Craft beer gets much talk these days. With the large number of breweries presently in existence or in the planning stages, craft beer is the talk of the town and it is common to hear craft breweries mentioned in the news, in travel web sites, in business circles, etc. Sister operations that produce craft cider and mead are also on the rise and the state of New Jersey is set to welcome its next newcomer in this growing industry: Armageddon Brewing, a meadery/cidery that presently has an active Kickstarter campaign to help jump start the business.
Beer, Cider, and Mead
Armageddon Brewing is the brainchild of four New Jersians who share a passion for hard cider and mead. These guys are craft beer fans, but one of the founders, Christian, was diagnosed years back with celiac disease and as everyone knows, craft beer drinking is a definite no- no for celiac sufferers. The desire to find an alternative adult beverage led Christian to seek out ciders and mead because they are naturally gluten- free. But as Christian quickly discovered, the big- name ciders and meads often lean strongly in the direction of mediocrity so what did he do? He got together with three of his homebrewing friends- Kyle, Matt, and Gill- and set out to brew their own.
In an odd turn of events, Christian later discovered that his celiac diagnosis was incorrect. That meant he could return to drinking craft beer, but the experience with meads and ciders left a positive impression on him and his friends. They discovered that ciders and meads can be every bit as complex and enjoyable as craft beer and every bit as challenging to produce and perfect. It was then that the four men decided that the best way to share their love of these two adult beverages was to open a production facility of their own, but the laws in their home state of New Jersey made it impossible to achieve their dream. It would take an act of legislation to achieve their goals and through much hard work and determination, they did, indeed, get the state of New Jersey to modify its outdated and restrictive laws.
Taking the Next Step
Now that cider and mead can be legally produced in New Jersey and the regulations have been reduced, there is only one step remaining: Opening a production facility and tap room. This is where the Kickstarter campaign comes into play. For different levels of pledging, Kickstarter campaign supporters will receive gifts that range from coasters, to glassware, to growler club membership and beyond. The campaign is in full swing right now and the fundraising goal is actually a modest one that can easily be reached if enough people come forward and take action.
Armageddon Brewing is the culmination of four friends’ shared love for well- crafted adult beverages and its present direction and mission owes itself in large part to co- founder Christian’s celiac disease misdiagnosis. It’s great that the diagnosis turned out to be false, but what was gained in the process was the discovery of crafted mead and cider and the desire to open a production facility specializing in the finest, highest quality, and most locally sourced cider and mead possible. Help these four ambitious men in their pursuit of craft beverages by visiting the Kickstarter campaign page and making your pledge today, and bring delicious crafted cider and mead to the Garden State!
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