Visited: January 20, 2003

Contributors: Guy Drouin, Kimber Gregorakis, Mark Haynie, Ralph Wells

The Basil T's in Toms River is not related to the one in Red Bank, but they serve the same beers for the most part. (At least they did during my visit in 2003.) This one is located on the southeast corner of Hooper Avenue and Route 571 (Bey Lea), just down the road from Joshua Huddy's. It's a nice Italian restaurant with a 15-bbl Pub Brewing system right out in the open. They’ve got drink specials most days, and there's a "private cigar lounge" in the back. Five-ounce tasters are $1.50 each, or $4.25 for a set of six. In place of the standard growlers, they sell two-liter German-style jugs for $19, with refills for $9. A pint costs $3; a 23-ounce mug $4. One complaint: the blue-tinted sample glasses make the beers look a little greenish. Artisan's was known as Basil T's Brew Pub and Italian Grill until 2010.

Updated: January 29, 2010

• Apple Ale
  Garden (Fruit Wheat) Beer
  • Date: January 20, 2003 (#4602)
    Package: draught
    Place: at the brewery
    Score: 14 points
    Overall Impression
    Deep golden, thin head. Rich apple aroma. Medium-light body, fizzy. Mild apple flavor lingers after the maltiness is gone. Long sticky sweet finish. I need to be more diligent about waving off the fruit "beers".