New Jersey Brew News and Releases (2022)

My NJ brothers and sisters: I'm about to continue my pilgrimage further into the suburbs with an upcoming move from JC to the Princeton area. Obviously excited to be near Troon/BFT but anyone else in the area have some recommendations? There are a lot of really good spots within a 45-60 minute drive (Tonewood, Kane, Twin Elephant, Conclave, the northern Philly suburbs spots, etc...), but wondering if anything is a bit closer and more "in the neighborhood?"

 

Besides the very different size and atmosphere…

They have slightly different tap lists, some beers only being at one vs the other. I feel like a lot of times the unique to one location beers seem to end up at both places eventually.

The little merch area at Barrington where you can grab your own stuff, including cans.

Oaklyn has cask, Barrington doesn’t.

Barrington has two different beers on side pull, Oaklyn one.

The good thing is they’re so close to one another, 5-8 minute, you can go to both

 

Main difference is Oaklyn has a ton of taps for their mixed ferm beers, Barrington does not.

 

Not the most knowledgeable about that area, but since noone else has chimed in... You might try Vault. I've had a few of their offerings in cans and they're solid to very good. I think others have commented positively on their taproom (I haven't been). It's not particularly close to Princeton but it seems that area is a bit of a brewery desert outside of Troon. You missed Referend by a few months.

 

I live in this area now and consider it quite a dead zone. Troon is super annoying but at least you can go to BFT. Other than that your best bets are still going to exactly the places you referenced. Sometimes I work in Philly and have been picking up some nice lager/pilsners at Human Robot Jenkintown. Was also very pleasantly surprised by Attic Brewing in Germantown.

 

Human Robot has a spot in Jenkintown? Did they move into the spot that (last I knew) was where Neshaminy Creek was?

 

There was some discussion in the Southeastern PA thread; nonetheless, they opened the second location in March

Human Robot's New Location "The Haus" Is Now Open In Jenkintown - Breweries in PA

 

Keep in mind that the Triumph in Princeton is currently closed until they move to their new location in Palmer Square.

 

The old Post Office. A move that's been in the works since 2016.
PRINCETON: Triumph Brewery will move into former post office (Updated) By Central Jersey March 22, 2016
(I just checked out the Triumph website a few days ago for some reason and was reminded of it. "Oh, yeah...").

 

Appreciate all the feedback and guidance, friends!

The West Windsor move has been pretty solid so far. I have two weeks of funemployment ahead of me and planning on doing a bit of hopping around. I think I'm gonna go hit up Warwick Farm Brewing first (on a good weather day). Also, looks like Old Hights is pretty well regarded and that's not too far from me. And apparently, "The Druery" will be opening soon nearby.

FWIW, Autodidact and Oakflower should both be opening in the nearish future (but not near Princeton), and the handful of stuff I've from both has been awesome. Really hope the state can figure out these draconian liquor license requirements, for the sake of both restaurants and breweries, because there's a lot of really good beer showing up!

Also, Conclave 5th Element is so so good. I went last Thursday to pick up a four pack because I'd assumed it was almost out. Still some available today a week later!

 

I try and talk up this beer any chance I can, there was a lot of black ipa talk when big hoppy saw distro. If you enjoy the style keep an eye out for this beer, it’s very very good…

 

Few things:

Wild Aire is already distributing their liquid goods. I saw Quickbeam which is the NZ pils which is excellent and so is their House Lager Inherent Vice. Their brewery is also worthy of a visit. Sweet spot.

Twin Elephant is also distributing now. I saw lil shimmy ye and Foggiest Notion.

Both found in East Brunswick/Milltown

 

I also recently moved to Princeton and love it. Awesome town. As others have suggested, have to travel a little to get to breweries but I’ve been pleasantly surprised by the beer selections at stores:

Mcaffreys in the Princeton shopping center is great for beer and they get heady topper like once a quarter. I’ve noticed other stores in the area will get it occasionally too

vault is not too far as others have said (maybe 30 min from Princeton)

Brick farm tavern is the defecto troon tap room if that’s your thing (not a big fan. Almost everything is a 10% ipa)

 

Hey NJ crew, any recommendations on bottle shops/breweries in the Mt Laurel area? Family in the area now and will be down a few times a year. Brought back a bunch of Carton from Laurel Liqours but that’s about as far as I advanced my NJ beer credentials.

 

Tonewood is right down 295, Barrington location is about 5 minutes off of it, if that.

In Marlton right down 73 you have Joe canals, Wineworks and canals bottle stop all in a half mile radius.

Other direction down 73 roger Wilco in pensauken is good and you can grab singles of anything they have.

Hope that helps you a little bit.

 

Awesome!!! Thank you.

 

Has anyone picked up Waterbury Jams from brix/propig?

I had this few times before and it was always great. This batch is just tasting like soap to me. Already had 2 cans and both were the same. I usually experienced that with some old Mosaic hops.

 

Hey all - Coming from CT and going to a show at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville next weekend and staying in Somerset for the night. Any recommendations for breweries/food in the area and any must stops along the way back into CT? Thanks!

 

Marlowe in Nyack and as stated district 96 are great options if they're more or less on your route. That said any canned options from Marlowe are available at 12 percent brewing or distribution but tap and vibe are nice nonetheless. Wegmans in Woodbridge is a good place for NYS NJ distro cans, so some tonewood and kane would be there.

Depending on route half time in Mamaroneck is pretty great for cans and bottles from all over, if your route is more south along the water.

 

I'm not so sure about Tonewood. The last few times I was there they had none, and when I finally asked I was told they don't get Tonewood anymore. That said, Jersey Fine Wines in East Brunswick usually have Tonewood, Cape May, and other NJ and NE beers in stock.

 

Oh, that's a new development I guess. Good to know.

 

No idea. Whoever I asked might be telling me that to prevent more questions, but no Tonewood on multiple occasions.

 

Wegmans in Woodbridge has Fuego and Improv 6 packs. I was just there today.

Jersey Fine wines in East Brunswick gets all of the Tonewood drops. Great beer store.

 

The good food in New Brunswick tends towards the very high and low ends but the best beer lists as far as I know are at Tavern on George and Stuff Yer Face, which are somewhere in the middle.

Sophie's Bistro in Franklin is a good laid-back spot for French food.

 

Thanks all for the recommendations! Ended up getting beer to-go at Jersey Fine Wines in East Brunswick, some Tonewood and others! Stopped for beers at Cypress (was quiet but pretty good beers, had their Naughty and Nice holiday stouts in a flight). On the way back to CT we stopped at Marlowe, what an awesome location. I live near 12% in CT so have had lots of their beer but was great to see their own taproom. Also stopped at District 96 which was a little disappointing. Only had 5 of their own beers on tap, had a couple and both good but not what I was expecting! Have had a lot of their beer in the past and know it's good though.

Anyway, thank you all again! Was a good little trip to NJ!

 

So hop butcher is in NJ now. Just picked up Only Interested in New Zealand 11.21.22 canned date for $18 at Wegmans in Woodbridge. There was something else there from them but I forget what it was.

 

Anyone have any intel on the frequency/list of NJ drops from Tired Hands?

Been noticing lately that most of the TH stuff in NJ is slowly becoming shelf turds (October dates, not exactly "hyper fresh") - a list of which beers are the newest will save me some date checking time for sure.

 

If you check hunterdon's site they've been pretty good about updating their new releases page lately, after a long stretch of being very bad about updating...

Once and a while I will see tired hands stuff listed...

https://www.hunterdonbrewing.com/newreleases

Sorry I couldn't be more helpful but its a start I guess.

 

i think a few years ago they would have flown off the shelves but TH got a lot of bad press about their owner's behavior and many consumers including myself have been reticent to fund him (since hes back in the fold)

 

I finally escaped NJ in late September after 59 years... 12 of 'em in MtL, and no I'm never coming back.

Anyway, Martins Liquors, Rt. 38 MtL Pricy cuz they're right next to the interstate on/off ramp
Wine Works, Rt. 73 Marlton
Traino's Wine and Spirits, Marlton
The rest are all hit/miss not noteworthy.

Breweries: Bout the Hops, MtL; Zeds, Marlton; Village Idiot, Mt. Holly

 

Did a thing with some friends, and hope you'll enjoy it as much as we do!

⁠Four Legs and Always Ready to Travel
Brett IPA with Phantasm; 6.0%⁠ ABV
- Collaboration with Twin Elephant
- Pacific Sunrise/Motueka/Citra⁠
- Pineapple/Clementine/Earth⁠

 

Cans are officially being released tomorrow, but it's on tap at the brewery as we speak. Glad you enjoyed the visit!