Craving a craft beer this football season? Eight local breweries in North Jersey to visit

Maddie McGay, NorthJersey.com
·5 min read

It's officially September, which means fall weather, football Sundays and enjoying your favorite fall-inspired beverage at the local brewery. North Jersey has a slew of breweries to choose from across its five counties, each with TVs so you can watch your favorite team with a cold beer in hand.

Sometimes, sports bars are not for everyone. So, what's a better alternative than supporting local-made beer in a relaxed environment? This football season, it might be time to take a tour around the Garden State and spend your Sundays at one of the region's many breweries.

Here are eight local breweries across North Jersey where you can spend your football Sundays or discover your next favorite beer to enjoy at home:

Seven Tribesmen Brewing, Wayne

Seven Tribesmen Brewery is located within an old furniture woodworking store.
Seven Tribesmen Brewery is located within an old furniture woodworking store.

Seven Tribesmen Brewing opened as Wayne's first brewery in 2020, offering pick-up only purchases at the height of the COVID-19 pandemic. Now, three years later, the brewery offers a full-service brewery experience.

Housed in an old woodworking shop and art gallery, and named after the Hungarian-American heritage of its owners, the brewery features a custom-made bar, hand-carved tap handles in the style of Szeklerland gravemarkers and a mural on the wall of the Seven Tribesmen chieftains it was named for.

The brewery features a taproom that offers 12 different beers and flights. They also have a beer garden, an outdoor and dog-friendly space where you can enjoy pints and pitchers of your favorite brew.

Go: 1151 Route 23, Wayne; 973-706-7337, seventribesmen.com.

Five Dimes Brewery, Westwood

Five Dimes Brewery in Westwood is located in an old five-and-dime store.
Five Dimes Brewery in Westwood is located in an old five-and-dime store.

One of the newest North Jersey breweries on this list, Five Dimes Brewery in Westwood officially opened in 2022. It's named after the former business located on the site, a five-and-dime store, and features industrial-style rooms, wood tables and bars, lounging couches and a stone fire place. Additionally, there's a pet-friendly rooftop space.

Five Dimes Brewery offers eight taps for craft beers and flights for those looking to try multiple brews. They also offer to-go orders for four-pack cans and growlers. among other things.

Go: 247 Westwood Ave., Westwood; 201-497-8455, fivedimesbrewery.com.

Brix City Brewing, Little Ferry

Brix City Brewing opened its doors in 2015 in Little Ferry by two long-time high school friends. It has become known for its unique New England-style IPAs, and offers a variety of other styles, including sours, traditional Pilsners and Barrel-aged Stouts. The brewery offers as many as 15 beers on tap for its taproom and beer garden visitors.

The brewery also offers to-go purchases, as well as a delivery service.

Go: 4 Alsan Way, Little Ferry; 201-440-0865, brixcitybrewing.com

Hackensack Brewing, Hackensack

Herbert Lamont Barr, one of the owners of Hackensack Brewing Co., at the taproom on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.
Herbert Lamont Barr, one of the owners of Hackensack Brewing Co., at the taproom on Tuesday, January 12, 2021.

Hackensack Brewing Company opened in 2019 and is one of four Black-owned breweries in North Jersey. Located in an open warehouse in Hackensack, the brewery's taproom walls showcases music memorabilia in honor of the city's musical past dating back to the 1950s. One of their mainstay beers, Moment's Notice, is named after the John Coltrane Song recorded at the Van Gelder Studio in Hackensack.

The brewery offers 16 beers on tap, as well as cans. Each beer can label features a map of Hackensack, and many of their beers are named after iconic locations around the city.

Hackensack Brewing Company also offers beer to-go, as well as delivery services for orders placed at least one day in advance.

Go: 78 Johnson Avenue, Hackensack; 201-880-1768, hackensackbrewing.com.

Cricket Hill Brewing Company, Fairfield

Cricket Hill Brewery
Cricket Hill Brewery

Cricket Hill Brewery first opened in 2001, making it one of New Jersey's original craft breweries. The brewery offers indoor seating within the taproom, as well as a pet-friendly outdoor beer garden.

The brewery has a variety of tap and canned craft beer styles available, including IPAs, Ales, Sours, Lagers, Stouts and Bourbon Barrel-aged beers. They also offer 4-packs, growlers and kegs for take-out.

Go: 24 Kulick Road, Fairfield; 973-276-9415, crickethillbrewery.com

Montclair Brewery, Montclair

Montclair Brewery offers up to 12 beers on tap.
Montclair Brewery offers up to 12 beers on tap.

Montclair Brewery officially opened in 2018 as a husband and wife co-owned brewery. It is another of four Black-owned breweries in New Jersey.

The brewery typically offers up to 20 beers on tap with a mix of styles available, including West African and Caribbean styles, as well as traditional European-style beers.

The brewery offers sit-in service at their taproom and has to-go beers available for purchase. They also offer delivery service on Sundays and Wednesdays for orders placed by 5 p.m. the day of delivery.

Go: 101 Walnut St., Montclair; 973-850-0541, montclairbrewery.com

Alementary Brewing Company, Hackensack

Michael Roosevelt (left) and Blake Crawford, co-owners of The Alementary Brewing Co., pictured at the company's site in Hackensack on Mon., Jan. 7, 2019.
Michael Roosevelt (left) and Blake Crawford, co-owners of The Alementary Brewing Co., pictured at the company's site in Hackensack on Mon., Jan. 7, 2019.

Alementary Brewing Company in Hackensack was first opened in 2016 by former chemical engineer and molecular biologist Mike Roosevelt and Blake Crawford. What has become known as laboratory for beer geniuses, Alementary Brewing Company was the second brewery ever opened in Bergen County.

The brewery offers 9 taps of craft beer, as well as 12 canned beers, ranging from Stouts to Ales and IPAs. They also offer a variety of beer for to-go purchases.

Go: 58 Voorhis Lane, Hackensack; 201-968-1290, alementary.com

Fort Nonsense Brewing Company, Randolph

First opened in 2018 in Denville, Fort Nonsense Brewing Company have been operating out of their current home in Randolph since 2021. The brewery offers a taproom and pet-friendly beer garden.

Open 7 days a week, Fort Nonsense Brewing Company offers up to 16 taps of craft beer, with selections being updated almost daily on their Facebook and Instagram pages. The brewery also offers a selection of canned beer for to-go purchases.

Go: 220 Franklin Road, Randolph; 862-397-4777, fortnonsensebrewing.com

Here are some other North Jersey breweries to check out:

  • Four City Brewing Company, Orange

  • Ghost Hawk Brewing Company, Clifton

  • North Jersey Beer Company, North Bergen

  • 902 Brewing Company, Jersey City

  • Man Skirt Brewing, Hackettstown

  • Angry Erik Brewing, Newton

  • Muckraker Beermaker, Franklin

  • Skylands Craft Beer and Wine Garden, Wantage

  • Departed Soles Brewing Co, Jersey City

  • Magnify Brewing Company, Fairfield

  • Twin Elephant Brewing Company, Chatham

This article originally appeared on NorthJersey.com: Eight NJ breweries you must visit this football season