Newark, New Jersey’s craft beer scene has blossomed in recent years, offering beer enthusiasts a diverse array of locally brewed options. The city’s brewing tradition, dating back to the 19th century, has experienced a revival with the rise of craft breweries and taprooms. Newark Local Beer, Four City Brewing Company, and several other establishments are leading the charge in showcasing the city’s brewing talent.
Beer lovers visiting Newark can explore a variety of craft beer styles, from hop-forward IPAs to rich stouts and refreshing lagers. Many local breweries and bars pride themselves on using high-quality ingredients and innovative brewing techniques to create unique flavor profiles. The city’s beer culture extends beyond just drinking, with many venues offering brewery tours, tasting events, and food pairings to enhance the craft beer experience.
History of Newark’s Craft Beer Scene
Newark’s beer legacy stretches back to the mid-19th century when German immigrants brought their brewing traditions to the city. During this time, Newark became the brewing capital of New Jersey and one of the top beer cities in the United States.
The city’s relationship with beer was central to its identity and industrial growth. Newark’s breweries thrived for decades, producing popular ales and lagers that quenched local thirsts and gained national recognition.
After a period of decline in the mid-20th century, Newark’s craft beer scene began to resurge in the early 2000s. This revival was part of a larger craft beer movement sweeping across America.
Local entrepreneurs and beer enthusiasts started opening microbreweries and taprooms, bringing innovative flavors and brewing techniques to Newark. These new establishments helped revitalize the city’s beer culture and attract a new generation of beer lovers.
Today, Newark boasts a vibrant craft beer scene with several breweries and beer bars offering a wide variety of locally-made brews. These establishments pay homage to Newark’s rich brewing history while pushing the boundaries of modern craft beer.
The city’s craft breweries have become gathering places for the community, fostering a renewed sense of local pride and contributing to Newark’s ongoing cultural renaissance.
Guide to Newark Breweries
Newark’s craft beer scene offers diverse flavors and styles from local breweries. Visitors can explore unique taprooms and sample innovative brews across the city.
Czig Meister Brewing Company
Czig Meister Brewing Company crafts a wide range of beer styles. Their taproom features rotating taps with seasonal and experimental brews. Visitors can enjoy flights to sample multiple offerings.
Popular year-round beers include:
- The Huntsman (IPA)
- Falconer (Pale Ale)
- Shipwright (Porter)
The brewery hosts regular events like trivia nights and live music. Food trucks often park outside on weekends.
Jersey Girl Brewing Company
Jersey Girl Brewing Company focuses on creating approachable craft beers. Their taproom offers a welcoming atmosphere for both beer enthusiasts and casual drinkers.
Core beers include:
- Sun Kissed Citra (Pale Ale)
- Rake Breaker IPA
- King Gambrinus (Belgian Tripel)
The brewery features outdoor seating and hosts yoga classes. Tours are available on weekends.
Port 44
Port 44 is a small batch brewery known for experimental brews. Their intimate taproom allows visitors to watch the brewing process while sampling beers.
Notable offerings:
- Nitro Coffee Stout
- Cucumber Lime Gose
- Pineapple Habanero IPA
The brewery often collaborates with local businesses for unique flavor combinations. Food pairings are available from nearby restaurants.
Ghost Hawk Brewing Co
Ghost Hawk Brewing Co produces a mix of traditional and innovative beers. Their spacious taproom features industrial decor and ample seating.
Popular brews include:
- Apex Predator (Double IPA)
- Ravendark (Oatmeal Stout)
- Ghost Hawk Lager
The brewery offers tours on weekends. A large projection screen shows sports events regularly.
Bolero Snort Brewery
Bolero Snort Brewery is known for bold flavors and creative beer names. Their taproom features a rustic atmosphere with board games available.
Signature beers:
- OVB (Orange Vanilla Bullsicle)
- There’s No Crying In Baseball (Cracker Jack Porter)
- Moo-Caccino (Coffee Milk Stout)
The brewery hosts themed events and beer release parties. Food trucks visit on weekends.
Climax Brewing Co
Climax Brewing Co is one of New Jersey’s oldest craft breweries. Their taproom offers a traditional pub atmosphere.
Core beers:
- ESB (Extra Special Bitter)
- Nut Brown Ale
- India Pale Ale
The brewery provides tours by appointment. Visitors can purchase growlers and cans to take home.
Magnify Brewing Company
Magnify Brewing Company specializes in hop-forward beers. Their modern taproom features a minimalist design with communal seating.
Popular offerings:
- Vine Shine (IPA)
- Low Visibility (Double IPA)
- Search Saison
The brewery releases new canned beers weekly. A loyalty program rewards frequent visitors.
Brix City Brewing
Brix City Brewing focuses on New England-style IPAs and sour beers. Their taproom offers a laid-back atmosphere with outdoor seating.
Notable brews:
- Gloria (New England IPA)
- Jams (Fruited Sour Series)
- Porter Authority (Baltic Porter)
The brewery hosts trivia nights and food pop-ups. Visitors can join brewery tours on weekends.
Exploring Newark’s Beer Styles
Newark’s craft beer scene offers a diverse range of beer styles to satisfy every palate. Local breweries experiment with traditional and innovative recipes, showcasing their skill and creativity.
Ales
Newark’s breweries produce a variety of ales, from light and crisp to rich and complex. Pale ales are popular, featuring balanced hop bitterness and malt sweetness. Brown ales offer nutty, caramel flavors with a smooth finish.
Some breweries craft Belgian-inspired ales, incorporating unique yeast strains for fruity and spicy notes. Wheat ales provide a refreshing option, often infused with citrus or other fruit flavors.
Local brewers also experiment with sour ales, using wild yeast and bacteria to create tart, funky profiles. These beers appeal to adventurous drinkers seeking new taste experiences.
IPAs
India Pale Ales dominate Newark’s craft beer landscape. Breweries offer a range of IPA styles, from traditional West Coast versions to hazy New England IPAs.
West Coast IPAs feature bold hop bitterness, pine, and citrus flavors. New England IPAs showcase tropical fruit aromas and a smooth, juicy mouthfeel. Double and Triple IPAs push hop intensity and alcohol content to new levels.
Session IPAs provide a lower-alcohol alternative without sacrificing hop character. Many Newark breweries also create fruit-infused IPAs, adding flavors like mango, grapefruit, or passion fruit to complement the hop profile.
Stouts
Newark’s craft breweries embrace the dark side with a variety of stouts. Classic dry Irish stouts offer roasted coffee and chocolate notes with a creamy texture.
Milk stouts incorporate lactose for added sweetness and body. Imperial stouts bring intense flavors and higher alcohol content, often aged in bourbon barrels for depth and complexity.
Brewers experiment with adjuncts like coffee, vanilla, and coconut to create unique stout variations. Some even blend stouts with other styles, like coffee porters or oatmeal brown ales, for intriguing hybrid beers.
Best Beer Bars and Taprooms
Newark offers several excellent venues for craft beer enthusiasts. These establishments showcase a variety of local and regional brews, providing unique taproom experiences.
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que
Dinosaur Bar-B-Que combines hearty barbecue with an impressive beer selection. The bar features 25 taps, focusing on craft beers from New Jersey and the Northeast.
Popular local breweries like Four City Brewing Company and Newark Local Beer are often represented. The industrial-chic atmosphere complements the robust flavors of both the food and drinks.
Happy hour specials run weekdays from 3-7 PM, offering discounted pints and appetizers. The outdoor seating area provides a lively spot for summer evening drinks.
McGovern’s Tavern
McGovern’s Tavern, established in 1936, balances historic charm with a modern craft beer selection. This Irish pub maintains 12 rotating taps, showcasing a mix of traditional and craft brews.
The bar hosts monthly “Meet the Brewer” events, allowing patrons to interact directly with local brewers. McGovern’s also offers a curated bottle list featuring hard-to-find seasonal releases.
Its cozy interior, complete with dark wood paneling and vintage photographs, creates an inviting atmosphere for beer exploration. The knowledgeable staff provides helpful recommendations for both novices and aficionados.
MMM Bello’s
MMM Bello’s stands out for its extensive craft beer menu, boasting over 30 taps and 100 bottled varieties. This family-owned establishment has been a Newark staple since 1991.
The bar features a weekly “tap takeover” highlighting different breweries. Bello’s also hosts beer pairing dinners, collaborating with local chefs to create unique culinary experiences.
A spacious outdoor beer garden provides an ideal setting for sampling flights of seasonal brews. The bar’s loyalty program rewards frequent visitors with exclusive tastings and discounts on rare releases.
Seasonal and Special Release Events
Newark’s craft beer scene comes alive with seasonal and special release events throughout the year. Local breweries embrace the changing seasons by crafting unique brews that capture the essence of each time of year.
Spring brings refreshing wheat beers and fruit-infused ales to taprooms across the city. Beer enthusiasts flock to taste limited-edition cherry blossom and strawberry-rhubarb brews that embody the flavors of the season.
Summer heralds the arrival of crisp lagers and session IPAs perfect for warm weather. Many breweries host outdoor events featuring food trucks and live music to complement their sunny seasonal offerings.
Fall ushers in a wave of pumpkin ales, Oktoberfest lagers, and harvest-inspired brews. Local beer makers often collaborate with nearby farms to incorporate fresh ingredients like apples and squash into their autumnal creations.
Winter sees the release of rich stouts, barrel-aged beers, and warming spiced ales. Special tapping events and vertical tastings of aged varieties draw crowds seeking bold flavors to combat the cold.
Throughout the year, Newark’s craft breweries also unveil one-off experimental batches and anniversary releases. These limited-edition beers generate buzz among local beer aficionados and often sell out quickly.
Local Food Pairings
Newark’s craft beer scene offers excellent opportunities to pair local brews with delicious food. The city’s diverse culinary landscape complements its craft beer offerings, creating memorable flavor combinations for beer enthusiasts and food lovers alike.
Beer Garden Favorites
Beer gardens in Newark serve up tasty bites that pair perfectly with craft brews. Pretzels with beer cheese dip are a classic choice, offering a salty crunch that enhances hoppy IPAs. Grilled bratwurst on a roll with sauerkraut matches well with amber lagers or pilsners. For vegetarian options, beer-battered onion rings or crispy Brussels sprouts provide a satisfying contrast to malty ales.
Many beer gardens feature rotating food truck schedules. These mobile kitchens often serve specialty tacos, gourmet sliders, or fusion dishes that complement the beer selection. Wood-fired pizzas with unique toppings are another popular offering, their crisp crusts and savory flavors pairing nicely with various beer styles.
Irish Pub Classics
Newark’s Irish pubs offer hearty fare that pairs wonderfully with stouts, ales, and lagers. Fish and chips is a staple, its crispy batter and flaky white fish complementing the roasted notes of a dry stout. Shepherd’s pie, with its savory meat filling and creamy mashed potato topping, stands up well to robust red ales.
Bangers and mash, featuring juicy sausages and creamy potatoes, pair excellently with Irish red ales or cream ales. For a lighter option, potato skins loaded with cheese and bacon bits make a great snack alongside a crisp lager. Many pubs also serve traditional Irish soda bread, its slightly sweet flavor balancing the bitterness of IPAs or pale ales.
Craft Beer Shopping in Newark
Newark offers several options for craft beer enthusiasts looking to stock up on their favorite brews. Coolvines Newark stands out as a popular destination for craft beer shopping in the city.
This establishment provides a curated selection of local and national craft beers. Customers can find both bottled and canned options from various breweries.
Oporto Wines & Liquors is another noteworthy spot for craft beer purchases. They carry a diverse range of craft beers alongside their wine and liquor offerings.
For those seeking a wider selection, Total Wine & More in nearby locations stocks an extensive array of craft beers. Their inventory includes both well-known and hard-to-find craft brews.
Newark Local Beer, while primarily a brewery, also offers their craft beers for takeaway purchase. This allows beer lovers to enjoy locally-made brews at home.
Several smaller liquor stores throughout Newark also carry craft beer selections. These include Garcia’s Liquor Depot and Lisbon Wines & Liquors.
When shopping for craft beer in Newark, consumers can expect to find products from New Jersey breweries as well as national craft beer brands. Many stores offer mix-and-match options, allowing customers to create their own variety packs.
Joining the Beer Community
Newark’s craft beer scene offers numerous opportunities for enthusiasts to connect and engage. Local breweries frequently host tasting events, allowing beer lovers to sample new flavors and meet like-minded individuals.
Many establishments organize brewery tours, providing insights into the beer-making process. These tours often conclude with guided tastings, enhancing participants’ knowledge of different beer styles.
Social media platforms play a crucial role in the craft beer community. Following local breweries on Instagram or Facebook keeps enthusiasts informed about upcoming releases and events.
Beer clubs and membership programs are popular among dedicated craft beer fans. These groups often offer exclusive access to limited-edition brews and special events.
Volunteering at beer festivals is another way to immerse oneself in the scene. It provides a chance to interact with brewers and fellow beer enthusiasts while supporting the local craft beer industry.
Many Newark bars organize regular beer-focused trivia nights or “tap takeovers” featuring specific breweries. These events create a fun, social atmosphere for discovering new brews and meeting other craft beer fans.
Homebrewing clubs welcome both novice and experienced brewers. They offer a platform to share techniques, recipes, and passion for craft beer creation.
Responsible Enjoyment
Craft beer enthusiasts in Newark, NJ should prioritize responsible drinking practices. Moderation is key when sampling the city’s diverse beer offerings.
Know your limits and pace yourself. Craft beers often have higher alcohol content than mass-produced lagers. Sip slowly to savor the flavors and aromas.
Stay hydrated by alternating between beer and water. This helps prevent dehydration and reduces the risk of overconsumption.
Never drink and drive. Use rideshare services, public transportation, or designate a sober driver when exploring Newark’s craft beer scene.
Many Newark breweries offer flight options. These smaller pours allow patrons to taste multiple beers without overindulging.
Consider joining guided brewery tours. These provide a structured, educational experience while promoting responsible consumption.
Eat before and during your craft beer outings. Food helps slow alcohol absorption and maintains blood sugar levels.
Remember, craft beer appreciation is about quality, not quantity. Focus on the unique flavors and brewing techniques rather than excessive consumption.
