Some observers, including The New York Times, have predicted dark times ahead for the U.S. craft beer industry -- arguing that too many have sprung up too quickly.

Tell that to craft breweries across the country, especially in New Jersey, where the number of breweries, and the quality of brews being turned out, show no sign of diminishing.

It's American Craft Beer Week, and the New Jersey craft beer industry is "still strong and growing,'' says Jason Carty, executive director of the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild. "We are looking at close to a 20 percent increase in the numbers of breweries this year, which exceeds the national trend."

There are 85 breweries and brew pubs in New Jersey, with another 20 or so awaiting approvals. The opening of a craft brewery is always cause for excitement; witness this Facebook post regarding ManaFirkin Brewing Co., which officially opens this Saturday:

So there's no better time to single out the state's very best beers. Here's my list of 25 great Jersey craft beers, drawn from extensive field work in the past year, including our own N.J.'s best craft beer showdown. In all, I've visited 60 of the state's craft breweries and brew pubs; the number includes a handful of breweries without tasting rooms but whose beers I've had on tap, in cans or bottles. My goal is to hit every N.J. craft brewery by the end of summer.

My list covers the beer spectrum, from blondes to saisons to IPAs to porters to Russian Imperial stouts.

The list is just one craft beer lover's opinion, and we'd like to hear about your favorite Jersey craft brews in the comments section.

Note: Brewery beer lineups change constantly; not all the beers on my list may be currently available. Check each brewery's Facebook page or Twitter account for what's on tap. Beers are on the list are not ranked; they're all special. For photos of the brews and breweries, check out the gallery.

1. A Night to End All Dawns, Kane Brewing Co., Ocean Township. I tried this Imperial stout, aged more than a year in bourbon barrels, at the Great American Beer Festival in Denver, where it won a gold in the wood-and-barrel-aged strong stout category.

2. Sanitarium DIPA, Lunacy Brewing Co., Magnolia. Hard to find, Lunacy is a fun, funky hangout.

3. Habanero Ale, Screamin' Hill Brewery, Cream Ridge. When I stopped last summer, the crowd at this farm-based brewery was split among beer hipsters and bikers.

4. Geek Out Wild Ale, Cape May Brewing Co., Lower Township. Coastal Evacuation DIPA gets much of the attention here, but Geek Out was my favorite of the 15 or so sampled this spring.

5. Mineralized Matrix IPA, Troon Brewing, Hopewell. Tucked behind Brick Farm Tavern, Troon has no tasting room, but you can sample what's on tap for a growler fill.

6. Wrath Russian Imperial Stout, Demented Brewing, Middlesex. The winner of our N.J.'s best draft brewery showdown, Demented offers "insanely flavored ales.''

7. Boom Gose the Dynamite, Human Village Brewing Co., Pitman. A former jazz club is now one of the state's coolest tasting rooms. The gose is crisp, sour and salty.

8. Low Visibility Pale Ale, Magnify Brewing Co., Fairfield. Magnify is known for its IPAs, but I like this pale the best.

9. Stupid Paddle Boat IPA, Ship Bottom Brewery, Beach Haven. The only brewery on LBI, Ship Bottom - yes, it's in Beach Haven - offers good beers and great waterfront views.

10. English Mild, Eight & Sand Beer Co., Woodbury. The brewery's name is a railroad term, and train videos spool nonstop at one of my favorite South Jersey breweries.

11. Lil Shimmy 'Ye, Twin Elephant Brewing Co., Chatham. Twin Elephant is one of the state's smallest breweries, but they're making a big impression.

12. Party Guy stout, Jughandle Brewing Co., Tinton Falls. There's a growler of this in my fridge. Need I say more?

13. Farmstead Pale Ale, Cold Spring Brewery, Lower Township. The old-timey tasting room is a renovated barn that was trucked a mile down the road.

The cozy tasting room at Carton Brewing in Atlantic Highlands (Ed Murray | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com)

14. Super C IPA, Glasstown Brewing Co., Millville. Big, juicy IPA At Glasstown, picturesquely situated at Millville Airport.

15. P.A.T.H. Pale Ale, 902 Brewing Co., Hoboken. 902 has no tasting room, but you can find their brews at restaurants, bars and liquor stores in North and Central Jersey.

16. Father Barrel Rye Porter, Double Nickel Brewing Co., Pennsauken. The smoky, chocolate-y Fathers Barrel is aged in bourbon barrels.

17. Cantankerous Blonde, Departed Soles Brewing Co., Jersey City. A terrifically refreshing lawnmower or summery beer, Cantankerous is anything but.

18. IPA, Spellbound Brewing, Mount Holly. Spellbound has one of the wider distributions statewide in liquor stores. I never get tired of this beer.

19. Se7en Saison, 7 Mile Brewery, Rio Grande. I love saisons, and 7 Mile, one of Cape May County's five craft breweries, offers one of the best.

20. G.O.R.P. (Good Old Raisins and Peanuts) Trail Ale, Carton Brewing Co., Atlantic Highlands. Everyone talks about Carton's Regular Coffee, Boat and 077XX IPA, but I love G.O.R.P.

21. Daylight Savings IPA, Flying Fish Brewing Co., Somerdale. Supremely sessionable, Daylight Savings is available from April to September.

22. Double Platinum Blonde Weissbock, High Point Brewing Co., Butler. I tried this at a beer/BBQ festival. Wow.

23. Best bitter, Ship Inn, Milford. The first brew pub to open in New Jersey since Prohibition, Ship Inn is an atmospheric hangout.

24. Forked River Mountain Stout, Backward Flag Brewing Co., Forked River. The only female veteran-owned brewery in the country, Backward Flag, like all N.J. craft breweries (as opposed to brew pubs), is not allowed to serve food, but you can always bring your own.

25. Chuck Bowman Black IPA, Brix City Brewing, Little Ferry. Bergen County's first production brewery opened in May 2015. The owners are Hasbrouck Heights High School graduates.

Peter Genovese may be reached at pgenovese@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @PeteGenovese or via The Munchmobile @NJ_Munchmobile. Find the Munchmobile on Facebook and Instagram.