What a gem in a middle of nowhere (ehm,farmlands - if it wasn't for its high ratings on Yelp and Untappd,I would have likely missed it entirely. Set up in an oldschool red barn,this bier blendery is not your typical brewery as they use the "spontaneous brewing" for their drinks,so the only "known" factor here is that the end result will be sour :) really friendly staff helped us identify what to order based on what we like typically. We tried 3 different beers and all were exactly that - sour - but in their own unique style (think tart cherries, mix with a Riesling grape,a bit of pine). Very cozy (though a tad dark) inside,and they play music out of vinyls! Some grass parking behind the barn (don't expect a dedicated lot). Overall,a very unusual but enjoyable experience while visiting! read more

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A must-stop! This family-owned brewery on a beautiful farm has an intimate, cozy tasting room and truly incredible beer. We spent over 30 minutes with the owner, who shared the story behind the brewery and his unique fermentation process. You can feel the passion in every sip. Don't miss this hidden gem! read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Impeccable. Firstly the Ambiance is uniquely suited to the libations they serve, both esoteric and plain, paying homage to tradition like their life depends on it. Music was good, Alvvays's Eponymous album followed by some Chick Corea. Service was very nice, the bartender had been at the winery that had inhabited the barn before the Referend - which is just sublime continuity. Biers and Wines were excellent, I've been to a Blendery before but these guys have it down pat. The Ale conditioned on Chantelle was homey, you could almost make out that slight apricot note you get from Chantrelles. Jung was like liquid sawdust (but it was good trust me). Pomes was wonderfully effervescent. Therein Wines were surprising! The White was a wonderful little pop of flavor that retreats rather quickly, making it nigh impossible to tease out notes, very secretive. The Red was grand, laden with notes of cacao nibs, leather, and deep fruit. If you want to be a bona-fide A1 Knower, you gotta get out to The Referend. read more

If you're interested in funky, open fermented, sour beers, this will be an oasis for you. It's a quaint, farmhouse location, with a rustic tasting room, where you can see the barrels aging behind the bar and counter. The staff was very friendly and happy to answer any questions that I had. No regrets from going out of my way to visit. read more

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The place is very cozy and good beer. Bartenders are informative and welcoming. Would come back again!

Chill atmosphere to match their incredibly distinct sour beers. I had their Ice-nine Riesling which was surprisingly unique. It was delicate and floral was definitely not what I expected from a golden ale. Upon entering, you have photos and sheets hanging on their walls. This is a self guided tour. Do take the time to peruse them at your leisure for they do have many fascinating information about their refinery. The ambiance is industrial in a wonderful, sophisticated way. Easy listening, smooth jazz fills the air as you sip and enjoy your company and/or your drinks at the tables. Seating are limited but I've been lucky enough to always be able to find seating. Be forewarned, the prices for the pours are on the more expensive side but I personally feel it's worth it. I cannot wait to go back. read more

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Beautiful space, beers are mostly aged sours which is not my thing (wish they provided samples some how). warning: Brewery aggressively bans anyone who voted for Trump. read more

Looks like I get to be the first one to review their new location in Kutztown! First of all, parking is not the best. Right now they are "members only" and even that was making parking a little questionable with the people that showed up. Looks like they have room for about 15 cars right now. (Hopefully they have a plan for this). Leaving the blendery, you get to go down a gravel path that makes you feel like your car is almost vertical and you wonder if you're going to bottom out (You don't) . That's my only complaint. I got it out of the way first. I had managed to snag a Remberers Membership when they have opened it up, and we had a friend or 2 also get one, so we met up at the Referend last night. For your local folks who have done the wine trail, it's in the old Pinnacle Ridge spot. We walked in, were greeted with a guest pour from a huge magnum , and immediately realized we were in for a night of drinks like no one else can provide. We really like this style of beer, however they usually aren't readily available locally. We would up trying 2 different draft pours and splitting a bottle three ways. All of them were fantastic. For me personally the Nightwood Grand Gru was my favorite, others said Recognitions, and others were all about The blue Book. Either way, not a single bad beer was had. If you are unfamiliar with the styles of beer they serve here, be warned, if the menu says "still" it is not carbonated. It will pour , well like water. it lacks that carbonation mouthfeel that you are used to . We had two styles of still , the Krak! And the Grand Cru. All in our party loved Krak but thought it would be better carbed, but the Grand Cru was like straight port barrel , and we agreed it was better still. Just a warning, as "still" isn't something many people are used to seeing on their beer menu! The place is super small, one person brought a pizza, but the bartender wasn't sure if that was allowed or not, but did not say anything when we asked if we could bring food next time(advised us to call ahead and ask), the staff is super helpful, they play awesome music (all vinyl) , and you sit in a room with tons of barrels and it just feels like you're not in Kutztown but in a little bar that serves crazy delicious beer. Once they open up fully, I recommend checking them out. They deserve your attention. read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Recognitions and Krak! - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

It's been hard for me to keep up with our expanding local breweries. I'm not really a beer guy anymore( prefer fine wines usually) but sours have been my favorite style for many years, I was not going to ignore this new Blendery and a detailed newspaper article piqued my interest even more. My aunt accompanied me here on an early fall Saturday. It's located in a newish warehouse type building that it shares with a few other businesses. The hipster level was between severe and critical( I say this with good humor) and it seems you didn't actually have to be one to be treated well here. I did like the vibe, large wooden tables, the tasting bar consisting of barrels and fractions of barrels, obscure but interesting music coming from vinyl alone, and a very diverse little library. Poetry mixed with philosophy mixed with beer and food books( etc) It took a few minutes to peruse the 3 page menu, some of which are only available to go and there are strict limits on most items. We selected a blackberry sour and their base beer, the Berliner Messe that was aged in an Angelica cask. I enjoyed both, was going to get another blackberry but the keg was dry and it was the last one. Both were tart and tasty and complex in their flavors. Our servers name was Thomas and he was friendly and very knowledgeable about their offerings. Based on his recommendations I bought a few bottles to enjoy on my own. I've never visited any other blenderies so it's hard for me to say this is as good as it gets, taste wise I might just say that though. As another reviewer stated, I would have liked an option to do a flight, this stuff is not cheap. But Thomas did offer us a few tastes, so maybe that is the way to narrow down a favorite. Of the other local breweries around, this is the one I'll visit next, still many varieties to try with new ones being created as well. Let's say 4.5 Belgian style Yelps! read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Late Septemeber - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

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The Referend Bier Blendery is home to discriminatory business practices and extremely bitter beer. The staff was rude and condescending.

AH! Such a beautiful new location in Kutztown, PA. Right now, it's members only - worth every penny for a plethora of spontaneously fermented beers, each unique in it's own way. I haven't had a single beer from Referend that I didn't like. The owners are incredibly kind, the type of people you would...well, want to have a beer with. They have an incredible selection of brews, and this historic farmstead is sure to provide many more years of tasty beers and entertainment, with plans to utilize the property's vineyard and fruit trees to amplify their already fantastic brews. As mentioned by Alan G., parking will be the only concern. I'm sure this will be mitigated as they settle in, and while there is a limited number of onsite spots, the side street of the property is free public parking. We'll be back, if for no other reason to collect our membership bottles. We're super happy to see Referend move to PA, and I can't wait for them to open to the public! read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

This is a very cool place. I suggest that you go there. It's a barn, so expect some cobwebs. read more

The Referend Bier Blendery does not, as some reviewers have stated, offer sours. Ask anyone of the staff to explain the difference. The Referend Bier Blendery specialises in the production of spontaneously fermented beers. Spontaneously fermented beer depends upon the unpredictability of the wild yeast and presence of microflora to impart upon it a singular aroma and flavour profile. Additionally, The Referend Bier Blendery ages its ales in used wine barrels. This is a style of beer making used by ancient beer-making cultures and popularised by the modern lambic brewers of Belgium's Pajottenland. I don't visit as often as I would like, but I love sipping the barrel-aged spontaneously fermented wild & sour ales at the taproom at the Referend Bier Blendery. The indoor picnic table theme and the flavours of the ales invites one to bring a basket of deli cheeses, crackers and grapes. Some of the tables can seat up to eight, encouraging you to bring along some close friends. You sit surrounded by wine barrels while vinyl spins on the turntable. read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

When I announced that I was going to be visiting the Referend Bier Blendery, a few different buddies of mine told me that it was going to be expensive and not good. Turns out that I was pleasantly surprised about how nice the place is. "Blendery" comes from how specifically sours are made, in which different ingredients have to be specially blended. Since I have now visited 81 breweries in NJ alone, I can tell you that there is no other brewery like it in the Garden State. Often a brewery will make a sour, but it will not be as refined as they are here. They are exclusively barrel aged sours. Yes, they need to be more expensive because they are not churning out new product every four weeks. They have to barrel age their product from roughly 6-12 months and need to store it somewhere. Each sour was totally unique from the next. I really liked the cherry one, which was made with subtle locally sourced real cherries. It did NOT taste like a jolly rancher. Even the bubbles within the drink had a refinement to them. I really liked how they bottle their sours in Belgian/Northeastern French style bottles, which I first only had seen in Lille, France 20 years ago. The staff were knowledgeable and welcoming. The place did not seem snobby to me. I enjoyed chatting with the other patrons, too. While I was there, I noticed there's a lot of to-go. People come in, who are very well dressed. They pick up bottles and cans to go. Their customers aren't afraid to pay for better quality. They come from all over the Princeton area and even from the Yardville, PA area. So, although the prices are a little higher, you definitely get what you pay for here. It's not the type of brewery for a blue collar guy grabbing a beer after the construction job, but it's nevertheless quite an experience to come to the Referend Bier Blendery. read more

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Referend Blend is a brewery that produces outstanding sours that are delicate and refined. The fermentation process for the Berliner weisse and lambics produced by Referend is spontaneous, meaning active yeast isn't added to start the fermentation process. The spontaneous fermentation process relies in the sugars present in the wort and a specific temperature. The fermentation is quite a long process that takes many months to years for completion. The result is a refined sours produced unlike other breweries. The brewery relies on neighboring breweries to produce the mash and the aging process in oak barrels is on-site of the blendery. Upon maturity, the beers are blended with various flavors. Upon entering the brewery, you could opt (or not) to take a self guided tour. Continuing further there is a warehouse of oak barrels that contains beers undergoing the fermentation process. The atmosphere is industrial yet sophisticated with cool jazz playing in the background. For my visit I order the Berliner Weisse Gloria and Kyrie. These sours are so refined. They are not overly bold or hopped like most sours found in other breweries. The pours are a bit pricey for the size of the pours but at Referend, it's about the quality. I thoroughly enjoy my time and Berliner Weisse's at Referend and will be back to enjoy and share this experience with friends. read more

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I didn't know what to expect given that I've never been to a Blendery. But when I found out that the beer is aged in barrels and that they're all sours I was super excited. These beers are not for the average beer drinker although I encourage people to try them since I once hated sours, but it might be my favorite style at this point. But the beers here go beyond a typically sour. The complexity and tastes they get in their aging process is amazing. Every beer I had I enjoyed. I've heard some people say it's expensive. They need to get over that. You're paying for a beer that's been aged for months and is something you won't get anywhere else. I love the vibe of the place also. Barrels galore and the sweet sound of vinyl playing in the background. The servers were awesome also. read more

This is a perfectly serviceable tasting room attached to a brewery. When you arrive you're pointed towards a small area with a description of the brewing process. Not too onerous. The tasting room itself is industrial-style with some nice tables and a very small bar made out of a piece of natural wood stretched over several barrels. The reason I'm rating this low is for three reasons. First, there was no flight option. No way to try more than one beer, you just had to pick and hope. I suppose I could have inquired about having a taste but I don't feel like you can do that for more than 1, maybe 2, beers. The second reason is that the pours were only 8 oz but still priced around $7. I think these are probably fancy beers you'd pay more for in a restaurant, but when I don't even know if I'll like a beer, it seemed a bit steep. Third, honestly, the type of beer this brewery produces is just not for me. There's no straightforward beer choice. Everything is blended with grapes or other fruit. And even the more straightforward beer was so sour it was hard to drink. Long story short, if you like unusual beers, you may very well like this place. Otherwise, avoid. read more

This place is utter dog shit, their blended bullshit is awful. Worst American 'lambic' I've had. Staff was rude and could not answer questions about the beer at their own Can get better beer at wawa. read more

This place is great! Love the tasting room - good vibe. Excellent beer if you like sours. read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Really nice to see a place focusing on the art of sour beers. If you like sour beers and want to taste creativity try this place. I'll be back again. read more

My brother found this place, located in New Jersey. It's pretty inconspicuous from the outside, there isn't a lot of advertisement for the building. And the hours are kind of restricted but if you're able to go I would recommend it because they have a lot of good beer. They Brew spontaneously fermented sours, end of the six that I tried there was only one that I wasn't a big fan of which was the Jung, but all the other ones had a distinct taste and we're all very good. certainly a good place to just hang out after work or on the weekend. I would recommend stopping by. I think my favorite one, I'm not sure the name of it, but it had lavender infused into it and it wasn't overwhelming; it was done perfectly. read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

This is a great small brewery that specializes in sour beers. They make one type of sour beer then blend it with other flavors to make flavored lambic-style beers. I love sour beer so this is the right place for me. The blended fruit beers taste fresh and don't have a fake fruit flavor like some beers do. It's a good place to hang out on the weekend on a nice day. You can bring pets, hang outside, or stay inside and drink your beer. read more

This is a treasure in South Jersey if you like sour beers and traditional lambic styles. The brewer and his wife are such nice people. I enjoyed talking to them about beer, wine, literature and starting a business. If you find yourself thirsty, looking for something to do on a rainy day, or in search of a friendly vibe to hang out, I strongly recommend the Referend. Don't knock over the barrels! read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

This was a very hipster place. We enjoyed the beers we had but were disappointed that they didn't have beer flights so that we could sample multiple beers. All of their beers are sour so I wouldn't recommend it if you don't like sour beer. Overall it was a pretty neat place! read more

My mission is to check out every brewery in NJ. When passing through Pennington I realized Referend was on the way. Stopped in knowing the beer was sour based only. Still disappointed... the space is large and has about 4 large tables for sitting. We stood at the bar and quickly drank our beers. Would maybe try again if in the area, wouldn't go out of my way. read more

If you like "beer" that tastes like medicine or vinegar then go no further. This place is bad. Very new age but the beer or bier is terrible. Would avoid this place which is too bad since the area needs more places to do things. Not sure what they are doing there. The "tour" Consist of a few signs painted on the wall pretty hokey read more

LOVE LOVE LOVE sour beers times a million and can't say enough about this place. I highly recommend this place if you are a sour-puss like me. I tried a few of them. I'm a big Berlinerweiss fan. Although I am not a big bourbon barrel fan their Nightwood beer has just a hint of that vanilla oak cask which might normally bother me in another type of beer but just adds character to this beer because it's only a hint of taste in a tangy tart profile. I also really enjoyed the Messe. We will definitely be going back here with some snacks/picnic food and spending a nice after noon. Their drinking area is quite large and surrounded by barrels. There are various sizes tables and benches depending on your group and we were about 8 and could have easily fit another 4-6 people at our table easily. They also had cute 4 people tables. I also really enjoyed that they played records instead of radio. We watched the guy switch the record a few times and it was my daughters first vinyl experience. It is a bit pricier then other breweries but then again making sour beers takes much more finesse and perfection so I'm not upset. read more

I have to give this a neutral review because I really liked the relaxed chill atmosphere but neither of us liked the beer at all. I have never been to a "Blendery" before today, and I didn't actually know it was a thing. The fact that it is not a brewery seemed very odd to me. We didn't take the tour or hear the pitch from the owners as many other reviewers did, so maybe it impacts the way people taste these blends. For me, they all tasted very similar -- one note sour with some funky aftertastes. Before ordering, I asked for a little more guidance on the variety available but I was told they were mostly the same base and there were subtle differences. The person pouring really didn't have much information to share. We got one Weissbier and one Lambic. I've had my fair share of Paulaner and Hefeweizen when I lived in PA so I thought I knew what I was getting into, but I could not be more wrong. The weissbier (I forget the exact name) was supposed to have faint notes of dill but to me it tasted very sour with meaty (almost like spiced bologna) notes. It was off putting and quite expensive ($6-7 per 6oz.) Once we got the idea of hot dog water in our heads, it was pretty much over for me and that beer. The Lambic didn't fare any better. Same price, same amount, but this one had no bubbles. It also had some flavors neither of us cared for also reminiscent of sour meat. For me, a "sour" should have sweet notes almost like a rich balsamic vinegar. Something like Duchesse De Bourgogne achieves this and is widely available. On the obscure side, I've paid quite a bit at Spuyten Duvel in New York for a barrel aged sour from a hand pump and been very happy with it. I don't hate the style and I will pay for quality. I'd really rather end on a positive note here, so if I could suggest anything it would be to add one "generic" beer to the roster. If it was possible to do a barrel aged beer like Innis & Gunn that might appeal to visitors with less of a sour tooth. Edit: I read over their website and it's an interesting story, but I still stand by my comments on flavor. I get now why they only have one "kind" of beer since they are sort of preserving history. Since I didn't read that beforehand, please consider this a "blind taste" opinion. Maybe I just don't like the local yeast, the flavors I described would be perfect for sour dough bread. There's a reason the abbeys in Belgium don't clean out their basements for lambic, it's the wild yeast that tastes great. read more

This is an awesome blendery! The beer is awesome and very unique and Melissa gives the best tours! We will definitely be back.

Cool and different concept. They blend and age different beers. All sour blends of beers like Lambic, Berliner Weisse, etc aged in wine barrels. Very good! You can also bring food in to enjoy with your beer. If you like sour or tart beers give it a try! read more

The Referend Bier Blendery - Breweries Near Me - Kutztown, Pennsylvania

Amazing space, vibe, and sour beers. Well worth the trip from NYC to try some of the most authentic lambic and berliners in the states. James & Missy also give wonderful tours of the blendery! I'll be back regularly. read more

This is a fantastic and unique place owned by an awesome couple, and all the staff are super friendly and knowledgeable. The beer was fantastic and very unique. If you like sour or traditional lambic styles, you must check out. Not for the average palate. read more

Well worth the trip. Drawing from eclectic sources, James brings and inspired touch to a highly sought-after style of beer. A classy but relaxed atmosphere makes for an excellent outing with friends family or even a solo expedition. He and his colleagues were super friendly and some of the most knowledgeable individuals I've encountered on the topic of beer. Ask them about the fermentation process and settle in for a wild ride! read more

This place is a really great find for central NJ-its one of the few breweries in the area where you can sit down for a spell. The staff is just as cool as the Gothic church aesthetic read more

Great experimental brewery. Its very local to me and love that. Interesting flavors. Haven't had a bad beeR yeT.