NJ beer: 7 craft beer festivals in New Jersey in spring 2019
Let's raise a glass to spring.
With warmer temperatures and increased daylight hours, there are plenty of reasons to celebrate this season.
Thanks to these seven craft beer festivals happening across the state, those revels can feature plenty of Jersey fresh brews.
April 13: Jersey City Craft Brew Fest, Harborside, Jersey City
More than 150 beers will converge at Harborside in Jersey City on Saturday, April 13 for the Jersey City Craft Brew Fest.
The line-up includes plenty of local heavy-hitters, such as Jersey City's own 902 Brewing Co., Riverhorse Brewing Co. of Ewing and Brotherton Brewing Company of Shamong.
Jersey City Craft Brew Fest, 1 and 6 p.m. Saturday, April 13, Harborside 3 Atrium, Jersey City, $70, www.jerseycitybeerfest.com.
May 4 and 5: Fast Tracks and Food Trucks Food and Beer Festival, Six Flags Great Adventure, Jackson
Food, beer and roller coasters — need we say more? Jackson thrill park Six Flags Great Adventure hosts its Fast Tracks and Food Trucks Food and Beer Festival Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5.
A variety of global cuisines, plus a selection of craft beers for purchase, will be available at the event in the park's Movietown area.
Fast Tracks and Food Trucks Food and Beer Festival, 11 a.m. Saturday, May 4 and Sunday, May 5, Six Flags Great Adventure, 1 Six Flags Boulevard, Jackson, daily park admission $61.99 via www.sixflags.com/greatadventure.
June 1: Summer Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival, Yogi Berra Stadium and Learning Center, Little Falls
Local beer fans, it's time to take the field. Yogi Berra Stadium in Little Falls, hosts its Summer Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival noon to 7 p.m. Saturday, June 1.
The rain-or-shine event on the stadium field will include a performance by Eagles tribute group Desert Highway Band as well as a variety of international cuisines. It's an all-ages celebration, but only guests 21 and older with a valid ID can drink.
Summer Food Truck and Craft Beer Festival, noon Saturday, June 1, Yogi Berra Stadium and Learning Center, 8 Yogi Berra Drive, Little Falls, $8, yogiberramuseum.org.
June 1: Hop Sauce Festival, Veterans Memorial Park, Beach Haven
One of the chillest good times on the annual Jersey Shore calendar is the Hop Sauce Festival on Long Beach Island, which combines great music, more than 100 hot sauces and upwards of 100 craft beers.
This year's event, happening Saturday, June 1 at Veterans Memorial Park in Beach Haven, will boast a headlining performance by Jersey rock supergroup Mercy Union, featuring members of The Gaslight Anthem and The Scandals.
Hop Sauce Festival, 11 a.m. Saturday, June 1, Veterans Memorial Park, Amber Street and Engleside Avenue, Beach Haven, $45 to $125, www.hopsaucefest.com.
June 2: The Bash, Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, Englishtown
Classic West Coast punks Rancid are hitting the road for the Bash, the traveling punk rock and craft beer festival hitting Old Bridge Township Raceway Park in Englishtown on Sunday, June 2.
The musical acts in Jersey include Rancid, Pennywise, Suicidal Tendencies, L7 and Madball. More than 100 different craft beers are expected to be represented, with the Englishtown options set to include Heretic Brewing Company, High Water Brewing, Bell’s Brewing, Solid Ground and Ska Brewing.
The Bash, 1 p.m. Sunday, June 2 (noon for VIPs), Old Bridge Township Raceway Park, 230 Pension Road, Englishtown, $39.50 general admission, $99.50 VIP, thebashfestival.com.
June 8: Wildwood Beer Fest, Fox Park, Wildwood
The Wildwood Beer Festival is bringing more than 100 craft beers to Fox Park on Saturday, June 8 for sessions at noon and 6 p.m.
More details are expected closer to the fifth annual event sponsored by Yuengling, but there is set to be live music, food and craft vendors and more.
Wildwood Beer Festival, noon and 6 p.m. Saturday, June 8, Fox Park, Ocean Avenue, Wildwood. General admission tickets $25 if purchased by Feb. 28, $30 by March 31, $35 by April 30, $40 by June 8 and $45 at the gate, wildwoodbeerfest.com.
June 22: Battleship Beer Fest, Battleship New Jersey, Camden
Batten down the hatches, because the New Jersey Brewers Association's Battleship Beer Fest hits Battleship New Jersey in Camden on Saturday, June 22.
Now in its 23rd year, the festival boats only beers brewed in the Garden State. The line-up currently includes offerings from across the state, from The Alementary Brewing Company in Hackensack to Forgotten Boardwalk Brewing Company in Cherry Hill and all parts in between.
Tickets are $50 for general admission, $75 for VIP and include live music as well as a self-guided tour of the ship. (Yes, we're aware that this festival happens during the first weekend of summer, but it's so cool we had to give it a shout-out anyway.)
Battleship Beer Fest, 1 to 5 p.m. Saturday, June 22 (VIPs enter at noon), Battleship New Jersey, 62 Battleship Place, Camden, newjerseybeer.ticketleap.com/battleship-beer-fest-2019.
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Learn all about New Jersey's booming craft beer scene with the first season of our "Jersey Brewed" video series: