit this new business. Which would be closer than parking at the old ford dealership
Joe, Here's wishing you Great Success in Hackettstown with Manskirt Brewing! We are looking forward to your opening!
Now that I have read Joe Fisher's post I must admit it sounds like a very cool place.
So glad to see they will be working with the other business in town, that's is what we need more of, local business that help support each other, not ones that try to run other business out (cough CVS cough cough)
Good Luck Joe!
I am not huge beer drinker but love a nice cold one on a hot day. I am excited about bringing it to town!
There is no parking problem in town. Unless of course you want to park right in front of a business you want to shop in. I find it funny people will park far away at a mall or box store BUT when they are in a small town they wont park across the street or 1/2 a block away.
See Darrin this is why were all excited!!! Glad you can see the beauty in this now.
You and i will share a pony keg one day there :)
For parking there are already three lots nearby, not only behind Dominoes/Rich Fix It but also down below the Trading Post/Marley's as well as Bea's/Sunny Day's.
Vic Its not a parking issue its called laziness. OMG I have to walk a hundred feet ! How will I ever do it ? And some of you talk about hiking ? LOL
My husband will be thrilled to hear this news.
I'm hoping more people will be walking to cut down on all the drunk driving that goes on all over the place.
Tracy Tracy - That will always be a problem in rural areas. It would be nice if we had some local bus service. I can't get to any of these places without driving 25 minutes to get there. Cuts down big time on my beer consumption. ;-)
jerseycash5, it might be that people are way too drunk to walk 100 feet to their car before driving home.
ianimal This is reminding me of Colorado when we spent the day touring (and drinking!) micro-breweries. That's where I had my first hazy, thick-headed, non filtered wheat beer and fell in love. I never tasted anything so delicious in my life! I have spent the last 5 years searching for something that tastes like that (YUM!) and even tried making my own...but it just wasn't the same. Maybe at some point we will have a beer like that brewed right here in town. I would have to get a keggerator!
If your hiring taste-testers...I'm in!
Congrats, Joe! I'm excited that this is happening within walking distance - even though I don't drink beer - I know that this is a great adventure! Let me know if you need help labeling anything. I'm good with a p-touch. ;)
10yrtownie Joe, one request: PLEASE don't go "IPA Crazy" like all the other breweries have... every time I go into a bar the taps seem to be:
an IPA
another IPA
another IPA
a seasonal IPA
a shandy
Blue Moon
one of the "big 3" (Bud, Coors, Miller)
...there are people out their who like their beers BALANCED- not hoppy, not malty, but BALANCED.... this coming from a long-time homebrewer. :)
JeffersonRepub @JeffersonRepub: It's funny you mention that. I actually said that to the reporter who interviewed me for the Lehigh Valley article. As much as I love IPAs (mmmm, Lagunitas) I feel the same way: they're trendy and way over done.
My plan was to have some solid, tasty staple beers, then build on that with some seasonals. The three I have in mind for starters are:
Blonde Ale
Oatmeal Stout
English-style Bitter Ale
I find the English style bitters (despite the name) are easy to drink and not bitter at all if done well. They've got this kind of sweet, bready backbone to them with a good balance of hops that I really enjoy. I'd like to bring some of that sort of love to this area.
I'm not a big IPA fan.
Jdem - I love a good Belgian ale. I love wheat beers too, and lagers, and pilsners, and.....
I'm not sure about the Oatmeal Stout, Joe... I've always liked the one from Samuel Smith, but it's always been a one and done proposition; never something where I would have two or six of them in a sitting.
How about a nice, malty doppelbock if you're looking for a dark beer in your initial lineup? I think it would have more appeal to the range of beer drinkers out there. Just one guy's opinion...
Just read an article this week stating that some beers have corn syrup or GMO corn syrup in them. Coors Lite, Bud and PBR all on the list. I did not know this .
@ianimal: I'm also a big fan of a nice doppelbock, but being a lager beer, it's a little more difficult and time-consuming to make than an ale, so I'll probably wait until I've established a few solid beers first. I may go a little lighter with an Irish stout or a porter, though. Oatmeal stouts can be pretty chewy!
@jerseycash5: most of the huge breweries (think Bud, Miller, Coors) derive much of their beer's sugars (which get converted into alcohol by yeast) from corn and rice. This is both because corn and rice are cheap, and to produce a consistent product that is light in flavor and color.
Craft brewers will seldom--if ever--do this. We use malted barley for probably 95% of the grain that goes into our beers. The other 5% will be wheat, rye, or other grains to change flavors, colors, or consistency of the beer. You will certainly not find any corn--syrup or otherwise--in our beers.
My wife and I have wanted to get out to the yuengling tour for years so to have a brewer right in town will be great.
WOW, sorry to get people all upset over a parking comment.
To be honest I forgot about the parking lot behind Domino's......I can tell you that we tried to go to Bea's one night and their lot was full, the back lot was full, and also the municipal lot. Sorry I'm not a main street shopper so I don't know all the parking spots.
Joe,
Sounds like I will be a regular customer. :) Be sure to have growlers available for sale to have filled and take home with us!
And a big +1 on the English Bitters!
Mmmm, something yeasty and unfiltered. I also love the Belgian style ales. As a German who loves beer I am looking foreword to this!
Can't wait till you're up and running -- already got a big girls night out beer fest planned!
"can tell you that we tried to go to Bea's one night and their lot was full, the back lot was full, and also the municipal lot. Sorry I'm not a main street shopper so I don't know all the parking spots"
See Nosila, I get a bunch of crap from people about my houses location, I get told I was stupid for buying a house that can flood, or next to a "toxic dump", but the way I look at it, I can walk to all these bars!!! HAHAHA Take that!
I am loving the owner's interaction with the town already! I think they are going to do great!
OMG another booze place just what we need. And Wendy I can't believe a YMCA won't even attempt a study to see how many people would use a Y around here. It's too darn far to drive to Randolf to go for a few laps in a pool. Isn't there already a beer making place, a wine making place. Enough already lol
Yeah, Joe... I didn't stop to consider that a long lagering process probably isn't the most optimal use of time when you're trying to get a brewery up and running (and making $$$, lol). A porter would be a great alternate choice, I think.
"I do not recommend drinking it all at once." - Joe
Great sense of humor... looking forward to stopping by your establishment. Good luck and godspeed with all the filings and paperwork!
For those interested in learning more about this upcoming new establishment.... The people who will be opening this new business on Main St., Hackettstown will be interviewed this morning on WRNJ's "Talk of the Town" at 10 A.M....
joyful FYI - Listen for Joe on Talk of the Town this morning WRNJ 10 - 11 he's in the third segment so that should be around 10:40 or so. http://wrnjradio.com/programming/2014/talk-of-the-town-530-10am/
"Be sure to have growlers available for sale to have filled and take home with us!"
yes, i don't own a growler, don't know what one looks like, really have never seen one, how big is it? will it fit in the fridge?are there different sizes of growlers? how do you keep the beer carbonated if you don't drink the whole growler after opening it?
it's summer time, maybe offering a summer type of brew initially would be good? then for fall a octoberfest type of beer? and something else that could go all year long, a signature brew that identifies your brewery?
what is your targeted/expected opening date?
BrotherDog 
BD - Growlers usually come in 32 or 64 ounces. So a quart or a half gallon. Most places charge you and initial fee for the growler and the price of beer. Then you bring the growler back when empty and only pay for the beer. They usually only stay good for about 48 hours max. So drink up quickly. :-)
Help Us Try to get the NJ Growler Law Changed - It will help some future businesses in town
Please Sign the Petition on the Following Site:
HTTP://growler.winecountryhackettstown.com
The main reason we are trying to get this change is, to allow all licenses to fill and sell growlers, current law only allows very few to do so. With the addition of growler stations to a number of retailers would increase not only sales but the taxes derived from the additional purchases. Encourages more diversity of choice not to mention reduces the amount of bottles and cans that may or may not be recycled. Current state alcohol rules are outdated prohibition era nonsense which allows bordering states advantage over ours. More growler fill locations means better prices for consumers due to competition. Finally With the insurgence of interest in craft beer, the changing of this law creates a wonderful opportunity for start-up breweries to get their product out on the market.
Thank You for Your Support!
thanks calico,
picture is worth a thousand words,
btw, does that thing hold more than 10 rounds? (and it's still legal?)
uh-oh.... high-capacity containers = more drunk drivers = more deaths!!!!
Call the assembly!!!! We need ANOTHER BILL!!!! I, for one, think it's only "common sense" and "reasonable" that no one should be able to purchase a container of beer that is over 24oz. Because it's too much. It's dangerous. It could "lead to something tragic."
And don't even get me started on hard alcohol an wine... due to their extremely high alcohol by volume, they should be banned outright.
How come no one ever thought of this before?
Why would anyone need 32 or 64 oz of alcohol? There should be a law passed immediately to strictly ban anyone from purchasing or owning any alcohol receptacle larger than 12 oz because more is just unnecessary and dangerous. There is no reason why 12 oz should not be sufficient for all people. In addition, I believe that anyone currently owning a growler with a 32 or 64 oz capacity should have to turn them in to the local authorities immediately. As we all know that growlers and kegs cause many deaths from drunk driving and alcohol poisoning and at the very least make people act stupid. This is dangerous and the Governor should sign this bill in to law now.
(Tongue firmly in cheek)
Heidi, I didn't like you when you interrupted the Jets game and.................
Clyde Potts Well this is really REALLY cool! *raises hand* may we have an Oyster Stout please? :-)
I used to work at a long term traumatic brain injury rehab. The proof is in the numbers. There were far less alcohol related motor vehicle accidents when the drinking age was 18. Why will they not change the drinking age back??? Look at the stats!!!!
Anyway... I'm excited for new business in town!! Yay!
NoUseForAname "There were far less alcohol related motor vehicle accidents when the drinking age was 18." I didn't even research this one for accuracy.........
Its a shame I just read this. Across the pond is closing!
http://www.hackettstownlife.com/classifieds/23061
I add my "Good Luck Joe" and also great appreciation for the savy business plan of integrating our growing number of wonderful, international restaurants!
WELCOME TO HACKETTSTOWN MY FRIEND!!
Melissa
MAN OK, here's a IMHO what would be great for me, and why.......
For me, it would be perfect if somehow, a co-marketing arrangement could be made to make "brewery brown bagging" super easy and efficient for local restaurants wanted to cater to my brewski behaviors. I mean I can sit, have a single beer and go somewhere to eat OR I can sit have a number of beers, and have food brought to me easy peasy, and drink a few more brewski's. But I don't see me making one stop, filling my growler (yes, I have mine), and then toddling on to another location. I would just bring something from home and skip the first stop.
And I never drink without noshing on something.
Again, to me, that means ez to find menus (that are clean) for "authorized" co-marketing eateries that will rush delivery right to my table tailored to make my evening special. So, perhaps table markings so the food runner can zoom right in rather than standing at the door looking forlorn, making sure that appropriate dinnerware is included (paper and plastic a-ok to me but the restaurant has to know where I am and what to do to make dining at manskirts perfect), appropriate trash facilities so I can easily bus my table, everything needed so I can basically just veg, eat, drink and be merry as if I was in the co-marketing partners shop with a bottle n brown bag.
Yes, I can handle the cell phone call to make the order, but would hope everything else would be virtually as if I was in the restaurant, you know, make the order, give my location and table number and voilà ---- dinner and some brewskis with no muss, no fuss. And sure, I can do all the leg work but hey, I can bring a bottle to most restaurants and the leg work is done, so I am looking to turn the tables so to speak.
Besides, you have man skirts for the ladies which is probably worth an extra beer or two before she makes me leave.
Whatever path you take, good luck and I am sure I am ready to pay my brew dues.
If I had the money, I would buy a food truck, get all the required licenses, and set up shop right out front! Limited walking to pick up some food to munch on while enjoying Hackettstown's finest new beers.
mistergoogle, you would rather get your food to go and eat it off of paper plates while drinking at the brewpub? Wouldn't it make more sense to get a growler-full of beer and then go sit down at a restaurant and eat your meal in a more civilized fashion?
I think the food truck is a great idea, ssminnow... I doubt the restaurateurs on Main Street would agree with us though (-;
They would probably fight tooth and nail to prevent the Town from issuing permits for food trucks on Main Street... and I can't say that I blame them. How can you compete with someone who doesn't have to pay rent and has the same location as you?
Iman, no, most times (unless walking to find my one stop), I just like one stop and if I am going to try some brews, then I want to do so in an uncivilized fashion :>) with man skits, man skirts, man skirts. Fact is if I won't park twice so that limits the two-stop to walking distance anyway and frankly, I am there to sample the brews, all types, so the growler is probably only going to used to get home once I determine which brew to buy.......
Obviously it would be pretty ez to do pizza without fanfare, but I would only go up the food evolutionary ladder if it is ez, efficient, and effective. But if I feel like I am eating Pad Thai on the Appalachian trail with my fingers, I think I will stick with the pizza which would limit the return visits. Man can drink many beers every day but maybe only eat pizza a few times a week :>)
Probably more trouble than it's worth for our bare legged new brewer, but hey, a few phone calls, some insightful restaurateurs, some "quality" control by gnubrew to say which establishments meet "google's code" of manskirt delivery and don't forget the forks, and voilà ---- a better brown bag dining experience for the googlemeister and more frequent visits.
Hmmmm. Lagunitas, my new favorite beer. As a homebrewer myself, welcome Joe. Might I also put up for your consideration a Saison style beer. Done well, they're very easy drinking and should have good appeal to a large audience. My favorite is Hennepin from Ommegang. Good stuff. Good luck to you.
MeisterNJ I think this is great news for the town. I wish Joe all the best in this endeavor. I don't drink alcohol but I still think this is the style of business we need more of on Main Street. We have to think outside the box and turn our town into more of a draw than it currently is. Check cashing, consignment stores and cash for gold just won't do it.
Joe, I'm sure you get sick of people telling you what you should be doing but I'm going to say one thing myself. You may want to talk to Bruno over at Stella G's to see if he would be interested in partnering up with you to supply some Octoberfest style foods, which he does very, very well. Just a thought. Anyway, good luck to Man Skirt!
eperot @joe fisher I could not be more excited about this, I think it's an amazing addition to hackettstown.
My cousins up in Warwick NY at Pennings Orchard are growing hops right now and are going to start brewing soon, right now they just supply local breweries and then sell their beer in their beer garden on site. They also currently make their own hard cider which is awesome, way better than angry orchard.
Good luck with everything!
Penningslandscaping when are you opening? i want to buy some beer there,
(i don't own a growler, so if you help me buy one i would appreciate it)
is anyone close enough to the folks at the american legion to see if they would stock some of this new breweries beer at the legion hall? (i used to be, but there have been some changes in the interim)
How about the Elks?
any other's ?
eapos Good morning, all. I'm sorry I've been a bit absent from this thread. As you can imagine, things are very busy for me these days! So much paperwork...
I wanted to thank everyone again for the kind welcoming words and well-wishes. I appreciate every single one, and it makes me more happy every day to have chosen Hackettstown to set up shop.
@Weebiekins: I have made an oyster stout in the past! I used oysters from Metropolitan Seafood, and it came out amazing. I'll have to add that to my list of seasonals.
@BrotherDog: I'm hoping to open by December, as long as the NJ permit comes through and I can have my equipment installed in time. Realistically, I'm expecting to run into 2015.
Progress is good, however. The town has been amazing as far as working with me to get things rolling. Our zoning has been approved, my federal brewer's notice has been approved, we're registered with the FDA. Now we're working on the state license process and getting funding for equipment.
@eapos: YES that's my family! My dad is the Joe Fisher who owns The Parts House in Tottenville.
Calico you can follow the updates on Facebook, including the intial layout plan for inside the building.
Hello, Hackettstown! I know you haven't seen much change in the building over the last few months, so I just wanted to stop in, let you know I'm still around, and give you the update on what's going on.
First things first: I'm still targeting a March 2015 opening date. I'd love to have beer ready for the St. Patrick's Day parade. It'll be tight, but if I keep pushing I think we can make it. Even if we don't have beer, I'll be sure to be there with the doors open and hope to meet some of y'all.
When I first started this process, I was expecting the licensing to be the longest part. As of right now, my Federal and State licenses are complete, pending State inspection of the equipment installation. Good news!
What's been taking the longest is getting started with the build out. Just today I finally submitted my plans and permit applications to the township construction department. Once those are approved, we can start work in earnest. The township itself has been tremendously helpful and easy to work with throughout the process: one more reason I'm glad to have chosen Hackettstown!
So for the curious, here are the things I'm working on, roughly in the order they need to be completed:
- New 400 amp electrical service run from the pole and wired in to the building
- Drains put in the floor in the brewing area, as well as for new sinks
- Knee wall built around the brewing area
- Bathroom updated for ADA compliance
- Tile flooring installed in the brewing area
- Flooring installed in the rest of the brewery
- Tanks installed, plumbed, and wired in to the building
- Bar built and installed
And a host of other things I'm sure I've forgotten about. Opening a business is a lot of work, but it sure is exciting.
I forgot to mention that you can always track our progress at our website or Facebook page.
http://www.manskirtbrewing.com
https://www.facebook.com/manskirtbrew
Joe, will you be able to fill one of these?
http://www.amazon.com/BrewTender-Tabletop-Beer-Beverage-Dispenser/dp/B003AY34A6/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1418758428&sr=8-3&keywords=beer+tower
jrsemom Only if he can get it filled somewhere. Seems silly to pour a bunch of bottles of beer into it.
@jrsemom: I'd have to ask the ABC to be sure, but as I understand the laws I think I'd be able to fill it for you to drink *on premises*. If you wanted something to take out of the brewery, it has to be capped and labeled.
"Seems silly" - To a guy?? Seriously, it'll get filled one way or another. Just be careful, he's gonna want a real kegerator next. ;-)
Joe Fisher - It's already got a cap, throw one of your pre-printed labels on it, and off you go... ;-)
Thanks for the update! As a beer lover, I am waiting in anticipation for the opening!!! Already have a group of 12 girls ready for a night out of beer tasting!
Joe I have a few friends that live out of town that are counting the days until you open. I have been keeping them in the loop so thanks for the update.
JrzyGirl88 If you're open for the the St. Pat's Parade, you better have ALOT of extra kegs on hand, and extra help as well- because you will be SLAMMED. Slammed like you can't imagine.
Don't be like all the other taps around here and "run out of everything" during your grand opening!
We already have a group of friends eagerly awaiting a night out at the new brewery! Can't wait!
D-ManPV The signs did go up this weekend! I could not have been more excited about it, despite freezing my butt off for 3 hours to get them up there. Had a nice little warm-up drink or two at Marley's afterward :)
Unfortunately, due to red tape delays, I will not have beer by St. Pat's. I will be there with the doors open to meet you fine folks and show everyone around, so please feel free to come on in and say hello.
Sorry to hear about the delay, Joe. But I wouldn't expect any less from government regulators!
When you do open, you'll have alot of us waiting in line!
Quote- Joe
"Unfortunately, due to red tape delays, I will not have beer by St. Pat's. I will be there with the doors open to meet you fine folks and show everyone around, so please feel free to come on in and say hello."
Can we bring our own beer to drink while we walk around the place? :)
Nothing illegal about that...
Josh I'll definitely swing by to check out the brewery. I'm so happy that another great local business is getting added to main st.
You folks don't miss a trick! We were out there taking pictures for an upcoming article in the Daily Record.
When I moved the UPS drop box, I found a 2-day priority envelope on the ground behind it. If anyone lost one of those, it's now back in the drop box :)
CraftBeerBob 
I wish I could give you a solid date. I've had to start over from scratch with plans and the town due to some unforeseen circumstances, so that pushed me back about 2 months.
I'm told our equipment is being delivered next week (yay!), and we should have permits for construction about the same time if all goes to plan.
So my current goal is beer by May 1. But with all the delays I've had so far, I'm hesitant to say that's a target opening date.
That said, we have had a little progress. You've seen our cool new sign, we had the electrical service upgraded to a whopping 400 amps (our brewhouse will be all electric, partly so we can choose green options and/or go solar in the future), and we've been polishing up the original 1950 Terrazzo in front of the vault.
Awesome, I can't wait.
I understand the former Forge restaurant in Blairstown will be a brewery as well. Anyone else hear this?
Greg yea the forge restaurant will be a brewery, the people from JD's liquor store are building it, heard it from my Sales Person
Man Skirt has started a Kickstart Campaign to raise money for their tasting room.
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1381697436/tasting-room-at-man-skirt-brewing
I heard the Forge was sold. I thought it was going to be a brew pub, not necessarily a brewery.
Thanks for the Kickstarter link, Calico!
Just "adopted" a tasting room table (only 4 of 6 left, last I checked.)
I figured that it was better to have one's family name on one of only a few tables that will be surrounded by happy people hoisting a cold one, rather than on one of hundreds of bricks in a sidewalk that is trodden upon (or worse) by man and beast.
And tasting tables don't get thrown on a rubble heap when the road gets widened, either...
Funding this seems to be a no-brainer for anyone who loves Hackettstown...and beer!
jjmonth4 Once again y'all are way ahead of me! Thanks for posting the link, and for all the continued support. I really appreciate how the people and businesses in town are all getting behind the new guy on the block!
In other exciting news, our brewing equipment is supposed to be delivered next week! We definitely won't be making beer for the St. Pat's parade, but my door will be open and I hope some of you will come in, check out the space, and introduce yourselves.
Signed on last night. Now I can get my own safe deposit box in a vault in a brewery. Never saw that coming.
thehazguy I'm as shocked as you are, Calico! I expected people to chip in for a lot more pint glasses :)
I'm working on something to replace it. I don't want to just add more tables, because I might not have room for them. What would you think about plaques that are set into the bar top? Adopt-a-bar!
Well, arguing about net neutrality or the need for less/more government doesn't seem to have made any difference in those outcomes. Expending time and effort to rant about how either Democrats or Republicans are "better" seems even more pointless.
Bringing a commercial brewery back to Hackettstown for the first time in ??? years is something we CAN help effect,... and even have a place to argue our points over a cold one!
So go here : https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1381697436/tasting-room-at-man-skirt-brewing and do this.
(Also - the bar backer idea sounds pretty good to me, Joe!)
Thanks, jj! I couldn't agree more.
I added both bartop plaques and chairs. So now you can have a seat with your name on it!
My first post after lurking for a bit! I hope this works out!!! I funded my husband a chair for part of his birthday present, so I hope the goal is met. Good luck!
DaDogMomma 
jmo517 I really didn't anticipate so many of the large rewards going so fast! I'm going to have to come up with some more fun ones for y'all.
Thank you all again for your continued support! Even all of the good luck and well-wishes are enormously appreciated and make my day, every time.
We're having our equipment delivered tomorrow! Pretty exciting. I apologize in advance if the truck causes any traffic headaches. I've got help from some other businesses in the area and we're going to get it cleared as quickly as we can.
Damn! Another brewery equipment delivery in Hackettstown.
Someone said the last time this happened the wagons were so heavy that they bogged down in the mud. One of the horses struggled so hard that he broke his leg and had to be shot.
Apparently, the folks thereabouts were mighty vexed about the whole thing, but they got over it once the beer started flowing.
So I heard, anyway....
Maybe someone can confirm the rumor that Sam Hackett's boozey generousity prompted the town to remember him through it's name.
Could we be headed to Fishertown?
> Could we be headed to Fishertown?
Skirttown just doesn't have the same ring, does it?
Unfortunately, due to weather issues, the delivery has been delayed until Friday. I'm like a kid on Christmas.
I'm famous again!
http://www.dailyrecord.com/story/life/food/2015/03/11/pants-just-great-beer-hackettstown/24748205/
"Look up, laugh loud, talk big, keep the color in your cheek and the fire in your eye, adorn your person, maintain your health, your beauty and your animal spirits."
William Hazlitt
The sun's coming out, the snow is leaving, and we're getting really, really thirsty.
Meanwhile ----- talk is cheep ----- show us the beer!!!!!!!
In lieu of a grand opening, with beer, let's start the season by rolling out some beer pics.
I hope to see some of you at the parade today! I'm planning to get there a little early, between 2:30 and 3. If you're walking by, just wander on in and say hello.
Thanks to everyone who came out! The response was tremendous. I got to meet a lot of great people, and talk until my voice gave out.
Cheers!
Our Kickstarter campaign is over and a tremendous success! I owe most of that to you fine folks, so thank you so very much.
Construction is moving ahead at the brewery. Plumbing has started, floors are going in, more goodies are on order.
It's not too late, but we can't go through Kickstarter any more. Email me at joe@manskirtbrewing.com and I'm sure I can help you out!
from following him on Facebook it looks like there is so much still to do. But it's coming along nicely. Keep sending the update pics Joe, they look great.
Thanks for the continued support, everyone! I also appreciate your patience as I continue to slog through the millions of things that need to get done. So here's an update for y'all.
If you backed my Kickstarter, you know that rewards are coming in. I'm expecting to start shipping them out in just a few weeks. The DrinkTanks growlers should be arriving today! T-shirts, glasses, more growlers, and some other goodies are on their way as well.
The brewhouse area is almost complete, as you can see in the attached photo. Plumbing is in progress, most of the electrical work is done. I still have to put a refrigeration unit up on the roof and get that plumbed down to the tanks. Parts are on order to convert a room into the walk-in cooler I need to keep the beer cool.
Flooring in the tasting area is being done right now. All of the tilework is being done by Bill Winner of Buccaneer Tile. He's even doing an amazing Manskirt Mosaic in the entry way.
The bar is almost done. We've got tables and chairs ready to go. 3 pallets of kegs and a pile of other parts are scheduled to arrive next week.
Once all of that is done, the NJ ABC has to come in and inspect everything. If they like what I've done, I can start making beer!
There are still so many variables that could cause delays, but I'm hopeful that I'll be brewing by July. I will most definitely keep everyone posted!
Wishing you the best, Joe Fisher, this will definitely be a asset to the town of Hackettstown.
teenie Good morning Hackettstownies! Hackettstowners? Hackettstonians.
Since tonight is Late Night Shopping in town, I'm going to open the doors of the brewery.
I'll be getting there about 6PM (still have to work my day job, booooo), so please feel free to stop by and have a look around.
No beer, but plenty of progress to see. I will have a few t-shirts and glasses to sell, as well as free beer coasters for your home bar.
Joe,
I'll try to stop in and say hello, but if I don't get to tonight, let me say now: thank you.
I moved here 5 years ago with my wife. We bought a house and now have a son we're planning on raising here. Businesses like yours will help the area more than you can imagine. I applaud your efforts and the second you open those doors for business, I'll be there to *ahem* "sample" your wares :-)
Best wishes and GOOD LUCK!
Since I've had several offers from my Kickstarter supporters to come and pick up their rewards, I decided to put together a little open house event.
It's open to anyone who'd like to come in and take a look around. The brewery is ALMOST DONE! I'm expecting to make beer within a month.
The date is Sunday, June 28, 12-6PM. It'd be a great excuse to stop by one of the awesome restaurant choices in town for breakfast or dinner. I had some crepes yesterday, and I have to say they were pretty fab.
If you do Facebook, I've created an event page here:
https://www.facebook.com/events/479568018886725/
Good morning, Hackettstown! Wanted to stop by and give you some updates.
Construction is done at the brewery! Our final inspections are scheduled for next week. I made a video with a walk-through so you can all see what you're in for:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Gjmox4etR6s
The brewhouse itself is almost complete. I did my first test with water this weekend and everything went well. Here's a video of that, for those of you who are interested in the process of brewing:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBvG_grLhTI
Cheers!
Joe ~ just watched the walk through video. Place is looking really good. Looking forward to your opening!!
Joe, just curious... since water quality is such an important component of brewing, did you test the local water supply and that of other municipalities before deciding to set up shop in Hackettstown?
The place looks great Joe! Can't wait to sample your products! Good luck with everything!
Thanks for the peek Joe! Lots of us are anxiously awaiting your opening and wishing you good luck!
PS - Love the Manskirt link! Love the Manskirt!! ;-)
ianimal: I tested the chlorine content, and it is very low. That plus the fact that it tastes good tells me I'm not going to do much to it. I am sending it out to Ward Labs for a complete test, though. That will tell me the complete mineral content, as well as chlorine, hardness, pH, etc. I can adjust as necessary from there.
Ward Labs for the curious: https://producers.wardlab.com/default.aspx?ReturnUrl=%2f
Thanks to everyone for your support! I keep getting to tell people how awesome the town is when they ask me about the brewery.
UPDATE: All of the construction and inspections are complete. The paperwork is all in the hands of the NJ ABC, and I'm just waiting on them to send me my brewing license.
I am spending tomorrow preparing the tanks for brewing. They're stainless steel, but they need to be "passivated" before I can use them for beer. I'll be showering them with a strong nitric acid solution for hours, then leaving them open for days so they naturally develop a protective layer, which will prevent corrosion.
Science is cool!
TMI on the chem's Joe :>) Sometimes mystery is good :>)
ABC --- SHOW us the license!!!!! My growler is growling.
strangerdanger Can't wait for the opening and for the beer to be brewed! My husband and I just came back from a trip to Colorado and we went to all the micro-breweries (yum!). They are making some REALLY good stuff in those micro-brew places out there!
Of all the tasting we did (and we did a LOT) our favorite was an unfiltered (I will never drink filtered beer again) yeast beer that was smooth and creamy, light in color (a very pale yellow), no aftertaste, with a nice solid, long lasting, white head. The beer was very cloudy - could barely see through it and you had to keep swirling the glass. It was the most amazing thing we ever drank.
As soon as we walked in, all the customers quickly suggested we try it and we are so glad we did. The locals were calling it "mothers milk" haha!
Thanks for the support and kind words, everyone.
strangerdanger: looks like the ABC heard you! I was emailed my license just this morning.
Going to try to do my first brew THIS WEEK! I'm going to try to make a video of the whole debacle so everyone can be a part of it.
Cheers!
-Joe
First beer is brewed and fermenting merrily away. Here's a little video of the yeast eating all the delicious sugar and producing CO2 and alcohol for us:
https://instagram.com/p/6suzQBtPw_/?taken-by=manskirtbrew
I expect it'll be ready to drink by next week. Second beer is scheduled to be made on Saturday.
I'm targeting an October 3 grand opening. That will give me enough time to have 3 beers ready for you, get all my Health Department inspections sorted out, and be ready to receive guests.
If that date changes, I'll let everyone know. Up-to-the-second info is always available at our Facebook page.
https://www.facebook.com/manskirtbrew
Cheers, Hackettstown! Can't wait to start serving y'all.
Two bits of information for y'all!
First: we will be open for the September 20th street fair starting at 11AM. Come in for a tour and a pour.
Second: our official grand opening has been set for October 3 at 4PM! Please join us for the fun.
And yes, I will put it on the HL calendar. Cheers!
I had the pleasure of stopping in Man Skirt during the street fair yesterday. Took the tour and enjoyed a few beautiful pints of the porter. My wife had the bitter and loved it also. Needless to say, my visit to the fair was over and I spent more time than I planned at the brewery. One pint just wasn't enough! I am looking forward to the grand opening and having this establishment on Main St.
Anyone else stop in? Thoughts?
JB400 We were going to, but didn't have time. While we would love to go to the grand opening, apparently 300 people have confirmed their attendance, and that's way too crowed for me. But we will go sometime soon after the grand opening.
SO looking forward to a brewery NOT concentrated on this damned Pale Ale/IPA craze.
I wish there was a "like" button for that post JeffersonRepub! From the selection I had on Sunday, it appears we will not be disappointed. Only two beers (neither an IPA) and both were on the money. So much so that I think I need to buy a kegerator and buy some kegs from there. Yes, they will be selling kegs!
Really looking forward to trying everthing, maybe bringing in a lunch with me. Any source/menu for what will be available and when and the cost of pints, growlers and kegs?
On another note, those of you who fill growlers at other brewers and stores, do you purchase for the product regardless of the cost? when I do the math it seems a 6 pack is cheaper.
Good luck Skirter!
Roywhite I wouldnt say that its regardless of cost. The 6 pack is usually cheaper then a growler fill but most breweries dont have their beer in 6 packs, so the growler is the only way to enjoy the beer at home. Also the growler is usually fresher beer and has to be filled individually on demand so the price point is a bit more.
If you have a choice of a growler or a 6pack from the same brewery it would make sense $ wise to get the 6 pack, but when looking at craft beers there are a lot of other variables, other then cost, people look at before purchasing.
Bottling equipment is a big expense for a micro. It's far easier and less expensive to fill a growler and as a bonus, you can bring it back in and have it filled with beer again!
The_Bishop I did see regular growlers and some stainless steel growlers that appear to seal much better. I would think this would keep the beer longer. I find the screw on caps on the other growlers don't keep the beer carbonated for very long. Forces me to drink too much too quick (as if I needed an excuse). The Stainless steel growlers were ~ $70 unfilled and $80 filled. Give or take a few bucks. I think they would be a worthy investment.
Hey everyone, thanks for the kind words! Let me address a few of your questions and comments below:
Yes, the grand opening is going to be a madhouse. I'm expecting over 400 people to descend upon Hackettstown. I would certainly not be offended if you decided to wait until a calmer day to stop by and say hello!
You are correct--beer is generally cheaper in bottles, per ounce. I'm asking $14 for a 64oz fill of beer. A 6-pack of good craft beer (72oz) will generally cost $10-$12. I just paid $17 for a 6-pack of a Wee Heavy from NJ Beer Co.
The big difference is freshness. From a brewery you are getting the very freshest product possible that has been handled as little as possible. You know the beer has not been oxidized or exposed to light because it didn't exit the keg until the moment it went into your growler.
The beer you will be drinking at our grand opening was made just weeks ago. The Blonde Ale is going into kegs next week, meaning you'll be drinking beer less than a week old.
As for growlers, yes the wax seal on the screw-top glass growlers will not keep beer fresh more than a day or two. The upside is they are cheap--$19 with the beer included.
The stainless growlers have a double-bail locking system and a silicone seal, meaning they'll keep your beer fresh longer. They are also double-wall vacuum insulated, so they'll keep your beer cold for hours. They've got a wide mouth, so they're perfect to re-use for ice water on those cold summer days. Plus they're not glass, so you can take them to sporting events and the beach.
Yes, they are expensive. If you check out Drinktanks.com at the link below, you'll see they retail for $69. I am selling them for $70 with a fill of beer included. So you're getting an awesome product, and you're getting a $14 fill of beer for $1. I think that's a pretty good deal.
If you just want to buy them as a gift without the beer, the glass growlers are $10, and the stainless ones are $65 (tax included in those prices).
http://www.drinktanks.com/product/64-oz-growler/
I'm happy to answer any other questions you might have! Either here or via email. Cheers, Hackettstown.
I noticed that Man Skirt's Grand Opening is on the HL Calendar! Woo-hoo!
My husband and I have tasted Joe's beer and discussed beer-making with him many times. It is a true passion for him and we are so happy to see his dream of a brewery finally become a reality. This town is in for a treat!
Congratulations, Joe! See you soon.
Everyone who's going tonight, have fun! 400 people going, the place holds 94... may be a little waiting....
We went thursday night- Joe had a soft opening for all those who donated to the kickstarter campaign, as a thank you. 3 beers on tap- Gold Bar (golden), Better Than Pants (English Bitter), and I forget what the porter is called.
The bitter is OUT OF THIS WORLD good. Seriously one of the best beers I've ever had, anywhere.
Yes, I will wait until the initial rush has died down. Looking forward to trying it though.
Good morning, Hackettstown!
WHEW! What a day. The opening event was a tremendous success. We managed to get beer into the hands of a lot of people. I met a lot of great folks and generally had a heck of a good time.
Thanks to all of you who showed up in force and braved the crowds. It should be a little easier to get a beer in the future! We're now on tap at Marley's, Bea McNally's, and the Taphouse Grill.
I'll be adding more information to our website and Facebook page with hours and locations.
Our core tasting room hours will be Thursday and Friday: 6-9. Saturday: 4-9. They will be subject to change and expansion, but I'll be sure to announce any changes on social media and our Google page.
Thank you one more time for all of the love and support I've gotten from the town. I couldn't do it without you guys and gals.
Stopped by tonight and met Joe and his lovely wife, which was a pleasure. Excellent beer! Highly recommend! Thank you Joe!
Big deal for Hackettstown. Every college town needs its own brewery, and they have a nice location and building. Will stop by once things slow down...
Went last night with friends to pregame before the mets game. The Porter was awesome!
The porter WAS awesome!!! I love the taste of a porter, but it's so heavy I can usually only drink one. Having it in the flight with the other two beers was perfect!
I'm almost out of the porter! The response to it has been much, much stronger than I expected. We've got a lot of discerning palates here in Hackettstown!
The Taphouse Grill just got one of the only two kegs left. Fortunately, I've got another batch brewing and it will be ready by next week.
Speaking of next week, we will have growlers back in stock by 10/23. They're taking longer than I thought, but I am always happy to fill growlers from anyone else.
Cheers!
Keep posting them hours, hate to be foraging for brew and come home empty.
Manskirt without manskirt sounds positively nekid.
You show up during their published hours, take a 5 minute tour of the brewery, slowly walk up to the bar (you don't want to spook the bartender) and tell him you want a tasting selection. If my memory is still working correctly, it's $2 for a 5 oz serving. Personally, I love the porter and can't wait until the bock is kegged.
Bemused Thanks for the answers.......
I was at the Cape May Brewery, and the rules seemed a bit odd about taking a tour and how they did their tastings (no flights, but small pours of what you wanted to try).
Great to hear that there are darker brews - I was not impressed with the 7 or so IPA varieties that the Cape May Brewery had, and in fact the only one I liked was their Porter.
Ha my tour consisted of Joe standing at the bar and pointing to the different sections of the brewery. last 45seconds :) Got a tall porter and then another and then another :)
darn we must have been there at the same time, too bad I didn't know what you look like, would have like to finally introduce myself. we need to wear a special HL pin to recognize other HLers LOL
I'm happy to give as thorough a tour as people like. I could really talk about making beer all day until you all fall over from boredom.
Most people seem to want to get to the beer, which is why I generally give the quick-and-basic version right from the bar.
Yes, we are offering 5oz samples for $2 each, so a flight of our three flagships would be $6. A full 16oz pint is $6.
Official business hours are Thursday and Friday 6-9, Saturday 4-9. I'm trying to get there early for the Hackettstown late night tomorrow, but still having a day job it could be tough.
We will also have an extra few hours this Sunday, 10/18, from 6-8 for a special event, but the public is welcome to wander on in.
Looking forward to visiting, curious if your goal is to have more hours, specifically the lunch crowd if H-town can support it.
My unasked for two cents: would love to see a large sign right across the front of that building so the unaware knows what exactly is in there. I want you to prosper.
Was at Taphouse on Sunday for a family birthday and the Man Skirt brews were out...we can't wait to try them!
Jules Thanks, Roy! Yes, I would like to expand my hours a bit, but there are a lot of complicated factors that go into that.
The state is very clear on the fact that the tasting laws are not meant to allow us to operate as a bar, so I have to be careful on how far my hours go.
There is also the matter of supply and demand. The relatively small size of my brewery allows me the flexibility to have a lot of variety in my beers, but it also means I have to be very careful of my supply chain, especially since I'm selling wholesale to bars. Before I expand my tasting room hours, I need to feel out my demand and how well I can keep up with it. I would not want you to come into the brewery looking for my newest seasonal and be disappointed!
And finally, I still work a full time day job. Once I have the supply/demand/wholesale situation felt out I can start looking at whether I can move to brewing full time.
As for the sign, I am working on getting some signage right on the front doors, along with business hours. Thanks for the suggestion!
cool to see that the Man Skirt Porter made it into C&L Subs' French Onion Soup for the $2 tasting tonight!
Be sure to post any additional hours that can be added.
I would also like to see as many as possible.
tjs OMG, finally got to try manskirt at Marley's tonight, all they had was better then pants, and my god it was so good. I couldn't stop drinking them!!! I cannot wait to get to the brewery to have more, and i absolutly need to get a growler!
Joe -
Stopped in last week. Beer was good, People were nice. But...
You seriously need some help with the interior. It looks like you just plopped your tanks down in the middle of an abandoned Bank. You can play up the bank thing but you need to make it look like you cared about the ambiance (Check out the Plough and Stars in Philadelphia). Running your tasting room has to be more than having the gang over to your basement for some homemade brew.
We really want to see you succeed. Come up with a theme, shut the place down for a few days, finish the floor, paint the walls and ceiling some warm colors, lose the bottle labels on the knee wall (very tacky), hang some artwork and curtains, adjust/change the lighting to something warmer.
I know its not a bar, but you want it to be inviting and comfortable. Make it a destination, a place that makes you want to drive into town for a taste or two.
Best of Luck and we look forward to your presence on Main St for a long time to come!
Opinions are like elbows, everyone has one. Personally I disagree with the above comment. I kind of like the analogy of stopping by a friends basement for some beer. I do think getting the jukebox fixed would be cool, hell I might even have some old 45's to put in it.
From what I have noticed, the room is always busy, you are selling beer, growlers, glasses and t-shirs faster than you can keep them in stock and oh yeah the beer is good. Maybe you are actually doing something right. But what do i know, I'm just a geek who likes drinking beer more than making it.
I suggest Moe open his own bar, and serve Duff in bottles to the guys at the Nuke plant He'll have to let me know how that works, cause I'll be at Joe's sipping a better bitter.
Agust Just looking out for Joe's long term viability. I'm sure he would rather do this full time and quit his day job. To do that he might want to get busier and fill all those tables.
Also - sprucing it up attracts women, who in turn attract men, who in turn spend more money.
I did say that I supported him and that I am rooting for his success....
Agust, you're confusing Moe Greene with Moe Ciszlak... Moe Greene should buy a casino with the Corleone's money and smack Fredo around a little bit for banging cocktail waitresses two at a time because players can't get a drink at the table (-;
Thanks for the opinions. I will always listen to anyone's advice. You never know when something good will come of it. However, I get to choose what to heed.
For example, I don't find the brewery labels on the knee wall tacky. I love it, and I heartily encourage people to vandalize that wall. It lets people put their own little bit of personality on the brewery, and it lets me see all the places and things people love. Every time I see a new sticker it makes me smile.
You will also probably never find curtains in my brewery. Sorry about that. You're absolutely correct: it's not a bar, nor an Applebees, nor my basement. It is a production, distributing brewery with a tasting room. And besides, I love the light from those massive windows.
Yes, the tasting room needs some more decorating, I'm well aware of that. I wanted to get the doors open and making beer as soon as I could, so I made an executive decision to do that before all of the decorating was complete.
Future plans include removing the boring acoustic-tile ceiling with fluorescent lights and replacing it with a tin ceiling and copper pendant lights. Fixing up the area with the jukebox to have a nice wood floor and some soft furniture or high-top tables. Adding murals to the walls for color and warmth. Cleaning out the vault and putting some tables and chairs in. Polishing up the vault door to its former glory. Removing the Linoleum tile by the bathrooms and putting down a real floor. Gutting and re-doing both bathrooms. Putting up the crates of framed photos I have sitting around the brewery.
All of these things require time and money, and I'm working hard at creating both.
In the meantime, I'll keep making good beer, expanding my distribution throughout the state, and thank you for toughing out the lack of ambiance with me.
I hear you Joe - That's what I'm talking about. Trust me I'm no Martha Stewart. I agree with you about the windows - I was just throwing out some Ideas.
"...I made my bones while you were dating Cheerleaders!" - Moe Greene
Man Skirt is a small brewery in a small town. Plough and the Stars is a big restaurant in a big city. I don't get the comparison.
I have been to dozens of small breweries and they all are what Man Skirt probably is , I have not been to Man Skirt yet. Even the ones serving food were not very fancy. I kind of like it that way. Ommegang is huge and more like what you described. But again they are huge. If you want a restaurant atmosphere go to a restaurant.
CBGB I saw the safe deposit boxes and thought they would be a great as lockers for regulars to keep their stein. In Germany I know that the regulars have their own locker to lock their stein in. Would be kind of a neat way to repurpose those things. I know, this is not meant to be a bar but was a thought when I saw them.
Keep up the great work and we will keep enjoying the beer you make. That's what we are good at doing!
JB400: As part of the Kickstarter, some folks do own those boxes. There are a bunch left, so once things settle down a bit I may offer them up again.
Just wanted to let everyone know that if you come by tonight, the place may be in a bit of a state. I was up late last night kegging up the beer we ran out of last week so it would be ready for everyone for the weekend.
I also installed a brand new beer fridge, so the place may not be as neat and clean as it could be. My apologies!
Do it Joe! Pretty please???? I sponsored a chair for my husband for his birthday and I now wish I had gotten him a safe deposit box as well after seeing them... I would love the chance to get one!
We came by to see the chair a few Friday nights ago but it was chilly and so many folks had coats draped over the chairs we never found it... oh well just means we have to return soon and fill up his growler!
Shoot me an email first next time and I'll hide the chair off to the side for you. Supporters deserve to sit on their own thrones!
When the new 64 oz. growlers come in, please post on here ,twitter,and facebook.
Thanks
Just got shipping info on the 64oz stainless growlers: Friday, Nov 6. Depending on when they arrive, they'll be available that night or Saturday.
Speaking of Saturday: our tasting room hours are moving to 1-6PM for this Saturday only. I will be attending the event below at Nicole's 10 in Randolph in the evening. If you want to get the very first taste of our Pfefferbock, it will be on tap there.
https://www.eventbrite.com/e/nicoles-ten-motown-mash-present-for-the-love-of-the-craft-tickets-18764845157
From his FB page:
Thanksgiving week hours! My plan is to be open on Wednesday, 11/25 so you can grab a growler or two to get you through your day with family on Thanksgiving. I will be closed Thanksgiving day, and most likely Friday as well. Maybe take that day to make some more Porter. I'm out. Again. Thank you.
Took the words right out of my mouth!
I'll be open at least my normal hours, 6-9. I may open a little earlier, in which case I'll post it up here and on Facebook.
We've got a great event this Saturday, from 6-9. The NJ Beard and Moustache club is raising money for one of my favorite organizations, Local Share:
https://www.facebook.com/events/1630024220582655/
I'll be donating $1 of each pint sold, so please come in, enjoy, and be generous!
Gotta love that NJBMC used the Misfits skull logo to attach their beard and moustache to...
Good morning Hackettstown! I haven't updated this thread in a while, so I thought I'd stop by and check in. Hope everyone had a merry Christmas, happy Hannukah, and a joyous whatever-the-heck-you-celebrate.
We're gearing up for the new year here at Man Skirt, and will have tasting room hours on Thursday from 12-5, so you can get your growler filled for your NYE party.
So what's new at Man Skirt Brewing? I'm so glad you asked!
- We have DrinkTanks stainless steel insulated growlers back in stock! Now with a beautiful blue color just for the holiday season. Makes a great gift for that beer lover you missed on Christmas. http://www.drinktanks.com/product/64-oz-growler/
- We are now a dealer for the Synek beer dispensing system. Dispensers, cartridges, and caps are in stock. And of course we fill the cartridges with our delicious beer. http://synek.beer/
- Currently our seasonal brew is a Munich-style Altbier, named ALT-F4. Coming up in the new year will be our first Belgian style beer, an Abbey Dubbel. Almost 7% alcohol by volume, this beer is warming and perfect for winter. Coriander, sweet orange peel, and licorice root add some spicy interest without overwhelming the classic Belgian flavors.
I'd like to thank everyone again for your continued support and patronage. Hackettstown has been nothing but warm and inviting to my little venture, and I can't tell you how happy I am to have chosen it.
Wishing everyone a happy and prosperous new year. May it be filled with joy and good beer!
Hope you had a Merry Christmas Joe. I've been very busy and haven't been able to stop in so it's on my to do list. Need to check out my safe deposit box in our hometown brewery.
Have a great New Year.
Weekly updates as to what you have on tap would be nice to see. (Apologies if this information is readily available online or someplace else).
I do announce new seasonals (and try to keep the website updated!) but if you folks would be interested in a weekly update, I'm happy to give that.
We've got a new beer on tap for you this week:
Dubbel Pleated
Rich and dark golden, this Abbey Dubbel is the perfect warm-up for these dreary winter days. Brewed with coriander, sweet orange peel, and licorice root, the spices are present but not overwhelming. 7% ABV
http://manskirtbrewing.com/Beer.aspx
Good afternoon Hackettstown! I'm going to be opening up early today. I'm just hanging around the brewery drinking coffee, so might as well open the doors, right?
Come on down as early as 4PM. Get a growler to take to dinner tonight.
Is it almost June already? Where did the last few months go? Sheesh. I've got a few updates for everyone.
Updated hours: We are now open Thursdays thru Saturdays 4-9, and Sundays 12-5.
Memorial Day Weekend: the taproom will be closed for Sunday, but open on Monday for the parade. Doors will open officially at 11, but if you see them open early, feel free to stroll on in.
We've got a lot of exciting new beers coming up for the summer months. Our first IPA will be ready to drink next week! We've got our unusual and delicious Rauchbier on tap right now, along with a refreshing and crisp Hefeweizen.
Our current beers and tap list are always at the website: http://manskirtbrewing.com/Beer.aspx
If you haven't been to Man Skirt yet, you are missing out on a great community resource. Good beer, good folks and civilized environment with really nice folks passing through the doors.
I want to put in a special word of praise to the pleaTed wheaT that was under the kilt last night. Really nice refreshing summer time drink. I do not think it will last, if you want some you better hurry. Of course you could end up missing it and having to drink one of the other great beers, but that's not all bad either.
Keep up the good work Joe.
Thanks Agust. I've often said it's the community in Hackettstown that's made us such a great success. Good beer helps, but great people make all the difference.
Speaking of good beer, our Imperial Progress IIPA has been a huge hit so far. The pleaTed wheaT is flying off the shelves--the perfect summer drink. Not much left, so get it while it's hot!
We did run out of the Gold Bar Blonde, and the Better than Pants English Ale. I brewed so many new seasonal beers that I couldn't cram those back in the pipeline fast enough.
I expect to put the Gold Bar into kegs tonight, so expect that on tap for the weekend. Better than Pants will be back by next week.
Cheers!
-Joe
Stopped by both the Jersey girl and Manskirt last weekend with my wife.
We both agreed Manskirt had better beer.
The safe door is really cool- and I particularly liked the penny bar- although it kills me to know someone probably dumped a pile and spread em around- I saw several wheats, both sides up, a Canadian, and some other country I forget- and that is from standing in one spot. If I could go through the whole pile, who knows what I would find.
in agreement of preferring Manskirt over Jersey Girl. JG has good beers, but Manskirt has better, IMO. but with Czigmeister opening soon, only good things for H-town and the area!
Joe Friday 
Look what I just got on Untapped!! :)
Btw, I tried going to the Facebook page, but it's coming up blank. Anyone else having that issue as well?
SueR Hey cool, I'm glad the Untappd thing is working!
As far as I know the Facebook page is working. I'm there now.
I have noticed that when browsing Facebook from a browser on mobile that it will often not load. You have to retry a million times. I feel like they're trying to get us to install the app, which I will never do.
https://www.facebook.com/manskirtbrew
I tried on a desktop and it works, but still not on mobile. Even going through my Facebook app. I can view every other page I want to, just not Man Skirt. It shows your profile pic and background pic, then the rest of the page is blank. I never had any problems until a couple of days ago. Very strange.
I'll keep trying now and then to see if it's any better.
Last night, Friday, drove to Man Skirt for a beer. It was 9:l5 pm. This place was closed so went around the corner to the New place on Valentine Street. Was really impressed. It was OPEN. I would thing, Mr Fisher, you would be open on a lovely Friday evening.
Any comments?
Bernie Bernie, Manskirt's posted hours online clearly state they close at 9
Hours
Thu-Sat:
4:00 pm - 9:00 pm
so why would you be surprised.
I'm glad you were impressed with Czigmeister Brewing, Mr. Bernie. It was kind of you to post it here. Matt makes some excellent beers, which I was enjoying myself on Saturday.
And thank you kepa, your information is correct. My website, Facebook, Google+, Untappd profile, and the door of my building should all have the correct business hours. If any of them disagree, please let me know.
Jersey Girl closes at 8, we close at 9, Czig closes at 10. We each chose our hours carefully I'm sure, and with our own good reasons.
That said, Man Skirt is almost always open past our posted hours. I have been known to roll out of there at 10:30, despite a 9PM closing time.
I will usually close the doors around 9, because Danny and I do want to go home and rest, or see our families. If I remember correctly, last Friday night was very quiet and I had a very long day ahead of me Saturday, so we decided to go home only shortly after our official closing time.
Remember that we are a production brewery that operates a tasting room, and not a bar. I appreciate everyone's continued support.
Mr. Bernie, I hope those comments are acceptable. If not, please feel free to write back and I will do my best to try again.
And finally, SueR: My friends and I often have the same problem on our phones with several Facebook pages. I have no idea why.
Joe, maybe you need this sign for the people that are unsure about your hours! Haha
Btw, Facebook page is back to working fine for me. :)
Picked up a growler of Better Than Pants last night and took it to dinner at Pandam Room. Excellent as usual. Keep up the good work Joe!
So Manskirt Brewing actually sells directly to the public? If so, I need to stop in! I assumed it was the type of place that brewed and sold directly to bars and stores.
ChristIsRisen Yes, you can drink some there or get a growler filled. Same for the other two breweries in the area. Enjoy!
Yup, you are both correct: we do brew and sell directly to bars, but we also operate a taproom where you can drink there, or take beer home. You can also bring your own food and eat at our tables.
We're open Thursday thru Saturday, 4-9, and Sunday 12-5.
Hours and beer list are also posted at the website: http://manskirtbrewing.com/
Cheers!
Good afternoon, Hackettstown!
Just wanted to let you know I'll be opening a little early this Saturday, 8/13. Doors will open 2PM at the latest. If you wander by and they're already open, come on in. Hopefully the A/C will still be working! I had it looked at and we're limping along, but the unit is ancient and needs replacing.
If people seem to respond to the early opening, I may make it standard going forward. As I get more help at the brewery I should be able to open up my hours a little bit.
The current seasonal is Luftweizen, which is a Weizenbock: a German wheat beer, which is like a Hefeweizen, but stronger and darker.
You can always find the latest beer list at my website:
http://manskirtbrewing.com/Beer.aspx
Cheers!
I was at the Traffic Light on Grand Ave right next to Manskirt and I see high weeds growing on the side of the building. Not attractive at all. A good cleaning up there and some Mulch can only enhance the business. Best of luck !!
LittleRascal LittleRascal - How about you go in and talk to Joe personally and offer your comments privately. I find it interesting how people are so quick to make comments in a public forum hiding behind a computer. Man up... LittleRascal
Joe is doing an excellent job and his brewery is a great addition to the town and it brings in business to a main street that has fallen down on hard times. We need more quality businesses like his in this town....
justsaying Really?? Weeds are what is chapping your butt? Hopefully people with common sense won't think some weeds on the side of a building will affect the taste of the beer. Sheesh.
Jazzykatt 
Trick 
Dallas I just talked with Jim Sheldon from the BID about those weeds yesterday. I've been trying for weeks to get my landscaper up there, and now I'm working on getting someone else in.
I know it's overgrown but I'm doing my best here. Thank you for your patience.
Grab a local teenager and give him $X a week to keep up the landscaping. You need to rip all the dead stuff out to start.
Maybe you could open a door there for some curbside seating? Or a Beer garden out back?
And no I'm not volunteering to do it - plenty of my own work to do.
Complaining about weeds on the side of a building? My god....what has this site become?
JayDee JayDee
Every property owner must obey the town ordinances.
Overgrown landscaping is an eyesore and not a current Good Manufacturing Process that all food and beverage manufacturers must abide by.
Should we notify the County Department of Health?
I think I will call and complain and have the town cut the weeds and bill the owner.
Sound better?
Justsaying Hiding behind a computer? Man up? What are you doing? I have not been to Man Skirt and may never go and I hope that the business succeeds very much. For all of you bashing me who probably go there for some brew I was just giving an honest suggestion. Apparently some people do not care what the outside looks like. So be it . If the side of your house was like that I guarantee you would clean it up. Unless of course you do not care. Would a nice clean Landscape hurt the business? Hundreds of vehicles stop at the Light by Man Skirt on a daily basis. Use the side of the building to promote your business and to attract more customers.
And I was not complaining about the weeds I was giving a suggestion. Read it again and maybe you will comprehend this time. Good luck to Man Skirt !!
This is being blown out of proportion and needs to stop please refocus posting to the link on Beer and Promoting Man Skirt!
LibertyThinker I understand the complaints; believe me, I know it's ugly.
I spent the last couple months chasing down my landscaper and finally gave up.
I met with a local yesterday and it is scheduled to be completely cleaned up within the next few days.
Man Skirt owner Joe- great job in answering these questions and follow ups regarding your building with grace and high level of professionalism- (I would not have been as good as you keeping my cool with some of the silly posts from some).
May your business have much success, see you soon there.
The Rhyme Animal DITTO to the posting of The Rhyme Animal.
Man Skirt owner Joe certainly is professional answering all the comments of his business.
Thank you for the kind words, all. I understand people's frustration. No one likes to see ugly weeds in the town they feel so strongly about.
At the same time, I'm also frustrated in that I don't have time to do it myself, so am at the mercy of the companies or individuals I need to pay to do the job. When they fail me, it makes me look bad, and folks come here for a place to vent about it.
I understand that, so I'm certainly not going to fault anyone for it; we're all human. The best I can do is explain what's going on and do my best to get it fixed. I'm hopeful that it'll look fabulous this week, and I'll have a dependable person to keep it looking good moving forward.
And don't forget: if you have any specific issues, you are more than welcome to email or call me. I'm always ready to listen. 908-989-0286.
Cheers, everyone. Hope to see you in the brewery soon!
Weed like to come in for a pint or three.
Weed bring something to nosh.
Weed have a flight.
Weed tap in on Untappd.
Weed totally enjoy it if you gave a tour.
Weed chat up beer with other skirt headz.
Weed catch some pokemon.
Weed not likely wear a kilt. Nobody does it like Joe.
Weed bring home a growler.
Weed count the pennies on the bar.
Weed sign up for Man Skirt e-mail.
Weed buy a sexy orange growler.
Weed share tales of our Maine Beercations.
Weed drool in anticipation of "Compound Interest".
Weed beg you for your spare Heady Topper.
Weed ask you for your buckwheat bread recipe.
Weed buy a pint glass.
Weed have a righteously good time at Man Skirt.
Phew , that's a lot of weeds.
Indie Thank God that's been taken care of, one less problem in Hackettstown. Joe, thank you for being so responsive to the problem.
Atthedrivein Bump - Looking like lots of fun happenings this weekend at our local breweries!!! Check it out
Man Skirt is having their 1 year anniversary tonight. Plus both breweries and the BID are having Octoberest this Saturday!!
Jim L Hey all! Sorry I forgot to post here in the whirlwind that led up to our anniversary party last night.
We had a ball. Great food from Mama's, Marley's, Bea McNally's, and Metropolitan Seafood. Music from Maribyrd and Christina Alessi. I wish I could do that all year 'round.
I can't believe it's been a year! Change is slowly coming to the brewery, as you may have seen from the aesthetic improvements, to our new, huge octopus mural, to more beers on tap. It's a constant work in progress for what is still mostly a one-man operation, and I appreciate you all taking the journey with me!
It's so great to see the faces of locals week after week. You all have made me as successful as I am. So thank you all again, and hope to see you soon!
In case y'all missed it on Facebook:
I just ran the numbers from Monday's Anniversary event. You all bought 423 glasses of beer and 9 flights. We'll be sending $432 in the direction of the Trinity Church food pantry ASAP! Thanks for your support, everyone.
Hi gang!
Wanted to let you know our holidays hours for Thanksgiving week:
Wednesday: Open 4-9. Come get your growler fills for Thanksgiving day!
Thursday-Friday: Closed
Saturday: Open 2-9
Sunday: Open 12-5
I think I'll be opening at 2 on Saturday from now on. Cheers!
Joe, I see the list of beer offerings on your website was updated 11/10. all that still accurate?
Hey gang! Been a while since I've updated this thread, so I'm sorry for that.
Just wanted to let you know, in case you missed it on Facebook: we're now open Wednesdays, from 4-9. Just like Thursday and Friday. The website/Facebook/Google pages will be updated shortly.
Today is the first one! I'm stuck at my day job right now, but come in and say hello to Anthony.
Joseph Fisher Commenting is no longer available.