Last July, I took a trip north from my hometown of Canton, Georgia all the way to Rhode Island. Actually, we made it as far north as Salem, Massachusetts, and spent several days in Atlantic City, New Jersey as well. New Jersey was immensely memorable (I have family there), and not only for our relaxing days on the boardwalk. About the only thing we didn’t like about New Jersey was the dreaded Jersey Turnpike, which I recommend avoiding at all costs.

AC/DC sang a famous song about the “Highway to Hell”, and I am convinced they were referring to the Jersey Turnpike. Outrageous tolls, unending traffic jams, overpriced heated-over food at the state designated “rest stops” and chaotic, undermanned toll booth areas are just some of the pleasures you will enjoy. We were entirely delighted just to get the hell off of it, and so took Exit 1 just before the Delaware Memorial Bridge to get gas.

This brought us to quaint Carney’s Point, New Jersey. While I gassed up, I could not help but notice a bar across from us (I forget the name unfortunately), but I do remember vividly that they had a sign prominently posted declaring that they served Flying Fish Exit Series beers. I remember this distinctly now because I have a bottle of Flying Fish Exit 4 American Trippel before me (OK, a few exits off from my stop, but you get the idea).

Flying Fish’s Exit Series project is an intriguing one: an assortment of beers of different style, each named for one of the exits on the New Jersey Turnpike. Exit 4 is a Belgian-style Tripel, complete with complex spicy notes imparted by authentic Belgian abbey yeast. The beer is a potent one indeed at 9.5% alcohol by volume, and hopped with American varieties Amarillo, Simcoe, Columbus, and Palisades. The grain bill is given on the Flying Fish website as “Malto Franco-Belge Pils Malt, Weyerman Acidulated, White Wheat,” with “Demerara Sugar” thrown in for good measure. The beer is bottle conditioned at packaging, and is available year-round.

 

Flying Fish Exit 4 American Trippel pours to a hazy yellow orange color with a thick rocky head and a yeasty tropical fruit nose. Deceptively smooth light biscuity Belgian malt palate with just a hint of caramel, then big fruity juicy fruit gum flavors, a hint of clove, some banana, and subtle notes of Belgian yeast. The beer is very creamy, and the yeasty notes increase in the finish where an emerging alcohol warmth balances nicely. Some spicy, herbal American hops in the finish add the “American” accent to this Trippel.

Truly a sipping beer, Flying Fish Exit 4 American Trippel makes for a wonderful nightcap just before turning in. Taking one of the exits is my favorite part of traveling the Jersey Turnpike; having an Exit series waiting when I do would make that experience a whole lot brighter.



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