Gourmet Italian Cuisine, a brief intro and beer list

Gourmet Italian Cuisine is a family-friendly restaurant located in Galloway, NJ with serious craft-beer aspirations. Director of Operations Justin Lucas and GM Ryan Horner have a goal of educating their local clientele and providing opportunities for them to try new and unusual drafts, as well as craft beers in 12 oz and large format bottles. A comprehensive list with descriptions of brewer, flavor content, hop profile and suggested pairings is readily available so that the guest can find the beer that best fits his or her palate.

Nine taps at the bar, three seasonal which rotate as the corresponding keg kicks : Sierra Nevada Summerfest – $5.25,  Yards Brawler – $5.25, River Horse Summer Blonde – $5.25, St John’s Tropical Mango Pale Ale – $5.25, Troeg’s Sunshine Pils – $5.25, Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA – $5.50.  According to Lucas, some exceptions are made – Dogfish Head is a local favorite and will probably enjoy more longevity than the other seasonal offerings.

Large format bottles include : Julian Hard Cider – $21.00, Duvel – $16.00, Ommegang Three Philosophers – $15.00, Boulder Hoopla Pale Ale – $16.00, Sierra Nevada Ovila Abbey Dubbel – $20.00, Sierra Nevada Southern Hemisphere Harvest – $20.00 and a few new seasonals and new to market bottles too are coming down the road.

12 oz craft bottles include :  Samuel Adams Boston Lager – $4.75, Breckenridge Vanilla Porter – $5.25, Fegley’s Brew Works Hop-solutely – $9.00, Sierra Nevada Pale Ale – $5.25.

For the uninitiated, Gourmet Italian’s bar staff and bar manager Mike Taylor provide excellent service and good recommendations.

As an added bonus, most of the bottled large format, craft, import and domestic beers available in Gourmet Italian’s bar and lounge are sold across the street at Gourmet Liquors, 319 South Pitney Road

Galloway, NJ 08205-9641. Phone : (609) 748-4100. The liquor store offers weekly beer tastings.

A growler program is being introduced in the fall of 2011 to allow patrons to take some of their favorite draft home. Details on pricing and availability will follow; keeping the quality of the beer high is a primary consideration.

Here’s a list of craft beer at Gourmet Italian Cuisine in Galloway from August 11.

Check out Gourmet Italian Cuisine online, Facebook, Twitter or in person at 324 S. Pitney Road, Galloway