12 minute read
Let’s Grab a Pint
BY ERIN McFEETERS
If you’re a hoppy beverage lover from out of state, you might be taken aback when you visit a Garden State brewery. Before Gov. Murphy made changes to liquor laws in the state in 2024, you’d walk into a brewery greeted by the owners insisting on taking a tour of the facility, no food in sight, limited televisions, and very little advertising for in-house events even though it’s clear upon arriving you’re missing out on an epic weekly trivia.
As the craft beer industry began to grow at a rapid pace over the past decade, brewery owners not only disliked the regulations in place, but state mandates made it more challenging to expand their businesses. Fast forward to 2024, where regulatory changes allowed breweries to offer snacks and non-alcoholic beverages, collaborate with vendors like food trucks, host unlimited events on-site, and participate in more third-party events and festivals. And the best part? They could finally make more beer—a lot more beer. The barrel limit went from 10,000 to 300,000, with the ability to sell more product to retailers.
“We had a division among our breweries years ago, largely due to the harsh and unfriendly rules imposed against our breweries and different approaches to modernize these laws and regulations,” said Scott Wells, Bolero Snort Brewery Director of Sales. “But along with the landmark legislation we got passed last year, we also merged our organizations back to a single State Brewers Guild. We regularly work together, sharing information and ideas, and very often helping each other out in many different ways. The state has been tough on breweries so we’ve created a network to help each other out.”
If you have pint-loving clients moving from out of state, there are still laws in place in New Jersey they should be aware of to make the most of their time at local breweries. All breweries are different—some have bags of pretzels to purchase, others have food trucks every weekend, and some keep a stash of local delivery menus. Please be courteous and visit the brewery’s website before you place your Jersey Mike’s order for your whole crew.
For your commercial clients on the hunt for space to start brewing their concoctions, you can find many breweries in spaces initially zoned only for industrial use. For breweries hoping to get their brews on the liquor store shelves, like Jeff Greco, the owner and brewer of Heavy Reel Brewing Co., they specifically need enough square footage to run production for distribution.
“We spent years seeking a location out while we were a gypsy brewer (Contract Brand). NJ regs made it tough, and they weren’t nearly as bad at the time. We wanted to stay in Bergen County but needed a place with enough size to grow into,” said Wells. “We were among the state’s largest brewers before we had a physical location, so finding enough industrial space, within a reasonable price point, with good distribution road access and a local community was tough to put together. We found a great space in Carlstadt and found a very welcoming local government that has been invaluable to us as a business.”
If we were to feature every brewery in New Jersey, close to 150 to date, it would be quite a long list. For now, here are 18 top brewery picks, in alphabetical order, from those visited and those discovered at the local liquor store. Cheers!
1. BOLERO SNORT BREWERY–CARLSTADT
One of the original 16 craft breweries in the state, Bolero Snort Brewery’s 16,000-square-foot production brewery is right in the Meadowlands. They’re known for brews with cow-related play on word names and hoppy concoctions with a nod to Jersey.
Brews to Try: Juicy Pebbulls, a New England IPA with notes of lime and tropical fruit punch; Jersey Vice Fruited Sour with a tart taste of raspberry and lime; and Magically Bullicious, a White Stout made with your favorite lucky marshmallow cereal, oats, and milk.
Wells’ favorites are Moountie, a smoked brown ale with maple and coffee; Jersey Vice, a light session sour with raspberry and lime, that has won several major national awards; and Bolero Park, a double IPA that features Wells’ son’s art on the can this year.
2. BONESAW BREWING COMPANY–GLASSBORO
The first round of Jersey brewery law changes in 2012 pushed this family of brewmasters to open up Bonesaw for business. Their Glassboro production brewery was the first brewery developed from the ground up in South Jersey, so you can say they’re seasoned pros on the NJ beer scene.
Brews to Try: Purple Hearts, Pomegranate Brulee Sour brewed with oats, vanilla, and pomegranate puree; and Queensicle, Orange Vanilla Cream Ale loaded with orange zest and vanilla.
3. BRADLEY BREW PROJECT–BRADLEY BEACH
Husband and wife duo Chelsey and Mike opened their microbrewery in the heart of the Jersey Shore in Bradley Beach and specialize in a mix of ales and lagers. Their flagship hazy pale ale, Unicorn Girls, is brewed as an ode to the owners’ twin daughters, brewed with malted grain, hops, yeast, and milk sugar. When the weather is nice, the owners open the garage doors so the sea breeze streams right in—what could be better?
Brews to Try: We Playing, like an Arnold Palmer, but it’s a sour ale brewed with lemon peels and black tea; Jersey, a crisp lager with subtle notes of citrus; and Bradley Summer, a summer ale with honey, Vienna, and wheat malt.
4. CAPE MAY BREWING COMPANY–RIO GRANDE
Located right near the Cape May Airport and home to The Bog, a shandy jam-packed with cranberry goodness, the Cape May Brewery dropped their first keg of Cape May IPA in 2011 and have been pouring up wild pints ever since.
Brews to Try: Dirty Shirley Shandy, a seasonal brewery exclusive whose name says it all; The Grove, like The Bog but bright and full citrus; and for the IPA folks, Crushin’ It, seasonal varieties are always making it onto the tap menu and hoppy lovers will keep coming back for more.
5. DEPARTED SOLES BREWERY–JERSEY CITY
Since they opened shop in 2015, they’ve brewed almost 100 different beers—some are even gluten-free. They were the first brewery in Jersey City and continue to serve up ales with great names and even better can art.
Brews to Try: The Struggle Bus is Full, sour ale with cherries, raspberries, and oranges; Philoso-Rapper is a Belgian Tripel is a hybrid between a Belgian Tripel and a Belgian Blonde and Departed Soles’ top-rated brew on Untappd; and Central Jersey Doesn’t Exist, a dark NJ lager collab with Two Ton Brewing.
6. DOUBLE NICKEL BREWING CO.–PENNSAUKEN
Opening in 2015, Double Nickel Brewing Company is in a massive warehouse in Pennsauken. If you arrive when they open at noon on weekends, you’ll get a seat, but any later, good luck. Hang out here with a bag of popcorn in one hand and a tart sour in the other.
Brews to Try: Death of a Pool Noodle, brewed with strawberries, pineapple, lime, and coconut for a tart and delicious sip; Saint Nickel’s Pickle, a nod to the pickle ornament Christmas tradition, brewed with sea salt, coriander, dill, and pickling spices; Weekend Warrior Hazy Pale Ale, hazy brew with notes of pineapple, apricot, and citrus.
7. ECLIPSE BREWING CO.–MERCHANTVILLE
This Merchantville essential small business opened in 2016 in the former EMS headquarters, a small Cape Cod house. Their menu features 17 rotating taps, with everything from dark stouts to fruity sips. Bring a snack and enjoy what they’re brewing in their outdoor area.
Brews to Try: Coffee Cream Ale, caffeine fanatics will love this beer that smells and tastes like coffee; Raz Hi Honey, made with honey and raspberry puree; and Wit, a wheat beer with coriander and bitter orange peel.
8. FLOUNDER BREWING CO.–HILLSBOROUGH
Family-owned in a 250-year-old refurbished barn, Flounder Brewing focuses on crafted brews and hospitality. Before you visit, check out their calendar for live music nights, food and brew tastings, and open mic nights.
Brews to Try: Scarlet Red, toasty red ale; Still Crosswind, cucumber conditioned cream ale; and Smooth Cranberry Crush, cranberry hard seltzer slushy with a hint of vanilla.
9. HEAVY REEL BREWING CO.–SEASIDE HEIGHTS
This seaside delight of a brewery started in 2018 with a 2.5-barrel system but has since opened a larger production space to brew even more beer. Sour lovers beware, you’re going to be obsessed with their Luvv line of brews.
Brews to Try: Luvv: Orange Creamsicle, one of the best sours on the market; Island Beach Lager, an American Adjunct; and 39N 74W, a stout brewed with oysters from Barnegat Oyster Collective.
Greco’s pick is Das Pils, a crisp pilsner with hints of jasmine and honeysuckle.
10. LAST WAVE BREWING CO.–POINT PLEASANT BEACH
Beer made in the heart of the Jersey Shore, Last Wave serves up hazy, refreshing, and sour ales to enjoy on-site and they’re canning it up to bring it to a liquor store near you. Throwback: Does anyone remember when NJ Realtors® held virtual beer tastings with Last Wave back in 2020?
Brews to Try: Boardwalk Shandy, a collab with Jenkinson’s Boardwalk with lemonade flavor; PB&J, a sour ale with pops of strawberry jam and peanut butter; The Crumbler, a golden ale brewed with cinnamon and vanilla and brewed in collab with Mueller’s Bakery with notes of their famous crumb-cake.
11. NEW JERSEY BEER COMPANY–NORTH BERGEN
Always cultivating a unique new brew, New Jersey Beer Co. opened 15 years ago and has since expanded to serve in bars and canned for liquor store shelves. Try their dessert sour series beers, which are brewed with lactose to give them a creamy feel.
Brews to Try: Blood Orange LBIPA, an ode to Old Barney, a traditional IPA loaded with blood orange; Sour Gummy Wormz, like a kid in a candy store with their imperial sour with cherry, lime, lemon, and strawberry; and Peach Parfait Sour, a dessert sour breed with sweet granola, lactose, and peaches.
12. OLD HIGHTS BREWING COMPANY–HIGHTSTOWN
Their taproom is located right in the historic borough of Hightstown, and their staff will quickly feel like you’ve known them forever. Sit outside with your pup, and they’ll bring you a water bowl.
Brews to Try: Cherry Berry Fizzle, a sour ale with dark sweet cherries and raspberries; Porch Tour, an easy-drinking cream ale; and Skydiver, a dark lager with a hint of honey-roasted sweetness and a coffee flavor.
13. SCREAMIN’ HILL BREWERY–CREAM RIDGE
For six generations, Screamin’ Hill has been farming for beer before it was cool. Visit their 170-acre farm and drink beer barn side for a true barn-to-table experience. They don’t call us the Garden State for nothing!
Brews to Try: Tractor Pullin’, a pale ale dry hopped with cascade and chinook; El Lager Cerveza, a Mexican lager with lime and sea salt; and Raz Wheat, a wheat ale with red raspberries.
14. SHIP BOTTOM BREWERY–BEACH HAVEN
LBI goers love this place, and for good reason. Hang out bayside in Beach Haven with brews that taste perfect after a day on the beach. Order the Wipeout, a flight of eight beers so you can try most of their on-tap menu.
Brews to Try: Bomb Pop Sour Ale, a fruited sour inspired by the nostalgic summer treat; Shack IPA, in honor of the late LBI landmark (IYKYK) with stone fruit aromas; Blueberry Wheat Ale, just as it sounds and as delicious as Jersey Fresh blueberries.
15. SOURCE FARMHOUSE BREWERY–COLTS NECK
Located on a 130-year-old dairy farm in Colts Neck, this farm-to-glass brewery looks at beer as something that can tell a story and bring people together. Enjoy an ale on a summer evening on their rooftop terrace with expansive views of the farmland in Monmouth County.
Brews to Try: Strawberry Lychee Wit, a Belgian-style wheat ale with orange peel, strawberry, and lychee; Barnyard Mild, an English-style mild ale with notes of toasty bread crust, subtle caramel, and a hint of nuttiness.
16. THE DRUERY BREWERY–LAWRENCEVILLE
The new kid on the block, The Druery Brewery, opened its small taproom in December last year with the hopes of opening a larger-scale brewery after testing out its brew recipes. Their taproom is cozy, and if you want a seat to watch the next big game, consider going as soon as they open.
Brews to Try: Sprites, a summer wheat ale; Kactus Krusher, a seltzer with prickly pear and watermelon; and Bai Long, a vanilla crème ale.
17. THREE 3’S BREWING CO.–HAMMONTON
Hammonton is known for more than just blueberries. Three 3’s is home to the PB & Cookies lager, which was featured at their booth at the Atlantic City Beer Fest on Bader Field.
Brews to Try: Juicy Shenanigans, a hazy IPA with honeydew, mango, and citrus; Blue Devil, a light Saison conditioned on a ton of local blueberries; Twisted Cobbler: Blackberry Bash, their cobbler base conditioned on blackberry puree and graham crackers.
18. VILLAGE IDIOT BREWING–MOUNT HOLLY
Right in the heart of downtown Mount Holly, Village Idiot is the perfect summer weekend hangout spot. Consider ordering one of their slushes on a hot day, and you won’t regret it.
Brews to Try: Monkey’s Breath, a bready, walnut-colored brew; Peanut Butter Cup, an English porter with hints of peanut butter; and Rocket Pop Slush, a hard seltzer slush with flavors from your favorite summer popsicle.
