Amongst the Waves, Salt Finds Groove at Upcoming Oktoberfest Event

A crisp, light-bodied Italian pilsner with a hint of citrus will give Oktoberfest partygoers a new reason to raise a glass.

Salt Seafood & Oyster Bar will serve drafts of Amongst the Waves, an exclusive beer created in collaboration with Icarus Brewing, when New Brunswick's Oktoberfest celebration returns on Sunday, Oct. 18.

Oktoberfest will run from noon to 6 p.m., bringing together local businesses, food and drink vendors, and visitors for an afternoon of community festivities after the event was postponed the previous Sunday.

Salt will set up near Filippo's Famous Pizza on George Street in an area designated for beer vendors, pouring 12-ounce servings of its signature brew. The restaurant also plans to offer gift cards, merchandise, and a raffle featuring a dinner package for two.

Amongst the Waves began taking shape weeks before the restaurant signed up for Oktoberfest, said Christian Graciano, owner and operator of Salt, at 103 Church St.

A representative of South Jersey-based Icarus Brewing had approached the restaurant about creating a specialty beer, and Graciano agreed to the collaboration.

When a conversation with New Brunswick officials about participating in Oktoberfest followed, the timing seemed almost too perfect.

"I was like, 'Three weeks ago, Icarus came in here. They wanted to do a collaboration with us and do a specialty beer. I'm like, I could do that for Oktoberfest, right?'" Graciano recalled.

The beer is an Italian pilsner with 5% alcohol by volume, designed to complement the restaurant's seafood menu without overwhelming the flavors of the food. Graciano described it as a lighter beer with a touch of lemony citrus, comparing its flavor profile to a blend of Peroni and Blue Moon.

The name came from Matthew Ferrara, Salt's bar manager, who suggested "Amongst the Waves," a reference to a song by Pearl Jam, one of Graciano's favorite bands. The name also fit the restaurant's identity as a seafood establishment.

Casi Warman, who handles the restaurant's social media, website, and merchandise, designed the can's label. Her illustration features an octopus rising from the ocean floor, rendered in a black-and-white sketch style that incorporates Salt's logo. The design also includes Icarus Brewing's logo and the required labeling information.

Graciano said the beer is exclusive to Salt and will not be sold elsewhere. He was particularly pleased that the brewery collaboration gave businesses an opportunity to reach new customers.

"I don't really know any other restaurants that are doing it," he said. "I felt like for us, it was kind of cool."

Although Salt is known for its extensive selection of fresh oysters, Graciano decided that pouring beer would be a better fit for the festival than serving oysters all day. The restaurant offers varieties from the East and West coasts, served raw with cocktail sauce and spicy mignonette. Its menu also features salt-roasted oysters prepared with panko, sage, garlic butter, and lemon.

Salt will offer more than beer at its Oktoberfest stand. Graciano plans to sell gift cards, including a proposed deal offering $100 in gift cards for $50, and raffle tickets for a gift basket designed for two people. The basket will include Salt sweatshirts, house-made salt scrubs, a candle, oyster knives, and a $150 gift card intended to cover a dinner for two. Raffle tickets are expected to cost $5, and the winner need not be present when the drawing takes place.

Graciano said he is looking forward to meeting festivalgoers and fellow business owners, as well as introducing more people to Salt. After years in which the pandemic and its aftermath changed how people gathered, he sees Oktoberfest as an opportunity to reconnect with the community.

"We're going to hang out," he said. "We're going to meet the other businesses that are there. We're probably going to meet a lot of people walking up. One of the representatives from Icarus will be there with us, and they're going to talk about the beer. And if anybody wants any information and knowledge, they can hand out their information, and hopefully, it gets them business, and hopefully, what we're doing works in town, and people find it to be a cool thing."

Story By: Chuck O'Donnell
Photo Credit: Salt Seafood & Oyster Bar