FOOD

Angry Erik Brewery celebrating first anniversary

Michael Izzo
@MIzzoDR

LAFAYETTE – When Angry Erik Brewing opened its doors one year ago, owners Erik and Heide Hassing had no idea of the instant and wild success they would experience. They wanted to celebrate their first anniversary with the customers who made it possible.

In one year, Angry Erik Brewing expanded from four to seven taps, doubled the staff and increased distribution by nearly 1,000 percent.

"The year really exceeded our expectations in every way," Erik Hassing said. "We quickly developed a loyal customer base that has grown every day. We opened with two beers. We have since brewed 24 different beers of different styles."

They've also expanded from four to seven taps, doubled the staff and increased distribution by nearly 1,000 percent.

It's been hard work, long hours and a lot of stress to keep up with demand, but they're not complaining.

"Because the stress has largely been a byproduct of our success and needing to grow faster and faster," Erik Hassing said, "I think both Heide and I will end our first year a combination of excited, tired, grateful and awestruck."

Erik and Heide Hassing opened Angry Erik Brewing in Lafayette in February 2014.

In year two, Erik Hassing hopes to add more fermenters to the brewery and add tanks and piping to speed up the brewing process.

He also hopes to expand distribution to cover most of northern New Jersey — at the moment there's a waiting list for restaurants who wish to serve Angry Erik — and begin bottling in limited quantities, though nothing is guaranteed.

"We would like to stop having to say 'no' to quality craft beer bars, at least in northern New Jersey," Erik Hassing said, "But really who knows what the future holds."

Erik Hassing said he's been contacted by restaurants and distributors nationwide, and even overseas, looking to sell his beer.

"We did just get contacted by a Scandinavian distributor who, no doubt, liked our name, logo and some of our beer names," he said. "We will probably tell them no, but then again it might be fun to send them a pallet or two just for the ridiculousness of saying our little brewery was 'going international.' "

Of their first two dozen beers, two India Pale Ales — Hop-N-Awe and Hop the Fence — and Erik the Orange, an orange-tasting summer ale, were some of the most popular.

As for Erik and Heide's personal favorite, it's a difficult choice.

"Am I drinking it with food? If so what kind of food, what time of day is it, what season is it. Did I just finish some physical labor or am I reading by a fire?" Erik Hassing said. "For us, craft beer is not about finding one beer you like and ordering that all the time. Sure, you will come back to a good beer from time to time but it is also about variety and exploring great new flavors and styles. One beer, no matter how good, is not the best beer for every occasion, season, mood or meal."

He added that all beers are brewed to his and Heide's personal flavor preferences, so they truly do love all of their brews.

"If you forced Heide and I at gun point to each pick one of our beers and then drop us on an island with a keg of each, I think we would thank you for the beer," Erik Hassing said. "Then Heide would send me foraging for coconuts and fermentable sugars while she started gathering herbs for our next batch."

To celebrate one year of successful brewing, Angry Erik has planned weekend-long events starting Feb. 12 to Feb. 15.

Beers on tap will include the heavily-anticipated Dubbel Blade, an 8 percent alcohol by volume Dubbel aged six months, and in honor of Friday the 13th, a Freaky Freydis chocolate stout, named for the daughter of Viking warrior Erik the Red and chocolate-flavored in honor of Valentine's Day.

Commemorative glasses on display at Angry Erik Brewing.

Commemorative glasses will be available, listing each of the 24 different beers released in Angry Erik's first year of operation. The glasses will be free with the purchase of a pint, limit one per customer.

Also a first for the brewery on the anniversary weekend will be live local music.

Friday from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., Tom Carpenter will perform bluegrass and Grateful Dead and Railroad Earth covers.

Saturday, DJ Greene Goblin will play reggae beats, and Sunday will be an acoustic set by The Henry's with Brian McLoughlin and Brian St. John.

A high volume of people is expected; free tickets are available at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/1st-anniversary-party-tickets-15252428424.

Tickets are not required, but encouraged to allow for a less overcrowded brewery experience.

"Thank you to all who helped us start, grow and build our dreams," read the Angry Erik January newsletter announcing the event. "We cannot wait to celebrate with you."

Staff Writer Michael Izzo: 973-428-6636; mizzo@dailyrecord.com

If you go:

Angry Erik Brewing

What: Various beers, specials and live music to celebrate the brewery's one-year anniversary

Where: 10 Millpond Drive, Unit 8 in Lafayette

When: Thursday, Feb. 12, through Sunday, Feb. 15

Tours and tastings: Thursday 5 to 8 p.m., Friday 4 to 8 p.m., Saturday noon to 8 p.m., Sunday noon to 6 p.m.

Website: www.angryerik.com