The Shepherd & the Knucklehead

It's that time to talk New Jersey beer culture again. I've whined a bit here and there about NJ beer - there simply isn't enough of it. For that matter, there aren't enough beer bars, and most of the people around here couldn't care less about good beer. As far as I'm concerned, I'm not doing my job unless I periodically throw the few great local establishments some love.

I told you about the tasting at the Cloverleaf Tavern, and I stand by that place as my local bar and grill. While the Cloveleaf has a great rotating bottle selection and some consistent taps, they tailor more to the 'family & friends' crowd, a little less to the hardcore beer geek crowd.

When I'm looking for truly outstanding beer on pristine taps, however, there's a little-known hole in the wall over in Haledon, NJ that keeps 26 taps of regularly-rotating, outstanding brew: The Shepherd and the Knucklehead.

The Shep (in short) is one of the smaller bars I've been to, it probably seats 25 people with room for 10 or 15 more standing. They don't serve food, there's no dance floor or rap music, and they're not likely to host singles night (though I can't confirm that last part). They do, however, have regular events with local brewers, boast some of the harder to find beer in town, and have some of the most down-to-earth, good-natured, beer-loving bartenders you'll ever meet.

The Shep is a tribute to Jack Kerouac; you'll even find some of his spoken word in the jukebox, alongside some less mainstream albums and mix cd's from the regulars. At one time, they even allowed patrons to bring their dogs with them, though I understand those days are over.

The bar is located just a bit down the road from William Patterson University, so I'm told that weekend nights get pretty busy. My wife and I prefer to head over on afternoons when they open; we can pick the bartenders' brains when it's a little quieter- and many of them are bona fide beer connoisseurs. The owner and bartenders are often enthusiastic to engage in conversation over craft, and they're always looking for more ways to involve the local breweies and labels. To top it all off, the Shep is the only North Jersey establishment I've found to occassionally carry Founders Kentucky Breakfast Stout on tap (which is immensely better than the bottled version).

If cleanliness is Godliness, The Shepherd and the Knucklehead is heaven. I've have never been to a place that cleans its taps as much as The Shep (come to think of it, I've *never* seen the taps cleaned at most of the places I frequent). The owner speaks poorly of establishments that don't clean their taps, and I don't blame him - he has some of the freshest tasting beer around. When you're serving nothing but superior quality brew, that's an important factor.

There is a newly launched website for The Shep where they list their weekly tap selections. Don't get your heart set on what you see online, though, as the taps rotate regulalry. If by chance one of the kegs kick while you're there, stick around- there's a good chance they'll replace it with something great.

At the Shep I've never once been disappointed by the selection or the conversation. If I lived closer I would be a regular, but for now great beer is the only excuse I need to head into Haledon.

The Shepherd & The Knucklehead Pub
529 Belmont Ave.
Haledon, NJ 07508