Riverton May Allow For Limited License Brewery Under New Law

RIVERTON, NJ — Although it is a dry town, Riverton may soon open the door to allowing a limited license brewery to take up shop.

On Dec. 13, Riverton Borough Council will consider a proposed ordinance on second reading to allow a limited brewery as a permitted use in neighborhood business, the Courier Post reports. Mayor Suzanne Cairns Wells says the key is that it is limited to beer that is brewed there in a specific time frame.

Breweries and bars operate under different sets of rules. While bars import beer and other forms of alcohol that is imported from different parts of the country and the world, a brewery is limited to serving what is brewed on the premises.

In fact, until Dec. 1, 2013, breweries weren’t permitted to sell alcohol. Amendments passed that year allow breweries to sell beer brewed on site as part of an educational tour, according to njlawblog.com.

Riverton is one of 11 dry towns in the South Jersey region, according to the Philly Voice. It is one of three in Burlington County, along with Pemberton and Delanco.

Riverton looks to follow the example of Haddonfield, which is classified as a dry town but saw the opening of Kings Road Brewing Co on Kings Highway earlier this year, according to nj.com.

The idea is to attract a different type of clientele. Towns that have opened breweries have cited the notion that those visiting breweries are beer aficionados, and not just people out looking to have a good time. Breweries aren’t permitted to serve food, so the presence of a brewery can also help to serve as a boon to the local restaurant industry.

Cairns Wells told the Courier Post there are no specific breweries lined up should the proposal pass, but the borough is prepared to entertain the possibility.

Patch file photo