Docktoberfest takes over Metuchen
Beer dinner complete with trimmings served up at Dick's Dock
BY JAY BODAS Correspondent
Whoever thought you could have beer for dessert? The surprisingly delicious answer to this question was served by Main Street restaurant Dick's Dock last week at its 13th annual Docktoberfest, a unique six-course beer dinner complete with some of the finest beers from around the world, including one brewed in Metuchen.

JAY BODAS Beer reviewer and critic Kurt Epps (l) and Metuchen resident Jonathan Miller at the 13th annual Docktoberfest at Dick's Dock in Metuchen. The event features a six-course beer dinner.

The event's name was taken from Oktoberfest, a 16-day beer festival held annually in Munich, Germany, from late September to early October and is the world's largest fair, attracting some 6 million people from around the world each year.

And with an endless repertoire of jokes and humorous anecdotes that had a restaurant packed with guests laughing in between courses, Docktoberfest was also hosted by a man who has what is possibly the best job in the world: beer reviewer and critic Kurt Epps, also known as the PubScout.

"I started writing about beer in 1996 at the beginning of the microbrewery boom and have been writing about it ever since," said Epps. "My job is to go to beer bars and brew pubs and write it up for our readers. I also emcee beer dinners throughout the state. I introduce the courses and beer, and I work with the chef to see what he has made for each dish and select a beer that will go well with that particular dish."

Epps, a 37-year former high school English teacher who is also a thrice-elected member of his local school board, has been written about in USAToday and has his own website, where he provides reviews of local pubs and their beers. But despite the evening's levity, Epps also stressed a serious lesson: the responsibility that comes with the drinking of beer and the "proper place" beer has in society.

"To me, you do not fix the binge drinking problem by telling kids to just say no to beer — just look how well it has worked so far. Instead, you fix the binge drinking problem by telling kids what it is for, what it goes with, and how it should be used — with common sense like anything else," he said.

The seven beers presented at Docktoberfest included American, German, and British varieties. The two German beers were Spaten Munich Oktoberfest and Reissdorf Kolsch. Spaten was the world's first Oktoberfest beer, originally brewed in 1872, while Reissdorf Kolsch is brewed in the German city of Cologne, which until recently had the distinction of having the most breweries of any city in the world.

Among the four American beers, two were by brewery giant Boston Beer Co.: Sam Adams Boston Ale and seasonal brew Sam Adams Oktoberfest. The remaining two domestic brews were by local microbrewers: Climax Nut Brown Ale by Climax Brewing of Roselle Park, a caramel-flavored beer served from a special jug known as a growler, and Gust-N-Gale Porter, a chocolatey brew created by Metuchen's very own Pizzeria Uno off Route 1.

"Spaten Oktoberfest is the finest German Oktoberfest in the world, while kolsch is a style of beer that is only made in Cologne, Germany," Epps said. "Also, Sam Adams does a remarkable job with their beer, and many people don't realize how good

their beer is."

But no beer dinner would be complete without a beer dessert. Called the PubScout Float, dessert was a few generous scoops of vanilla ice cream combined with Young's Luxury Double Chocolate Stout, an awardwinning British ale that uses both chocolate malt and real dark chocolate as major ingredients. Pizzeria Uno's Gust-N-Gale Porter accompanied the float for a silky smooth combination.

"A lot of people might wonder how that would taste, but it is excellent," said nine-year Metuchen Police Officer Daniel Granato, who has been to Docktoberfest for each of the last five years. "Regardless of whether you are a beer connoisseur or just plain like beer, you should try it, and it will surprise you how much you like it."

Granato said that each year, he has always been one of the "first guys" in line for the dinner.

"I have always tried to bring four or five people with me every year, each time it's been a different group of people, so they can experience it," he said. "This time I brought my brother-in-law and best friend from childhood, along with his brother. It's a great evening of laughter, good food and good beer."

Starting Nov. 11, Dick's Dock will be having an all-you-can-eat fish fry every Wednesday night and

raw seafood bar the other nights. The restaurant also hosts children's parties for kids ages 7-13. Call 732- 744-1274 for more information.