Popular NJ Brewery Opens New Location In South Jersey Mall

DEPTFORD, NJ — A popular South Jersey brewery has opened its new location at Deptford Mall.

Bonesaw Pilot House held its soft opening last week. The new establishment is an offshoot of Bonesaw Brewing Co. in Glassboro.

The Deptford Mall location, next to Round One, currently has limited taproom offerings, with plans to ramp up production over the next few weeks.

Weekend hours are 12-11 p.m. Saturday and 12-8 p.m. Sunday.

Bonesaw opened its original brewery and tap room about five years ago, drawing plenty of fanfare in New Jersey's bustling craft-beer scene. The mall location will serve an array of one-off or "pilot" batches, along with some of the brewery's flagship offerings.

The opening comes amid mounting frustrations from industry members over the state's restrictions on craft breweries — cited as a reason behind the recent closure of Lunacy Brewing Co. in Haddon Heights. Read more: Lunacy Brewing Company In Haddon Heights To Permanently Close

New Jersey's brewery industry grew quickly over the past decade but faced new obstacles when the state imposed new restrictions that went into effect in July 2022. The controversial regulations — imposed by the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC) — put significant restrictions on the number of events a brewery can host, along with other restrictions.

The ABC contended that limited-brewery licenses carry different privileges than those of bars or alcohol-serving restaurants that often carry a higher price tag. Earlier this year, Gov. Phil Murphy announced his administration would seek to overhaul New Jersey's liquor-licensing system to better serve the interests of breweries, bars and restaurants.

A bill to lift the ABC's restrictions on breweries unanimously passed in the State Assembly and Senate last June. Gov. Murphy hasn't signed the bill yet. The ABC, however, paused enforcement of the restrictions in August.

The governor has said he doesn't want to take a piecemeal approach to reforming New Jersey's liquor-licensing system, which he's called outdated. But industry members have expressed frustration over Gov. Murphy holding up the bill's passage. Read more: Bill To Revamp NJ Craft Brewery Restrictions Awaits Murphy's Signature