Quenching your thirst with an ice-cold beer during a hot Jersey summer is essential. With new breweries and beer trails popping up every year, this is the best time to explore the Garden State and discover unexpected flavors in your pint glass that you will be buzzing about all year.
At Bradley Brew Project in Bradley Beach, new beers are released every Monday. Photo courtesy of Bradley Brew Project
NORTHERN NEW JERSEY
Spirits of Somerset County Trail: The Spirits of Somerset County Trail includes four breweries and one distillery. Flounder Brewing Co., in Hillsborough, has a brewery and tasting room in a renovated, centuries-old barn surrounded by farmland and rolling hills. They create one-of-a-kind beers, with flagships such as Sticky Pancakes, which is brewed with bourbon barrel-aged maple syrup, and the triple dry-hopped Fred the IPA.
Other trail stops include Jersey Cyclone Brewing in Somerset. From lagers to pilsners to sours, they have a little bit of everything for the beer aficionado. And Village Brewing Co. in downtown Somerville will not only quench your thirst with locally brewed beer, but it also will fill your stomach with plates made with locally sourced ingredients. If you’re craving something with a bite on this trail, Burnt Mills Cider Co. in Bedminster ties its work to New Jersey’s long history of cider making. Burnt Mills serves an array of original hard ciders on tap, such as Jersey Summer, made with basil and cucumber; and Mojito, with lime and mint. Pick up a “Sip and See Somerset” passport and get it stamped at participating locations to receive a pint glass.
Websites:
https://visitsomersetnj.org/spirits-of-somerset/
https://visitsomersetnj.org/play/sip-see-somerset/
Hunterdon Beer Trail: This year’s Hunterdon Beer Trail features seven craft breweries to visit throughout Hunterdon County. The beer trail contains New Jersey’s first craft brewery, Descendants Brewing Co. in Milford, which brews its ales using the seven-barrel Peter Austin Brewing System.
The Readington Brewery and Hop Farm is a unique stop on the trail because it grows the hops right on site, like a traditional winery. Sip on beers brewed to a specific country of origin and style while taking in the beauty of the 25-acre farm.
Other stops on the trail include Conclave Brewing and Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington; Odd Bird Brewing in Stockton; and Sunken Silo Brew Works in Lebanon. Pick up a passport for the beer trail and if you get it stamped at each location, you receive a commemorative hat.
Website: https://hunterdonbeertrail.com/
The Tasting Room at Bradley Brew Project. Photo courtesy of Bradley Brew Project
JERSEY SHORE
City Brew Jersey Shore Tours: If you’re heading down the Shore, City Brew Tours offers two great ways to safely sip on suds without worrying about the drive — because they do the driving for you! The Original Jersey Shore Brew Tour includes stops at four breweries and the Sip of Jersey Shore Brew Tour stops at three breweries, with participating locations including Bradley Brew Project in Bradley Beach, Jughandle Brewing Co. in Tinton Falls, Alternate Ending Beer Co. in Aberdeen Township, The Whitechapel Project in Long Branch, Little Dog Brewing in Neptune City, Seven Sons Brewing in Howell Township and Last Wave Brewing Co. in Point Pleasant Beach, which boasts an approachable, tropical flavor-profile to its beer selection.
Website: https://www.citybrewtours.com/jerseyshore/tours/
Jersey Shore Beer Trail: If you prefer to travel at your leisure, Last Wave Brewing Co. has mapped out the Jersey Shore Beer Trail to coincide with stops along the NJ Transit North Jersey Coast Line. This includes the Whitechapel Projects near the Long Branch Station, Asbury Park Brewery and Dark City Brewing Co. near the Asbury Park Station, Bradley Brew Project and Little Dog Brewing Co. near the Bradley Beach Station, Beach Haus Brewery at the Belmar Station and Last Wave Brewery and at the Point Pleasant Beach Station.
Website: https://www.lastwavebrewing.com
By train or a driven van, you can safely sip on these breweries’ staple beers and try any rotating seasonal releases and blends all in one day.
Smack in downtown Hammonton, Vinyl Brewing Co.’s mixture of distinctive brews ranges from the Daily Grind Coffee Milk Stout to the tropical DIY Lobotomy Sour Ale, to the Orange Drink Belgian Wheat. Photo courtesy of Vinyl Brewing Co.
SOUTH JERSEY
Wine and Ale Trail of South Jersey: If you’re in the southern part of the state this summer, the Wine and Ale Trail of South Jersey has a little something for everyone with three breweries, seven wineries and one distillery. All the breweries on the trail are in or near downtown Hammonton. Three 3’s Brewing Co. regularly rotates beers on tap and serves its own line of hard seltzers called Bougie Bubbles. Smack in downtown Hammonton, Vinyl Brewing Co.’s mixture of distinctive brews ranges from the Daily Grind Coffee Milk Stout to the tropical DIY Lobotomy Sour Ale, to the Orange Drink Belgian Wheat. And one block from Hammonton’s downtown shopping district is Chimney Rustic Ales, which is very creative with its handcrafted beers, using the freshest ingredients in a variety of brew styles.
Website: www.wineandaleofsj.com
This article originally appeared in the Summer 2023 issue of Jersey’s Best. Subscribe here for in-depth access to everything that makes the Garden State great.
