New Jersey Beer Festivals - Events and Schedules

New Jersey beer festivals play host to a well over 50 major breweries and micro breweries with many brew masters and staff available to provide information on over 250 beers and ales.

NJ has made a mark in the beer brewing history of the United States.

During the late 19th century, New Jersey was considered to be the nations hub of breweries and was home to some of the largest breweries in the United States.

New Jersey Beer Label

With a large German immigrant population, there were many brew masters and owners who preserved the style of beer from their homelands. During the 1880s, there were no less than six breweries in Newark, NJ alone.

In 1935, the G. Krueger Brewing Company of Newark, New Jersey became the first brewer to market beer in steel cans. In that year, only about 25 percent of beer was packaged in bottles and cans -- the rest was kegged. Today, however, about 90 percent of America's beer production is consumed from bottles and cans.

2012 New Jersey Beer Festivals

January 2012 - NJ Beer Festivals

Hyper-local Kane Brewery Tasting Dinner
Thursday, January 19, 2012, 6:30
Salt Creek Grille
Rumson, NJ
732-933-9272
www.saltcreekgrille.com
bpenta@saltcreekgrille.com
New Jersey native Michael Kane will host a craft beer tasting dinner with beers from his new Kane Brewing Company, Ocean Township, paired with a special menu prepared by Executive Chef Bob Belt and Sous Chef Michael Keating. The four course pairing is $53 per person excluding tax and gratuity. In addition each guest with a pre-paid ticket will receive a $20 reward card with no expiration date to be used in Salt Creek Grille's main dining room.

February 2012 - NJ Beer Festival

International Great Beer Expo
Saturday, February 4, 2012, 12 Noon
Meadowlands Expo Center
355 Plaza Drive
Secaucus, NJ
(631) 940-7290
This event features over 100 beers from over 20 countries representing more than 50 international breweries. In addition to America's best breweries you'll be tasting the beers of Japan, Germany, France, Belgium, Italy, Ireland, Mexico, Austria, Nicaragua, Thailand, Poland, New Zealand, Indonesia, Sweden, China, and others. You'll be able to use your souvenir 6-ounce tasting cup for unlimited 2-ounce pours.

March 2012 - NJ Beer Festivals

Atlantic City Beer Festival
March 30, 3, 2012
Atlantic City Convention Center
1 Ocean Way
Atlantic City NJ 0840
(609) 449-2000
The 2012 event will feature great food, live music, entertainment, guest speakers, and plenty of amazing Beer. This is a huge event wiith more than 200 beers from all over the planet. Sample beers from Samuel Adams, Sierra Nevada, Grolsch, Pete's Wicked Ale, Moosehead, Dog Fish, Guinness, Asahi, Duvel, Magic Hat, Spaten, Red Stripe Beer, Victory Brewing Co and many more. Beer distributors from around the world bring in models in some cases to pour their beers. Fun amenties will also be on hande including autographs by Hooters calendar girls, hit golf balls in a golf simulator, and more.

June 2012 - NJ Beer Festivals

The 16th Annual Garden State Craft Brewers Guild Beer Festival
Saturday, June 23, 2012
1-5pm
Battleship New Jersey
Camden, NJ
856- 996- 1652
Breweries from New Jersey including Flying Fish, JJ Biting, Harvest Moon, River Horse, Triumph, and more will be attending. This is a rain or shine event held on the Fantail under tents. Food & Specialty Vendors will be present along with entertainment by the Cabin Dogs. Attendees will receive
a sampling glass with logo and a self-guided tour of the Battleship.

Last Year's Beer Festivals

September 2011 - NJ Beer Festivals

BBQ and Craft Beer Festival
Saturday, September 3 & Sunday September 4, 2011
Monmouth Park Racetrack
Oceanport Avenue
Oceanport, NJ 07757
(732) 222-5100
This is an annual beer tasting weekend event at the racetrack that features the tasting of beer from around the world including many specialty micro brews.
Grandstand admission $3, children 12 and under admitted FREE to the park (under 21 not permitted in beer garden, no exceptions)
General Parking $3: Gates open 11:30 am, Beer Garden 12 - 5 pm
Live Thoroughbred racing begins at 12:50 pm
$10 = ten 2 oz samples of your choice and includes commemorative 2 oz Pilsner tasting glass. BBQ available for cash purchase

History & Hops Music Festival
Saturday, September 3 and Sunday September 4, 2011
Historic Cold Spring Village
720 US Route 9
Cape May, NJ 08204
(609) 898-2300
A family celebration of music, food, and beer! Features Plenty of musical entertainment including folk traditions and your favorite South Jersey performers along with craft brews and specialty beers from a variety breweries. Admission: $10 adults & $8 children

Celebrating 20 Years with 20 Beers
Saturday, September 17, 2011, from 4 to 7 p.m.
Schooley's Mountain Lodge
54 Camp Washington Rd.
Long Valley, NJ
908-832-9603
This 20th anniversary event, featuring local NJ beers, is a fund raiser to benefit land conservation and historic preservation projects. Attendees Participants will get to have beer tastings presented by the Long Valley Pub and Brewery and Peapack Fine Wines, and hors d'oeuvres in a rustic lodge overlooking a scenic lake. Tickets are $35 per person in advance and $40 at the door.

Central Jersey 5th Annual Charity Beer Fest
Saturday, September 24, 2011
1:00PM - 5:00PM
Parker Press Park
downtown Woodbridge, NJ (just across from the brewpub)
jjbitting1@comcast.net
732-634-2929
Sponsored by J.J. Bitting Brewing Co., this event features many breweries in attendance with live music, food, and fun. Proceeds from this event will go to charity to support a local family with medical needs. Tickets are $25 for drinkers and $10 for non-drinkers and include a souvenir sampler glass and a day of tasting some of the finest beers anywhere. Free parking is available. Rain date is the following Saturday, October 1st.

3rd Annual Harvest Fest and NJ Micro brew Night
September 24, 2011
St James School Gymnasium
200 So. Finley Ave.
Basking Ridge, NJ
6:30 PM - 10:00 PM
Hosted by the Saint James Men of Charity who are dedicated to performing acts of charity and service inside and outside the parish community.
The event features German Fest foods and music as well as micro brew samplings donated by NJ breweries and home brewers. Participants from last year include: Cricket Hill Brewery, Climax Brewery, Ramstein, Harvest Moon Brewery, Trap Rock Brewery, River Horse Brewing Co., NJ Beer Co., East Coast Brewing Co. and Flying Fish Brewery. Home brewers are welcome. Tickets $40 – adults only. Mark Balzarotti 908-340-4117. Checks payable to St. James Men of Charity.

October 2011 - NJ Beer Festivals

Asbury Park Beerfest
Saturday Oct 8, 2011 at 12:00PM
Asbury Park Convention Hall
Asbury Park, New Jersey
http://www.wrat.com/Beerfest2011.aspx
The event will feature "craft" beers from all over the world as well as the iconic retro beers of a drinking time gone by.Tickets to the Asbury Park Beer Festival are available at the Stone Pony Box Office, the Experience Asbury Store, and the Boardwalk Concierge / Ticketing Center located in the Boardwalk Grand Arcade.

Note: This information is provided by event sponsors as a free service to our viewers. If you are planning to attend one of these events, it is suggested that you call the event sponsor to confirm the event schedule or for additional information on the event.