New Jersey craft beer enthusiasts have reason to celebrate as several Garden State breweries earned top honors at the 2025 Great American Beer Festival (GABF), one of the most prestigious competitions in the brewing world. The annual event, organized by the Brewers Association, awarded a total of 347 medals to 273 breweries and cideries nationwide, showcasing excellence in brewing across a wide array of styles.

For New Jersey, the festival proved especially rewarding. The state brought home one gold and two bronze medals, highlighting the diversity and quality of its craft beer scene.

Tall Oaks Farm + Brewery in Farmingdale earned a gold medal in the English Mild or Bitter category for their exceptional beer Cottage. Known for its well-balanced malt profile and smooth finish, Cottage impressed judges with its traditional English-style complexity while offering a distinctly local touch from the Garden State. Tall Oaks has steadily built a reputation for blending artisanal techniques with sustainable practices, making this recognition a milestone in their growing legacy.

Kane Brewing Co., based in Ocean, also made a mark with Sneakbox, a Juicy or Hazy Pale Ale that captured a bronze medal. Celebrated for its vibrant tropical hop character and hazy, soft mouthfeel, Sneakbox embodies the innovation and creativity of New Jersey’s coastal craft breweries. Kane Brewing’s dedication to experimenting with bold flavors and balanced drinkability continues to place them among the state’s standout beer producers.

Rounding out the Garden State’s accolades, Cape May Brewery received a bronze medal for Cape May Light in the American-Style Light Lager category. This crisp, approachable lager showcases the brewery’s skill in crafting beers that appeal to a wide audience while maintaining high quality standards. Cape May Brewery’s commitment to locally sourced ingredients and consistent brewing excellence has helped elevate New Jersey’s reputation on the national stage.

These awards reflect not only individual achievement but also the overall strength of New Jersey’s craft beer industry. From traditional English ales to innovative hazy pale ales and classic lagers, Garden State breweries are proving they can compete with the best in the country. The recognition at the Great American Beer Festival highlights both the creativity and craftsmanship that define New Jersey’s brewing culture.

With craft beer tourism on the rise, fans and visitors now have even more incentive to explore New Jersey’s breweries firsthand, sampling award-winning beers while enjoying the state’s vibrant local scenes. From the shore to central and northern New Jersey, breweries continue to push boundaries, offering unique flavors that reflect both their communities and a commitment to quality.

Several New Jersey breweries have won medals at the Great American Beer Festival (GABF) in recent years. A summary of recent winners is provided below. 

2024

Bonesaw Brewing Company in Glassboro and Deptford earned two medals: 

• Gold: Le Petit Demon, in the Belgian-Style or French-Style Ale category.
• Bronze: Red Dawn, in the Vienna-Style Lager category. 

2023

Bolero Snort Brewery in Carlstadt was the state’s sole GABF winner: 

• Silver: Jersey Vice, in the Specialty Berliner-Style Weisse category. 

2022

Two New Jersey breweries were awarded medals: 

• Source Brewing (Colts Neck): Gold for Colts Abbey, in the Belgian-Style Strong Specialty Ale category.
• Bolero Snort Brewery (Carlstadt): Silver for Jersey Vice, in the Specialty Berliner-Style Weisse category. 

For those looking to discover more of the state’s award-winning breweries and experience New Jersey’s thriving craft beer culture, visit Explore New Jersey Breweries for a full guide to the Garden State’s top beer destinations and tasting experiences.