Hillsborough Brewery Will Not Flounder Amid Coronavirus

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — Hillsborough’s Flounder Brewing Co. is constantly adapting to the "new normal" amid the new coronavirus outbreak to keep his business afloat.

"The moral of the story all around is to support the really, super local businesses," said Flounder Brewing Owner Jeremy Lees. "There are a small handful that rely on this as a source of income, me included. We don't want our full-timers to hit the unemployment line. But if residents keep supporting us and keep coming out, this can keep us afloat during this."

Lees said his business was hit on two different sides during the outbreak. The biggest hit came from the stop of wholesale.

"As a brewery we are manufacturer first so a big chuck of our sales is wholesale," Lees said. "And I know once they reopen everything we won't see wholesale sales go back up since restaurants still have to get back and running first."

The second hit came from the retail side since Lees could no longer have his tasting room open.

Adapting to this change, Lees is selling growlers and crowler fills of 12 different beers and taking a lot of precautions for everyone’s health and safety.

"We've done a lot to the brewery to make it feel safe and for everyone, me included as I have a family at home, so that we stay healthy. We are also doing a lot of social distancing, and things are being heavily sanitized above and beyond what breweries already have to do, "Lees said.

Flounder Brewing will only fill new growlers to ensure they know where it has been and crowler cans are filled on site.

Lees is also looking at the benefits of providing local brews as a way to bring back "a little bit of normalcy" and to help those stuck at home psychologically.

The brewery at 1 Ilene Ct Ste 16 Bldg 8 in Hillsborough is open Wednesday, Thursday and Friday from 2 to 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday from noon to 6 p.m. for pickup only.

Orders can also be taken online and paid online for pickup on the following open day. Flounder will run the pre-ordered brews out to your car as well.

For more information on Flounder Brewing and to order online visit click here.

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