Your St. Patrick's Day guide to South Jersey breweries

If there is one thing New Jersey has, it’s diversity, not only in its people but also in its beer.

There are nearly 80 craft breweries in the Garden State, and more than half of them are in the south.

And is there any more natural fit than pairing good beer with St. Patrick’s Day celebrations? All the better if you can keep that fun close to home, support the local economy and make new friends while you’re at it.

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Three South Jersey breweries will team up for a brewery tour event, while another will be front and center at a Haddon Township pop-up. And nearly every brewery in the region has something special on tap.

Here is your A (Atco) to Z (Zed’s) guide to Saturday’s craft beer fun, and being Irish — or drinking green beer — is not a requirement, and a designated driver leaves nothing to good luck.

Atco: Atco Brewing is thinking spring with its Dust Raiser, "a bold beer with hints of chocolate and smoke, fantastic for sipping by the fire as spring sets in.'' Sounds good to us. The beer is available in 22-ounce bottles at the brewery, 302 White Horse Pike, Atco. And for St. Patrick's Day, the brewery will host a Pot of Gold scavenger hunt for free swag, and flight/pour combos are $12.

Berlin: The music will set the mood for good beer with a DJ spinning the tunes from 3 to 9 p.m. Get $1 off all flights and pints if you proudly wear green. If you are longing for that first pitch, this is the place for you, as the taproom calls to mind Prohibition-era baseball. It's located at 221 S. White Horse Pike in Berlin.

Visit berlinbrewco.com

Cape May: The party goes on all weekend at Cape May Brewing Company, with live Irish music, games, a St. Patrick’s Day photo booth and more. Beginning Friday, the tasting room at Cape May Airport will tap eight limited-edition brews: Toffee stout, infused with toffee flavoring; Bourbon stout, infused with oak chips soaked in bourbon flavoring; Shamrock, with creme de menthe extract and vanilla; Irish Potato, aged with toasted coconut and cinnamon chips; Irish Coffee, infused with Avalon Coffee and Irish cream extract; Barmbrack, infused with sultanas and raisins; S’mores, made with graham cracker, vanilla and chocolate; and Irish breakfast, infused with Irish whiskey flavored chips, orange and butterscotch.

Visit capemaybrewery.com or call 609-849-9933.

Cross Keys: South Jersey’s newest brewery poured its first beers last weekend. If you want to get a taste of something fresh, check out this newcomer in Williamstown at 1038 N. Main St.

The CKBC tap list includes: Goliath, a 10.1 percent Imperial stout with oats; The Blonde Stranger, an American pale ale, Pour Decisions, a farmhouse ale, and Key to Hoppiness, a double-dry hopped ale.

Visit ckbcbeer.com/ or find the brewery on Facebook.

Death of the Fox: This Clarksboro brewery and coffeehouse at 119 Berkley Road is all about the music, and bands play Friday and Saturday night. On Saturday, in addition to regular brewery hours, the rock ‘n’ roll will flow from Between Sleep and Awake from 7 to 9 p.m.

Visit facebook.com/deathofthefoxbrewing/

Devil’s Creek: Collingswood’s only brewery is one of three on the Beer Belly tour.

This Collingswood brewery will team up with Double Nickel in Pennsauken and Eclipse in Merchantville for a three-stop brewery tour, Paddy’s Pub Crawl, for St. Paddy’s Day. The crawl is hosted by Beer Belly Brew Tours and kicks off at Oaklyn Manor Bar at 198 W. Clinton Ave., Oaklyn.

Fifty bucks gets you stops and tastings at all three breweries. Visit facebook.com/events/151692015513336/ for details.

While at Devil’s Creek, you can try the new Fairy Dust Wheat and Big Squeeze IPA, as well as a St. Paddy's Green Kolsch for $5. You don’t have to be part of the pub crawl to partake in the fun.

Says owner Kathy Abate, “We'll be handing out fun shamrock tchotchkes, and we'll be spinning our Luck O' The Irish carnival wheel every half hour to initiate a new beer special. Open noon to 10 p.m. or until the last leprechaun leaves!’’

Visit devilscreekbrewery.com/

Double Nickel – Beer for breakfast? On St. Patrick’s Day, why not?

At this Pennsauken brewery (also part of the pub crawl later in the day), an Irish Breakfast Party kicks off at 10 a.m. featuring The Irish Chinstrap, an Irish breakfast stout.

“We teamed up with our friends at Harvest Coffee in Medford and aged Brazilian Cerrado green coffee beans in bourbon barrels for months,’’ says brewery marketing director John Dalsey. “The green coffee beans are porous and pick up amazing aromas and flavor from the bourbon barrels like oak, chocolate and vanilla. The barrel-aged beans were then roasted at Harvest coffee and we are using them to make our Irish Breakfast Stout. This dry stout lets the complexity of the barrel-aged coffee shine through while staying smooth and very drinkable. We think it's the perfect beer to start off St. Paddy's Day."

The brewery will also offer nearly 200 bags of the bourbon barrel-aged whole coffee beans. There are 50 cases of The Irish Chinstrap, available only at the brewery while supplies last.

Visit dnbcbeer.com/

Eclipse – This diminutive brewery in Merchantville is always a friendly place to down a pint. They are on the pub crawl with Double Nickel and Devil’s Creek, but you can also just swing by and hoist a glass with owner Chris Mattern. Talk about small batch: Eclipse, at 23 E. Park Ave., is brewing beer made from hops mostly grown right out back, so try the 08109 Sessian IPA.

Visit facebook.com/Eclipse-Brewing-726218560847250/

Eight & Sand – Eight & Sand has been getting some national attention lately, but you can still come hang with the locals. On St. Patrick’s Day, they will offer brewery bottle openers to anyone wearing green. On tap will be two Irish brews: According to the brewers, the Dry Irish Stout is “a highly traditional Irish stout in every way except the taste. It has a harmonious balance between the slight bitterness from the hops and roasted barley, and the caramel and coffee notes from the malts.’’

As for the Flynn’s Irish Red, it is “brewed with Maris Otter, a blend of crystal malts and a touch of roast. This perfect early spring beer offers aromas of toasted malt and caramel, and finishes with a slight dryness from the roasted malt. The sweet malt character is balanced by just enough Kent Golding hops to keep you coming back for more!’’

Decide for yourself at 1003 N. Evergreen Ave., Woodbury. Visit facebook.com/eightandsandbeer/ and eightandsandbeer.com/

Flying Fish –  Flying Fish’s Robin Toma is ready for Saturday.

“We've brewed our once-a-year Irish Potato Stout for tapping on St Patrick’s Day,’’ she writes. “And we’ll also be offering two different flights Saturday only. The Pot o’ Gold features Farmhouse Ale; Jersey Juice; Double IPA and American Trippel. The Banshee is a dark flight including Wobbly Cow Coffee Milk Stout, Irish Potato Stout, Pork Roll Porter and our last exit: Trail Mix.’’

Guests can upgrade their flight to include a Flying Fish 16-ounce pint glass to take home.

Visit flyingfish.com

Forgotten Boardwalk – Saturday marks the launch of this Cherry Hill brewery’s new “speakeasy’’ themed pop-up space, The Side Show Room, which focuses on Forgotten Boardwalk’s barrel-aged program. (Visiting The Side Show is free but by appointment by emailing info@forgottenboardwalk.com).

The brewery will also welcome the return of Gravity Road, its 10.3 percent Imperial Stout.

Visit forgottenboardwalk.com 

Glasstown: Like most breweries, Glasstown is psyched for the A.C. Beerfest, taking place in Atlantic City NEXT weekend. But before then, you can enjoy the holiday by taste testing the many brews that come out of this Millville brewery, located at 10 Peterson St., near the airport. Glasstown is filled with South Jersey pride and takes its "drink local'' pledge very serious.

Visit facebook.com/glasstownbrewingco/

Haddon Square Pop Up: Fan of Tonewood Brewery? Head to Haddon Square, Haddon Township’s pop-up space at 51 Haddon Ave. (next to Planet Fitness) on Saturday. The party starts at noon and runs til 11, with Irish dancing at 5, Just Fork It food truck, $5 shots of Jamesons and $6 Tonewood Fuego.

The township will also sponsor a free (wear green!) St. Patrick’s Day jitney service from 2 to 10 p.m. to safely move revelers among the various bars and restaurants celebrating the day, with stops at the Westmont PATCO station. Join the fun at P.J. Whelihan’s, Treno, Pour House, Brewer’s Towne Tavern, Tom Fischer’s Tavern, Tap Room & Grill, Keg & Kitchen and Haddon Square.

Dine at any of the eight bars or eateries, and enter to win a Pot of Gold — gift certificates from all participating locations.  

Visit haddontwp.com/newsevents/special-events/

Human Village – Human Village pays respect to its former life as a live music venue, frequently hosting open mics on Thursdays, and other live music events from time to time. If you like your beers named after iconic songs, this Pitman brewery is the place.

Visit Saturday and down some Lady Godiva, a coffee-chocolate stout made with Godiva chocolate; Folsom Prison Brews, a “malt-forward’’ American ale, and any number of others. (But it is St. Patrick’s Day, so you may want to save London’s Calling for another visit!)

Visit www.humanvillagebrewingco.com/

Iron Hill – Iron Hill always pulls out all stops for the holiday. With locations in Voorhees and Maple Shade, Iron Hill is a good place to lay a solid foundation of Irish fare before toasting the day.

An Irish menu, paired with O’Sullivan Stout, is on tap. Think not just shepherd’s pie, corned beef and cabbage and bangers and mash, but potato leek soup, bacon-wrapped sea scallops, and more, topped off with a Warm Irish Bread Pudding in a whiskey sauce.

Yum! Visit ironhillbrewery.com/promotions/st-patricks-day-2018 for prices and full menu.

Kelly Green – If you were going to choose a brewery to visit purely by its name, this seems like the place to be. The Pitman brewery is not just turning on the lucky charm one day a year.

They just tapped This, That and the Third, the brewery’s first Triple IPA, coming in at 10.1 percent.

Also expect Imperial versions of Joe’s Vacation and Endgame, according to Kelly Green’s Facebook page.

Visit facebook.com/kellygreenbrewingco/

Kings Road – If you want a brewery on the PATCO line, both Kings Road and Devil’s Creek are sound choices. No green beer here, but the brewery, which opened in November, is more than happy to serve you any of its traditional beers at its Kings Highway tasting room in Haddonfield.

If you’re wearing green, they might float a shamrock on top!

Visit facebook.com/KingsRoadBrewing/

Lower Forge – Jennifer Mylod and the Boys of County O'Cean are a well-known Celtic band, but a smaller duo version, Jennifer and Phil, set the mood at Lower Forge in Medford for the holiday.

Jennifer and Phil perform weekly at the closed Irish seisun (session) at St. Stephen's on the Green in Spring Lake Heights, and the larger band has performed as the headliners of the Medford Apple Festival, annual Blueberry Festival, and have recorded three albums.  Last year, they held a closed seisun on St. Patrick's Day at the brewery and co-owner Sean Galie says “it was a wild hit.’’

Saturday is also co-owner Abbie Galie’s birthday, so stop by and wish her well. You might get a birthday treat.

Visit facebook.com/events/384462361960570/

Lunacy – Have you visited Lunacy’s new, larger tasting room and brewery in Haddon Heights? If not, this is as good a reason as any to get there. (If you are a fan of New England-style IPAs, check out the Brewtus Juice! Fan of the brewery’s name, then the Sanitarium Double IPA may be for you …)

Visit lunacybrewingcompany.com/upcoming-events/

Nale House – Who cares if St. Valentine’s Day is over? It’s still chocolate season somewhere. Like at Nale House at 32 N. Main St., Medford, where you can be on hand for its Double Chocolate Stout release. Also on tap will be Blonde Ale, DIPA, Belgian Dark Strong, Double Chocolate Stout-Nitro, Barrel Aged Blend (Imperial Porter and Stout) and more. Live music will be offered by the Pitch Pines from 4 to 8 p.m. and word has it a BBQ food truck will be nearby.

Visit facebook.com/nalehousebc/

Spellbound – Spellbound was early to the craft brewing scene and is one of South Jersey’s best known breweries. The Mount Holly tasting room at 10 Lippincott Lane will serve up an Irish Coffee Porter, Corned Beef Pale Ale (whaaaaa?), Nitro Porter Aged Palo Santo and more from noon to 8 p.m. on Saturday.

Visit facebook.com/spellboundbrew/ or www.spellboundbrewing.com/

Third State - This Burlington City brewery calls itself the most Irish brewery in Burlington County. Them's fightin' words, but I'll leave that to the Irish. They are also hosting music by Radi O'Fiction on what they call a "must-attend'' holiday event from 7 to 10 p.m. Saturday. The brewery is at 352 High St. 

Visit facebook.com/Thirdstatebrewing/

13th Child – Another Williamstown brewery had a soft opening in early March and the taps are now flowing. Official grand opening at the 345 S. Main St. brewery is April 13.

Meanwhile, you can drop by and sample the beers – Water Pig IPA, Witcha Lookin At Lemon Wit, False Bottom Sour Rye, Schoko Bliss Stout and many more.

Visit facebook.com/13th-Child-Brewery-1719376458315597/

Tomfoolery: This Hammonton brewery will host a St. Patrick’s Day Party from noon to 9 p.m. Saturday at 334 N. Washington Ave. Everyone is Irish for a day at Tomfoolery, which will tap its Feck Off Irish Extra Stout, and a limited batch of Wee Bit o' Milis Irish Potato Candy Ale brewed with coconut and cinnamon. There will be Irish pub music all day “and much merriment and tomfoolery,’’ of course.

Visit facebook.com/pg/tomfoolerybrewing/events/?ref=page_internal

Tonewood – As noted above, Tonewood Brewery in Oaklyn will take part in the Haddon Square pop-up. And you can, of course, visit the Clinton Avenue brewery all day. Bigger news at Tonewood these days is its launch into some of Philadelphia’s big beer venues, including Monk’s. So, “Comhghairdeas!’’

Village Idiot – Mount Holly’s second brewery, at 42 High St., is ready to party with the acoustic duo Matt & Sage and a full lineup of beers to sample, from Mullen’s Irish Red to Oud Dublin Irish Stout. And it’s easy to visit Spellbound on the same visit to the city.

Visit facebook.com/VillageIdiotBrewing/ or villageidiotbrewing.com/

Zed’s – Thoughout March, Zed’s Beer in Marlton is offering a limited-edition St. Patrick’s Day glass. A green band replaces the traditional white band on the glass, and features the word Slainte!, a shamrock and the Zed’s logo. For $10, patrons can get a pint of their favorite beer and the glass is theirs to keep.

Zed’s offers a full line-up of Irish beers: Zed’s in Ireland, a dry stout available in both regular and nitro; Zed’s in Kilkenny, an Irish Red;  Zed’s on the Liffey, a Dublin Porter; Zed’s with Terry, a Chocolate Orange Stout; Zed’s NOT in Ireland, inspired by “Irish Potato” sweets and made with more than 10 pounds of coconut and seven pounds of cinnamon; and Zed’s in the Emerald Isle — Glas Beoir, a green beer made with Spirulina (with just a little help from food coloring).

And if you are still in a brewery mood on Sunday, stop by for Zed’s Dry Day, with tastings and tours in addition to the offering of free coffee all day. 

Visit drinkzeds.com