Cricket Hill Brewing Among Founders Of NJ Brewers Guild

ESSEX COUNTY, NJ — A Fairfield-based craft brewery is one of the founding members of a recently launched state “brewers guild.” Along with eight other Garden State independent craft breweries and brewpubs, the Cricket Hill Brewing Company announced the launch of the Brewers Guild of New Jersey on Monday.

According to a joint news release from the new trade group, its members brew more than 75 percent of the “independent craft beer” in New Jersey.

In addition to the Cricket Hill Brewing Company, the other founding members of the Brewers Guild of New Jersey include Flying Fish Brewing Company (Somerdale), Cape May Brewing Company (Cape May), Kane Brewing Company (Ocean), Carton Brewing Company (Atlantic Highlands), Iron Hill Brewery and Restaurant (Voorhees and Maple Shade), Riverhorse Brewing Company (Ewing), Beach Haus Brewing Company (Belmar) and Spellbound Brewing Company (Mt. Holly).

Many, if not all, of those breweries are not planning to renew their membership with the New Jersey Brewers Association, the existing industry guild, Brewbound.com reported.

The new guild members said that their group will “work to ensure that positive trends for local, independent craft beer in the Garden State continue through the promotion of sensible, innovative policies that will help increase purchase opportunities for consumers and the overall visibility of New Jersey craft beer.”

Established in 2001, Cricket Hill is one of the original craft breweries in New Jersey, according to its website. It maintains a tasting room with 12 taps of Cricket Hill beer and a “Nitro station” featuring special brews in Fairfield.

• See related article: Small NJ Brewers Are Fermenting Hope
• See related article: Montclair Couple's Proposed Microbrewery Hits Unexpected Snag

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