Best NJ Beer Festivals and Events

New Jersey beer festivals play host to well over 100 major breweries and micro breweries

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.

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.

At this time, and until further notice, COVID-19 executive orders in effect apply to large public gatherings such as concerts, festivals, and fireworks.

Some outdoor recreational areas and businesses have been able to restart their operations. These include;
Beaches, State and Municipal Parks, and recreational campgrounds are open for passive recreation, including fishing, hunting, boating, canoeing, kayaking, hiking, jogging, biking, birding, horseback riding, and more.

Atlantic City's casinos will be able to reopen July 2 at 25% capacity.
Playgrounds and outdoor amusement parks, water parks, and arcades in the Garden State can also reopen on July 2. Parks and boardwalk rides will be limited to 50% of typical guest capacity and must enforce social-distancing rules on rides and in lines. Face coverings for guests and staff are required

Currently most public gatherings are limited: Indoor gatherings are limited to 25% capacity of the rooms in which they will take place, with a maximum of 100 persons. Outdoor gatherings are limited to 500 persons.

Restaurants are open for outdoor dining only. Indoor dining has been postponed until further notice

With near term cancellations occurring at a rapid rate, and despite trying to remove them as soon as we learn of the cancellations or restrictions, we recommend viewers contact the event sponsors before heading out to a listed event to confirm their status.

August 2020 NJ Beer Festivals

The Beer BBQ Bacon Showdown
Saturday, August 1, 2020: 12PM – 5PM
Firemens Field
144 Beach St
Rockaway, NJ
Website (tickets & event schedule)
Cost: $20, $60, $90
This event features only New Jersey Beer, coupled with restaurants, gourmet food trucks & Chefs, offering a delectable array of mouth watering BBQ & Bacon creations, all available for purchase. There will be a competition to showcase their culinary skills, with a panel of celebrity judges choosing the best of the best, along with People's Choice awards for Best Dish & Best Beer. 30 New Jersey Breweries will be in attendance, each bringing 4 styles of Beer. One of these styles will be either a rare Beer or a Brew created specifically for this event. The event will take place outdoors and under tents, with some fantastic Music!

Manahopkin - Craft Beer and Music Festival
Saturday, August 1st, 2020; 11:30am to 8:30pm
Manahawkin Lake Park
193 East Bay Avenue
Manahawkin, NJ
Website
Cost: $25 for each session
This family friendly Craft Beer and Music Festival features over 50 different beers from 25 breweries, local food, and live music.. Those who will not be drinking will be admitted at no cost. Drinkers will be required to buy a glass and tickets for beer samples, allowing you to sample as many beers as you wish.
Two sessions: 11:30am-3:30pm and 4:30pm-8:30pm

Cheers in Chester Wine & Beer Festival
Saturday, August 15, 2020; 3PM – 7PM
Municipal Field
134 Main St,
Chester, NJ
Website
Cost: $15 – $55
This event features over 100 styles of craft beer & wine, fantastic live music, delicious food & wonderful vendors. Plus it's a Benefit for the Chester First Aid Squad!

Edison's Food Wine & Beer Festival
Saturday August 22, 2020; 12:00 PM - 8:00 PM
Lake Papainni Park
Edison, NJ
Website
732-738-9482
Cost: $5, Kids under 10 are Free
This annual family event features Wine & Craft Brewers including Edison's Cypress Brewery, face painting and activities for the kids, live entertainment, local vendors, artists and retailers.

September 2020 New Jersey Beer Festivals

Crafts and Drafts at Jersey Girl Brewing
Saturday, September 12, 2020 at 2 PM – 7 PM
426 Sand Shore Rd,
Hackettstown, NJ
Facebook page
Cost: Free
This indoor craft market features 22 local artisans. Patrons are welcome to bring or have delivered their own food into the brewery. Free admission into the brewery and the market. Children and dogs are warmly welcomed! Beer is available for purchase.

New Jersey Motorsports Park for the Designer Wraps Beer Fest
September 12, 2020; 4PM - 8PM.
8000 Dividing Creek Rd
Millville, NJ
Website / Tickets
Cost: $35, early entry tickets at $45, and VIP tickets at $75 -Parking will be $10 per car - cash only
Celebrate Memorial Day Weekend at NJMP. Attendees of the festival can expect up to 50 craft breweries and over 100 styles of beer, in addition to food trucks, vendors, music, and more. Participating breweries include Founders Brewing Company, Evil Genius Beer Company, Urban Village Brewing Company, Three 3's Brewing Company, Pinelands Brewing Company, and D9 Brewing Company, with more to come. On-track action during Memorial Day Weekend at NJMP includes car club racing on Thunderbolt Raceway and motorcycle club racing on Lightning. Both activities are free for spectators, beginning at 9AM. NJMP also offers go-karting, axe throwing, and paintball.

Harvest Brew Fest
Saturday, September. 12, 2020: 10am-6pm
Emlen Physick Estate
1048 Washington St.
Cape May, NJ 08204
609-884-5404
Website
Admission to the grounds is free and free parking is available..
Enjoy craft beers and celebrate South Jersey during this all-day festival that celebrates all things local! Enjoy local food vendors, local artisans, local craft beers and local musical talent. Taps flow beginning at 10am.

Jersey City Craft Brew Fest
Saturday, September 19, 2020
-Session 1: 1:00pm - 4:30pm -Session 2: 6:00pm - 9:30pm
Harborside 3 Atrium
153 Exchange Place
Jersey City, NJ 07302
Website/Tickets
Cost: $15 – $70
In the spirit of Oktoberfest, a traditional German celebration of beer and countrymen will be held over with more than 150 styles of craft beers featuuring many NJ craft breweries. This event will feature an eclectic local variety of superbly fermented beer and cider in all styles combining the best elements of a Beer Garden with the staggering array of choices found only at a Craft Beer Festival. Guests will enjoy unlimited craft beer samples for the entire evening paired with live entertainment, Food and Interactive Games.

November 2020 New Jersey Beer Festivals

Battleship New Jersey Craft Beer Festival
Rescheduled to November 7, 2020 from June 20, 2020; 12PM – 5PM (rain or shine)
100 Clinton St
Camden, NJ
Website
Cost: $50 - $75
This event features beer tasting, live entertainment, and a free self-guided tour of the nation's most decorated ship. Guests attending the Beer Festival will experience to live music and enjoy some great pub food.

April 2021 New Jersey Beer Festivals

Atlantic City Beer and Music Festival
April 9th & 10th, 2021
Atlantic City Convention Center
Atlantic City, NJ
Tickets & Information
This event features a celebration of a decade of AC music, brews, breweries. Attendees will experience over 1,000 different beers from 150 breweries, the biggest music acts to date, interactive touch points such as life size beer pong and a pop-up jam band space, a state-of-the-art March Madness viewing area and culinary offerings from our favorite AC food and beverage joints.
Music by New Found Glory, Goldfinger, & Against Me.
Three sessions:
Session 1 Friday, 8am - 12:00 am, Session 2 Saturday, 12:00 pm – 4:00 pm, & Session 3 Saturday, 6:00 pm – 10:00 pm