38 Amazing Tap Rooms You Need to Check Out

Geraghty’s Pub
148 West Broad Street, Burlington
609-386-1121
The vibe is as comfy as an old pair of boots. “We’re always striving to be that nice hometown pub on the corner,” says general manager Nick Trogdon. “We also happen to serve incredible beer.” The pub rolls out 17 rotating drafts, one hand pump for cask-conditioned brews, and more than 100 beers by the bottle. Beer-pairing dinners resume each spring. On certain Wednesday nights, a brewery rep shows off five or six unique selections. All drafts are available in 64-ounce growlers. It’s fine to mix and match bottles for a six-pack to go.—ND

Good Night Irene’s
2708 Pacific Avenue, Wildwood
609-729-3861
The marquee outside says it all: “Life is too short to drink crap beer.” Masquerading as a laid-back pizza joint, Good Night Irene’s is in fact a revered beer destination, boasting over 90 selections. “Great pizza, great beer. That’s the gist,” says co-owner Dan Stefankiewicz. “We don’t try to overcomplicate things.” To that end, the house suggests can’t-miss pizza-and-beer pairings.—ND

Ho-Ho-Kus Inn & Tavern
1 East Franklin Turnpike, Ho-Ho-Kus
201-445-4115
The tavern room in this lovingly restored 18th-century mansion has four flat-screen TVs, a working fireplace, and six craft selections on tap—including the Inn’s own Tavern Ale, custom brewed by Cricket Hill. There are always at least seven more choices in the bottle. You can also enjoy your brew in the cozy library bar, on the outdoor bluestone patio in the warm months, or in one of five dining rooms, each with tasteful, period-style decor and a full dinner menu. The inn holds a beer tasting the first Wednesday of every month, featuring four or five craft brews.—KS

Hops Craft Bar
14 1/2 Washington Street, Morristown
973-540-9601
With daily specials on national and Jersey-made craft beers, it’s no surprise this place—formerly known as the Side Bar—has been drawing crowds in lively Morristown. There are happy-hour specials on various days; the Thursday night special features a bucket of five craft beers of the same brand for $15. We call that a bargain. The craft-beer menu rotates about 20 choices; on a recent visit they included Jersey names like Bolero Snort and Kane, as well as Departed Soles, New Jersey’s first craft brewer offering gluten-free beer. You can also feast on small plates like Philly cheese steak eggrolls and sesame-tuna tacos.—LB

The Iron Monkey
99 Greene Street, Jersey City
201-435-5756
The name enshrines a bizarre tale told by owner Steven McIntyre. He says that when he attempted to climb a sacred mountain in China in the 1980s, he was attacked by a band of monkeys that stole—and ate—his eyeglasses. You won’t need specs to see well in the ground-floor bar, which is flooded with natural light by day, neon by night. A rooftop terrace offers views of Jersey City’s gentrified financial district—a mix of brick walk-ups and modern high-rises—as well as Lower Manhattan. The daily beer list is selected from a rotation of 39 drafts and 525 bottles. The menu mixes upscale appetizers like shredded duck confit ($11) and crabmeat dumplings ($11) with traditional pub grub. Growlers available.—AS

Maloney’s Pub & Grill
119 Main Street, Matawan
732-583-4040
With over 100 drafts and 250 bottles available at any one time, you will want to consult the beer menu, helpfully divided by category and noting ABV. The list is rich in Belgians, stouts and porters, but there is also a section devoted to Jersey beers. Beer Club members—it’s free to join—can record tasting notes in an on-site folder. Try more than 50, and you’ll be inducted into Maloney’s Beer Hall of Fame. Beer-and-food pairings, seminars and the occasional bus trip to a brewery round out the informative fun.—BS

Midland Brew House
374 North Midland Avenue, Saddle Brook
201-797-0070
Everything about Midland Brew House is big. This upscale sports bar and restaurant seats 300 patrons on two levels, plus another 100 in the private party room. Forty-eight craft brews, including New Jersey beers, are offered on tap. “We’re all about supporting our local breweries,” says owner Christopher Vargas. Sixty TVs make it easy (if not inescapable) to watch the day’s games. The weekday happy hour from 4 to 7 pm, plus drink specials and a deejay on Fridays, attract a spirited crowd. Vargas describes his menu as American fusion; the Jersey Burger, topped with Taylor ham and a runny fried egg, stands out.—BP