This sponsored content is provided by Central Jersey Beverage Fest
The crowd-pleasing Central Jersey Beer Fest is back this fall with a new name: the Central Jersey Beverage Fest.
The name change does not mean that the annual festival will move away from providing more than 100 local and regional brews for attendees to sample.
Instead, the name change represents the natural growth of the festival, which has come to include not only beer but also local seltzer, wine, spirits, and more. An average of 3,000 people attend the festival each year.
This year’s festival is scheduled to take place on Saturday, Sept. 27, from noon to 6 p.m., rain or shine. As in past years, the festival will take place at the Festival Grounds of Mercer County Park. Tickets are available online now at cjbeerfest.com. The hour from noon to 1 p.m. is for VIP ticketholders only.
The complete list of breweries, distilleries, meaderies, wineries, and cideries will be released around two weeks before the event. Past participating breweries have included Tindall Road Brewing, Farm Truck Brewing, and Carton Brewing. Distilleries and wineries that have taken part include Wester Son Vodkas and Josh Cellar Wines.
“We changed the name from ‘beer’ to ‘beverage’ to make this festival not only feel more inclusive, but also to better represent what it has become,” said Antonio Carannante of Blend in Hamilton, who is the organizer of the event.
“In any given couple or family or group of friends, there are some people who drink mostly beer or cider and some who drink mostly wine or spirits,” Carannante continued. “At the Central Jersey Beverage Fest, they will all be able to find samples of their favorite drinks — but they will also be able to taste great local examples of other beverages that they may like more than they think. This is a great opportunity for people to try a little bit of everything.”
There will be a variety of craft vendors on hand, as well as food trucks and food stands to provide nourishment. Local bands, including rock duo Chet and Ari will provide live music. Drink samples are served until 5 p.m., but food service and live music continue through 6 p.m.
“As with past events, we’ll have a strong focus on product education and safety — ‘Drink Responsibly and Have Fun,’” Carannante said.
The festival also supports local nonprofits each year. This year’s nonprofit beneficiaries include Happy Smiles Foundation (happysmilesfoundation.com), What’s My Name Foundation (whatsmyname.org), and the 2025 featured group, Capital K9 Association (capitalk9association.org).
Capital K-9 Association is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing ballistic body armor and safety equipment for police working dogs. They work toward promoting a positive image of K-9 while educating the public on the necessity and importance of K-9 in modern policing.
No outside food or drink is permitted, but attendees are encouraged to bring lawn chairs. In the event of rain, tents will be set up on the festival grounds for shelter from the weather. Guests must be 21 or older, and organizers recommend using rideshare services, scheduling a ride in advance, or bringing a designated driver.
More details are online at blendbar.com and cjbeerfest.com. Attendees are encouraged to share photos and experiences of the event on social media with the tag #CJBF2025.
