Hail Ale!

Something’s brewing at Basil T’s in Red Bank (732-842-5990, www.basilt.com), which serves up six handcrafted ales direct from its glass-enclosed brewery.

Something’s brewing at Basil T’s in Red Bank (732-842-5990, www.basilt.com), which serves up six handcrafted ales direct from its glass-enclosed brewery. “We always have five ales on tap, plus one seasonal brew,” says award-winning brewmaster Gretchen Schmidhausler. “Last year’s Bad Seed Pumpkin ale was a big hit.” Once hooked on Basil’s brews, the next step is to join the Mug Club, where $50 gets you discount refills for a year. Club veterans John Niemela and Tom Gibson were enjoying a Pale ale and an eSB (extra Special Bitter), respectively, during a recent happy hour. Gibson’s tried home brewing, but now admits, “i’d rather drink it.” Niemela enjoys bringing colleagues in for a taste. “I order a sampler tray, and it never disappoints,” he says.