BBQ sauce innovator in Geneva scores with new flavor

GENEVA, NY — Joseph Hatfield decided to try another flavor for his tasty barbecue sauces and apparently, it’s a real peach of one at that. Hatfield added a peach habanero flavor to his and wife Betsy Lopez Hatfield's 4J’s NVR Specialty BBQ Sauce line of gluten-free sauces, and, well, “that one’s real good,” the Geneva sauce maker said.

But you don’t have to take his word for it.

The new sauce, which was unveiled in February, was among three of his sauces that passed muster (no, not mustard; that's a different category altogether) with judges as part of the Kansas City Barbecue Society’s sauce contest in April.

Hatfield competed in the special sauce category, which had nearly 70 entries.

In fact, 4J’s NVR Specialty BBQ Sauce’s apple maple cracked the top 50 and the peach habanero and mango strawberry finished in the top 60.

A better showing than last year, but next year, he’s aiming higher — top 20, a happy Hatfield vowed.

“Our Apple Maple came in at a respectable 49 for two old farts making bbq sauce,” Hatfield posted on social media.

4J’s NVR — named for the Hatfields' seven children, Joseph, Justin, Joshua, Josiah, Nastazzia, Vincent and Robert — is showing slow growth. His sauce, which is fruit based rather than vinegar based, is now being made in Elmira.

Bostrom Farms Meat Market in Stanley, Muranda Cheese Co. in Waterloo and the Geneva Welcome Center are pretty much home bases for his sauces, but more stores and wineries throughout the Finger Lakes and certain locations in the Rochester and Syracuse areas are also carrying his sauces.

A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Explosive Ordnance Disposal Warrior Fund.

The product line is being tinkered with,; in order to add the peach habanero he subtracted the pineapple version, but he's also added a spicy verson of the apple maple. He still grows most of his peppers in a backyard garden, but he's also getting help from some friendly green thumbs.

But it’s still not quite big enough for Hatfield to think about retiring from his full-time job as chef at Hobart and William Smith Colleges in Geneva and go into sauces full steam ahead, not for any lack of trying over the company’s last nine years.

“I’m still waiting for that one good kick in the boot to get me going,” Hatfield said.

For more information on where 4J's NVR sauces can be found, visit https://www.facebook.com/4jsnvr/.

Another big beer win for Strangebird

To consider Strangebird’s hazy double IPA Unfettered Soul a world-class beer is no longer a subjective exercise. The Rochester-based craft brewer has the proof.

Strangebird won bronze at the 2024 World Beer Cup in the Juicy or Hazy Imperial India Pale Ale (IPA) beer style category.

Breweries from around the world were judged in 110 beer-style categories in the contest held last month in Las Vegas.

Unfettered Soul, which is double dry-hopped with lots of Mosaic and Australian Galaxy hops, took third out of 145 entries in the category, which founder and brew Micah Krichinsky said is “unreal.”

Strangebird’s World Beer Cup honor comes on the heels of multiple awards at this year’s New York State Craft Beer Competition, including Best Collaboration Beer for Breaking Bird; gold for Portuguese Squeeze (Barrel Aged, Non-Sour) and silver for Breaking Bird (Wild and Sour Ales). At the 2022 New York State Craft Beer Competition, Strangebird took home the Brewery of the Year award.

New York State Brewers Association recognized

The New York State Brewers Association crushed it in the 2024 Craft Beer Marketing Awards.

The Rochester-based group, which serves as a promotional and legislative proponent for New York state breweries, microbreweries, farm breweries, brewpubs and brewing-affiliated businesses. took home three so-called “Crushie” awards; two gold and one platinum.

Eastablished in 2019, the Craft Beer Marketing Awards recognize the best in marketing in the brewing industry. Categories range from the “Best Can Design” to “Coolest Taproom” to “Best Website Design” to “Best Original Videos,” among others.

More than 600 industry professionals judged multiple craft beverage types: seltzer, ready-to-drink cocktails, non-alcoholic, cider, mead and beer. In total, 227 awards were presented to brewers, designers and marketing agencies from around the world. This year there were 90 platinum Crushie wins, 96 gold Crushie wins and 41 global Crushie wins.

This article originally appeared on MPNnow: BBQ sauce innovator in Geneva NY scores with new flavor