NEW JERSEY - SOUTH
Tucked into Princeton’s industrious town center, TRIUMPH BREWING COMPANY, sojourned May ’09, has been brewing since the mid-‘90s. Entering through a narrow hallway, this echo-y high-ceilinged red brick-walled bar with left side and loft dining has ample space, traditionalist charm, plus well-prepared entrees, sandwiches, and appetizers.
Glass-encased brewtanks behind the bar served two bitter Cascade-hopped ales, the fruitier, but less woody, Centennial IPA (plying bold resin-hopped lemon-peeled grapefruit-currant bittering to earthen mineral grains) outdid wood-lacquered cologne-wafted lemon-grapefruit-peeled herbal-doused pine-tarred Amber Ale. Inoffensive barley-toasted grassy-hopped Vienna Lager and headier wildflower-honeyed corn-dried Honey Wheat suited blue-collar thirsts.
Things picked up again with soft hand-pulled caramelized rye-malted earthen peat-tinged Extra Special Bitter and raspberry-tart tangerine-soured brimstone-limestone-leathered lavender-oiled white-peppered Framboise Strong Ale. Frothy soft-toned Oatmeal Stout brought coffee ice cream, chocolate éclair, and chocolate chip cookie sugaring to ancillary black licorice, black cherry, praline, cola nut, and macadamia sedation.
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