LAWRENCEVILLE, NEW JERSEY

At a pale red bricked strip mall in the hamlet of Lawrenceville (halfway between Princeton and Trenton), THE DRUERY BREWERY “serves as a pilot location for future larger scale brewing.’ Owned and operated by basement-brewin’ photographer Drew, and partner, Sheri, The Druery opened December ’23.

A small neighborhood nanobrewery, its cozy right side eight seat wood top bar features twelve draught handles, large central TV and cryptic caged Edison lighting. Two front windowed tables and a few round tables fill the diminutive interior. Brewtanks crowd the backspace.

Crafting a bunch of interestingly varied and unique one-offs, Druery has quickly gained plaudits as one of Jersey’s best new breweries.

I sat down for five Druery’s and brought home four (reviewed in Beer Index) during late April ’25 Sunday afternoon visit.

Truly engaging fruited tea-infused lager, Tea’d Para, soaked its black tea leaves in mild cucumber-watered mango, pineapple and watermelon perfuming.

Spritzy lemon-limed white grape esters and frisky hop-prickled herbage gathered for Karle Kolsch, a dry moderation contrasted by sweet pale malt lagering.

Sour-candied Pez-like raspberry powdering picked up lemon rhubarb tartness for Razzlewit, a briskly understated raspberry wheat ale with pallid white wheat base.

Honeyed pineapple syruping, rummy orange spicing and tangy marmalade pervaded boozy (8% ABV) New England IPA, Juicytoots, leaving hop-dried pine resin on the sweet tropical finish.

Brown-sugared molasses coated hazelnut, pecan and raisin for Brys Brown Ale, a sweet neo-English-styled full body.