NJ Craft Beer on Tap at Mule Barn Tavern: A Guide to Local Brews at Highlands' Favorite Bar
New Jersey's craft beer scene has quietly become one of the best in the country, and you don't have to look far past the tap handles at Mule Barn Tavern in Highlands to see it. Set inside a restored historic mule barn just minutes from Sandy Hook, the tavern's bar program leans into the Garden State's local breweries as much as it does the classics.
What's Actually on Tap
Mule Barn's beer list is built around a mix of dependable favorites and rotating local finds. A handful of familiar imports and lagers anchor the lineup for anyone who wants a reliable pour, while a rotating selection of New Jersey craft beers gives regulars a reason to check the taps every visit. If you're the type to ask "what's new" before you order, this is the kind of bar where the answer actually changes.
Why NJ Craft Beer Deserves the Attention
New Jersey's brewery scene has exploded over the past decade, and the state now produces genuinely excellent IPAs, crisp lagers, and small-batch seasonal releases that hold their own against beer destinations in neighboring states. A bar that actually commits to featuring these breweries, rather than defaulting to the same two or three national imports, is doing something the local craft beer crowd notices and appreciates. Mule Barn Tavern's tap lineup is part of that broader story: proudly showcasing New Jersey brewing talent to a Shore audience that already knows good beer when they taste it.
Pairing Beer with the Menu
A good tap list deserves food that actually pairs with it, and the kitchen at Mule Barn Tavern gives you plenty of options. A crisp, hoppy IPA cuts nicely through rich, fried appetizers, while a smooth lager pairs naturally with a warm pretzel or a plate of calamari. If you're working through a few different beers with a group, ordering a mix of shareable starters is the easiest way to keep everyone's glass full and the table well fed. Since the menu changes seasonally, check the current lineup to see what's on offer when you visit.
The Setting Makes the Beer Taste Better
There's something about drinking a well-poured beer inside a building with actual history that changes the experience. Mule Barn Tavern was once a mule barn supporting Fort Hancock, and the restoration preserved that character with reclaimed wood, warm lighting, and coastal views of Sandy Hook. Whether you're sitting at the indoor bar or out on the patio during warmer months, it's a setting that gives a simple pint a little more atmosphere than your average taproom.
Best Times to Explore the Tap List
Because the beer selection rotates, the best way to catch a specific local brewery's offering is to ask what's currently pouring when you visit, or check in during a game on the Sports Bar side of the tavern, where a cold, well-chosen beer and a big game go hand in hand. Regulars know the lineup shifts with the seasons, which means there's usually something new worth trying even if you've been in recently.
Come Taste New Jersey's Best on Tap
Whether you're a devoted craft beer enthusiast working your way through every New Jersey brewery or you just want a well-poured classic with a great view, Mule Barn Tavern's tap list has a place for you. Stop by 36 Kearney Road in Highlands and see what's currently pouring.
