Tonewood Brewing is a Great Stop Just Over the River from Philly

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.

Located just 5 miles from South Philadelphia via the Walt Whitman Bridge, Tonewood Brewing is committed to creating flavorful and exciting craft beer. Proudly based in Oaklyn, New Jersey, Tonewood brews on a 15 barrel brewhouse, which allows for creativity and variety.

Tonewood self distributes the core beers to New Jersey bars and liquor stores. Visitors to the brewery, however, will find a wide variety of rotating taps. Grab a seat at the handmade poplar bar, and enjoy an up-close look at the brewhouse, located just a few feet behind the bar.  There are also larger beer hall style tables both inside and outside.

Beers can be enjoyed on site in 12- or 16-ounce pours (sadly, no flights), and there is a variety of styles to choose from. I really enjoyed the German-style beers like Mullet Cut, a 5.4% ABV dry-hopped Keller-inspired Pilsner, and Dreadnought, a 4.8% ABV traditional Munich Dunkel.

We also enjoyed Kaya, a 4.5% ABV sessionable dry-hopped grisette fermented with the house Belgian yeast strain, as well as Deer Creek, a 6% ABV wet-hopped IPA brewed with freshly harvested hops from Deer Creek Malthouse. There were also IPAs, a Belgian Golden Strong, a coffee porter, and a stout on tap.

During our visit both Fuego, the 6.2% ABV dank and juicy New England IPA, and SIPA, the 4.8% ABV floral Session IPA, were available to go in 6-packs of cans. Additionally, beers on tap can be purchased to go in 32 ounce crowlers and 64 ounce growlers.

Tonewood is open Tuesday to Friday from 4 PM to 10 PM, Saturday from noon to 10 PM, and Sunday from noon to 7 PM. There is a parking lot across the street, as well as plenty of on street parking.

Tonewood Brewing is so close to Philadelphia, that there is no excuse! The beers are quite delicious, and the staff is friendly and welcoming. I can see myself visiting Tonewood quite frequently, especially to enjoy those delicious German-style brews.

New Jersey, Oaklyn, Southern New Jersey, Tonewood Brewing Company