Abbey Finch

NorthJersey

Besides sharing a childhood friendship, Pete Reuther and Joe Delcalzo have another thing in common: a love of good beer. In 2015, the duo put their camaraderie, home brewing prowess and business ambitions to work to open Brix City Brewing in Little Ferry.

A labor of love, sweat, and beer, Brix City has grown as a premier destination spot for brew enthusiasts and novices alike.

For almost four years, Reuther and Delcalzo hustled to put a business plan together, raise capital from investors, and learn everything they could about brewing. After hitting a few walls location-wise — certain towns weren’t crazy about the idea of having a brewery in the neighborhood — Reuther and Delcalzo found their home.

The name Brix City is a nod to pre-Prohibition Newark, and its nickname as the Brick City. Back then, Newark had some of the most famous breweries in the county. Also, the degree ‘Brix,’ symbol Bx, is the sugar content of a solution, and a measurement of the alcohol strength in beer.

Brix City earned the prestige of being the first brewery in Bergen County — and now, one of the most popular tasting rooms in the state.

The brewers

Reuther, 30, and Delcalzo, 28, share the brewing and recipe-making responsibilities. Both from Hasbrouck Heights, the pair have been buddies since high school. Before Brix City, Reuther was working for his family’s masonry company and Delcalzo performed real estate appraisals — and neither was happy about their career paths. For several years, they brewed beers at home that were popular with friends and family. Feeling motivated to make a change, the pair decided to turn their hobby into a business. They learned everything they could through an internship Reuther did at Chelsea Brewing in Manhattan, mentorship from other brewers, visiting breweries across the country and by reading everything they could get their hands on. Today, they frequently travel to different breweries to get new ideas and stay current with trends.

The beers

Brix City always keeps at least eight beers on tap and some of those are available for purchase in cans, like Just Another IPA and the Undiscovered Worlds Pilsner. Reuther and Delcalzo always present a varied selection, including Belgians, sours, lagers, seasonals, and stouts. You can find Brix City brews in at least 150 local bars and their cans are currently sold in roughly 50 liquor stores.

Signature brew

The guys love Porter Authority, their flagship beer that is always available on draft. It’s a creamy American Porter at 6.3 percent alcohol, with hints of chocolate and coffee. The brewers use roasted chocolate and caramel malts to get a bitter yet sweet flavor.

Insider tip

If it’s your first time, Reuther suggests ordering a flight to get a good sense of the different beers they have available. The bartender will give you four small pours of different beers so you can get an idea of what suits your palate.

Tasting room

Brix City is one of the few tasting rooms open seven days a week. Delcalzo says they let their beers speak for themselves, and stay away from any gimmicks in the tasting room, like TVs or music. It’s an open, airy space with cozy picnic tables and you can bring food or order delivery while you are there.

If you go

Ask questions. Reuther and Delcalzo and all members of the Brix City staff encourage visitors to come curious, and ask about the brewing process and get recommendations. The guys are friendly, give comprehensive tours, and are super hands on.

Hops Stops:Magnify Brewing is dedicated to funky brews and friendly service

Dining:Whiskey Roads pub opens in Little Ferry

Bergen:Rutherford may permit more beer gardens

Go: 4 Alsan Way, Little Ferry, 201-440-0865, brixcitybrewing.com. Hours: 4 to 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday, 4-10 p.m. Friday, noon-10 p.m. Saturday, noon to 6 p.m. Sunday.