NJ beer: Exclusive first look at new Bradley Beach brewery

Something is brewing in downtown Bradley Beach.

Bradley Brew Project, the latest brewery to enter New Jersey's booming craft beer scene, will open in June on Main Street.

The Asbury Park Press received an exclusive first look at the intimate tasting room and brewery from owners Chelsey and Mike Ziolkowski of Wall, which you can watch in the video at the top of this story.

Bradley Brew Project will open its doors to the public 1 p.m. Saturday, June 2, with grand opening festivities.

Bradley Brew Project began brewing beer in early April.

The brewery plans to offer four consistent flagship creations: the classic American pilsner This Is Hard But Making Beer is Fun!, made with all certified organic ingredients; the session stout Cleaning, Doing Laundry or Making Beer; the West Coast-style India Pale Ale Can I Put the Hops In?; and the American Pale Ale known as Unicorn Girls.

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The beer philosophy at Bradley Brew Project, according to Mike Ziolkowski, comes down to creating brews that are inspired and approachable.

A lot of that inspiration comes from the couple's 5-year-old twin daughters, particularly the distinct names; Mike and Chelsey, who are expecting their third child, explained that each beer's moniker comes from something the couple's girls have said.

The approachable nature can be found in the wide variety of beers set to be offered by Bradley Brew Project, running the gamut from their sessionable resident stout clocking in at a remarkably mild four percent ABV to 9:27, an 8.9 percent ABV double IPA.

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Bradley Brew Project is located at 714 Main St. in Bradley Beach. That puts it across the street from the town's municipal complex, a stone's throw from the Bradley Beach train station and just a leisurely six-block stroll from the beach.

"When you're in the craft beer world, you think that everybody knows about the craft beer world," said Chelsey Ziolkowski. "But opening this business has really made us realize there are so many people who have never even tried a craft beer, especially in Bradley Beach and (among) the locals here.

"So there is so much room to grow. ... While we think the craft beer world is booming right now and there are so many craft breweries coming up, there are way more people that have never even experienced a craft brewery or craft beer before. So it's exciting to be a part of that and (have new customers) have their first experience with it. And a lot of people will have that first experience here, which is exciting."

The 1,800-square-foot facility includes an 800-square-foot tasting space capable of seating 75 patrons at tables and on bar stools. The tasting room, painted in mellow, neutral tones with greenery on the walls, imparts a relaxed vibe.

There's a 15-foot garage door facing Main Street that slides open, filling the tasting room with fresh air and natural light. The door, combined with the high ceilings and the in-sight brewing equipment (think an open kitchen restaurant design) gives the whole space a modern, hip-but-comfortable aesthetic.

And then, of course, there's the beer. The tasting room has 10 taps: four for the standing house beers and six reserved of a rotating selection of special offerings such as the Great, Whatever hefeweizen and a grisette-inspired New Jersey table beer made with malts, hops, yeast and honey all grown here in the Garden State.

"We hope that when somebody walks in here, we have anywhere between eight to 10 taps (running), at least they have one beer that they like and they start to experience a little bit about craft beer," said Mike Ziolkowski.

Bradley Brew Project, 714 Main St., Bradley Beach, 848-444-0914, www.bradleybrew.com.