Community on Tap

It all started with a Secret Santa gift. “I got a beer kit, and I really started having fun with it,” says Heath Traver, head brewer and co-owner at Glenbrook Brewery. “I upgraded my equipment, won a few awards for brewing, and started thinking I might want to open a brewery.” 

Traver’s brother-in-law, Darren Cregan, was all in. “I thought it was a great idea, and the wheels started spinning right away,” says Cregan, who co-owns the brewery with Traver and is also its creative director. “We built our tagline, Revolutionary Beer, around the rich history of Morristown and Morris County,” he says. 

As they worked on the business plan, Traver’s beer started racking up accolades. His Jockey Hollow Pumpkin Ale won a silver medal in a local competition. “It has a lot of harvest-inspired spices like cinnamon, nutmeg, clove, and allspice. There’s some pumpkin in it, but that’s not what drives the flavor,” Traver says. Since then, Traver’s beers have won 17 additional awards.

Revolutionary Approach 

Many of the brewery’s beers are a nod to Morristown’s history. There’s a Tempe Wick Farmhouse Sour, Ford Mansion Basement Barrel, and Continental American Amber Lager. Its Green Mountain Boys Spruce Run Ale is especially meaningful.  

“When the troops stayed at Jockey Hollow, they would clip the buds of spruce trees, add molasses and yeast, and make a simple mead,” Cregan says. “So I challenged Heath to come up with a recipe that has notes of pine—and he did.” 

About 18 months ago, Cregan and Traver realized the 250th Anniversary of America was coming up, and they wanted to do something to celebrate. “Morristown played a pivotal role in America’s fight for independence, and we felt a responsibility to bring that history to life in a meaningful and celebratory way,” Cregan says.

The beer, appropriately named 250 Anniversary Ale, is much more than a label slapped on a can. It has deep historical roots and was created in collaboration with Laird & Company, the nation’s oldest licensed distillery, which was founded in 1698 in Monmouth County. According to Laird & Company, George Washington liked its Applejack apple brandy so much, he asked them for the recipe. 

To create something worthy of the occasion, Glenbrook aged its Spruce Run Ale for almost a year in apple brandy barrels from Laird & Company. The resulting beer “has a flavor profile that is both unique and inviting,” Traver says. “It honors both the troops and the nation’s oldest distillery. We’re really happy with how it turned out.”

Raising a Glass for A Cause

One of Glenbrook’s most popular beers is called Czech Your ID, a pilsner Traver describes as very clean, light, and crisp. But it’s more than just a beer. “There were two local bouncers, Darrell and JP, who passed away during the pandemic from different complications, and we wanted to find a way to support their families,” Cregan says. A portion of every can sold is given directly to the families.

This is only one example in a long list of ways Glenbrook Brewery is giving back to Morristown.

They’ve donated a portion of sales to or developed private-label charity beers for a long list of nonprofit organizations, from pet rescues to the Colonial Cancer Foundation—a group of ex-MHS football players who award scholarships to kids affected by cancer—to the Fraternal Order of Eagles. 

Glenbrook even works hard to be environmentally friendly. They donate their post-brewing grains to Backer Farm in Mendham, which uses them to feed its cows. The brewery also recycles the water from the brewing process, using it to heat the space. “It’s all part of being a good neighbor,” Travers says. “It’s something that’s very important to us.” 

A lot of the desire to give back stems from their love of Morristown. Cregan is a native, and Traver has lived in Morris Plains for 30 years. The house he lives in, on Glenbrook Road, is the childhood home of their wives and so historic it has a block out front for a stagecoach. “Darren grew up here and I’ve been here for a long time, so it’s really very important for us to be part of the community and to help out anywhere we can.”

Conor Boucher, the general manager, also grew up in Morristown. “I think of Glenbrook as a community vessel,” he says. “We are here to support and to use this space to help out anyone we can.”

The brewery is also an event space, holding paint-and-sips, knitting classes, and more. “Believe it or not, we host a lot of birthday parties for one-year-olds,” Cregan says. 

They also have hard seltzers and other drinks for people who don’t love craft beer. “We always have alternative beverages,” Traver says. Glenbrook doesn’t serve food, but guests are welcome to bring in their own.

As often as possible, they host events for local nonprofits, working with each organization to help them maximize fundraising. “We think these community events are so important because the strength of Morristown is dependent on its residents,” Boucher says. “It’s really important to us that we do our part to support this town and everyone who lives here.”

That desire to help the community is really the beating heart of Glenbrook. “We obviously want to be a great brewery in town and serve great beer, but also, we are often in a position to help our community and that’s a big part of why we do what we do,” Boucher says.

Glenbrook Brewery is located at 95 Morris St. Follow the team on Instagram @glenbrookbrewery or visit glenbrookbrewery.com for more information.