Flying Fish Announces Release of Exit 13 Chocolate Stout

CHERRY HILL, NJ  – New Jersey’s largest craft brewery, Flying Fish Brewing Company (1940 Olney Avenue, 856-489-0061), is proud to debut their new Exit 13 Chocolate Stout, the latest entry in their “Exit Series” of big-bottle beers honoring their home state of New Jersey.

“We’re calling this an “import/export stout, combining a fuller-bodied, traditional export stout and adding Belgian chocolate that’s imported through the port of Newark located at Exit 13,” says owner Gene Muller.

On Tuesday, December 7 at 7 p.m., head brewer Casey Hughes will introduce Exit 13 to the public with a special launch party at Pub On Passyunk East (P.O.P.E.) (1501 East Passyunk Avenue, 215-755-5125).   This will be the only opportunity to try the beer on draft until later in December when the final Exit 13 batch is available.

Created by Hughes, Exit 13 Chocolate Stout is named for the exit that provides access to Newark International Airport and the Port of Newark.  Brewed with a mix of imported and domestic malts, as well as dark wheat, the stout gets floral, fruity and citrus notes from Irish ale yeast and Pacific Northwest hops.  In total, Hughes and his team added 580 lbs. of Belcolade Dark Chocolate, then aged the beer with 200 lbs. of cocoa nibs and 12 lbs. of vanilla beans.  Hughes recommends it as a dessert beer, and also describes it as perfect for sharing with friends as a winter warmer.

Flying Fish’s Exit Series beers are a playful tribute to the various exits of the New Jersey Turnpike, and began with Exit 4 American Tripel, a Great American Beer Festival gold medal winner that Men’s Journal magazine named “Best Belgian-Style Beer in America” in 2009.  The Exit Series will continue with three or four beers a year to eventually encompass all turnpike exits; other entries have included:  Exit 1 Bayshore Oyster Stout, an export-style stout brewed with oysters that The Atlantic called “a real crowd-pleaser”;  Exit 6 Wallonian Rye, a saffron-colored Belgian-style ale brewed with Sorachi Ace hops and local rye in collaboration with Nodding Head and Stewart’s for Philly Beer Week 2010;  Exit 11 Hoppy American Wheat, a fresh, citrus-y summer beer with aromas of tangerines and apricots, voted “Best Local Beer” by Philadelphia Weekly;  and Exit 16 Wild Rice Double IPA, brewed with local wild rice in partnership with environmental efforts to revitalize the Meadowlands.

Flying Fish was the world’s first ‘virtual’ microbrewery, establishing an Internet presence as early as 1995.  That presence helped to generate press interest and woo investors to the fledgling brewery, which would not open for business until late 1996.  Today, Muller and his team oversee four full-time styles, as well as a variety of seasonal beers.  Their brews have been featured at the Great British Beer Festival, Oregon Brewers Festival and Canada’s Biere de Mondial Festival.  They have won medals at the Great American Beer Festival, Real Ale Festival and the World Beer Championships, and are the only New Jersey brewery featured in Best American Beers.  Flying Fish was also named “Local Hero: Beverage Artisan of 2009” by Edible Jersey magazine.

For more information about Exit 13 or any of Flying Fish’s beers, please visit them online at www.flyingfish.com and www.exitseries.com, or call (856) 489-0061.