Newark to Princeton advice

Kane is brewery only. Might see it on tap in Princeton. Carton distributes but it's more miss than hit on their cans outside the brewery. Triumph is right on Nassau Street in Princeton. The beers are average but the space is really nice and the food is decent. Winberie's is alright but their draft prices suck.

 

Triumph Brewing is your best bet within Princeton. The food is great. The beer is very good but not amazing.

Joe Canal's in Lawrenceville is about 15 mins from Princeton and might carry Carton cans or have a Carton or Kane beer available for a growler fill, but you should probably call and ask before going.

Kane does not distribute cans, you have to go to the brewery to purchase them. You might find Carton or Kane on tap at a bar nearby, but I don't go out in that area enough to know which bars would have them.

 

Kane on tap - http://www.kanebrewing.com/find/
Carton on tap - http://cartonbrewing.com/find-our-beer/

Magnify and Cricket Hill are up that way. Conclave could be made on the way.

 

FYI the Canals in Lawrenceville doesn't fill growlers anymore.

 

If you are looking for a good meal as well as grabbing a beer, definitely check out Vault. They are having their 4th Anniversary on Sunday, which will have a bottle release of a BA RIS and a Coffee RIS. Unos in Hamilton has a surprisingly good tap selection as well. Not terribly far out of the way is Conclave in Flemington, very good beers that are worth checking out.

 

Not sure what time your flight comes in. If you head from Newark to Fairfield (30-40) minutes you can hit Magnify and Cricket Hill. Magnify has a can release on Fri. I suspect it will last til Saturday.
From Fairfield head west to route 287 south. Go to Flemington and hit Conclave. Since you are going to Princeton it is not that far out of the way. They don't can or bottle yet but you can get growlers. Yes it is worth it.

Hit up Kane and Carton over the weekend. Carton has an 077 variant a Pumpkin Cream and a Smoked Sour Porter in Cans right now.
Kane should have Head high cans. They might release more Overhead cans this weekend. There were bottles of 1825 last week. Not sure if there are any left.

 

When did they stop? Any reason for it?

 

Within the last 2 months. I'm not sure if your are part of the NJ Craft Beer Club, but there was a post on the Facebook page about JC giving away free growlers to members, only for somebody to mention that they removed their taps. I was there on Monday and the tap section has been removed.

 

12 miles east of Princeton (but only a couple of miles off NJ Tpk Exit 8A), Cranbury BuyRite often has Kane and Carton beers on their growler taps - BeerMenus says they had Carton Boat and Kane Hop Lab Citra when last updated (9/30). It also occasionally (and briefly) carries Carton canned beer with a 1 4-pk limit typically when available.

A few miles south of Cranbury, Tavern on the Lake also carries both brewers' beers at times but doesn't do growler fills (wrong license I guess? NJ ABC says they have a "32" license, which should allow for growlers.).

 

Kane Head High was on tap at Newark Airport when I flew out last month (Terminal C). Tasted fresh too!

 

Rocky Hill Inn usually has around 15 beers on tap and good food as well. Old historic building.

 

I second Winberie's. Here you go..http://princeton.winberies.com/beer-menu/ they have Kane headhigh and singlefin right now. Triumph is meh....if you want to Hoagie go to hoagie heaven its really good. There is wildflowers but its in Hopewell.

 

I second this too great beers, nice neighborhood vibe and pretty decent fish and chips.

 

On Route 1, try the Brick House near Princeton; Happy Hour has $3 pints and they should have Kane and other local beers

 

Conclave had 2 beers on tap at the Somerset Hotel Tap Room last week week as part of a NJ Brewery only event but it's generally Brewery only.
You won't find Carton Regular Coffee around but I am sure if you brought some Surly with you, you could set up an IP trade for pretty much any NJ beers you are looking for.

 

Princeton to OH and back will easily take 4 hours of drive time. How long you have to wait there depends on when you get there. So I would say its more like half day + quest.

 

Winberies in princeton is best beer and pub food around downtown princeton. There is no close second. I find Rocky Hill to be hit or miss. Brickhouse had a lot on tap but most are unimpressive (though they almost always have one or two kane or carton beers). Salt creek grill on route 1 north of town has overpriced though good food, with a short but distinguished tap list. It is pricey but I still go fairly regularly because they ALWAYS have kane head high on tap and for some reason it is better there than anywhere else (including the brewery). I cant explain it. Worth a stop just for a pint.