Jersey Beer Blogs – Ferment Nation

November 4, 2009

Well, its Wednesday, so that means another addition to our New Jersey Beer Blog series!  This week’s featured blog is South Jersey’s Ferment Nation which is run by another pair of beer-loving brothers, Patrick and Owen!

Ferment Nation is a community of devotees who enjoy discovering new and exciting fermented beverages.  As president of this great One Nation Under Grog, I spearhead the efforts and put my reputation on the line as an unofficial official on the quality of these offerings and provide my own humble opinions and advice to seekers of new and exciting adventures in imbibery.  Seeking to expand into the realms of wines and spirits, I maintain a stable alliance with my strongest partner – beer.

My brother (and Vice President) initially set up Ferment Nation for me on Blogspot as a simple “I drink, I type” forum to express my opinions on beers I’ve sampled.  I realize that the craft beer revolution is coming to a head right now and so many players have gotten into the game that new initiates into this world may not know where to start.  I’ve therefore tried in my reviews to provide imaginative descriptions and practical references to describe my subjects. So many user-generated beer information sites are so technical they forget to provide the reader with some key points:  What does the beer taste like? To whom would you recommend it? Does it remind you of another, more accessible beer? Is it any good?  You know, mundane stuff like that.

Ferment Nation provides readers with practical reviews all done by myself and the V.P.  We take all of our own photographs and we rate the beers using El Presidente’s signature “Flag” system that resembles a GPA, maximum score being 4.0 Flags.  Representation, Accessibility, Style, and Personal Preference are the categories.  Citizens (along with my hand-picked Cabinet) offer up their reviews as well, realizing that the opinions are just as valid as mine. Readers can see these reviews as well, but having a singular voice provides a sense of trust in the recommendations and a unified community of loyal membership in a club or family of sorts.  Citizens can even show their pride by sporting Ferment Nation branded merchandise.  Hint, hint.

Ferment Nation has made international ties, having received views and email correspondence from around the globe but we’ve tended to focus on the abundance of craft breweries (and the establishments that serve them) here in the Delaware Valley, otherwise known as the “Beermuda Triangle”.  We have even provided promotional materials and informational classes to local pubs in the South Jersey area.  Having personally visited at least eighteen micro breweries and/or brew pubs in the region, I can back up my passion for great beer with the actions necessary to go and find them.

Please read Ferment Nation for my personal take on the beer choices I’ve made and use my recommendations to inform your own choices. But whenever you drink something that moves you to take a picture or send a text message to a friend, please do your patriotic duty and drop a line to El Presidente.  And remember:  If we stop drinking beer, the terrorists will win.

Posted in Beer Blog Focus