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TODAY

Rob Piersanti’s first Pop Art Show of the year takes place at Boca Grande, complete with a complimentary wine tasting and live jazz band (6 pm, free).

The Black Maria Film Festival returns to NJCU for the 31st year. Admission is free to the premiere of the film festival, and refreshments will be served (7 pm).

Ladies on The Mic presents First Songs of Spring, a free concert celebration featuring two bands that cross pollinate their classical training with other musical genres like jazz, rock & pop–at Art House (7 pm, free).

American vibraphonist Eldad Tarmu performs at Raphs Plaza African Market and Internet Cafe (8 pm).

TOMORROW

There’s a weekend-long Dogfish Head Beer Benefit at the Iron Monkey. A portion of sales from all Dogfish Head drafts and bottles will go to 3 different charities (all day).

The Museum of Russian Art hosts a closing reception for two shows: Red Show and Mechanical Theater (4 pm).

Jordan’s Lounge hosts a National Black HIV/AIDS Awareness Day Benefit. The event, presented by Our Youth, features dinner and celebrity impersonators and will honor HIV Activist Timothy Daniels and Jersey City councilwoman Viola Richardson (4:30 pm, $10).

The Laugh Tour returns to Art House for “an evening of hilarious stand up comedy” (7 pm, $15 in advance, $20 at the door).

SUNDAY

The Dogfish Head Beer Benefit continues at Iron Monkey.

St. Matthew’s is holding a Winter Rummage Sale fundraiser complete with home-cooked meals (12:30 pm).

-SUPER BOWL STUFF-

The Brightside Tavern – Two separate package deals, both include an open bar and buffet. Plus they’ll pick you up with a free shuttle service. 141 Bright Street.

The Lamp Post – A pre-tailgate party starts at 4 pm with $1 Clam Chowder and $5 Boilermakers. $3 shots with every touch down, $2 Kamikaze shots throughout the game. 382 2nd Street.

LITM – Will be showing the game on the big projector screen, and have drink specials and food specials all day–including $2 off all drinks if you’re wearing a Giants jersey. 140 Newark Avenue.

Lucky 7 – Food and drink specials all day, plus Giants jersey give aways at the end of every quarter. 322 2nd Street.

O’Connell’s – Happy Hour all night, $5 food menu, and give aways. 111 Montgomery Street.

Powerhouse Lounge – $40 presale/$50 game day package for open bar and unlimited food during the game. 360 Marin Boulevard.

Zeppelin Hall – The beer garden is boasting the most biggest hi-def screens and half price beer and wings. They will also have mug and jersey giveaways. 88 Liberty View Drive.

Bar Majestic is offering a $25 open bar from 8-10 pm, a $35 open bar from 8 pm-midnight and a no-cover, pay-as-you-go option, plus champagne and prosecco specials and the chance to watch the ball drop on a big screen. 275 Grove Street, barmajesticjc.com.

At Boca Grande, the Fusion Fridays Group hosts a New Year’s Bollywood Dhol Party with drink specials throughout the night. The event starts at 9:30 pm. Early-bird discount entry is $20 per person with a $5 discount for couples. 564 Washington Boulevard, bocagrandenj.com.

The Brightside Tavern for $99 has a buffet with carving station, open bar til 1 am, hors d’oeuvres, three rooms of music and a dance floor, plus a champagne toast and free shuttle service, starting at 9 pm. The bar will stay open til 4 am. 141 Bright Street, brightsidetavern.com.

Casa Dante‘s New Year’s Eve Bash starts at 8:30 pm and includes live music with Julian & Dominique, dinner, dancing, party favors, hors d’oeuvres, and a champagne toast for $175 per person plus gratuity and tax. Reservations are required (only the early dinner seatings are still available); call (201) 795-2750. 737 Newark Ave, casadante.com.

The Hamilton Inn has three seatings for dinner at 5, 7 and 9 pm, plus a $75 open bar from 9 pm to 2 am that includes passed hors d’oeuvres and a champagne toast at midnight. 708 Jersey Avenue, hamiltoninnjc.com.

The Iron Monkey is hosting a masquerade party with a prize for best mask, games and contests and live music by DJ MC and DJ Cool Kid. The party runs from 8:30 pm to 1 am and the bar stays open till 4 am. $40 includes a buffet and rooftop champagne toast; $110 includes the buffet, 5 hours premium open bar, and the midnight toast; $130 includes all that plus a craft beer station; and $200 is a couple’s package with the buffet, 5 hours open premium bar, craft beer station and midnight toast for two. Reservations are required for the $110 and $130 packages. For more information or reservations, email alex@ironmonkey.com or cindy@ironmonkey.com or call (201) 435-5756. 97 Greene Street, ironmonkey.com.

The Light Horse Tavern is offering a special holiday menu from 5 to 8 pm for $55, vegetarian menu $45, with piano music from 7 to 9 pm. At 9:45 pm, the tasting dinner ($85, with a vegetarian option for $65) includes live jazz music, a midnight champagne toast, a cash bar after midnight and dancing into the early morning hours. Black tie optional. To make reservations, call (201) 946-2028. 199 Washington Street, lighthorsetavern.com.

LITM‘s 2012 Mayan Apocalypse Party includes Mayan-inspired cocktails, a special dinner menu and DJ Kevlove spinning from 9 pm to 3 am, plus themed movies, noisemakers and more. Early dinner seatings from 5 to 7:30 pm with a 2 and a half hour table limit and no reserved seatings after 10:30. Reservations are a must for dinner before midnight; call (201) 536-5557. 140 Newark Avenue, litm.com.

Lucky 7′s has an all-night dance party with DJ Leonard Smalls, drink specials and a complimentary champagne toast at midnight. The festivities start at 8 pm. 322 2nd Street, lucky7tavern.com.

Maritime Parc is offering two menus from chef Chris Siverson and a late-night party. At the first dinner seating (6:30-7 pm), $75 per person includes a 3-course prix fixe menu and a glass of bubbly; at the second seating (9:30-10 pm), $125 per person includes a 5-course prix fixe menu and a glass of bubbly; and the special New Year’s party (9:30 pm to 2 am), $150 per person, includes a full premium open bar, DJ and dancing all night, dinner buffet until 11 pm, cocktail buffet until 11 pm and a midnight toast with views of the New York skyline. For reservations, call (201) 413-0050. 84 Audrey Zapp Drive, maritimeparc.com.

Michael Anthony’s is offering a five-hour premium open bar from 8 pm to 1 am and a Neapolitan Hot & Cold Holiday Buffet from 9 pm to 11 pm with views of the New York skyline. $125 in advance, $160 at the door. The party is hosted by 20 Pack from VH1 with music in the Waterfront Room by DJ Alex Perez and Alpha Mix and live music by the Eamonn Ryan Band in the Bayview Room. The winners of the King & Queen of 2012 Contest will be announced at midnight and the best new year’s kiss will receive a complimentary hotel room and a bottle of champagne. Doors open at 8 pm. For reservations, email chris@michaelanthonynj.com or call (201) 798-1798. 502 Washington Boulevard, michaelanthonynj.com.

The Morelli Gallery, one of Jersey City’s newest gallery and event spaces, is hosting a party at its three-floor digs at 165 Belmont Avenue starting at 8 pm. Music by DJ Neva & Music for the Masses. $10 admission with part of the proceeds going to benefit Ed’s Salvage Co. GIVES.

O’Connell’s Restaurant has a three-course dinner menu for $40 from 6-8:30 pm and $45 from 9-11 pm. There will be a DJ, an open bar from 9:30 pm to 1:30 am and a champagne toast at midnight. 111 Montgomery Street, oconnellsbarandgrill.com.

Pint Bar is offering a free New Year’s Eve party complete with hats, noisemakers, music by VJ Wildcard and a midnight toast. The bar will be open from 5 pm to 4 am with happy hour specials from 5-8 pm. 34 Wayne Street, pintbar.com.

At Port-O Lounge, $90 gets you a three-course dinner, champagne toast at midnight and open bar from 8 pm-midnight. 286 1st Street, portolounge.com.

At Satis Bistro, food will be served from 8 pm to 2 am ($95), and house music will play until 2:30 am. BYO. 212 Washington St., satisbistro.com.

Instigatorzine, an indie literature and art magazine based in Jersey City and Bayonne, is throwing a New Year’s Eve bash at Tommy 2 Scoops. Dress is formal — “you should dress like you’re going to a wedding or your prom,” according to the Facebook invite. The party runs from 10 pm to 3 am and is BYO. 177 York Street, tommy2scoops.com.

The White Star Bar is offering an open bar, buffet and champagne toast at midnight for $40. 230 Brunswick Street, whitestarbar.com.

Zeppelin Hall is offering a no-cover, no-reservations event with a DJ and dancing, plus the chance to watch the ball drop on the bar’s high-def screens. 88 Liberty View Drive, zeppelinhall.com.

Hudson County Sheriff’s Officers Round Up Deadbeat Parents in Statewide Crackdown: Of those arrested in Hudson County, one Jersey City man led the list of deadbeat dads, owing a total of $110,299 in missed child support payments for one child, officials said.

Administration Reveals Which Charters Have Made the First Cut: Two Jersey City charters are still in the running, while another two were eliminated. Look for more from JCI later today.

The Future of Jersey City Leadership: The Jersey Journal‘s Political Insider looks at the current City Council and at the future mayoral elections.

Two Developers Seeking Subsidies for High-Rise Development in Jersey City: As North Jersey’s apartment market heats up and vacancy rates continue a two-year drop in the region, some developers planning for-rent residential buildings are lining up for lucrative state tax breaks.

Crime Blotter: Jersey City police said yesterday that a 23-year-old waste management employee shot seven times on his way to work Saturday morning was likely the target of a robbery; for the second year in a row, holiday wreaths that were placed around the entrance door of the Sacred Heart School in Jersey City were stolen.

Today’s Best Bets:

Enjoy some cookies, cider, caroling and an appearance by Santa at the third annual Angel Ramos Park Tree Lighting (6 pm, free).

Then warm up with a Whiskey Tasting at the Iron Monkey (appetizers included, 7 pm, $20).

At 9 pm, check out the monthly Shut Up & Laugh comedy night at the Lamp Post, with Sue Funke, Kate Hendricks, Matthew Kelly, Pat Stango and Raquel D’Apice (free, donations accepted).

In Statewide News:

Unusual Move by Christie in Feud Over Judgeships: Caught in a power struggle with the State Senate, Gov. Chris Christie took an unusual tack on Monday, moving the state’s attorney general, Paula Dow, into a top job at the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey, but only until she can be confirmed as a judge in Essex County.

Congressional Redistricting Causing Panic in the House: With the deadline for a new Congressional map just over a week away, sources connected with the redistricting commission report that members of the state’s House delegation are on heightened alert, each wary that the seat that disappears could be theirs.

As Federal Healthcare Subsidy Winds Down, What Will Happen to NJ’s Early Retirees?: Health coverage subsidies to cover prescription drugs for state and local government workers who retired early topped $300 million — including $98.6 million to the state of New Jersey and $4.6 million to the city of and Jersey City.

Bill Would End Wait to Wed: A bill would eliminate the state’s 72-hour waiting period for a marriage license in order to give New Jersey a “competitive edge” over neighboring states when it comes to tourism dollars generated from weddings.

Critics Contend New Bill Imperils Water Quality, Encourages Sprawl: Despite strong protests from virtually all of the state’s environmental organizations, a Senate committee yesterday easily approved a bill that would delay much contested water quality management rules, a step opponents said would weaken protections that safeguard drinking water and avert sprawl.

NJ Nets Owner Takes on Putin in Russian Election: Mikhail Prokhorov, one of Russia’s richest tycoons and the owner of the New Jersey Nets basketball team, said Monday he will run against Prime Minister Vladimir Putin in the March presidential election.

Jersey City Rallies Against School Vouchers: Some 50 people rallied yesterday at a Jersey City school against proposed state legislation that would use public money to pay for the private school education of some low-income students. Look for more education coverage from JCI today.

Old Dye Factory to be Demolished: Demolition of the “Purple People” building on Ege Avenue across from the Hudson Mall on Route 440 started yesterday. For nearly 40 years, residents living near the Dye Specialties Inc. plant at 407 Ege Avenue had to contend with strange odors, colored dust and other factory issues that they said affected their quality of life.

Library’s Civil War Document Returning to Virginia: A 220-year-old court ledger found in the Jersey City Public Library is being returned to the Stafford Courthouse in Stafford, Virgina.

Downtown Councilman Collecting Toy Donations: An organization founded by Downtown Jersey City Councilman Steven Fulop will be collecting toys and coats that will be given away during the holiday season.

Today’s Best Bets:

Meet two breweries tonight at local beer bars: Victory Brewing Company will be at Barcade with more than a dozen varieties beginning at 5 pm. At 6 pm, Uinta Brewing Company comes to the Iron Monkey with six of their craft beers.

Hiroshi Kumagai‘s new solo exhibition kicks off tonight at 58 Gallery with a free opening reception (6 pm). Read our Q&A with Kumagai to learn more about his work.

In Statewide News:

New Jersey Labor Deptartment Launches ‘On Ramp’ Job Search Engine: The state Department of Labor and Workforce Development Wednesday launched a job-search engine on the website — Jobs4Jersey.com — to help New Jersey’s unemployed find work.

New Jersey Aid Holdup May Force Towns to Borrow to Pay Workers: New Jersey lawmakers’ inaction on $139 million in state funding for cities in financial distress is forcing some local officials to delay payments to school districts and vendors and consider borrowing to make payroll.

World AIDS Day Report: Many New Jerseyans are living with AIDS rather than dying from it.

Former Deputy Mayor May Be Sent to Prison: Jersey City’s former deputy mayor may have to report to prison today to start serving a sentence for bribery. Leona Beldini has been free on bail since her 2009 arrest in New Jersey’s largest-ever public corruption sting.

Council Election Victors to Take Oaths Monday:
Ward F Councilwoman Viola Richardson and New Jersey City University official Rolando Lavarro, Jersey City’s newest at-large City Council members, will take their oaths of office on Monday in the council chambers.

Real Housewife Melissa Gorga Supports Local (and Danish) Business: Melissa Gorga from The Real Housewives of New Jersey was at the Liberty House restaurant last night to promote a Danish automobile, the Zenvo ST1-50S (price: $1.8 million), which will be sold exclusively by the Emporio Motor Group, at 911 Montgomery Street in Jersey City.

Comcast to Offer Digital Literacy Training: Two 90-minute training sessions are designed to bring Internet access to low-income families in Jersey City.

“Cake Boss” Cooking School: Carlo’s Bakery, the famed home of Hoboken’s “Cake Boss” Buddy Valastro, has opened a cooking school in at 631 Grove Street in Jersey City.

Workers Sickened by Fumes: Four employees at the Hudson County Plaza in Jersey City were taken to the Jersey City Medical Center yesterday after inhaling spray paint fumes at Hudson County Plaza, a county building at 257 Cornelison Avenue.

Jersey City Medical Center Aims to Lower Smoking Rates: In promoting today’s 36th Annual Great American Smokeout, the Jersey City Medical Center unveiled last night its new “I Quit Smoking” program.

Closing Arguments in Love Triangle Murder Trial: A love triangle that ended with a man gunned down on a Jersey City street was the scenario depicted by the state in closing statements yesterday in the trial of a man charged with murdering his romantic rival in 2009.

Crime Blotter: Missing for 12 days, a 13-year-old Massachusetts girl was found yesterday at the Greenville home of a 45-year-old Jersey City man whom sources say she met over the Internet.

Today’s Best Bets:

Two art shows open today: NJCU’s Art Faculty Biennial Exhibition at 4:30 pm; and Becoming Who We Are, a photo/video group exhibition dealing with masculinity, femininity and the artists’ LGBTQ identity at Hudson Pride Connections beginning at 6 pm.

Meet Radeberger Brewery at the Iron Monkey and learn about the German pilsner’s 140-year history while sipping on $4 glasses (6 pm).

The Lamp Post hosts a free kickoff show for Darren Deicide‘s 800 Miles to Chicago Tour, with Brownbird Rudy Relic, Trash Executioner and David Fagan beginning at 7 pm.

In Statewide News:

Discussion of Ethics at League of Municipalities Meeting: The New Jersey State League of Municipalities offered a session Wednesday with William Kearns, the league’s lawyer about “the do’s and don’ts of ethics.” Kearns advised against accepting gifts.

Gov. Christie Says He Doesn’t Hate Gym Teachers: Gov. Christie said he has nothing against gym teachers, after the state’s education union criticized his comment that math and science teachers should earn more than those in physical education.

Charter Advocates had Big Role in Charter Application Process: Over the past year, the Christie administration employed an array of national and state charter school experts, educators, officials, and other advocates to help review applications for new charters, according to documents released under a public records request. Absent were traditional public school educators and community representatives.

Plug-In Electric Vehicles Need Infrastructure: With the rollout of plug-in electric vehicles (PEVs), New Jersey’s utilities and regulators face a range of decisions about building the infrastructure to allow drivers to easily charge their cars.

Gov. Christie Blames Former Port Authority Official for Perks: An angry Gov. Christie on Wednesday laid blame for hidden Port Authority executive perks at the feet of the agency’s former executive director, Christopher O. Ward.

Stack Denies Perez and Mack Endorsement: A campaign flier indicating state Sen. Brian Stack has endorsed Omar Perez and Sue Mack in Tuesday’s election for at-large seats in Jersey City was spotted yesterday in Jersey City. But Stack’s spokesman said the state senator and Union City mayor hasn’t endorsed anyone in the contest.

Alleged Heights Roommate-Stabber Gets Bail: Bail was set at $35,000 yesterday for a Jersey City Heights man charged with stabbing his two roommates Friday, an attack that left every room in their home bloody, officials said.

Late-Night Construction at Tonnelle Circle Halts: Overnight jackhammering has kept some residents up at night and prompted state Department of Transportation officials to promise to stop jackhammering by midnight.

Virginia Avenue Fire: Residents of a two-family Jersey City home were displaced yesterday afternoon when an electrical fire knocked out electrical service at the building, officials said.

County Employees Under Scrutiny for Trip to Poland: The Hudson County freeholders released its report into a controversial August trip to Poland attended by several county officials and Hudson County Community College President Glen Gabert.

Crime Blotter: A Jersey City woman has been charged with trying to stab her boyfriend’s nephew with two large kitchen knives Tuesday night and has been sent for psychological evaluation after defecating in a police holding cell, officials said; a Brooklyn man told police Tuesday that while attending a Halloween party in Jersey City Sunday he was knocked out twice by men attending another party on the same floor of the Monmouth Street building.

Today’s Best Bets:

Two art installations open today: Catch Andrew Gioulis’s artist talk at 5:30 pm for the opening of his Preservation of Space, an installation of multi-channel video projections of the Pine Barrens; then at 6 pm, head to the opening reception of Tim Heins’s Fortress Paintings, inspired by the Downtown Jersey City skyline as seen from Hoboken.

For your food and drink fix, stop by the Iron Monkey’s Meet the Brewery event to sample four drafts from Carton Brewing Company (starts at 6 pm); or Casa Dante’s food pairing with the wines of Marchese di Frescobaldi beginning at 6:30 pm.

At the Art House, poetic funk artist Dujuana Sharese with the Plush Interior leads up to a five-minute open mic, followed by DJ Megan all night (starts at 8 pm).

In Statewide News:

Snowstorm Aftermath: New Jersey’s two major utilities hope to have electricity lost during the October snowstorm restored to 91,000 remaining customers by midnight.

Financial Decline for New Jersey Residents: Most New Jersey residents are in worse financial shape today than they were at the turn of the century, according to a report by New Jersey Policy Perspective. The report shows that there were fewer jobs and nearly three times more people unemployed in 2010 than in 2000. And a study released today by the Brookings Institution shows the poverty rate in New Jersey’s working-class communities has grown substantially in the last decade.

Education Reform on Legislative Agenda: New requirements for student achievement, changes to charter school laws, teacher tenure reform and a proposed school voucher program all could be acted upon by the state later this fall, state education leaders said Wednesday.

Sacco Makes Deal to Back Oliver for Speaker: Democratic sources say state Sen. Nick Sacco of the 32nd Legislative District offered a deal to South Jersey Democratic Leader George Norcross III last night to back Speaker Sheila Oliver (34th District) in exchange for support to make Hudson County Assemblyman Vincent Prieto budget chair.

Democrats Call Out Christie’s Low Expectations for Election: This week Gov. Chris Christie reiterated earlier assertions that state Republicans will score a win in next week’s legislative mid-terms should they simply maintain the status quo, but Democrats say Republicans have a legitimate shot at picking up seats. Meanwhile, Christie rallied Republican candidates with a 20-minute conference call Wednesday night.

Congressional Redistricting: Meager population growth in North Jersey during the past decade will make the tough job of eliminating one of the state’s 13 congressional districts even tougher, according to the redistricting commission’s non-partisan chairman, John Farmer, Jr.

Christie to Vote ‘Yes’ on Sports Betting: Gov. Christie says he’ll vote ‘yes’ in the statewide nonbinding referendum in Tuesday’s elections to allow sports betting.

Newark Mayor Cory Booker Invites Conventions:: Booker and Union County Assemblyman Jon Bramnick invited either party to hold its 2016 national convention in Newark.

State Park Concession Stands to be Privatized: Gov. Chris Christie announced yesterday a plan to privatize amenities at the state’s 39 parks, including Liberty State Park. The state DEP commissioner said the public should expect concession stands and restaurants funded by $40 million from private and nonprofit sources.

Gov. Christie Feels Bad for Jon Corzine: Gov. Chris Christie says he feels bad for his 2009 political opponent, then-Gov. Jon Corzine, and the investors of MF Global, the Corzine-led securities firm that filed for bankruptcy protection Monday. Meanwhile, former Corzine Chief of Staff Bradley Abelow, who was also the state’s treasurer, and President and Chief Operating Officer at MF Global, appeared in bankruptcy court yesterday but declined to answer questions about a multi-million-dollar shortfall.

New Jersey Solar Market Grows: New Jersey’s solar market is continuing its rapid pace of growth — even amid warnings by some the sector could be headed for a crash.

Concerns over State Anti-Bullying Law: Some school districts are voicing concerns about the law’s intractable timelines.

Former Governor Whitman on Super Bowl Committee: Former New Jersey Gov. Christine Todd Whitman and Former NFL Commissioner Paul Tagliabue are among nine people chosen to serve on the board of trustees for the 2014 New York/New Jersey Super Bowl Host Committee.

UMDNJ Abortion Suit:: A group of nurses claims in a lawsuit that the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey in Newark has forced them to assist in performing abortions despite their religious objections to the procedure.

“Whether you have a video store in New Brunswick, you run a poker blog in Atlantic City, you manage a record shop in Princeton, you have a blog about Seaside Heights, you are a Sparta stoner with a sweet new flatscreen, you are a mechanic in Clifton with a video projector and a white wall or you are the Newark Star-Ledger, it’s your God-given right, scratch that your RESPONSIBILITY to participate in the premiere of this video,” read the message sent to organizations all over New Jersey, including this one.

The video itself, keenly directed by WFMU’s Tom Scharpling, takes viewers on a little tour of New Jersey as it follows the band playing at a number of locales. It proceeds from morning in the Pine Barrens to the Asbury Park boardwalk to Little Egg Harbor to a sweaty New Brunswick basement show, before finally ending on the rooftop bar of Downtown Jersey City’s Iron Monkey. All of the setups are shot beautifully, but any Jersey City resident will have a special little place in his or her heart for the nighttime shots here, with the band illuminated by minimal lighting on the roof and the glow of the surrounding empty office suites providing a backdrop. (Congrats to JCI Facebook fan Matthew Brown, who won a $50 gift certificate to the Iron Monkey in our Facebook contest this morning.)

“We know well how our state has a way of instilling in its citizens a certain sense of underdog pride – for all of its faults and flaws, it is home, and for all that we may dream of escaping it, we never hope to forget it,” the band’s frontman Patrick Stickles says. “These themes of regional identity, the way that a sense of heritage informs our behavior, run throughout our latest album, The Monitor, and with this video we intend to manifest them visually.”

In fitting fashion, the band caps off the big Jersey Pride day with a show tonight at Maxwell’s in Hoboken. But if you don’t have tickets, you’re out of luck: it’s sold out.

A longtime bartender, Cinotti comes to the Monkey from a management position at Hoboken’s Black Bear Bar & Grill, where he set up a beer club, brought in a new line of craft beers and held monthly beer dinners.

The restaurant and bar, which is one of Jersey City’s leading spots for craft beer, will incorporate one of its limited-release kegs each time one of its regular draft kegs get tapped out over the next ten days. Its Meet the Brewer series will return this week as well, with a Thursday event featuring Tommy Keegan of Keegan Ales.

Limited Release Beer Selection:

Allagash Curieux (Bourbon Barrel-Aged Tripel)
Allagash Vrienden
Brooklyn Main Engine Start
Brooklyn Monster Ale
Dogfish Head Burton Baton
Dogfish Head Red & White
Founders Backwoods Bastard
Founders KBS (Kentucky Breakfast Stout)
Harpoon Island Creek Oyster Stout (100 Barrel Series #30)
Lagunitas Hop Stoopid Ale
Left Hand Fade To Black Vol. 2
Ommegang Gnomegang
Rogue Charlie 1981
Dogfish Head Olde School Barleywine
Sierra Nevada Brewers Reserve 30th Anniversary – Grand Cru
Sierra Nevada Glissade Golden Bock
Sierra Nevada Ovila
Stone Oaked Arrogant Bastard
Terrapin Tomfoolery
Tröegs Nugget Nectar
Weyerbacher (Brewmaster Reserve) Oscar

When it comes to beer events, Iron Monkey has the most in Jersey City. Period.

In October, for example, the bar hosted weekly Meet-the-Brewer nights on Thursday and Friday nights — Weyerbacher, SlyFox, Brooklyn Brewery, Blue Point and other semi-regional craft brewers graced the three-floor establishment and Jersey City staple. The bar supports 24 drafts and carries a beer list of about 300 bottles. Iron Monkey frequently enlists Founders and rock-star breweries like Dogfish Head for tap-takeovers, often showcasing hard to find seasonals with limited distribution in the state.

Oftentimes, one of the perks of these events include personalized beer tours and brewery history lessons, as was the case earlier this month when I stopped by for Maryland’s Flying Dog Brewery. Vice President Jim Lutz, with Flying Dog’s winged logo stamped on his arms, guided me through the flight — six tasters for $8 — and provided me with insight into some of my favorite beers.

“There’s no swishing and spitting—we’re drinking,” he commanded.

Lutz talked at length about the history of the beers, like the Raging Bitch Belgian IPA (“Some people think it’s named after my ex-wife but it’s because in the fermentation the carbonation went aggro”) and Gonzo Imperial Porter (“I drink it nightly” — Hunter S. Thompson was reportedly a friend of the brewery).

He also told me the origin of the brewery’s name, which involved climbing the world’s 2nd-largest mountain, sherpas, donkeys and, of course, contraband. His philosophy?

“Make friends and sell beer,” he said. “Between the beer and the dope I’m happy. Don’t write that. Well, I guess you can write that.”

Lutz said it was a no-brainer to do an event at the Iron Monkey, considering its long history of being craft-beer-friendly.

“My first visit to Iron Monkey was in ’95 or ’96 when this was the ‘hood; they were the only guys in Jersey City doing funky beers. I sat here and looked over the abyss,” he said referring to the swamp and construction that used to be the waterfront.

I mentioned that back then I was in high school my friends and I would drink forties around here down by the water at the construction sites. “I was in 6th grade then,” said P.J. Sievering, the boyish ginger-haired sales rep for beer distributor Hunterdon. After we tasted all the beer Sievering carried Lutz away saying, “A bunch of nerds want to talk to you,” referring to the crowd of beer enthusiasts hovering around the bar.

Sievering, the Hudson County rep for Hunterdon — which is the primary distributor of American craft beer in New Jersey — coordinates the breweries for Iron Monkey.

“We always have a really good turnout—clientele has changed. People are here to meet the brewers and ask questions about beer—compared to other crowds that aren’t as sophisticated or beer nerdy enough,” he said. “Plus they have flights, which lets newbies try different styles and opens up conversation.”

The beer events were originally owner Steve McIntyre’s idea.

“I didn’t know anything about beer,” he said. “Then I did a lot of research…I think I went blind.”

He personally picked out all 300 beers in the massive basement cold box. “Melissa you’ve gotta try this beer,” he said, shoving the last bottle of Liefman Kriekbier in my face.

McIntyre has been running it since 1995, with a little help from his family: his brother Larry is a floor manager and his sister Karen and brother Brian often stop in to help out.

“We’ve been here and watched the community and buildings around us build and grow,” Brian said. “Bringing in these beers is a testament to Steve for supporting the community.”

One of the ways the Iron Monkey supports the community is through its yearly free Thanksgiving Dinner, which this year will be the 15th annual. In a new twist this year, McIntyre has incorporated craft beer into the charitable mix, with a Meet the Brewer event featuring Hudson County’s New Jersey Beer Company on Wednesday evening (7 pm to closing). The brewery will donate $1 from each of its beers sold to the next day’s Thanksgiving meal, which will be served from noon to 5 pm.

Put your pants on because the highly anticipated debut of New Jersey Beer Company is here — just in time to celebrate American Craft Beer Week, which runs until Sunday, May 23. The newest craft brewery in the state is right in our backyard in North Bergen, and it’s also the only brewery in Hudson County. Last week I took the 20-minute light rail ride to talk with founder Matt Steinberg and poke around the brewery.

“Put your pants on guys,” Steinberg called out as he opened the gate for me. “A lady’s coming in.”

I stepped into the 5,000 square foot warehouse and marveled at all the fermentation tanks. It was bigger than I thought it would be — I was half expecting a basement with a bucket. Steinberg introduced me to brewers Matt Bacco and Brendan O’Neil. To my disappointment, everyone was wearing pants.

They promptly gave me beer, the 1787 Abbey Single (the year New Jersey became a state), which was not quite finished. Steinberg assured me that it would be done by the launch date at Copper Mine Pub in North Arlington, four days away. Although unfinished, it still tasted good and the quality prevailed. It was a light lemony Belgian style with 4.8 percent alcohol by volume (ABV) — lighter bodied and highly drinkable. “A perfect session beer,” he explained. Also in the debut beer line, there’s the Hudson Pale Ale, a nice hoppy American Pale Ale with 5.6 percent ABV, and Garden State Stout, which is a very chocolately 6.6 percent ABV Chocolate Stout made with lots of real dark chocolate, a pinch of raisin and a nice balance of bitter hops.

The craft brewery is called New Jersey Beer Company because Steinberg wanted to keep it simple, and because he has New Jersey pride. I asked if he thought putting “New Jersey” on the bottle might be a deterrent for some people due to the Garden State’s stigma in certain social circles.

“Maybe the hipsters will drink it ironically,” he said.

Steinberg has waited a long year and a half to finally get the beer going, mostly because of bureaucratic procedures like permits and inspections by a number of agencies. He hired brewer Bacco, who went to beer school at the Siebel Institute of Technology, and O’Neil, who “learned by hanging around.” They all taste the beer every day to make sure it’s right, and Bacco tastes all the ingredients. ”

“You should eat the grain — you should eat the yeast. Eat the yeast,” Bacco said. “It tastes fine.”

This month the beer will be available on draft at some New Jersey bars, including Jersey City’s Iron Monkey and North Arlington’s Copper Mine Pub. They hope to launch bottling and brewery tours by June. Six packs will run between $8.99 and $9.99, and are being distributed by Hunterdon. As for the future, Steinberg hopes to produce 1,000 barrels this year and twice as much next year. In addition to the three inaugural beers, he plans on adding seasonals and imperials starting in the fall.

“My favorite beer are stouts with 10 percent or more alcohol,” he said. “But I wanted to start with a line of beers that were accessible to most people, then add more complex styles later.” For marketing, the fledgling brewery is relying on beer bloggers, word of mouth, sponsoring events (charities especially) and possibly holding private parties.

But as soon as Hudson County gets word about free brewery tours and samples, they may be banging on the garage door when it opens to the public next month. Unfortunately, according to New Jersey law, the samples will be limited to four 4-oz tasters; but if you go on the tour, they’ll give you a discount on beer. You’ll be able to purchase two six packs or growlers along with merchandise like hats, shirts and pints — and it’s only five blocks from the North Bergen Light Rail Station. If you don’t want to wait a few weeks for the brewery to open to the public to taste our state’s newest beers, the Jersey City debut is this Friday, May 21 at the Iron Monkey from 6 pm to 3 am. Pints will be $3. Put your pants on guys, and support your local brewery during American Craft Beer Week.

For more on New Jersey Beer Company, check them out on the web.