The craft brewing scene in New Jersey has grown substantially over the past decade, and in picturesque Hunterdon County, craft breweries now dot the map in seven towns.
Each of these hometown breweries are popular with their local community members and beer enthusiasts alike, yet each has its own unique setting and beer style — making them fun destinations for exploring and sampling over a day or weekend. A new guide makes it easy to plan a tour — the Hunterdon Beer Trail invites visitors and locals to discover Hunterdon County’s craft breweries.
The guide is a partnership between local brewers and the Hunterdon County Economic Development.
The Hunterdon Beer Trail is comprised of Odd Bird Brewing (Stockton), Lone Eagle Brewing (Flemington), Conclave Brewing (Raritan Township), Highrail Brewing (High Bridge), Descendants Brewing Company at the Old Ship Inn (Milford), Sunken Silo Brew Works (Lebanon), and Readington Brewery & Hop Farm (Readington).
Jeff Donlon opened Sunken Silo Brew Works on Route 22 in Lebanon about two years ago.
“Although we are somewhat spread out, Hunterdon County is a community of neighbors, and we enjoy getting to know the cyclists, kayakers, runners, and beer lovers from throughout Hunterdon and beyond,” Donion said. “Hunterdon is a special place, and when I opened up my business, the other brewers went out of their way to help with anything I needed.”
Bob King, co-owner of Lone Eagle Brewing in Flemington, has been organizing the breweries around the Hunterdon Beer Trail project.
“We are excited to put all the information together in one place making it easy to learn about our craft breweries, see upcoming events, preview Tap Lists, and plan a day (or two) along the Hunterdon Beer Trail,” King said
The Hunterdon Beer Trail is a one-stop map and guide to Hunterdon’s seven craft breweries. Seasonal promotions will reward visitors through a passport program — visitors who get a stamp at each brewery location are rewarded with a commemorative pint glass or other merchandise. A launch of the Passport Program earlier this year was “very successful,” according to King.
“We were blown away by the demand, and we are planning to print a lot more passports for our next promotion this winter which will be announced on the website,” he said.
Odd Bird Brewing
10 Risler St., Stockton
Located near the Delaware and Raritan Canal Towpath, Odd Bird Brewing shares space with a service station, and oddly enough, the space is delightful. The tasting room was designed and built by hand by local owners/brewers Adam Juncosa and Karen Malzone. The tables and bar were constructed and finished by the pair from a single red oak tree, and the attention to detail and craftsmanship extends to their beer making.
Brews: Known for classic, clean styles of traditional beers. On tap, you may find a Kolsch, Pilsner, assortment of Sours, or a draft from the hand-pulled cask.
Interesting Fact: Spent grain goes to the neighbors at the Gorgeous Goat Creamery and Haxton Homestead to feed the animals.
Lone Eagle Brewing
44 Stangl Road, Flemington
Lone Eagle Brewing and the historic Stangl Factory complex are two anchors of bustling Stangl Road – a lively street that is often the site of festivals and events. Art galleries, shops, and restaurants are all within walking distance. Spacious patio seating surrounds Lone Eagle. Inside the light and airy space includes a large tasting room and a private events space on the second floor. Owners Bob and Caroline and Todd and Diane are friendly hands-on owners who recently celebrated the 5th anniversary of the brewery.
Brews: Serving a variety of styles in both lager and ale varieties, as well as kettle sours, Kolsch, Porters, Stouts, and IPAs. Award winners include: Maiden Flight West Coast Style IPA and Station Lager (Vienna style lager).
Interesting Fact: Historic Flemington was the site of the infamous 1935 Lindbergh trial. Charles Lindbergh, the first to fly solo, non-stop across the Atlantic Ocean, was known as the Lone Eagle, and hence the name Lone Eagle Brewing is a nod to local history.
Conclave Brewing
11 Minneakoning Road, Raritan Township
Conclave Brewing is owned by Hunterdon residents Carl Alfaro and Tim Bouton. Tucked into a nondescript industrial building, the picnic tables, hanging lights, and outdoor patio let you know there’s something special going on. Inside a sleek and spacious taproom serves up renowned craft brews, and on the weekends live music can be found indoors or outside on the large patio.
Brews: Serving a well-rounded tap list, including customer favorite Gravitational Waves hazy IPA. The owner/brewer’s favorite is Clearly Pils Pilsner.
Interesting Fact: The spacious taproom and brewery used to be an indoor basketball court.
Highrail Brewing
20 Main St., High Bridge
Highrail Brewing Company is a family-owned micro craft brewery located on the charming Main Street in High Bridge. The welcoming taproom and outdoor seating area features vintage furniture and repurposed materials. Located near the Columbia Trail, a scenic 15-mile rail-trail, the brewery is a favorite destination for bikers and hikers.
Brews: Serving quality craft beer brewed in small batches, balancing traditional styles with uniqueness and innovation.
Interesting Fact: The name Highrail is a combination of “High Bridge” (brewery location) and the railroads that once existed in the town. The Central Railroad High
Bridge Branch (now the Columbia Trail) intersected with the line currently used by NJ Transit’s Raritan Valley Line and a spur that once served the factories in town.
Descendants Brewing Company at the Old Ship Inn
61 Bridge St., Milford
Joe and Ana David chose the name “Descendants” as a nod to their family history and the legacy of the Old Ship Inn, built-in 1879. The site has been a tavern, a speakeasy, a bakery, and the site of New Jersey’s oldest craft brewery which opened in 1995. Inside the pub retains its European charm with rich details including exposed beams and an original Victorian tin ceiling. Descendants Brewing is a brewpub with a full liquor license and food menu, and both food and drink selections artfully represent the history and flavors of the UK, Belgium, Germany, and the US.
Brews: Serving a rich mix in different styles and traditions including “Flashback Series” - traditional British brews; “Descendants Ales” - inspired by Joe and Ana’s German, Belgium and American heritage; and “Hidden Nation” brews which highlight unexpected flavors from around the world. “August Toth’s Cocktail Menu,” named after the speakeasy’s proprietor, features specialty drinks crafted with fresh ingredients and homemade syrups.
Interesting Fact: Descendants features an extensive collection of over 200 whiskeys from Scotland, Ireland, and the US. They offer whiskey flights and host a whiskey club and tasting events.
Sunken Silo Brew Works
1320 Route 22, Lebanon
A small craft brewery in the middle of Hunterdon County, Sunken Silo opened two years ago, on Route 22 West in Lebanon, NJ. Inside, the brewery is clean and modern, with soaring ceilings and an open airy feel. Under a big tent, the beer garden is over 2,000
square feet, and wind protection and heaters make it a year-round destination. Local music compliments the scene, check the website for schedules.
Brews: Serving a broad selection of approachable beers in a variety of styles, the beer menu is conveniently organized into “Hop Forward,” “Not Hop Forward,” and “Jazzy, Spicy, Tart, Funky.” Customer favorites include Bearded Flannel Cat, a New England style IPA, and Wystouti an American nitro stout. A brewer’s favorite is Deemed Essential, a pilsner.
Interesting Fact: The name Sunken Silo is a homage to the farming village that used to exist on the site of the Round Valley reservoir. In the 1960s the state of NJ bought up properties to create reservoirs, and an underwater “ghost town” was created, the remains of which now sit 200 feet below the deepest reservoir in New Jersey.
Readington Brewery & Hop Farm
937 Route 202 south, Neshanic Station
Founded in 2019, the Readington Hop Farm is one of the largest hop farms in the State of New Jersey. Owners Dan Aron and Braun Kiess have taken the next step and opened their “Bine to Stein” ™ or “field to glass” brewery. The family-friendly farm and brewery features a tasting room, outside event space, and farm-fresh produce will be available in season.
Brews: By combining farm-fresh ingredients with both traditional and adventurous brewing styles the Readington Brewery will “create one-of-a-kind craft beers, with a relentless focus on quality and taste.”
Interesting Fact: Readington Brewery & Hop Farm is the only farm in the Northeast growing Michigan Cooper™ a new varietal of hop developed by Great Lake Hops. The brewery produces exciting new brews that “embody the uniqueness of this hop and our terroir.”
Please note that craft breweries, by New Jersey law, are not allowed to serve food. All Hunterdon craft breweries allow guests to bring food, and local restaurants make it easy for patrons to order food with special menus and deliveries to the nearby breweries.
The Hunterdon Beer Trail initiative was launched earlier this year by the local breweries, Hunterdon County Tourism Partnership, and funded by the county’s Office of Economic Development. Individuals can stay up to date with the Hunterdon Beer Trail by following its Facebook and Instagram pages. The Hunterdon County Tourism Partnership also funds the hunterdon579trail.com, which highlights Hunterdon’s farms and farm markets, and hunterdonmainstreets.com, which highlights the attractions of Hunterdon’s historic downtowns.