6 great craft beer bars where you can drink New Jersey brews

The craft beer scene is booming across New Jersey, and it seems that every weekend brings with it news of a new brewery opening, or a hot limited release being poured.

The whole operation could be a little overwhelming; you could easily spend weeks visiting tasting rooms and barely scratch the surface of New Jersey's beer offerings.

Thankfully there are plenty of bars throughout New Jersey pouring a wide variety of beers brewed right here in the Garden State.

We recently reached out to beer lovers and fans to get their picks on where to go to try local favorites, and here are a few of the highlights.

Brickwall Tavern and Dining Room, Asbury Park

For more than a decade, the Brickwall Tavern and Dining Room has served as a vital hub of Asbury Park's bustling downtown on Cookman Avenue.

That popularity can be partially chalked up to the food offered at the Brickwall, an elevated approach to classic Americana eats and tavern fare, but the beer selection is where the Brickwall truly shines.

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The Brickwall's rotating, seasonal beer menu always offers a combination of standards and surprises, and they were among the first places we remember regularly pouring offerings by Monmouth County juggernaut Kane Brewing Company out of nearby Ocean Township.

Go: Brickwall Tavern and Dining Room, 522 Cookman Ave., Asbury Park; 732-774-1264, brickwalltavern.com.

Maloney's Pub and Grill, Matawan

The tap lines at Maloney's in Matawan are simply the stuff of legend. This anchor of downtown Matawan has more than 100 rotating draft lines, with a dozen of those dedicated to serving New Jersey beers.

Maloney's beer list changes weekly, and the best way to stay current is to subscribe to the bar's email list.Go: Maloney's Pub and Grill, 119 Main St., Matawan; 732-583-4040, maloneyspubnj.com.

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Cloverleaf Tavern, Caldwell

Time and again, when we asked New Jersey beer lovers about their favorite spot to find local products they told us about the Cloverleaf Tavern in Caldwell.

With a legacy that stretches back nearly a century and with two dozen beers on tap, the Cloverleaf often spotlights some of the area's best and brightest breweries.

Upcoming events include a Saturday, Feb. 24 unveiling of a white stout created through a collaboration with Montclair Bread Company and Departed Soles Brewing Company of Jersey City, followed by the third annual Cape May Brewing Company tap takeover on Tuesday, March 20.

Go: Cloverleaf Tavern, 395 Bloomfield Ave., Caldwell; 973-226-9812, cloverleaftavern.com.

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Cornerstone Kitchen and Tap, Jackson

Blending casual American dining and a remarkably robust roster of beer offerings, the Cornerstone Kitchen and Tap brings beers from across the state to the heart of Ocean County.

Beers like Bolero Snort Brewery in Ridgefield Park and Tuckahoe Brewing Company in Egg Harbor Township can be found across the bar's 28 taps. They've hosted tap takeovers by the likes of Lakewood's Icarus Brewing Company and Shamong's Brotherton Brewing company.

At 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 22, Cornerstone hosts a tap takeover with Atlantic Highlands power player Carton Brewing.

Go: Cornerstone Kitchen and Tap, 21 South Hope Chapel Road, Jackson, 732-994-5286, cktjackson.com.

NEARBY: Check out Icarus Brewing in Lakewood

Gaslight Gastropub, Atlantic Highlands

Central Jersey sure loves its antiquated illumination technology. One of the biggest bands to come out of the area in the last decade or so was the Gaslight Anthem, and one of the hottest spots to find Jersey fresh beers is the Gaslight Gastropub in Altantic Highlands.

The atmospheric First Avenue spot pours from a rotating, 30-craft-beer selection with plenty of room for some local gems.

Gaslight and its neighboring sister establishment Copper Canyon both serve the hand-crafted Carton Canyon, a powerful American adjunct lager that subtly incorporates blue agave nectar and is made by the folks at Carton Brewing.

Go: Gaslight, 33 First Ave., Atlantic Highlands; 732-291-8333, gaslightbrewery.net.

Blend Bar and Bistro, Hamilton

Here's how you know Blend Bar and Bistro is an essential spot for area beer lovers: all day, every Monday, the bar offers half-price flights of craft beers.

The likes of Bolero Snort, Dark City Brewing Company (Asbury Park), River Horse Brewing Company (Ewing) and more can be found on tap here.

On Thursday, Feb. 22 they welcome some of our neighbors to the north: Brooklyn Brewery will be on hand starting at 7 p.m., offering what can only be described on the bar's Facebook page as something "top secret."

Go: Blend Bar and Bistro, 911 Route 33, Mercerville section of Hamilton; 609-245-8887, blendbar.com.