Flounder Brewing

Flounder Brewing is a family-associated microbrewery based in Hillsborough, Somerset County, New Jersey. The business began with Jeremy Lees's homebrewing hobby and later expanded to include his brothers Daniel and Michael and his cousin William. Rather than originating as a large commercial operation, Flounder developed from small-scale brewing into a licensed local brewery with a direct connection to New Jersey's craft-beer community. The brewery opened to the public in October 2013. Its first public sale took place at the Fox and Hound Tavern in Lebanon, New Jersey. At launch, Flounder held New Jersey's 12th Limited Brewery license and was described as one of the state's early nano-scale breweries. Its initial production was estimated at approximately 50 barrels of beer per year, reflecting a deliberately small operating model focused on local production and taproom or event-based engagement rather than national distribution. Flounder's best-known beer is Hill Street Honey Ale, an unfiltered American pale ale. The brewery's recurring range also includes Murky Brown, an American brown ale, and Saison du Flounder, a farmhouse ale. Seasonal offerings have included Floundering Pumpkin, a spiced pumpkin amber ale associated with the fall, and Gingerbread Brown, a spiced brown ale associated with the winter season. Together, these beers position the brand around approachable, small-batch ales with distinctive seasonal and farmhouse influences. A major operational change occurred in June 2021, when Flounder moved its operations into a renovated approximately 250-year-old Dutch barn and approximately 150-year-old English barn. The move supported a substantial expansion from the brewery's original nano-scale format. The new site added a 15-barrel brewhouse, a tasting barn with capacity for approximately 100 people and a mezzanine, and two outdoor beer gardens. The setting made the brewery not only a production facility but also a destination for on-premises beer consumption and community gathering. Flounder operates under a limited brewery license issued through the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. This license framework permits production within the applicable statutory limit, on-premises sales in connection with a brewery tour, and distribution through wholesalers and at festivals. The brewery is associated with the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild and the New Jersey Craft Beer Club. Its identity is therefore rooted in New Jersey's independent brewing ecosystem, with a business model combining local manufacturing, seasonal releases, tasting-room hospitality, and permitted event or festival distribution.

Flounder Brewing originated as a homebrewing project led by Jeremy Lees. The project subsequently became a family undertaking involving Lees's brothers Daniel and Michael and his cousin William. This family-based beginning shaped the brewery's identity as a small, locally oriented producer rather than a mass-market beer company. The brewery opened to the public in October 2013. Its first public beer sale was conducted at the Fox and Hound Tavern in Lebanon, New Jersey. At that stage, Flounder was operating under New Jersey's limited-brewery licensing framework and was recognized as the state's 12th Limited Brewery license holder. It was also among New Jersey's early nano-scale breweries, with production estimated at about 50 barrels annually. The limited volume reflected the brewery's small-batch approach and its emphasis on local visibility, direct customer contact, and participation in the state's developing craft-beer scene. Flounder's portfolio developed around several ale styles. Hill Street Honey Ale became its signature product and is described as an unfiltered American pale ale. The regular lineup also included Murky Brown, an American brown ale, and Saison du Flounder, a farmhouse ale. Seasonal brewing added Floundering Pumpkin, a spiced pumpkin amber ale for the fall period, and Gingerbread Brown, a spiced brown ale for the winter period. These beers gave the brewery a core range while allowing it to maintain a rotating seasonal presence. In June 2021, Flounder moved its operations to a property containing a renovated Dutch barn approximately 250 years old and an English barn approximately 150 years old. This relocation represented a meaningful expansion of the business. The new facility incorporated a 15-barrel brewhouse, a tasting barn with capacity for about 100 people and a mezzanine, and two outdoor beer gardens. The site broadened Flounder's role from a small production brewery into a destination brewery offering an organized setting for tastings, tours, on-premises sales, and outdoor social activity. The brewery's limited license is administered through the New Jersey Division of Alcoholic Beverage Control. The licensing framework permits production up to the applicable statutory ceiling, on-premises sales associated with a tour, and distribution to wholesalers and at festivals. Flounder is also identified with the Garden State Craft Brewers Guild and the New Jersey Craft Beer Club. Its history consequently reflects the growth of New Jersey's independent brewing sector: a homebrewing origin, a small public launch, gradual product development, and later investment in a larger hospitality-oriented brewing site.

• 2021

  Move to renovated historic barns

  [1]Flounder Brewingen.wikipedia.org

  In June, the brewery moved operations to renovated Dutch and English barns and added a 15-barrel brewhouse, a 100-person tasting barn with mezzanine, and two outdoor beer gardens.

• 2013

  Public opening

  [1]Flounder Brewingen.wikipedia.org

  Flounder Brewing opened to the public in October, with its first public sale held at the Fox and Hound Tavern in Lebanon, New Jersey.

• 2013

  Limited Brewery license and nano-scale production

  [1]Flounder Brewingen.wikipedia.org

  The brewery was identified as New Jersey's 12th Limited Brewery license holder and one of the state's early nano-scale breweries, producing an estimated 50 barrels per year.

• Homebrewing project develops into a brewery

  [1]Flounder Brewingen.wikipedia.org

  Jeremy Lees's homebrewing hobby expanded into a family-associated commercial brewing venture involving his brothers Daniel and Michael and his cousin William.

A small-scale New Jersey craft brewery combining family involvement, traditional and seasonal ale styles, barn-based hospitality, and local tasting-room culture.

• American pale ale

  Hill Street Honey Ale

  Flounder Brewing's signature beer, described as an unfiltered American pale ale. It is the core product most closely associated with the brewery's identity and represents its focus on approachable, small-batch ale production.

• American brown ale

  Murky Brown

  A recurring American brown ale in Flounder's year-round range. It complements the brewery's pale and farmhouse offerings with a darker ale style intended for regular production rather than a limited seasonal release.

• Farmhouse ale

  Saison du Flounder

  A farmhouse ale forming part of Flounder Brewing's regular beer selection. Its saison positioning adds a traditional farmhouse-oriented style to the brewery's otherwise varied small-batch ale portfolio.

• Seasonal spiced pumpkin amber ale

  Floundering Pumpkin

  A fall seasonal release described as a spiced pumpkin amber ale. The beer extends Flounder's range into autumnal specialty brewing and forms part of the brewery's rotating seasonal program.

• Seasonal spiced brown ale

  Gingerbread Brown

  A winter seasonal beer described as a spiced brown ale. Its gingerbread-inspired positioning gives Flounder a cold-season offering distinct from its year-round brown ale.

• 2021

  Relocation and capacity expansionStrategy

  Background

  After operating as a nano-scale brewery, Flounder moved to a property containing renovated historic barns in June 2021.

  Action taken

  The brewery installed a 15-barrel brewhouse and developed a tasting barn, mezzanine, and two outdoor beer gardens.

  Aftermath

  The move expanded Flounder's production and hospitality infrastructure and strengthened its role as a destination brewery.

  Source

1. 1Flounder Brewingen.wikipedia.org