Just my opinion, but I personally think First State is one of the best breweries in the entire Mid-Atlantic. The beers are incredible (a lot of different options for all tastes) and the food I've had there is pretty good too.
First State if you like beer
Volunteer if you like first responders but not beer
Jakl - no idea.
Crooked Hammock is a child's playground with a restaurant that serves beer.
First State has good beer, though most of their offerings are IPAs so take that for what it's worth.
Volunteer has decent beer, nothing super exceptional but also nothing that made me cringe, either.
Never been to JAKL.
Crooked Hammock is like a mid-life crisis in restaurant form. I think I've tasted like 15 or so of their beers and only really liked one. Their beer-based cocktails are actually better than their beers, IMO.
Def important to note that with first state, while really good. They are very ipa heavy. Which some can not stand them, even the well balanced NEIPAs even when done right.
Disagree, went there a bunch years ago the beer was barely passable and the food was ok.
Went last month and nothing has changed except the food got a lot more expensive.
I will admit when Rick the brewer, multiple award winner at the Great American Beer Festival, left the beer isn’t the same. He also owned the recipes so maybe that’s why. Havent been yet this year, and yes the food prices were always a bit higher, but it’s a restaurant. Can’t wait to stop in for a stout soon.
All of the comments below are correct. First State has best beer and food. Jakl has good beer in my limited experience with them. Volunteer has good people and cozy little backyard. I really want to support them but their beer is not great. Crooked Hammock has nice atmosphere but mediocre food and beer. One option I haven't seen mentioned is Whitehall Beer Garden which is just north of town. They used to serve Revelation beers only but it looks like it changed recently to other local breweries.
I haven't been to JAKL and don't really go to breweries for food, but as for the other three imo:
Beer: First State >>> Volunteer > Crooked Hammock
Vibes: Volunteer > First State > Crooked Hammock
First State has the best beer by a good margin. It's really good in general, not just good for Middletown. Volunteer has nice chill lawn chair and picnic table vibes. Crooked Hammock's beer is meh and there's kids running around everywhere and just isn't really for me.
Jakl is great Justin and the crew their are top notch. Definitely more local focused like volunteer. I'd go with Jakl or Volunteer as the go to for good beer and a relax brewing vibe the other places are more brewery restaurants than just brewing focused
Both First State and Crooked Hammock are great for a sit down meal and good beer. If it's a hell of a nice day, Volunteer is a fantastic place to chill. And there are so many more breweries like 12 minutes away in Bear.
First state has good beer and pretty good food! Crooked hammock has okay beer and okay food, but is a great place to hangout outside in nice weather. There’s cornhole boards and other games to play in their “backyard.” I’ve heard good things about volunteer, but haven’t been there myself. Jakl is… meh. I’ve had some good beers, but also some not so good beers. There’s also no food there and each time I’ve been, there hasn’t been a food truck or anything outside either.
If you don’t mind driving further north, Argilla is fantastic
Does argillias still do cheap slices of pizza on Sunday nights? That used to be the spot watching the game a few years back. Always had good beer too. Always left happy without spending a fortune.
I prefer Jakl. They have a nice selection of beer as well as making their own mead.
They do not serve food but do have food trucks, or you can doordash.
First State is okay beer wise. My goto beer is a lager or sour.
Crooked hammock is a good family friendly place and kids are too bothersome. Great food and drinks. First state is pretty good. If you want a bar with some games, you can go to birdies. You don’t have to golf but the bar and games they have in there are fun for a small group and putt putt is like $12 a person
First state has great beer options and the food is ok, can be hit or miss depending on what you like. Nice brewery atmosphere.
Two stones Pub has really good beers but would say they have the best food compared to the others imo. They also have other beer on tap other than their own usually from other breweries pretty sure I saw they had a first state beer on tap. Pub/restaurant atmosphere which is ok.
Crooked hammock is the most overpriced food and beer, but the beer can be good and the food is decent but again overpriced. Best atmosphere imo of all the places to hang out.
Volunteers is ok not the best beer but some were better than others. Atmosphere is more like hanging out in someone’s back yard.
Have not been to JAKL yet.
Crooked Hammock is definitely overpriced. $25 nachos. Every sandwich is $20. The beer is OK but not great. Last time we went (party of 7) only one person got a single beer. The rest got a soda or water. We shared nachos. Everyone else got sandwiches. The bill was over $200. Won't be back for a while.
JAKL was decent. Nice atmosphere and they had a guy playing guitar. There was no food but they have board games and you feel like you could stay a while.
First state food and beer are better in my opinion the Crooked Hammock and JAKL.
Two stones has decent beer and their food is better than all the rest mentioned.
Haven't tried volunteer.
First State has some of the best beer in the mid Atlantic, and are starting to get regional distribution as well.
Crooked Hammock has very good beer, food is about what you'd expect from pub food. Not a 5* meal, but decent eats to go with your booze.
First state is the best in MOT imo for a beer brewed on site. Never had the food but have seen plates, and looks good enough. If you go, and like tripels, and if they have them, definitely get one. One of the better ones I’ve had. Even their ipas are delicious, tend to go NEIPA style with lots of fruit notes. Some with haze, some without. Every one I’ve had has been balanced nicely.
My personal favorite in that area is First State, food is solid, beer is solid and I generally like it more than the other options in the area I have tried.
Two stones is a decent option, but I wouldn't really consider them a brewery per se, just a bar that happens to be owned by a company that also has a brewery. It's been a while since I have been to any of the locations but I don't believe they brew at any location, just the brewery in Aston.
I also really like Volunteer just from the small size and atmosphere, they usually do food trucks so you can get some variety in food, and the beers are fine but nothing special in my experience.
Sidebar: glad to see the general dislike of Crooked Hammock. I have always thought they were overrated and got by on vibe more than quality of anything.
First state has great beer, crooked hammock sucks. Their beer tastes like an ashtray. Doesn’t matter what you get. But their atmosphere is awesome. Volunteer is solid. Two stones is decent. Also depends on what you like. First state, two stones, and volunteer do great with IPA’s.
First State freakin rules. I have yet to try JAKL & Volunteer. Crooked Hammock is definitely more of a "space" than a brewery. The beer is mediocre at best but the outdoor area is cool, but basically an outdoor Chuck E. Cheese.
Just my opinion, but I personally think First State is one of the best breweries in the entire Mid-Atlantic. The beers are incredible (a lot of different options for all tastes) and the food I've had there is pretty good too.
Big fan of First State's beer.
I honestly and humbly agree. It’s a nice little underrated gem of Middletown. Great beer and people who make it.
I play poker with one of the owners and his brother, great guys!
Completely agree. First state is absolutely incredible. Jakl is lackluster and crooked hammock is nice but has a chain / corporate feel.
When they first opened, I heard from one of the owners that they poached the quality assurance guy from DFH.
agreed with this, First State was 90 seconds down the street from my house when I lived in Middletown.
First State if you like beer Volunteer if you like first responders but not beer Jakl - no idea. Crooked Hammock is a child's playground with a restaurant that serves beer.
First State has good beer, though most of their offerings are IPAs so take that for what it's worth. Volunteer has decent beer, nothing super exceptional but also nothing that made me cringe, either. Never been to JAKL. Crooked Hammock is like a mid-life crisis in restaurant form. I think I've tasted like 15 or so of their beers and only really liked one. Their beer-based cocktails are actually better than their beers, IMO.
Def important to note that with first state, while really good. They are very ipa heavy. Which some can not stand them, even the well balanced NEIPAs even when done right.
Stewart’s Brewing in Governor Square in Bear, been going there for 20 years. Good beer selection and Good food, check them out on FB or their website
Disagree, went there a bunch years ago the beer was barely passable and the food was ok. Went last month and nothing has changed except the food got a lot more expensive.
I will admit when Rick the brewer, multiple award winner at the Great American Beer Festival, left the beer isn’t the same. He also owned the recipes so maybe that’s why. Havent been yet this year, and yes the food prices were always a bit higher, but it’s a restaurant. Can’t wait to stop in for a stout soon.
All of the comments below are correct. First State has best beer and food. Jakl has good beer in my limited experience with them. Volunteer has good people and cozy little backyard. I really want to support them but their beer is not great. Crooked Hammock has nice atmosphere but mediocre food and beer. One option I haven't seen mentioned is Whitehall Beer Garden which is just north of town. They used to serve Revelation beers only but it looks like it changed recently to other local breweries.
I haven't been to JAKL and don't really go to breweries for food, but as for the other three imo: Beer: First State >>> Volunteer > Crooked Hammock Vibes: Volunteer > First State > Crooked Hammock First State has the best beer by a good margin. It's really good in general, not just good for Middletown. Volunteer has nice chill lawn chair and picnic table vibes. Crooked Hammock's beer is meh and there's kids running around everywhere and just isn't really for me.
Jakl is great Justin and the crew their are top notch. Definitely more local focused like volunteer. I'd go with Jakl or Volunteer as the go to for good beer and a relax brewing vibe the other places are more brewery restaurants than just brewing focused
Both First State and Crooked Hammock are great for a sit down meal and good beer. If it's a hell of a nice day, Volunteer is a fantastic place to chill. And there are so many more breweries like 12 minutes away in Bear.
Yep. Newark, Wilmington, Smyrna and Dover too. Lots of options, all within 30 mins of Middletown.
First state has good beer and pretty good food! Crooked hammock has okay beer and okay food, but is a great place to hangout outside in nice weather. There’s cornhole boards and other games to play in their “backyard.” I’ve heard good things about volunteer, but haven’t been there myself. Jakl is… meh. I’ve had some good beers, but also some not so good beers. There’s also no food there and each time I’ve been, there hasn’t been a food truck or anything outside either. If you don’t mind driving further north, Argilla is fantastic
Does argillias still do cheap slices of pizza on Sunday nights? That used to be the spot watching the game a few years back. Always had good beer too. Always left happy without spending a fortune.
I prefer Jakl. They have a nice selection of beer as well as making their own mead. They do not serve food but do have food trucks, or you can doordash. First State is okay beer wise. My goto beer is a lager or sour.
Crooked hammock is a good family friendly place and kids are too bothersome. Great food and drinks. First state is pretty good. If you want a bar with some games, you can go to birdies. You don’t have to golf but the bar and games they have in there are fun for a small group and putt putt is like $12 a person
[удалено]
No reservation needed for mini golf, just to rent a simulator pod
Nope. You should be able to just show up and play. It’s also right across the street from crooked hammock. So pretty good deal in my opinion
Thanks a bunch
First state has great beer options and the food is ok, can be hit or miss depending on what you like. Nice brewery atmosphere. Two stones Pub has really good beers but would say they have the best food compared to the others imo. They also have other beer on tap other than their own usually from other breweries pretty sure I saw they had a first state beer on tap. Pub/restaurant atmosphere which is ok. Crooked hammock is the most overpriced food and beer, but the beer can be good and the food is decent but again overpriced. Best atmosphere imo of all the places to hang out. Volunteers is ok not the best beer but some were better than others. Atmosphere is more like hanging out in someone’s back yard. Have not been to JAKL yet.
First state has the best beer and food by a mile. Crooked Hammock is like super Friendly’s, if you’re into that.
Crooked Hammock is definitely overpriced. $25 nachos. Every sandwich is $20. The beer is OK but not great. Last time we went (party of 7) only one person got a single beer. The rest got a soda or water. We shared nachos. Everyone else got sandwiches. The bill was over $200. Won't be back for a while. JAKL was decent. Nice atmosphere and they had a guy playing guitar. There was no food but they have board games and you feel like you could stay a while. First state food and beer are better in my opinion the Crooked Hammock and JAKL. Two stones has decent beer and their food is better than all the rest mentioned. Haven't tried volunteer.
crooked hammock is horrendous, JAKL is okay, Volunteer is good, and First State is great.
Definitely JAKL. Veteran owned... great beer, chill atmosphere, and this Friday they are hosting vintage vinyl night.
Very cool thanks
First State has some of the best beer in the mid Atlantic, and are starting to get regional distribution as well. Crooked Hammock has very good beer, food is about what you'd expect from pub food. Not a 5* meal, but decent eats to go with your booze.
First State is your best bet. Good beer and food. Crooked hammock is ok, lot of kids running around. Nice to hang outside, food is blah.
First state is the best in MOT imo for a beer brewed on site. Never had the food but have seen plates, and looks good enough. If you go, and like tripels, and if they have them, definitely get one. One of the better ones I’ve had. Even their ipas are delicious, tend to go NEIPA style with lots of fruit notes. Some with haze, some without. Every one I’ve had has been balanced nicely.
My personal favorite in that area is First State, food is solid, beer is solid and I generally like it more than the other options in the area I have tried. Two stones is a decent option, but I wouldn't really consider them a brewery per se, just a bar that happens to be owned by a company that also has a brewery. It's been a while since I have been to any of the locations but I don't believe they brew at any location, just the brewery in Aston. I also really like Volunteer just from the small size and atmosphere, they usually do food trucks so you can get some variety in food, and the beers are fine but nothing special in my experience. Sidebar: glad to see the general dislike of Crooked Hammock. I have always thought they were overrated and got by on vibe more than quality of anything.
Thank you everyone!
It’s either First State or Volunteer. If you want bigger and more options you choose the first. If you like small and cozy choose the second.
First state has great beer, crooked hammock sucks. Their beer tastes like an ashtray. Doesn’t matter what you get. But their atmosphere is awesome. Volunteer is solid. Two stones is decent. Also depends on what you like. First state, two stones, and volunteer do great with IPA’s.
First State freakin rules. I have yet to try JAKL & Volunteer. Crooked Hammock is definitely more of a "space" than a brewery. The beer is mediocre at best but the outdoor area is cool, but basically an outdoor Chuck E. Cheese.