There’s no shortage of beer festivals in New Jersey these days, but every once in a while, you attend one that really stands out. This past Saturday, my fiancé and I spent the evening at the Meadowlands Beer Festival in East Rutherford, New Jersey, and it turned out to be one of the more enjoyable craft beer events we’ve attended in a while.
With around 60 breweries pouring throughout the night, the festival brought together a strong mix of well-known New Jersey breweries, newer craft beer brands, and regional favorites. Add in live horse racing, music from a live DJ, and a relaxed crowd of beer lovers, and it made for a pretty fun way to spend a Saturday night.
For anyone interested in exploring the local craft beer scene, this festival offered a great opportunity to sample a wide range of styles while actually talking to the people behind the beer.
A Strong Showcase of New Jersey Craft Breweries
One of the best parts of the Meadowlands Beer Festival was how many local breweries were represented. Instead of feeling like a generic beer event filled mostly with large national brands, this festival leaned heavily into New Jersey craft beer.
Some of the local breweries pouring at the event included:
- Bolero Snort Brewery
- Ghost Hawk Brewing Company
- Montclair Brewery
- Hackensack Brewing Company
- Czig Meister Brewing
- Glenbrook Brewery
- MudHen Brewing Company
- Carton Brewing
- 902 Brewing Co.
- Departed Soles Brewing Company
- Asturia Brewing Co.
There’s something different about beer festivals when the breweries themselves are pouring the beer. You’re not just grabbing a sample and moving on. You actually get to hear the stories behind the breweries, learn how they got started, and talk with the brewers and staff about what they’re creating.
That personal side of craft beer is what makes events like this more memorable.
Starting Light and Working Toward the Dark Beers
Since my fiancé and I are usually more focused on wine tasting, we approached the festival the same way we would a winery visit. We started with lighter beers first and slowly worked our way toward the darker and heavier styles later in the evening.
The ticket included a small tasting glass, which honestly ended up being the perfect size. After only a few rounds, those small pours started adding up quickly.
There was a good variety of beer styles throughout the festival, including:
- Pilsners
- Light lagers
- IPAs
- Fruited sours
- Stouts
- Porters
- Experimental seasonal beers
That mix made the event approachable for both casual beer drinkers and longtime craft beer fans. Even if you aren’t someone who regularly drinks heavy IPAs or dark stouts, there were still plenty of easy-drinking options available.
Asturia Brewing Was One of the More Interesting Stops
One brewery that really stood out during the evening was Asturia Brewing Co.
Asturia officially opened its first American brewery this week in Hackensack, New Jersey, after previously operating taprooms in Brazil. The brewery focuses on Brazilian-inspired craft beer with tropical influences and small batch brewing.
Their beers brought something a little different to the festival compared to the more traditional craft beer styles being poured elsewhere. The tropical flavor profiles and Brazilian influence helped separate them from the crowd.
It’s always interesting seeing new breweries enter the New Jersey craft beer scene, especially when they’re bringing a different perspective or brewing style with them. For Bergen County beer fans, Asturia is definitely one to keep an eye on over the next year.
The Atmosphere Helped Make the Festival Better
Beer festivals can sometimes feel overcrowded or rushed, but the Meadowlands Beer Festival had a pretty relaxed atmosphere overall.
The live DJ kept the energy going throughout the night without overpowering the event, and the horse racing happening nearby added something unique that you don’t usually get at a typical brewery festival.
The crowd also helped. Most people were there simply to enjoy local beer, talk with the breweries, and spend time with friends. It never felt overly chaotic.
That balance between entertainment and beer tasting is what made the night work well.
Comparing It to Other New Jersey Tasting Festivals
Last year, I attended the Meadowlands Wine Festival, and while that event was enjoyable in its own way, I honestly thought the Meadowlands Beer Festival was the stronger overall experience. A big reason for that was the brewery interaction.
At the Meadowlands event, many of the people pouring were directly connected to the breweries themselves. That created more conversations and made the event feel more personal, instead of simply moving from table to table, collecting samples.
You could hear how certain breweries started, what inspired different beer styles, and what newer projects they’re currently working on for people who enjoy learning about local craft beverages, which added a lot to the experience.
Why Local Craft Beer Festivals Matter
Events like the Meadowlands Beer Festival are important for the New Jersey craft beer scene because they give smaller breweries exposure to people who may never have visited their taprooms otherwise.
A single tasting sample can turn someone into a future customer.
It also gives newer breweries a chance to introduce themselves to the public alongside some of the more established names in New Jersey craft beer.
New Jersey has quietly built a very strong brewery scene over the last decade. From North Jersey down to the shore, there are now breweries producing everything from traditional lagers to heavily fruited sours and barrel-aged stouts.
Beer festivals are one of the easiest ways to explore that variety in one place.
Breweries Featured at the Festival
Here’s some contact information for several of the breweries mentioned from the event if you’re interested in visiting their taprooms.
Bolero Snort Brewery
- Address: 316 20th Street, Carlstadt, NJ 07072
- Phone: (201) 880-7281
Ghost Hawk Brewing Company
- Address: 321 River Road, Clifton, NJ 07014
- Phone: (973) 713-1503
Montclair Brewery
- Address: 101 Walnut Street, Montclair, NJ 07042
- Phone: (973) 509-5412
Hackensack Brewing Company
- Address: 78 Johnson Avenue, Hackensack, NJ 07601
- Phone: (201) 880-1768
Czig Meister Brewing Company
- Address: 106 Valentine Street, Hackettstown, NJ 07840
- Phone: (908) 852-2739
Glenbrook Brewery
- Address: 95 Morris Street, Morristown, NJ 07960
- Phone: (973) 326-8600
MudHen Brewing Company
- Address: 127 West Rio Grande Avenue, Wildwood, NJ 08260
- Phone: (609) 846-7918
Carton Brewing
- Address: 6 East Washington Avenue, Atlantic Highlands, NJ 07716
- Phone: (732) 654-2337
902 Brewing Co.
- Address: 101 Pacific Avenue, Jersey City, NJ 07304
- Phone: (201) 839-2337
Departed Soles Brewing Company
- Address: 150 Bay Street, Jersey City, NJ 07302
- Phone: (201) 402-1505
Asturia Brewing Co.
- Address: 155 Lodi Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601
- Phone: (201) 250-8270
Final Thoughts on the Meadowlands Beer Festival
Overall, the Meadowlands Beer Festival ended up being one of the more enjoyable New Jersey beer events I’ve attended recently.
Between the strong local brewery turnout, the relaxed atmosphere, and the opportunity to try a wide range of craft beer styles, it felt like a good representation of how much the New Jersey craft beer scene continues to grow.
Whether you’re someone deeply involved in craft beer or just looking for a fun night out with friends, this is the kind of event that offers a little bit of everything.
I’d definitely recommend checking it out if you enjoy supporting local breweries and discovering new beers along the way. What are some beer festivals you’ve enjoyed in the past?
