Day Tripper: Ultimate Shore Detour at Somers Point Brewing

Somers Point Brewing Company is a cool spot to enjoy a laid back afternoon down the shore

THE DAY will come when you need a break from the beach – sounds crazy, but it’s true.

Sometimes the ocean is calling, and other times you’re looking to relax out of the sun, maybe somewhere a bit more chill. And if that’s the vibe you’re looking for, you don’t have to travel much farther than over the 9th Street Bridge

Zip down Stainton Memorial Causeway, swing onto New Road and within minutes you’ll be pulling up to Somers Point Brewing Company on New York Avenue. The brewery – more affectionately known as SoPo – is just the ticket to a laid back afternoon, and Somers Point itself serves up plenty more fun to fill your day.

“I always like to say were the hometown brewery. We cater to the locals as well as the tourists,” SoPo partner John DiNofrio said. “It’s a low key vibe, great energy and just very friendly.” Since opening in April 2019, SoPo has been making a name for itself with its brewed-from-scratch beer. The tap room, fermenters, all equipment – everything is on site, and all beer is made from scratch with no artificial ingredients or preservatives.

“From step one to step 10, everything is done on the premises. It’s fresh right from the source,” Deepak Chauhan, another one of the SoPo partners, said.

Better still, the venue features a diverse tap list that changes regularly, which works out well for a brewery that is always working on new styles and tastes. Visitors can find something as light as a Blonde Ale or Mexican Lager, to brews with more depth such as Belgians, IPAs, stouts and sours (which have been secing a big surge recently). Not a beer drinker? Not a problem.

WHEN YOU WANT GOOD FOOD AND GOOD BARS AND GOOD DRINKS, YOU COME TO SOMERS POINT.

SoPo also brews its own in-house flavored seltzers and, for designated drivers, a delectable non-alcoholic root beer.

The SoPo flagship brew – which is always on tap – is the Flake News New England IPA. The beer’s creamy mouthfeel is thanks to “a whole bunch of flaked oats,” according to the SoPo menu, and i’s finished off with generous amounts of El Dorado, Mosaic and Summit hops.

“It’s our hazy, citrusy pale ale,” Deepak said.

“The aim is our menu is never stagnant in the sense that every two weeks on average, if you come in, there’s going to be a new brew on tap,” he continued. “And we’re always experimenting with new flavors and new styles.”

At the moment, that includes the newest brews Blackberry Wit and Raspberry Wheat (two wheat ales) and a German pilsner.

“Those are going to be our three newest beers. They all have that summer vibe – they re going to be a little lighter, a little fruitier. The pilsner is just a good German, light summer beer,” John said.

One of the bright spots of this family-friendly brewery (even your four-legged pooch can hang in the outdoor seating area is the fact that, for anyone who is not a beer aficionado, there’s no reason to be apprehensive. Pretension doesn’t hang at SoPo.

“One of the things that we emphasize to our staff is to take the time with guests who may not understand what an IPA or Belgian means. There are so many unique words to define beers,” Deepak said.

Plus, guests can taste test before committing to a pint.

As far as enjoying some bites with your brews, SoPo offers a small collection of prepackaged treats (jerky and pretzels among them), but John and Deepak highly advise visitors to take advantage of all of the amazing fare in Somers Point and bring their favorite to the brewery.

“There are some amazing restaurants around here – great pizzas, great sandwiches, great Mexican food,” Deepak said. “You can even bring your own nachos and salsas from home, or stop at the grocery store on the way.” The duo were reluctant to choose a favorite local eatery and stressed you cant go wrong with any of them – that’s how highly they think of Somers Point restaurants.

“When you want good food and good bars and good drinks, you come to Somers Point,” John said.

SoPo keeps board games on hand, and there’s even crayons and coloring books for the littles (or those who are little-at-heart). All summer long, the brewery will be hosting DJ Trivia Night on Wednesdays and live music with local artists on Thursdays. There is even a group who gets rogether to play Mahjong on Mondays – and theyre always looking for new players.

“I’s a very laid back, chill environment,” Deepak said.

After hanging at the brewery (or before you go), John suggests checking out some local history through the Somers Point Historical Society. The town is ripe with it, and even SoPo gets in on local history with photos of longtime bars hanging on the walls. (Think The Anchorage, Tony Marts and the old Bayshores.)

“The Historical Society has a little museum. You can visit Somers Mansion,” John said. “We even made a beer called the 11 Minute Fuse based on Richard Somers, one of the town’s founders. That was very popular, and we donated a dollar of every one we sold to the Historical Society.”

Somers Point Brewing Company is located at 705 West New York Avenue, Somers Point. Learn more at somerspointbrewing.com.

By Kristen Dowd