Michael Politz

Correspondent

With the ever-expanding growth of breweries throughout New Jersey, also looms the impending question — when will that bubble burst?

When will the overcrowding of these breweries force others to shut their doors or force them to sell their business to a more profitable, and possibly more established, brewery?

These questions are all speculation and as an advocate for local breweries and the quality beer that they produce, I pose the question to my fellow beer drinkers. How long will your favorite NJ brewery last? And, will new breweries bring more competition or more of their bottles sitting on dusty shelves at the liquor store?

I have been following many of the NJ beer groups, and most provide positive feedback. Many of you are loyal to the breweries that put NJ on the map as a great beer producing state. These breweries like Carton Brewing, Icarus Brewing, Kane Brewing, and Troon Brewing are examples of what a brewery can achieve after creating beer that not only tastes amazing, but is marketed the right way and has a great business model as well. These tested breweries have a huge fan base not only in this state, but out of it as well.

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However, what about smaller breweries that are popping up in seemingly every town?

The answer to this relies on the consumer — to us. Anyone with a decent homebrewing background and enough capital to get off the ground can start a brewery. But can one maintain a loyal following when there is so much competition? I want to say yes, and that every local, new start-up brewery will last, but the proof is in the pudding they say, and when there is too much competition, some companies will fall by the wayside.

A lot of these breweries produce excess amounts of beer that are distributed throughout local liquor stores. Unless these beers are heavy stouts barrel-aged for weeks, they have an expiration date. Most IPAs are meant to be drank within 45 days, and when you look for the perfect beer to pick, make sure to check the dates they were made on the bottom or top of the can.

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Sometimes, though, you will visit a liquor store and find that many of the beers in the cooler and on the shelves have expired or are close to it. Many of these soon-to-be-expired beers are from smaller beer companies in NJ. Is this a sign of things to come — wasted beer on dusty shelves that no one can appreciate?

With the overproduction of beer comes waste. Do you think that the smaller, more customer-driven breweries that produce less beer and focus more on the clientele will last longer than the ones that just produce to make profit?

In my opinion, the answer is yes. With limited can releases and lines that are longer than those at a concert, quality-driven breweries will prevail more than ones that are just producing to produce. The bubble will burst in this state when there is too much supply for the demand and/or the state makes harsher regulations for the breweries.

Michael Politz, a lifelong New Jersey resident, has worked in the restaurant and bar industry for 20 years. He currently bartends at Water and Wine Ristorante, an upscale Italian eatery and bar in Watchung. His beer, wine and liquor column, Spirits of N.J., appears Wednesdays.