Flounder Brewing, Norz Hill Farm Team Up To Create Pumpkin Ale

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — A new pumpkin beer is the result of two Hillsborough businesses teaming up. Flounder Brewing Co. and Norz Hill Farm & Market have created the Norz Hill Drunkin’ Pumpkin Ale.

The pumpkin beer showcases Long Island Cheese Pumpkins grown for generations and picked right from Norz Hill’s pumpkin fields on S Branch Road in Hillsborough. Flounder then took the pumpkins, roasted them and then added them to the beer during the brewing process.

The recipe embodies the sweet caramelization of the pumpkin’s sugars which are present in the flavor and aroma of the finished beer. Light spice such as cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger were added to give a finish reminiscent of the fall season, according to Jeremy Lees, owner of Flounder.

"We love to collaborate and support our local farms and as a father I love taking my family to the farms during the fall harvest. To be able to incorporate something special like a collaboration beer made with ingredients right from that farm, and enjoy the special beer is just a great example of farms and breweries working together to give the community continued unique and memorable experiences," Lees said.

The new beer was launched to show how local farms and local breweries are working closely together and celebrated by inviting several local and State dignitaries for a toast including New Jersey Secretary of Agriculture Doug Fisher, Senator Bateman, Assemblyman Freiman, Assemblyman Houghtaling, and Hillsborough Mayor Frank DelCore.

"This year we were able to have Flounder Brewing come to the farm to sell the Norz Hill Drunkin’ Pumpkin to our customers," says Debbie Norz from Norz Hill Farm & Market. "It was amazing and a great combination of people relaxing and spending some quality time with their families while enjoying local flavor."

"As chair of the Assembly Agriculture Committee, my number-one priority is encouraging consumers and businesses to buy, grow, and eat Jersey Fresh," said Houghtaling. "It was fantastic to see such a strong partnership between Flounder Brewery and Norz Hill Farm, using local Garden State ingredients to make a truly local Garden State beer. Agro-tourism is one of New Jersey’s fastest-growing industries, and I’m glad to see these kinds of collaborations having such a big and positive impact on local farms, breweries and the communities they serve."

"Business collaboration, a key to one's success. Here is an example of a unique opportunity that presented itself and it is through the connections our Hillsborough business owners make here within our community is what truly makes Hillsborough special. We continue to foster these types of relationships in Hillsborough. Congratulations to Norz Hill Farm and Flounder Brewing on this winning combination of the Drunkin' Pumpkin," said DelCore.

"It is great to see the collaboration between the local brewery and the local farmer to create a delicious beer," said Bateman.

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