Basil T's Brewery facts for kids
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| Type | Brewpub |
|---|---|
| Location | 183 Riverside Avenue, Red Bank, NJ, USA |
| Opened | 1996 |
| Key people | Victor Rallo Jr., Mike Sella |
| Annual production volume | 650 US beer barrels (760 hL) in 2009 |
| Other products | Italian food |
| Website | http://birravino.com/ |
Basil T's Brewery was a special kind of restaurant called a brewpub in Red Bank, New Jersey. A brewpub is a place that makes its own beer and also serves food.
This place started as an Italian restaurant in 1987. Victor Rallo Jr. and his family opened it. Later, in 1996, they changed it into Basil T's Brewery, where they started making their own beer.
In 1997, they opened a second location in Toms River. This second spot was later sold and is now called Artisan's Brewery. Basil T's Brewery made about 650 barrels of beer each year.
In 2014, the owners decided to change things again. They reopened the Red Bank location as Birravino. This new name combines the Italian words for "beer" (birra) and "wine" (vino).
The Story of Basil T's Brewery
Basil T's Brewery began its journey as an Italian restaurant. It was a family business started by Victor Rallo Jr., his brother, and their father. They loved serving delicious Italian food.
After some years, they had a new idea. They decided to start making their own beer right there at the restaurant. This is how it became a brewpub in 1996. It was a unique place where you could enjoy fresh, homemade beer with your meal.
Later, the owners wanted to try something different. In 2014, they changed the name to Birravino. This new name shows that the restaurant now focuses on both beer and wine, along with its tasty Italian food.
Delicious Food and Drinks
Basil T's Brewery was known for its different types of beer. One of their most popular beers was a dry stout. They also made other kinds of beer like pale ales, porters, and wheat beers. They even had special seasonal beers that changed throughout the year.
Besides beer, Basil T's always served Italian food. They really liked to suggest which beers would taste best with different dishes. This is called "beer and food pairings." It helps you enjoy your meal even more by matching the flavors.
Today, as Birravino, the restaurant still offers a great selection of drinks. They have three of their own beers made in-house. They also have two guest beers from other breweries. Plus, they offer about 50 different kinds of bottled beers from all over the world. If you prefer wine, they have more than 100 different bottles to choose from.
How Breweries Operate
To make and sell beer, businesses like Basil T's need a special permit. In New Jersey, this is called a "restricted brewery license." This license lets them make up to 10,000 barrels of beer each year.
With this license, they can sell their beer right at the restaurant. They can also sell it to other businesses that distribute beer. Sometimes, they even sell their beer at fun events like festivals around the state. They can also offer small samples of their beer at charity events.
Basil T's Brewery was also part of a group called the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild. A guild is like a club or association for people who do the same kind of work. This guild helps breweries in New Jersey work together and share ideas.
