USA, NJ: 902 Brewing Company raises more than $35,000 to open brewery in Hoboken, NJ

A group of Hoboken beer makers are one step closer to forming what would be the first brewery the city has seen in several years, The Jersey Journal reported on December 31.

902 Brewing Company raised more than $35,000 through a kickstarter launched in November. The campaign aimed to raise funds for equipment needed for larger-scale brewing operations. The company has already received $36,106 in donations.

The brewery has been more than a year in the making. Two of the company's founders — Colby Janisch and Tucker Littleton — started experimenting with beer recipes in their apartment at 902 Washington Street. The two later partnered with friend Andrew Brown to form an LLC in August 2012, and they decided to name the company after the apartment where their brewing ambitions started.

Brown said that the three are still finalizing a location for the brewery.

Hoboken is considered the home of the United States' first brewery, which opened in 1663. Despite the city's deep rooted history in the business, it's been some time since a brewery has set up shop in Hoboken.

Recent changes to state law has led to a spike in the number of microbreweries in New Jersey. Late last year, the state revamped its craft beer industry laws by increasing the cap on production levels and easing restrictions on distribution and licensing.

03 January, 2014