By DON STINE
Asbury Park’s new Dark City Brewing Company, which opens Jan. 8 and has been more than two years in the planning and construction, offers a unique selection of hand-crafted beers.
“I am incredibly excited and a little bit nervous but it is nice to finally be open,” company founder Kevin Sharpe said.
Located at the corner of Main Street and Second Avenue, the small-craft brewery is having its grand opening January 8 from 5 to 9 p.m.
“We will have a selection of year-round and seasonal beers as well as limited releases of specialty beers,” Sharpe said.
After experimenting with the brewing process for about six years, Sharpe said he felt it was time to open up his own place and start offering his own beers. Right now the company will offer a coffee porter in collaboration with the Asbury Park Roastery coffee shop next door on Second Avenue, a brown ale specifically made for the Bond Street Bar, a Belgian India Pale Ale, and another Pale Ale.
“We will also be offering variants of each beer and brew them in small amounts as well,” Sharpe said.
Under the company’s state license, it is required to have an educational component and tours of the brewery will be offered and people can come in and taste the various beers.
“I invite people to come in and take the tour, enjoy a pint, and sample our beers. They can then also take the beer home and enjoy it there,” Sharpe said.
Dark City Brewery will offer up to 64-ounce growlers for sale and offers no other alcohol than what is brewed on the premises.
Sharpe, a graduate of Stockton College, said he started out with a home-brewing kit and made his first batch using a recipe provided with the kit.
“But that wasn’t enough for me so I bought more equipment and started to make my own recipes and eventually decided to start my own commercial venture,” he said.
And Sharpe said he hopes people will give his beers a taste.
“I hope they come down and enjoy the beer. It’s very unique and it all fits in nicely with Asbury Park because it is such a creative community,” he said.
