Favorite Jersey Shore Breweries

5 Favorite Jersey 5 Favorite Jersey Shore Breweries Shore Breweries

By Peter Culos, Craft Beer Contributor JerseyBites.com If sun, sand, and surf aren’t enough for you, the Jersey shore offers another one of life’s great pleasures.

Beer. We’re practically awash in the stuff. The amount of great beer being produced up and down our shoreline is staggering. There are roughly 130 small breweries operating in New Jersey and about a quarter of them skirt the coastline. So, whatever shore town you wind up in there’s at least one craft brewery close by.

Jersey shore locals have their favorite breweries too. It might be that little store front sized place down the street or the one with the giant gleaming tanks and a killer view of the ocean. How about the one that makes your favorite IPA or that quirky Saison? Here are five of my favorites.

Carton Brewing

Located at the northern tip of the Jersey shore in Atlantic Highlands Carton Brewing is one of the most creative breweries in the state. Co-owner Augie Carton is often inspired by food and flavors when designing a beer recipe. The tap room, with it’s exposed brick and roughhewn timber is as cozy as it gets. Back in 2011, when I first talked to Augie, he said that if this brewery thing didn’t work out he’d still have one cool man cave! Well, it certainly worked out. (Nearby notable: Ross Brewing - dock and drink coming soon.)

Kane Brewing

Kane’s location in may not be as picturesque as Carton’s but, having opened the same year (2012), they’re another OG of the Jersey craft beer scene. Owner Michael Kane’s love of surfing and all things littoral show up in beer names like Head High and Sneakbox. They do everything well, but their IPAs and Imperial Stouts are world class. (Nearby notable: Jughandle Brewing - 2 rights = 1 left)

Little Dog Brewing

This Neptune brewery is, well, little. Owner, brewer, and dog lover Gretchen Schmidhausler is the first lady of brewing in the Garden State and her storefront brewery produces wonderful little beers. I really do mean little. Coming in on the lower end of the ABV scale, “small” in beer parlance, they are still packed with flavor. The diminutive taproom is simply adorable. (Nearby notable: Beach Haus Brewing - what a view!)

Last Wave Brewing

Not all of the fun in Point Pleasant Beach is located on the boardwalk. Last Wave is located in the upcoming downtown area and sports a distinct beachy surfer vibe. That’s not surprising since owners Bert Roling and Nick Jiorle are die hard surfers. The atmosphere is fun and friendly, and the beer selection rolls from lager to fruited sours to IPAs and even some dark stuff. When the beach day is over, you need a beer. (Nearby notable: Icarus Brewing - more IPAs!)

Battle River Brewing

Just steps from the Toms River, in its namesake town center, and near the site of a Revolutionary War dust-up, Battle River is a gem. They have a diverse and creative tap list and really embrace the local community. Local restaurants provide menus daily and will deliver your order if you need a nosh with your beer. Time your visit with Downtown Toms River night for even more fun. Every Friday and Saturday night from May through October there’s a street festival right outside their door. (Nearby notable: Heavy Reel Brewing - big and bold.) Well, those are my favorites in my neck of the woods but there’s a lot more shore to explore!