| Kelly Green Brewing Company 154 S. Broadway Ave | Pitman NJ, 08071 (856) 270-2876 kellygreenbrewing.com |
Just across the Delaware River from Philadelphia in the land of jughandles, diners, and Bruce Springsteen, lie some pretty tasty New Jersey craft breweries that are worth the trip. Recently Wayne and I spent a cloudy Saturday exploring some of what the Garden State has to offer.
Kelly Green Brewing Company was founded by Justin Fleming, his wife Jeannette and best friend Dave Domanski. While they had no grand plan and no investment strategy, they knew they wanted to make good beer, and they opened the first-ever brewery in their home town’s 110-year history.
Pitman, New Jersey, located 10 miles south of Eight and Sand Beer Company or 16 miles from South Philadelphia, was a historically dry town until 2016 when Pitman residents voted to allow alcohol sales. Kelly Green Brewing Company opened before this vote occurred.
How can you have a brewery in a dry town? Due to a NJ law that allows limited breweries to make beer and sell it by the glass in a tasting room, Kelly Green was able to open. Liquor licenses were still banned in Pitman at the time, but Kelly Green was not required to hold a liquor license in order to operate as a brewery. Kelly Green has a Limited Brewery License through the NJ Alcohol and Beverage Control.
Kelly Green brews a variety of styles on their 1 barrel brew system. Beers are served in full pours, or you can purchase a flight of 4 or 8 different beers. Beers are available to go in 32- or 64- ounces growlers, and a few beers are available in bottles.
We enjoyed Standing on the Shoulders of Giants, a 6% ABV Lactose IPA, and Teets, a 7% ABV Milk Stout. Other beers on tap included a coffee porter called Endgrain, a brown ale called #99, a dry-hopped sour called Dust Bunnies, and a double IPA called Hipster Fuel.
Kelly Green is open Monday, Wednesday, and Thursday from 5 PM to 10 PM, Friday from 3 PM to 10 PM, Saturday from noon to 10 PM, and Sunday from 12:30 PM to 6 PM. There is street parking and a community parking lot.
