New Jersey’s craft beer scene is heating up this December with a mix of new brewery openings, festive seasonal beer releases, and a packed calendar of local events. From innovative brews to holiday markets and live music nights, the Garden State continues to showcase its vibrant and diverse brewing culture.

As December 2025 unfolds, New Jersey’s craft beer scene is embracing the holiday season with a wide array of Christmas ales, winter-themed brews, and seasonal specialties. Breweries across the state are offering inventive takes on classic holiday flavors, from spiced porters and stouts to rum barrel-aged Christmas ales, providing craft beer enthusiasts with plenty of options to enjoy the season.

Dedicated Christmas and Holiday Ales are drawing particular attention this year. Flounder Brewing Co. in Hillsborough has released two festive options: the traditional St. Nick Christmas Ale and a rum barrel-aged variant called Naughty St. Nick, offering a richer, more complex flavor profile. In Cape May, Cape May Brewing Company presents Merry & Brite, a West Coast-style amber ale brewed with centennial, cascade, and chinook hops, delivering a piney yet citrus-forward taste. Anglesea Aleworks in Wildwood offers a dessert-inspired beer called Santa, I Know Him, a wheat ale infused with almond and vanilla and finished with a rim of vanilla almond sugar, reminiscent of a classic Christmas cookie. Man Skirt Brewing in Hackettstown features Christmas Was Tomorrow, a draft-only seasonal ale.

Beyond these traditional holiday offerings, New Jersey breweries have also unveiled winter warmers and specialty beers designed to complement the colder months. Ship Bottom Brewery released its Abominable Snow Monster Belgian Ale, a 10% ABV brew crafted with honey, sugar plums, figs, and cherries. Icarus Brewing Company is presenting two holiday-themed beers: Cookie Tray: Snickerdoodle, an imperial cream ale, and Drinking Crayons, a hazy IPA with a portion of proceeds supporting Toys For Tots. Double Nickel Brewing offers Below Zero Winter Ale, a spiced brown ale, along with the inventive St. Nickel’s Pickle Beer, a unique gose perfect for adventurous drinkers.

River Horse Brewing Company is featuring Kirsche Noire, a medium-bodied dark ale infused with cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg, ginger, mace, cloves, and star anise. Angry Erik Brewing presents its Winter Strong Ale, a robust seasonal release, and MudHen Brewing Company continues its holiday tradition with Laura’s Maple Vanilla Yellow Flashing Lights on Nitro, combining sweet maple and vanilla flavors with a creamy nitro pour.

MudHen Brewing Company’s Hero Boy Bourbon Barrel-Aged is a special release that showcases the artistry of barrel-aging craft beer. Originally brewed in 2024, this PUB EXCLUSIVE beer underwent a patient maturation in Chattanooga Distilling Bourbon and J Henry Bourbon barrels, creating a complex and layered profile that elevates the original Hero Boy recipe.

The bourbon barrels impart rich, warming notes that blend seamlessly with the beer’s natural malt character. Expect flavors of caramel pudding and creamy vanilla, complemented by dark cocoa and a subtle sweet-tart cherry finish. A hint of cinnamon adds a delicate spice that enhances the holiday and winter-season appeal.

This barrel-aged edition is crafted in small batches, ensuring that each release maintains the depth and balance that makes it unique. Its combination of sweetness, warmth, and dessert-like characteristics makes it perfect for sipping slowly during colder months or enjoying at MudHen’s taproom for a pub-exclusive experience.

For fans of bourbon barrel-aged beers or those looking for limited seasonal offerings from New Jersey breweries, this release highlights MudHen’s dedication to innovation and high-quality craft beer experiences. You can explore more releases like this at New Jersey breweries.

These seasonal beers are not only available at the breweries themselves but are often featured in local taprooms, holiday markets, and special release events, making December an ideal time for craft beer lovers to explore New Jersey’s brewery scene. With new flavors, festive brews, and unique holiday experiences, the state’s breweries are bringing both traditional cheer and modern creativity to the craft beer landscape.

Several new breweries are making waves this month. Sons of Barley Beer Co. in Woodbury Heights (Gloucester County) celebrated its grand opening on December 6, following a successful soft launch in November. Meanwhile, Emberside Brewery in Berkeley Heights is poised to debut in November 2026, anchoring a major development at The Park and promising to bring a modern, community-focused brewery experience under the leadership of Tom Nielsen. August 2025 also saw the opening of Skinny Flowers Brewing Company at the historic Fort Monmouth, offering 24 draft lines and a dog-friendly atmosphere that has quickly drawn craft beer enthusiasts.

Legislative changes are also reshaping New Jersey’s brewery landscape. A 2024 law now allows breweries to host unlimited onsite events, partner with food trucks, and serve non-alcoholic beverages and snacks, enabling operators to expand their offerings and create more engaging community experiences.

The holiday season has inspired a range of special beer releases across the state. Ship Bottom Brewery unveiled its winter seasonal, Abominable Snow Monster Belgian Ale (10% ABV), brewed with honey, sugar plums, figs, and cherries, available both in cans and for distribution. Icarus Brewing is offering a lineup of festive beers including Drinking Crayons, a hazy IPA with a portion of proceeds benefiting Toys For Tots, and Cookie Tray: Snickerdoodle, an imperial cream ale. Double Nickel Brewing presents its Below Zero Winter Ale, a spiced brown ale, along with the inventive St. Nickel’s Pickle Beer gose. River Horse Brewing is featuring Kirsche Noire, a chocolate cherry imperial stout aged in red wine barrels, while Neshaminy Creek Brewing adds The Mango Lorian sour ale and Hive Mond honey porter to its seasonal lineup.

December also brings a wealth of local brewery events. Holiday markets are taking center stage, including the Hops & Shops Handmade Market at Man Skirt Brewing on December 7, and Icarus Brewing’s Holiday Market on the same day. The Flounder Brewing 5th Annual Kringle Market on December 14 at Carriage Farm features over 45 vendors, multiple food trucks, and festive activities including photos with Santa. Breweries like Flounder Brewing Co. in Hillsborough Township and Lower Forge Brewery in Medford continue to host regular live music and trivia nights, while River Horse Brewing Company in Ewing offers a Winter & Holiday Welcome Mat Workshop on December 12 for those looking for hands-on seasonal activities.

Adding a contemporary twist to the brewery scene, the Make Jersey House Again! event is scheduled for Friday, December 12, from 8:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m., featuring a multigenerational celebration of house music with live painting by Beazie The Artist and DJ sets by Mike Nervous of Nervous Records.

For craft beer enthusiasts and residents eager to explore New Jersey’s dynamic brewery culture, detailed coverage on openings, seasonal releases, and local events is available through New Jersey breweries. With new breweries opening and a busy holiday schedule of beers and events, December 2025 offers a perfect opportunity to experience the state’s thriving craft beer community firsthand.