I’ve had my share of beers from around the globe and when I say globe, I really mean Epcot Center at Disney World. I’ve sampled brews from Germany, Belgium, Japan, Italy, but never sampled beers from Lebanon. And guess what? Neither have you!
Garrett Hill Ale House in Bryn Mawr recently hosted the launch of 961 Beer on the Main Line. Best part, besides the beer of course? Special guest, Mazen Hajjar, the 961 Mastermind, was on scene! This is the first time anyone in the area is kickin’ back a Lebanon brew.
So what’s the scoop? Why is it called 961? What makes this beer so unique? Well, over a sweet, roasted 961 Porter, Marzen gave me the 411 on 961.
Right off the bat, I can tell Marzen loves what he does—true passion and excitement flows through his veins to his larger than life smile. He is an artist and everyone at the Garret Hill Ale House was there to sample his work.
He starts his story at the beginning—from the days of being a foodie and lover of wine, but like all craft beer fans, we have that defining moment, that epiphany where we want to acquire great beer and never look back.
Now, I don’t know if there’s a road paved ahead for all of us. Not sure where I stand on the whole destiny or fate notion, those serendipitous moments where the universe screams what direction our lives should take. We see it in television and film all the time. Normally, it’s about a man’s or woman’s heroic journey or two people destined for love. Or, you know, the Matrix. Anyway, after hearing Marzen’s trek into the beer world….THE BREWNIVERSE (I should totally patent that), maybe some things can’t be a coincidence. The story I heard tonight, focused on the Powers That Be demanded Marzen Hajjar make beer.
It starts off on a hot summer’s day in July. The year was 2006. Lebanon was under attack by the Israelis. Bombs were going off, chaos was in motion. From his balcony, Marzen could see the mayhem taking place, feeling the vibrations from the explosions. Regardless of what was happening, he was about to dive into Beer School, a book conspired by the brains behind Brooklyn Brewery.
So, while all this is going on, Marzen turns to page one. Remember, bombs are going off in the distance, folks. First page, Steve Hindy’s (one of the authors) exact words:
“My head was thumping and I was drenched in sweat when I was jolted awake on a fresh sunny morning in May 1984 by the blasts of two mortar shells in the parking lot outside my second-floor room at the Alexander Hotel in East Beirut.”
The Beer gods spoke! It was then Marzen put down the book, picked up the phone and invited some friends over to make some beer. Even though the first few batches came out terrible, it was this passion and enthusiasm that had them drink it anyway.
Eventually, Marzen and his beer making crew found their rhythm. They started getting the hang of this brewing process and sharing it amongst friends—just one minor problem. At that time, the only beer available in Lebanon, were Light Lagers: Budweiser, Heineken and Corona, which are okay mind you, but why wouldn’t you want a little more variety? More excitement! Pizzazz! Alas, there’s nothing like these brews available in the market. From that moment forward, Marzen did the impossible, the ill advised. Even in the difficult times, he started a company.
What started off as a hobby amongst friends now became a demand. People were literally banging on Marzen’s door for these beers henceforth, 961 Beer was born! When they officially began brewing, they were one of the smallest breweries in the world, and the only microbrewery in the Middle East. Hey, they still are! Now, they distribute two million Liters a year!
“But 961? I don’t follow,” is what might be going through your head. I didn’t know what the correlation meant either, but discovered 961 actually refers to the Country Code of Lebanon. How appropriate!
As the night progressed, I sampled the Red Ale, Porter, Witbier—all good beers, true to their styles. They’re near close to sessionable with high drinkability. Sometimes it’s good to get back to the basics. If you’re going to serve a Red Ale or a Porter, then craft the best of those styles you possibly can. I feel there’s so many distractions out there with these beers filled with pepper flavors or hints of bacon. Those are fun, sure, but these styles tonight are why I got into craft beer to begin with. These three were nicely balanced with the right amount of carbonation and great flavor with room for the next round.
The most popular beer of the night and talk of the evening was the Brew Master’s Select, the Lebanese Pale Ale. This style was brewed from a true Lebanon perspective, rich in Lebanese spices and flavors. This was one complex beer with a lot going on. At first glance, this has a nice orange hue and white lacing across the top, but at first sip, the thyme spices are especially forefront on the tongue. The amount of flavors somersaulting on my palate make this beer stand out from any other Pale Ale I’ve had in a long time, if ever. Unique would almost be an understatement. It’s no wonder this 961 handle got the most action this evening.
The beers weren’t the only super stars of the evening. The staff at Garrett Hill and General Manager, Jared, were amazing at making sure pints were full at all times. The special for this evening was Homemade Witbier Fish and Chips, guaranteed to be fresh. This dish hit the spot and was complimented, of course, with a 961 Witbier. This plate was stacked with crispy fries and fried fish swimming within them. Plate finished, stomach full, mission accomplished.
I have no clue beyond this lovely spot in Bryn Mawr where we’ll find these Lebanese treasures. I do know if and when you come across them, you’ll be giving these 961 Beers a Perfect 10. Cheers to all parties involved!
Learn more on 961 Beer by visiting 961beer.com.
