Last call in South Jersey expands list of Garden State breweries to shutter since 2019
The basics:
Another independently owned and operated brewery in New Jersey is calling it quits.
In an Oct. 28 social media post, Berlin Brewing Co. owners Eddie and Michele Secrest announced they made “the difficult decision” to permanently close the White Horse Pike taproom.
The husband-wife team shared, “We’ve started writing this a hundred times, and honestly, there really aren’t words big enough for what we want to say … there is no easy way to sum up what this place and all of you have meant to us, but we want to try.”
“To everyone who walked through our doors, sat at our bar, drank our beer, came to an event, brought friends, supported us, or simply made our taproom part of your life: thank you,” they wrote.
The Secrests also expressed gratitude to their family.
“You helped us from the day we decided to jump in this wonderful adventure,” they wrote, continuing, “You were there from the beginning and helped us keep her going. You worked, painted, cleaned, repaired, jumped in whenever we needed you, celebrated with us, worried with us, and stood beside us through all of it. Berlin Brewing was truly a family business, and none of it would have been possible without you. We love you more than we could ever put into words.”
To everyone who walked through our doors, sat at our bar, drank our beer, came to an event, brought friends, supported us, or simply made our taproom part of your life: thank you. – Eddie and Michele Secrest, owners, Berlin Brewing Co.
The Secrests did not post an official closing date. But they added, “We’re not quite ready to call this goodbye. We don’t know what comes next, but we still know there is still some Berlin Brewing left in us.”
Attempting a turnaround
Since opening its doors in 2014, the South Jersey taproom became known for its diverse beer lineup, community-focused atmosphere and live music.
The Secrests stepped in to run Berlin Brewing Co. when the original founders decided to leave the business during the pandemic.
According to a July 2025 filing with the U.S. Securities & Exchange Commission, Berlin Brewing sought to raise up to $70,000 from investors through a debt offering to support the business.
In the Form C-1, the company wrote, “With Eddie leading the brewing operations and Michele driving the taproom vibe, they’ve worked side-by-side to breathe new life into the brewery. Since 2022, Berlin Brewing has undergone a rebrand, introduced an exciting lineup of bold and flavorful new brews, and created an atmosphere that blends chill small-town charm with live music, good vibes, and unforgettable nights.”
According to the filing, the fundraising would cover equipment upgrades, marketing initiatives and product line expansions. It also planned to use $20,000 to pay off past debts, the form said.
“These investments will help us increase efficiency, reach new markets, and solidify our position in the industry,” Berlin Brewing Co. said.
However, the brewery cited several risks to its business, including competition, rising supply costs and economic uncertainty, according to the form.
Closing time
Berlin Brewing is among several local breweries that have gone dark across New Jersey in recent years.
The closures come as the state’s craft beer industry tries to move past a challenging period marked by rising costs, shifting rules on how its businesses can operate and pandemic-related restrictions.
The Secrests announcement came less than a week after nearby Whims Brewing in Atco said it would have its last call after almost five years in business.
Between 2019 and 2025, the state has lost roughly 1 in 5 breweries. More than two-thirds of those closures occurred since the summer of 2020, the Brewers Guild of New Jersey has said.
Some of the more recent exits from the market include Jersey Cyclone Brewing in Franklin Township and Eight & Sand Beer Co. in Woodbury.
Although Brotherton Brewing Co. in Atco closed in March 2025, it reopened earlier this year under the ownership of hospitality industry veteran Eric De Angelis.