35 New Jersey Firsts – #9 – First Brewery

by Alice Magdziak • March 24, 2014 • Third State • Comments (0) • 2829

New Jersey officially recognizes 1664 as the year the state was founded when land owned by the Duke of York was given to Sir George Carteret and John Lord Berkeley. That transaction record proclaimed that “said Tract of Land is hereafter to be called by the name or names of New Cesarea or New Jersey.” That makes this year New Jersey’s 350th Anniversary! To celebrate this major milestone, we’ve undertaken a project we’re calling 35 New Jersey Firsts where we highlight 35 things that first came to life in New Jersey.

The first brewery in America opened in Hoboken in 1642. Spring is here. Baseball season is almost underway. What does that remind me of? Sipping an ice cold beer at a ballgame, of course! America’s very first brewery was right here in Hoboken, how perfect.

Hoboken411.com quotes a book called 100 Hoboken Firsts by Jims Hans, saying:

It is fitting – with Hoboken’s long reputation as a German Saloon/beer garden town – that New Jersey’s first brewery was built here in 1641. Starting on January 1, 1641, Hoboken was leased to Dutchman Aert Teunissen Van Putten for twelve years. He cleared the land, fenced the fields and constructed a brew house, becoming the state’s first brewer.

Further searching of the Dutchman’s name tells us that unfortunately he was killed just two years after building the brewhouse. Not much seems to be known about the first brewery but we’re still proud to call it a New Jersey First!

Hoboken Brewing Company is now carrying on the long tradition of brewing beer in Hudson County.

Pin It

Previous post:
Goin’ Back to Asbury – Wreaths Release Full Length Debut Album Next Post:
Say Anything Announces Show at the Starland Ballroom with NJ’s The Front Bottoms Opening