The Sip & See Somerset trail has officially launched for the summer. This is a Passport program created by Somerset County Tourism that encourages people to explore Somerset County by taking visitors down a trail of five craft beverage destinations, conveniently located near sights worth seeing.
How Does Sip & See Somerset Work?
The Passport encourages participants to visit local breweries and distilleries to try the best that Somerset County has to offer. Additionally, a plethora of activities and sights to see are nearby each location, making for the perfect summer project. From hiking to tulip-picking, there is no shortage of things to do while completing your Sip & See passport this summer.
Those who wish to participate can pick up their Passport at any of the five locations on the trail. At each location, your beverage tender will check off your Passport, and at your fifth and final stop, you will receive a t-shirt for completing the Sip & See Trail.
Looking to take part in this summer activity? Here are the participating distilleries and bars, as well as sights to see around them. For a more detailed view of where to drink and what to see, visit the official Sip & See Somerset website.
Bellemara Distillery – Hillsborough, NJ
Bellemara is a single malt distillery located in Hillsborough, NJ. Located on a farm, Bellemara is the perfect first stop to get your passport started. A short drive away is Duke Farms, where guests can ride bikes throughout utilizing the bikeshare program. At Duke Farms, you can see native orchids, the arboretum, and the Japanese meditation garden. A farmers market opens each Sunday, with hundreds of locally sourced products and goods available to purchase.
Flounder Brewing Co. – Hillsborough, NJ
While finishing up at your first stop, you don’t have to travel far to get the second check on your Sip & See passport. Flounder Brewing Co. is a craft micro-brewery that shares a patio with Bellemara Distillery, so you can easily kill two birds with one stone. If hiking is your thing, the Sourland Mountains are just seven minutes down the road, where hiking, bouldering, and bird-watching are abundant. Or, head over to Iron Peaks Sports & Events to check out any of their several rock-climbing walls, basketball courts, or arcade.
Burnt Mills Cider – Bedminster, NJ
This cidery is the perfect middle stop for your passport trail. At Burnt Mills Cider, the highest quality craft ciders are brewed using local ingredients. The mission is to revitalize the marketplace in the state of New Jersey. Before or after getting your passport checked off, head to Bluebird Farms to walk the hills of Somerset County and see the farm’s abundance of alpacas. For golf fans, the United States Golf Association Museum is just a drive away. Over 100,000 individual items are held in the USGA library, making it by far the largest in the world as related to the history of golf.
Jersey Cyclone Brewing – Somerset, NJ
This craft brewery has been serving a vast array of different beer styles since opening its doors in 2015. Enjoy one of Jersey Cyclone’s farmhouse ales, and get that fourth checkmark completed on your passport. Close by is Snyder Farms, where visitors can pick tulips, strawberries, and blueberries. If you like baseball. The Somerset Patriots (Yankees AA Affiliate) play just 10 minutes down the road from the brewery, so head over to TD Bank Ballpark and catch a game if the Patriots are in town.
Village Brewing – Somerville, NJ
Village Brewing focuses on locality through both its beers and its food. It is the perfect final stop for your Sip & See Passport because it exudes what the program is all about— supporting and enjoying your local communities. Just a minute away is Spotted Leaf Plant Company, where you can purchase plants and seeds for your home plant collection. Or, stay right in downtown Somerville, where classic cars line the main street, and events happen each weekend.
About the Author/s
Peter Candia is the Food + Drink Editor at New Jersey Digest. A graduate of The Culinary Institute of America, Peter found a passion for writing midway through school and never looked back. He is a former line cook, server and bartender at top-rated restaurants in the tri-state area. In addition to food, Peter enjoys politics, music, sports and anything New Jersey.
