Climax Brewing Co

Climax makes the best examples of real beers, true to their intended styles (without the add-​ins that attract attention but get tiring quickly). Visit the brewery, pick up a growler or enjoy in your pub. Never disappointing.

Well folks this is where it all began. Climax Brewing is New Jersey’s oldest microbrewery and odds are you probably haven’t heard of them. If you don’t live in the immediate area, it can be difficult to find their bottles or beer on tap. Thankfully, I don’t live too far away so one Friday, a buddy and I took the ride here to check them out.
If you were to look up these guys on Google Maps, you will be scratching your head as to where the brewery is. Even as you pull up, it is nothing more than a garage whose neighbors are residential houses and a convenience store, but don’t let the appearance fool you. This is a pretty small operation with limited hours (Friday nights only) but the beer packs a nice punch. Walk around back and into the garage. Purchase 4 samples, take the tour, chat with the staff and enjoy some freshly brewed home brew.
We came at the very end of August so we just missed the Oktoberfest tapping but did enjoy their IPA, Golden, and especially their Hefeweizen, which I found to be very true to the style. This place is as laid back as it gets and doesn’t get as much recognition as some of the bigger craft breweries in the state but what they do, they do well. After all, who doesn’t enjoy drinking beer in a garage turned brewery?

Used a groupon. Enjoyed it. Cant be compared to a huge brewery like sam adams but for what it is its good. You get 6 tickets w the groupon to taste the beer which was good. Its a brewery so not going to talk about cleanliness. Parking is street and u have to use a gps or u will drive by. My dad and i found the workers and volunteers ro be nice and knowledgable. The owner and his son who also owns it were great. The tour is in the same room as tasting its someone who tells u about the process and answers questions. Prices are good. Groupon has a good deal. Bathroom looks gross for girls but squat and dont complain u will be fine. I loved it here and so did my dad. We had raspberry, ipa, apricot and another beer. They have out door seating. You can come grab drinks. Fill growlers… Tour and taste… Its a nice little place doing big things! Thanks guys!

Let me just say this is definitely a MICRO brewery, it is very small. But don’t let the size fool you, they have a great selection of different beers. I did the tour and tasting and was able to try six of their beers which were all great. The people who work there were all great and friendly and passionate about what they do. I highly recommend stopping by Climax brewery if you’re in the area.

Dave Hoffman is a damn good brewer who focuses on classic examples of traditional beers. His ESB is the perfect example of the style, and I urge you to check out his brewery in Roselle Park on Friday nights.
Great value for the money.

One sentence summary: Good craft beers in an unpretentious garage with knowledgeable staff.
Longer version: Our friend had been here before and wanted to take us because he knows we like a good craft beer. He also warned us how the place is in a garage and not fancy so we’d know what to expect.
We showed up on Friday around 7:30 and entered through the back. Luckily there was a guy outside who warned us the door doesn’t open all the way so I didn’t smack it into my face. Upon entering, it was exactly what I was expecting… some customers at the tables and bars and a handful of workers pouring growlers and beers. One gruff looking Climax guy was wearing an entire bleach tye-​dye outfit and spoke to himself the whole time. It was definitely an interesting cast of characters! I think it being in a garage adds to the charm and authentic feel of the place.
We did the flight which isn’t really what you think of when you order a flight. You get 6 tickets — one sample for each ticket. The beers on tap were: cream ale (really it’s a golden ale), an IPA, an ESB, Snow Plow winter ale, Cherry Snow Plow, and Tuxedo Imperial Stout. I tried them all and liked the Snow Plow the best. All were good though but the cherry Snow Plow was a little too much cherry for me.
As we drank our samples, Dave’s brother in law told us all about Climax’s history and the beers. A family friend was next to him pouring too and they both were so enthusiastic to the point where they were talking over each other. We learned a lot and it was a lot of fun!
Towards the end of the night another employee was eager to leave and get us out of there so we felt a little rushed but to be fair it was after 8:30. The guys we were talking to were so friendly though and told us not to rush. On our way out we ended up talking to Dave, the brew master, and heard more about the beers.
It’s a very chill, unpretentious experience and atmosphere with good craft beers. We had a good time there and we will definitely be back!

Called up again, very politely and respectfully tried to set up another tour, and was still met with the same rude attitudes. These guys are a joke. They need to enroll in charm school and learn how to talk to customers.

This place is great. The negative reviews about this place are wrong and by a few people who bought a LivingSocial coupon and obviously don’t appreciate a good brewery. Went there Friday evening and sampled all the current brews on tap. Then had a few pints of the wheat. Very inexpensive, great quality. Dave and the other staff really take pride in their brews, and it shows. Not typically a wheat beer fan but their German style wheat beer was great. Seems to get locals from the area who are cool and add to the nice atmosphere of the place. The brewery tour itself is free, and without a doubt the most detailed and informative brewery beer making tour I’ve ever had. Dave really knows his stuff, and goes into the science and how it all comes together. I would give it 5 stars if I thought this review wouldn’t get filtered out, but I’ve learned this site seems to go after those. Again, great place. Highly recommend going and doing their brewery tour.

As a follow up from my prior review, below please find the comment I received from the owner of the brewery. As another reviewer stated, if you want to be insulted, called a liar and be treated rudely overall, this is your spot.
«You are completely incorrect. You did not book a tour till the last week the coupon was valid. By then I had 400 reservations. We return every call the next day. You also did not read the instructions on the coupon at all. Every thing you wrote is complete garbage and out of spite because you didn’t get your jug of beer.. Our cups are 14 oz for $ 4 and our samples are 4oz for $ 1. Based on bar prices these prices are cheap. Perhaps if you follow instructions things would turn out as they should. People were asked to quiet down because the group that already had their tour were talking so loud the second tour group could not hear properly and was not rude at all. Perhaps you should not participate in deals like this as you are one of those people that no one can make happy.
Dave (the owner)»

Worst beer in NJ! Went here for a tasting. Most beers were undrinkable swill. Those that weren’t tasted like amateurish home brewed beer. No idea how other people could have rated so highly. Luckily, there are some descent breweries in NJ because this place gives NJ beer a bad name!
By the way. Starting to think Unilocal is fake as I had to re-​post this on ⁷⁄₁₅

This is some of the best beer I have ever had! We discovered this microbrew because they sell the beer at the shop rite liquids in Westfield. With a little googling we realized it’s literally in our back yard (Roselle park) the place is open on Friday nights for tastings and tours and it’s a blast! The beers are amazing and the owner is on site sharing his knowledge and love of the beers he makes. It’s not a fancy bar or am elegant affair it’s the place you go to drink and have fun. It’s truly a paradise for beer lovers! You can also purchase growlers to go on Friday nights. The beer is fresh and so natural. It’s literally right from the keg it’s made in. I love the heffe and Oktoberfest the best!

Follow the sound of the low gravel-​y voice and you’ll find Dave Hoffmann explaining how he makes his Climax beers with local water, plenty of malt and absolutely no rice! Dave has employees but still he’s the owner, brewmaster, delivery guy, sales guy and also tour guide. Don’t let the grim storefront put you off, soon it will be remodeled into a proper tap room — until then just walk around to the back. And bring a growler for a fresh fill!
Four 4-​ounce samples are just $ 4, we tried Dave’s golden ale, nut brown ale, IPA and pumpkin ale. All were very good and the pumpkin was delightful, even tho I don’t like flavored beers, this was very nice. We learned about how pumpkin was used way back when if a brewer ran out of malt, the pumpkin carbs ferment just fine! And Dave’s crew even tapped a fresh keg of Oktoberfest, the deep color and mild carbonation made it a treat.
Open Friday evenings, a visit here is a trip back to times when a local business welcomed people into their shop to explain how everything works, and didn’t rope off every last thing nor fuss about some water on the floor. I am starting to like drinking in badly lit warehouses :)